If you've flown on a commercial airline since 2000, you've probably seen people wearing Bose QuietComfort headphones. They're expensive and large, and I don't like them.
Their noise-cancellation circuitry actually generates noise of its own, and my ears are good enough to hear it as long as I'm not seated too near the engines.
I started wearing earplugs on airplanes in the 1980s when I discovered the squishy memory-foam type. They block noise better than headphones ever could, and they don't make any noise themselves.
But when I bought my first iPod, that strategy didn't seem quite so perfect anymore. The ear-bud headphones that came with the iPod never fit me at all; they just fell out. After some experimentation with small folding travel headphones, I decided I was happiest with in-ear headphones. They gave me most of the noise reduction of the foam earplugs along with the ability to listen to music.
The problem with in-ear headphones is finding a model that fits me. I gather that this is a common problem with this type of product. I went through several low- and mid-priced models before settling on the old Apple In-Ear headphones--they just worked the best for me. (Interestingly, I had the same experience as CNET's Steve Guttenberg when he reviewed them: they only fit well when inserted upside-down.)... Read More
Aliph Jawbone Prime Earcandy
(Credit: Aliph)Aliph has just announced the Aliph Jawbone Prime, the successor to the highly acclaimed Aliph Jawbone 2 from last year. The Prime sports almost the same design as the Jawbone 2, except it has a dimpled loop pattern on the surface and a slight dip on the front to indicate the multifunction Talk button.
Other changes in the new Jawbone Prime include a more comfortable fit thanks to rubber ear buds with loops, and enhanced noise reduction due to a reworking of Noise Assassin, its noise cancellation technology. This means the Jawbone Prime works much better to combat wind noise in up to 10 mph winds, and is even better at eliminating background sound. Also, it improves on the Jawbone 2 by providing a fail-safe mechanism in case the voice activity sensor (that little white rubber nub) does not touch the face. Previously, if it didn't touch your face, your voice quality would suffer. Now, Aliph promises that when the sensor fails to sense your face, it'll still work just as well as any other headset.
I've already tested out the Jawbone Prime, and I have to say the call quality is really good. However, if you already have the Jawbone 2, I wouldn't run out to replace it. The difference in quality is not a whole lot, and the wind noise reduction isn't as great as on the Plantronics Voyager Pro. That said, if you're in the market for a stylish headset with good sound quality, the Jawbone Prime is a great choice. Be sure to stay tuned for our full review of the headset tomorrow.
The Jawbone Prime is available in Blah Blah Black, Coffee Talk, and Going Platinum. And as part of the Jawbone Prime's launch, Aliph has also introduced a whole line of colorful Jawbone Prime headsets it's calling Earcandy, which come in Frankly Scarlet, 'Yello!, Drop Me A Lime, and Lilac You Mean It. Each headset will be available for $129.99 from Apple, AT&T, Best Buy, Verizon Wireless, and a range of other outlets.
Jawbone's new fit earbuds are among the new accessories announced by Aliph.
(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET)Accessories for a Bluetooth headset may seem a little much, but Aliph has recently announced a few new add-ons to its popular Aliph Jawbone 2 Bluetooth headset. First, it addresses a few complaints about the Jawbone 2 fit with these new fit earbuds. These rubber ear cushions come with an additional rubber loop made to fit securely within the folds of the outer ear, so you won't need the Jawbone ear hook any more. Aliph also claims that these new ear cushions will make it easier for consumers to place the Voice Activity Sensor correctly.
The Jawbone car charger has a USB cable.
(Credit: Aliph)Next is the Jawbone car charger with USB cable, which is exactly what it sounds like. Nothing much more to say about this silver-looking bullet, except that it will cost you around $29.99. The aforementioned new fit earbuds are free with any new purchase of the Jawbone 2; we're currently checking to see if existing customers will have to pay for them.
UPDATE 11/11/08: According to Aliph, the new fit earbuds will be available around the end of November, free of charge to new and existing customers.
The layoffs across the tech sector are hitting companies large and small.
The maker of the popular Jawbone Bluetooth headset has let several employees go, citing the economy as one of the main reasons.
(Credit:
Aliph)
"Given the current economic climate and opportunities we have to more efficiently bring products to market, we are realigning our resources to increase focus on our core technology and products. As part of this effort, we have eliminated a number of positions in the organization," an Aliph spokesperson confirmed to CNET News Friday.
The spokesperson declined to say how many or from which departments those positions came, but a source tells us the company let go approximately 25 people, or 30 percent to 33 percent of the staff.
Bluetooth headsets saw a spike in sales over the summer, at least in California, following the state's new law barring talking on a cell phone while driving. The law allows for the use of earpieces and Bluetooth devices instead.
However, Aliph is funded by Sequoia Capital, the Silicon Valley VC firm that recently told all of its portfolio companies earlier this month to buckle down and tighten their finances if they wanted to survive the current economic downturn.
Aliph is based in San Francisco, and is also funded by Khosla Ventures.
Aliph Jawbone 2
(Credit: Aliph)Aliph has just announced the Jawbone 2, the highly anticipated successor to the Jawbone Bluetooth headset that debuted almost two years ago. If you'll recall, the Aliph Jawbone broke new ground by being the highest-rated Bluetooth headset here on CNET, mostly due to its excellent noise-canceling technology and unique eye-catching design. However, many of you had a few problems with it: It was bulky, a little tricky to wear, and the charge connector seemed a bit flimsy. Well, the Jawbone 2 has changed all of that. It is about 50 percent smaller than the original, with a brand new diamond pattern design that puts its predecessor to shame. No longer is there the awkward and unusual springy ear loop; instead you get an optional curved ear hook that's far easier to put on. Also, the Jawbone 2 now has a magnetic charging connector similar to that of the Apple Macbooks. But of course, the best part about the Jawbone 2 is its noise-canceling abilities--it still has that Voice Activity Sensor nub that helps to enhance your voice and eliminate background sound, plus its "Noise Shield" technology has been upgraded to "Noise Assassin" (clearly a marketing term) that promises to eliminate even more noise than the original. For the full shakedown of the new Jawbone 2, check out our review as well as our First Look video. The Aliph Jawbone 2 is available now in black for $129.99, though silver and gold versions are coming down the pipeline.
(Credit:
Yanko Design)
There's a good reason that Yves Behar was once crowned "The Brand Wizard": It's true. The Swiss-born designer has proven himself something of a Renaissance man in his profession, finding success in fields as diverse as sports and interior decor, as well as his work on the OLPC XO laptop.
But his name became much more familiar in consumer electronics with his avant-garde design of the popular "Aliph Jawbone" headset, so one can't really fault him for going back to that well for a limited edition. The special models are perhaps most noticeably different for their smooth texture, as opposed to the cheese-grater surface of the originals.
Most appealing, however, are their three themes of "trash talk, sweet talk, and dirty talk," according to Gizmodo. And no Craver could resist citing any product inscribed with "(@#*&!!"--translated or otherwise.
Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset
(Credit: Aliph)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, but we can't help but wonder whatever happened to Apple's own Bluetooth headset that Steve Jobs showed at MacWorld earlier this year. Will that be available in stores as well? Or will it be bundled with the phone? Considering the Jawbone sells for around $119.99, it might be wise for Apple to offer its own headset at a lower and more affordable price. That said, 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.
Work it, work it ...
(Credit: CNET Networks)Every year, CTIA puts on a technology fashion show featuring the latest handsets, accessories, wearable tech, and more. Billed as a "MUST SEE" event for media outlets, CNET TV starlette Veronica Belmont and I couldn't resist and grabbed some front-row seats to the Fashion in Motion show. We watched as some unenthusiastic models took to the runway showing off phones like the new Samsung Upstage and Sony Ericsson Z750, and did their best to make Bluetooth headsets look sexy. Yeah, no. Hey, I totally get that they're useful and functional accessories, but as we all know, fashion and function don't always go together. Granted, Bluetooth headsets have definitely come a long way in the looks department with semi-attractive models like the Aliph Jawbone but still, if you're not on a call, is it really necessary to walk around with it stuck in your ear? Don't even get cell phone editor Kent German started on that topic. *wink*
But you know what was the most disturbing thing I saw at the show? A product called eScent from Sensory Design & Technology of France. It's a little badge that you pin on your clothing, which releases a scent based on your "biological conditions." So if you're digging that guy or gal you've been eyeing across a room, it'll release one fragrance (they didn't specify what the scent was), but if you feel threatened, it'll send out a different scent. Umm, what?!
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