Jawbone to be Sold Alongside iPhone
From CNET
When Apple fans across the country flock to their neighborhood Apple Store to pick up their shiny new iPhone next Friday, they'll also have the opportunity to buy a Jawbone Bluetooth headset to go along with it. That's right; the Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset will be sold alongside the iPhone at all Apple Stores (plus Apple's online store) starting June 29, 2007. Designed by Yves Behar and decked out with military-grade noise-canceling technology, the Jawbone is certainly no slouch in the design and performance department...the Jawbone is a quality device (it's one of CNET's highest rated Bluetooth headsets), so if you have the cash to spare and the wherewithal to wait in line for the iPhone, it'll be there waiting for your Bluetooth-hungry hands.
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Jawbone's Noise Suppression
[Note: I'm using "noise suppression" as it's a more accurate description of a headset's "noise cancellation" feature, if the headset uses it. Noise-cancel capable headsets can not 100% eliminate background sound.]
Having tested the Jawbone (comparing to BT models my company distributes), I can advise the Jawbone has the best noise suppression capability of any BT headset available in the marketplace.
However, the Jawbone's noise suppression algorithm works at peak performance when there's constant, background noise level. In other words, if you're in an environment where the background noise level varies (say, in a crowd where voice-level loudness varies), Jawbone's noise suppression variably kicks-in and permits a bit of background noise to be picked-up and transmitted by the microphone. Conversely when the background noise is constant (say, a leaf blower as in Jawbone's web demo), the suppression works extremely well. My company's "field testing" of the Jawbone showed their web demos to be accurate, but just didn't reveal what happens when noise-level is not constant.
Nevertheless, Jawbone's product is very, very good. ...It's best BT headset to sell along side the iPhone.
Postscript: I just hope the iPhone will permit initiation of voice-activation calling through BT headsets. [Comparatively, Treo 650 & 700 models do not. One must voice-activate through the phone, and then, transfer the call over to the BT headset.]
Cool - thanks for the
Cool - thanks for the info!
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Shawn King
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com
BT Noise Suppression
Lesa...
I heard from listening to the archive of YMLS (6/20) that you didn't believe my Post statement about Jawbone's noise suppression capability. To provide some reassurance, I can relate that I tested the Jawbone myself, and that testing provided the verification that was the basis for my complete statement about this product's noise suppression. But, one must look at the statement in total. Shawn only referenced the algorithm's suppression during constant background noise. Jawbone's web site demos are accurate. But, it's important, from a prospective user's POV, to know how that algorithm works when the background noise is variable. After all, most typical usage of BT headsets isn't taking place with leaf blowers in the background.
I'm very familiar with Plantronics (PLT) BT headsets (wink & hint about the products my company distributes), and my experience is based upon actual, daily use. The PLT Discovery series does not have any built-in, noise suppression (the headset's compactness does not permit it as the mic is so far from one's mouth). Some Discovery models do have DSP which provides improved earpiece quality. The PLT Voyager 510 does have some noise suppression capability, but it's not very robust; at least, not as robust as I want. The Voyager 510 is a pretty good, BT headset and priced at a moderate level. The PLT Explorer is an entry-level BT headset and does not have any noise suppression.
So, when comparing my experience with Plantronics BT headsets with use-tests of the Jawbone, I can say very accurately that the Jawbone has better noise supppression capability than Plantronics, Jabra, Motorola BT headsets. (BTW, I've also use-tested most of the Jabra & Motorola models.) Note: Jawbone is only distributed through their own web site as well as through Cingular_AT&T. So, my company has nothing to do with Jawbone, except seeing it as a competitor.
When I get an iPhone, I will re-test all the above BT headsets with it. Using a BT headset, for me, with a BT-enabled phone is key. I'm an admitted, Mac-Mac guy. I have high hopes for the iPhone, particularly voice activation through a BT headset. ...And so, I nervously await it's public appearance to know if my hopes have been met.
Jawbone & iPhone
I've just completed a test of the Jawbone BT headset (the same headset as has been previously tested & referenced in my prior comments) with an 8GB iPhone, purchased 6/29.
The Jawbone headset worked very well, including the noise suppression. Moreover, the iPhone worked well both in the Pairing process, which was easy, and in subsequent telephone call usage.
So, as a BT headset for the iPhone, Jawbone merits consideration. ...It will be interesting when Apple finally makes their BT headset available.
I recommend use of a BT headset with the iPhone's telephone calls as it will assist in making its audio (In & Out) very practical, effective, and safe (when in a car).