Interesting new Bluetooth headset

[Kaido]

I remember seeing this tech last year from Japan, an interesting noise-cancelling solution. Looks like it's out via CES this year. $119, available in Black, Silver, and Red. I've been looking for another headset since the battery in my Logitech Mobile Freedom headset died With the noise-cancelling technology enabled, the dude's voice sounds a bit canned but it seems to work pretty well (see video below). It's kinda ugly too, looks like a cheese grater. Works with cell phones, Macs, and Windows (Skype anyone?). Here's some links:

Homepage

Movie demo (check out the VS. section for an Elmo test lol)

IGN review (9.0/10 overall)
Gizmodo review
Uneasy Silence review

 

[Malak]

Your links are wrong.

 

[aphex]

its been out for a few weeks at cingular... i've heard it works pretty well, but isnt the most comfortable...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Malak
Your links are wrong.

Edited, it didn't like https

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: aphex
its been out for a few weeks at cingular... i've heard it works pretty well, but isnt the most comfortable...

Yeah, the cons I see so far -

-expensive
-uncomfortable after a couple hours of use (pinching)
-difficult access to the volume control
-ugly
-voice sounds hollow/canned with noise filter on

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: aphex
its been out for a few weeks at cingular... i've heard it works pretty well, but isnt the most comfortable...

Yeah, the cons I see so far -

-expensive
-uncomfortable after a couple hours of use (pinching)
-difficult access to the volume control
-ugly
-voice sounds hollow/canned with noise filter on

Sounds like there isn't much reason to get it.

 

[flyfish]

My uncle has it.
He called me while he was running a leaf blower.
It works really well, IMO.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Malak

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: aphex
its been out for a few weeks at cingular... i've heard it works pretty well, but isnt the most comfortable...

Yeah, the cons I see so far -

-expensive
-uncomfortable after a couple hours of use (pinching)
-difficult access to the volume control
-ugly
-voice sounds hollow/canned with noise filter on

Sounds like there isn't much reason to get it.

I know, right? Well, for comparison:

expensive - maybe $30 more than another quality headset
uncomfortable after hours of use - I never talk for more than 2 hours at a time lol
volume button - this is something of a problem, controls on cell probably aren't great
ugly - meh, so what
voice sounds hollow/canned - but if it's clear, that's the goal

It's obvious it's first-generation stuff, I'm sure they'll make improvements with version 2 - better-placed volume controls, maybe a design that non-art-students would go for, and a filter that includes making your voice sound more natural/warm. my Verizon contract comes up in April and I'm currently planning on getting a KRZR; this would make a nice addition to it.

 

[aphex]

Ok, well after my week old Plantronics 655 died, i picked up a Black Jawbone from jawbone.com and it arrived yesterday...

First, the thing is the coolest looking headset i've used. I didn't know if i liked it at first, but the more i see it, the more i like the styling. It looks bulky on its own, but when placed on the head, it really forms to the side of your face and dosen't stick out much. The weight isnt bad at all, and after wearing it for awhile, it didnt bother me at all. Also, its a bit hard to get on, but feels VERY stable when on. I shook my head around violently and it wouldnt budge. Battery seems excellent, used it a good 3-4 hours yesterday, left it on all night, and used it for an hour again this morning and it seems to be still chugging along fine on the initial charge. As for the range, it is EXCELLENT. Most BT headsets i've had get crackly at about 8-10 feet, this one works great at over 20 feet through over 2 walls, very impressed.

Now, the most important thing. How does it sound? Well, let me just say, this thing is PHENOMENAL. Right after it was done charging, i hopped into the car, got on the highway (going about 70-75mph) and turned up the music a good amount. With the voiceshield off, my dad said he had trouble hearing me, too much background noise. With the voiceshield on, my dad said it sounded like i was in a quiet room, he said it made a BIG BIG difference. My one complaint is the incoming call volume could be a tad louder, but i've heard worse and this is still definitely usable.

All in all i have to say, VERY well worth the money. This thing really does work well.

 

[Syrch]

wow very interesting. Though i won't pay $200 for it like some are..

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Aliph-Jawbone-B...4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[aphex]

hahaha, i wonder if those people realize you can get it direct from Jawbone for $119

 

[Jinny]

whats the point if the other party can hear you over a leaf blower if you can't hear him over the leaf blower?

 

[MazerRackham]

Hrm, pretty interesting... I always have problems talking in my car (even with windows up) on my Jabra BT500.

 

[Merlyn3D]

Hmm....I got a Jabra JX-10 (in part because it's one of the few compatible with my treo 700p, and I gotta say, the JX-10 has exceeded my expectations, no one has trouble hearing me in the car anymore and everyone has told me that the voice quality is excellent. Best of all, it fits in my ear as opposed to around it (I hate ear loops, they hurt).

 

[MDesigner]

I bought one too, I have to say, it's really great. The problem with most BT headsets is sound quality. People on the other end always say I sound muffled. Tried Motorola, tried Jabra. Figured I'd drop $120 on a Jawbone.. good investment. On the other end, I sound as good as when using the handset apparently. As far as comfort, it's not great, but not bad either. You do get a few options as far as ear loops and earbuds go, so you can try them out to see what works best. Probably if you're going to spend a few hours on this thing, it's not going to be too comfortable, but I'm never on the phone for more than usually a half an hour anyway. Also, the buttons are a bit of a pain to press.. takes more than a reasonable amount of pressure IMO. But again, I value sound quality over all else, just because so many BT headsets are crap in that department.

Thumbs up. $120 at a Cingular store.

 

[zerocool84]

I think it looks pretty cool, something that if you were in the future fighting aliens or something.

 

[MDesigner]

I've been using the Jawbone a bit now. Clarity is good, sometimes people report mildly skipped speech when I'm talking, but it's hard to say if that's my cellphone reception of the headset. Also, it's weird.. it seems some noises are blocked out better than others. A handful of people chattering from about 6-7 feet away from me were picked up by the person on the other end.. WITH noise cancellation on. But car noise and radio noise is effectively blocked. And I heard from someone who used one at a very noisy/crowded convention, that the crowd noise was blocked very well.

 

[PaNsyBoy8]

i've been posting abou tthis headset on all bt headset threads. i have one and it works great. my friend was also a contractor for them, so i learned about it a while back. i got one the first few days it came out, my roommate liked it so much he went and got oen too.

the reason my roommate liked it was because of its ability to detect surrounding noise and raise the volume of the headset automatically.

 

[Kaido]

My friend picked one up to test out. Looks better in person, still a cheese grater though. He has mixed feelings...he says he always has to click off and then click on the sound cancelling thing every time he uses it. Other problems noted above (canned voice quality, smallish buttons, etc.). I'm debating holding out for Rev 2.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

BT headsets are stupid. And people that wear them 24/7 should be immolated.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
BT headsets are stupid. And people that wear them 24/7 should be immolated.

QFT they look absolutely retarded

 

[MDesigner]

Noise cancellation is ON by default when you turn it on, so you shouldn't have to do anything to enable it. I turn mine on, and it's filtering out noise by default just fine.

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
BT headsets are stupid. And people that wear them 24/7 should be immolated.

Yes, devices that keep your hands 100% free for other things like driving and performing hazardous tasks are stupid.

But yeah, the 24/7 wearers are kinda weird, but hey, some of them are off/on the phone all day long. Might as well just leave it on.