Jawbone (headset)
Encyclopedia
The Jawbone is a line of Bluetooth
mobile phone
headsets produced by Aliph, a privately held San Francisco-based consumer technology company founded by Alex Asseily and Hosain Rahman. Since the introduction of the line in December 2006, it has been widely regarded as one of the best Bluetooth headsets available. The current model in the line is the Jawbone Era, which, like other models, sports a skin contact microphone
that comes in contact with the wearer's face and gives the line its name. A defining feature of the Jawbone line is the integration of Aliph's NoiseAssassin adaptive signal processing
technology, which was originally developed for DARPA to reduce communication background noise in military environments.
The original Jawbone headset was designed by Yves Behar
of fuseproject
for which it received significant attention, even being shown in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
as part of an industrial design exhibit. Both its design and technological innovations were recognized by the Consumer Electronics Show
in 2007 when it won an Innovations Design and Engineering Award.
In May 2008, Aliph launched an updated version of the headset called the "New" Jawbone, but often referred to as Jawbone 2, which was again designed by Yves Behar. In addition to a 50% smaller form-factor
, this model also incorporated a faster processor for better digital signal processing by the NoiseAssassin technology and a voice activity sensor to further mitigate interference from environmental noise
. The Jawbone 2 continued to receive high praise, including winning the 2008 Readers' Choice Engadget Awards in the "Wearable Device of the Year" category. The growing popularity of the headset can be partially attributed to a marketing campaign in which Aliph offered a discount to drivers that were cited
in California
for using a mobile phone while driving.
The following year, Aliph again launched an update to the Jawbone line, calling this model the Jawbone Prime. For this model, a new version of the company's audio processing technology, NoiseAssassin 2.0, was incorporated into the design, as well as an upgrade to Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR and support for multiple devices. The overall form factor of the device received only minor adjustments for an improved fit, but the line was expanded to include 3 standard colors and 4 additional colors offered by the "EARCANDY" sub-models.
In January 2010, the line saw another refresh with the release of the Jawbone Icon (Jawbone 4). This version featured a completely redesigned form-factor which shortened the overall length of the body while widening it slightly. The Jawbone Icon is available in 6 different styles (exterior casings). The status indicator was moved to the inside of the headset and a physical on-off switch was added. The NoiseAssassin noise canceling algorithms were also updated to V2.5. Unlike any other Bluetooth headset on the market, the Jawbone Icon incorporates a new software platform that allows users to synchronize applications with the earpiece via Aliph's new MyTalk website. Aliph continued to receive accolades for this model, with Wired News
calling it "the best thought-out product [they] saw at CES
this year" (2010).
On January 20, 2011, the Jawbone Era headset was released. The headset was the first bluetooth headset to contain an accelerometer
sensor. MotionX
technology allows the Era to be controlled by gestures such as TapTap and ShakeShake. Other improvements include a 25% larger speaker than the previous Jawbone Icon, improved noise reduction, and longer talk time.
As of Sept, 2011, the newest Jawbone model Icon HD was released boasting a 25% increased speaker size and true HD audio. This new model includes a small adapter called "the nerd" which plugs into a pc or several mobile devices to pair with the Icon HD for a2d2 bluetooth connection essentially allowing a user to speak on skype or any other audio application while at the same time remaining connected to their mobile phone and switching between the two. The Icon HD is not currently sold without "the nerd" which increases the price for those that have no use for "the nerd" but still want the improved speaker and audio quality.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
headsets produced by Aliph, a privately held San Francisco-based consumer technology company founded by Alex Asseily and Hosain Rahman. Since the introduction of the line in December 2006, it has been widely regarded as one of the best Bluetooth headsets available. The current model in the line is the Jawbone Era, which, like other models, sports a skin contact microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
that comes in contact with the wearer's face and gives the line its name. A defining feature of the Jawbone line is the integration of Aliph's NoiseAssassin adaptive signal processing
Signal processing
Signal processing is an area of systems engineering, electrical engineering and applied mathematics that deals with operations on or analysis of signals, in either discrete or continuous time...
technology, which was originally developed for DARPA to reduce communication background noise in military environments.
History
Yves Behar
Yves Béhar is a designer, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate. He is the founder of fuseproject, the San Francisco and New York based design and branding firm he established in 1999...
of fuseproject
Fuseproject
Founded in 1999 by Yves Béhar, Fuseproject is a San Francisco-based industrial design and branding firm. It works across a wide array of industries including beauty and fashion, furniture and technology....
for which it received significant attention, even being shown in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
as part of an industrial design exhibit. Both its design and technological innovations were recognized by the Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
in 2007 when it won an Innovations Design and Engineering Award.
In May 2008, Aliph launched an updated version of the headset called the "New" Jawbone, but often referred to as Jawbone 2, which was again designed by Yves Behar. In addition to a 50% smaller form-factor
Small form factor
A small form factor is a computer form factor designed to minimize the volume of a desktop computer. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs...
, this model also incorporated a faster processor for better digital signal processing by the NoiseAssassin technology and a voice activity sensor to further mitigate interference from environmental noise
Environmental noise
Environmental noise is the summary of noise from transport, industrial and recreational activities.The definition is pursuant to the directive 2002/49/EC article 10.1. This directive should give a common approach intended to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful effects of environmental noise. The...
. The Jawbone 2 continued to receive high praise, including winning the 2008 Readers' Choice Engadget Awards in the "Wearable Device of the Year" category. The growing popularity of the headset can be partially attributed to a marketing campaign in which Aliph offered a discount to drivers that were cited
Traffic ticket
A traffic ticket is a notice issued by a law enforcement official to a motorist or other road user, accusing violation of traffic laws. Traffic tickets generally come in two forms, citing a moving violation, such as exceeding the speed limit, or a non-moving violation, such as a parking violation,...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for using a mobile phone while driving.
The following year, Aliph again launched an update to the Jawbone line, calling this model the Jawbone Prime. For this model, a new version of the company's audio processing technology, NoiseAssassin 2.0, was incorporated into the design, as well as an upgrade to Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR and support for multiple devices. The overall form factor of the device received only minor adjustments for an improved fit, but the line was expanded to include 3 standard colors and 4 additional colors offered by the "EARCANDY" sub-models.
In January 2010, the line saw another refresh with the release of the Jawbone Icon (Jawbone 4). This version featured a completely redesigned form-factor which shortened the overall length of the body while widening it slightly. The Jawbone Icon is available in 6 different styles (exterior casings). The status indicator was moved to the inside of the headset and a physical on-off switch was added. The NoiseAssassin noise canceling algorithms were also updated to V2.5. Unlike any other Bluetooth headset on the market, the Jawbone Icon incorporates a new software platform that allows users to synchronize applications with the earpiece via Aliph's new MyTalk website. Aliph continued to receive accolades for this model, with Wired News
Wired News
Wired News is an online technology news website, formerly known as HotWired, that split off from Wired magazine when the magazine was purchased by Condé Nast Publishing in the 1990s. Wired News was owned by Lycos not long after the split, until Condé Nast purchased Wired News on July 11, 2006...
calling it "the best thought-out product [they] saw at CES
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
this year" (2010).
On January 20, 2011, the Jawbone Era headset was released. The headset was the first bluetooth headset to contain an accelerometer
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures proper acceleration, also called the four-acceleration. This is not necessarily the same as the coordinate acceleration , but is rather the type of acceleration associated with the phenomenon of weight experienced by a test mass that resides in the frame...
sensor. MotionX
Fullpower Technologies
Fullpower is a private company based in Santa Cruz, California. It is notable for its founding in 2003 by Philippe Kahn and Sonia Lee and for its MotionX technology platform. MotionX is a mobile sensing technology platform embedded in solutions from companies such as Nike, Jawbone, Pioneer and JVC...
technology allows the Era to be controlled by gestures such as TapTap and ShakeShake. Other improvements include a 25% larger speaker than the previous Jawbone Icon, improved noise reduction, and longer talk time.
As of Sept, 2011, the newest Jawbone model Icon HD was released boasting a 25% increased speaker size and true HD audio. This new model includes a small adapter called "the nerd" which plugs into a pc or several mobile devices to pair with the Icon HD for a2d2 bluetooth connection essentially allowing a user to speak on skype or any other audio application while at the same time remaining connected to their mobile phone and switching between the two. The Icon HD is not currently sold without "the nerd" which increases the price for those that have no use for "the nerd" but still want the improved speaker and audio quality.