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Jawbone unleashes Big Jambox, beefs up its Bluetooth 'smartspeaker' lineup

Joe Pollicino — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:01:00 EST

We've had a shimmer in our eye for Jawbone's $200 Jambox, the itty bitty Bluetooth 'smartspeaker,' ever since it was released back in late 2010. So, imagine our delight now that the company has just stepped things up to a larger level with its new $300 Big Jambox. Measuring in at well over double the size of the original, the 2.7-pound speaker is still very similar in design and features the familiar perforated metal grill designs by Yves Behar -- starting May 15th, you can pick one up in your choice of Red Dot, Graphite Hex and White Wave. The larger footprint helps it to be more functionally capable than its sibling, yet it's still small enough to carry in one hand. On top, the unit sports playback controls in addition to the requisite volume and talk buttons, while on the side you'll find a USB connection (for software updates), power input 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth-pairing button and a power button.

To pump out the jams, the Big Jambox features an airtight enclosure loaded with a duo of active neodymium drivers and opposing dual-passive bass radiators to handle all the wub wub you can throw at it. A 2,600mAh rechargeable battery will get you roughly 15 hours of totally wireless listening time (500 on standby), but -- as is the case with the original -- you still can't share that juice with your gadgets. Positively, Android users can take advantage of the Big Jambox's exclusive Companion app, which allows the unit to do tricks such like sync up with your G-cal to inform you about your appointments. Lastly, like the Jambox, the Big Jambox features MyTalk voice prompts / app compatibility, along with Live Audio DSP to give your sounds an immersive "3D" feel. Curious to find out more? We spent a full weekend with the new gizmo, and you can catch our full review by clicking here. Full press release after the break.

Gallery: Jawbone Big Jambox (press images)

Continue reading Jawbone unleashes Big Jambox, beefs up its Bluetooth 'smartspeaker' lineup

Jawbone unleashes Big Jambox, beefs up its Bluetooth 'smartspeaker' lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Big Jambox review

Joe Pollicino — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:01:00 EST

It was back in February when we first caught wind a beefier version of Jawbone's Jambox, thanks to some less-than-stealthy ninjas at the FCC. Today it's officially here. Dubbed Big Jambox, this $300 Bluetooth speakerphone and "smartspeaker" is unsurprisingly a supersized -- yet still portable -- version of the new-age micro-boombox that the won us over back in 2010. Naturally, there have been some tweaks to go along with the bigger footprint, but all the core features including Jawbone's MyTalk apps and noise-cancelling know-how are in tow. Now that we've used it extensively for a few days, we're ready to answer some questions you might have. Does it follow the old adage that bigger is better? How will it fit into your lifestyle compared to the Jambox? And most importantly, is it worth the asking price?

Gallery: Jawbone Big Jambox review

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Jawbone Big Jambox review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change the Jawbone Up?

Daniel Cooper — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:41:00 EST

Ordinarily, we'd be dismissive if you answered that question with "Doy, make it work!" but in the special case of the Jawbone Up, it's entirely apt. The wristband promised plenty of technological advances that would track your sleep, calories burned and diarize your food intake, all within the confines of a slender cord wrapped around your wrist. The downside? A significant proportion of the units conked out days after being opened, forcing the company to offer no-questions-asked refunds and halt production. So, what we want to know is: do you have a working Up? Does it still work? Do you like it? If Hosain Rahman was reading the comments below, how would you suggest he goes about fixing things?

How would you change the Jawbone Up? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Big Jambox packs on the pounds, rears its fat head at the FCC

Joseph Volpe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:57:00 EST

Despite occupying a questionable space on the scale of must-have audio goods, Jawbone's little Bluetooth speaker that could managed to win us over with its ample range. Now, that stylish peripheral is about to get shunted out of the spotlight, making way for a plus-sized sibling. As recent FCC documents have revealed, the company has a Big Jambox in the works which is, presumably, bigger than its diminutive kin. Aside from ports for micro-USB, audio-in and power, not much else could be gleaned from the filing. Given its larger-than-life moniker, however, we'd expect this new offering to be more of a standard dock than kitschy accessory.

Jawbone Big Jambox packs on the pounds, rears its fat head at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Soundmatters foxLo subwoofer adds umph to your FoxL v2 Bluetooth speaker, 'fits in your palm'

Joe Pollicino — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:18:00 EST

Soundmatters may not be the first company to ever introduce a subwoofer with a small footprint, but at this year's CES, its new foxLo is taking the claim of being the "world's first palm-sized" on. The 25-watt unit can hook into the subwoofer output of a foxL V2 Bluetooth speakers or any other devices with 3.5mm outputs, thanks to its "full pass audio out" jack. Aside from injecting low-end into your mini-rig with its "Magnetic Drive woofer," the 'Lo can also recharge your gadgets with its built-in USB port. Sadly, however, the gizmo itself only operates on wall-power, putting a damper on any mobility offered by its Bluetooth brethren. Operation limited to a volume control for dialing in an optimal amount of bass, and an LED to indicate power. If you're already hungering to add on a thumpy fidelity boost to your smaller speakers (and refuse to be swoon by a solid set of headphones), the foxLo's set to go on sale this spring for about $149. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading Soundmatters foxLo subwoofer adds umph to your FoxL v2 Bluetooth speaker, 'fits in your palm'

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Tech's biggest misfires of 2011

Brian Heater — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST

The past 12 months have been a boon of technological innovation, particularly in the world of mobile devices, where top companies have been waging an arms race for the top of the smartphone and tablet hills. Not everything has been smooth sailing, however -- 2011 has also been dotted by delays, false starts, security breeches and straight up technological turf outs. Check out some of the lowlights from the year that was after the break.

Continue reading Tech's biggest misfires of 2011

Tech's biggest misfires of 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Up refunds start rolling out, feel free to keep your bricked band (or not)

Dante Cesa — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:22:00 EST

Not entirely satisfied with that Jawbone Up purchase? Well, plebes, if you also applied for the "no questions asked" refund, you ought to check your inbox. A reader of Wireless Goodness has received a confirmation (as seen above) that greenbacks from their purchase are inbound. For those of you who forgot to file that claim, peep the more coverage link below. Everyone else, might we humbly suggest our review?

Jawbone Up refunds start rolling out, feel free to keep your bricked band (or not) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone offers 'no questions asked' refund for troubled Up band, even if you keep it

Mat Smith — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:23:00 EST

While Jawbone attempts to fix the handful of substantial issues plaguing its new Up fitness band, it's now announced that it will begin giving free refunds to dissatisfied customers -- and you can even keep hold of the band afterwards. Production of it has been put on pause, but the company is continuing to roll out software tweaks for existing lifestyle metric obsessives. The new guarantee starts on December 9th, and will only cover Up bands purchased this year. You can read up on all the refund specifics -- along with Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman's apology -- at the source links below.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals, Wearables

Jawbone offers 'no questions asked' refund for troubled Up band, even if you keep it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Up review

Dana Wollman — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

Back in July, Jawbone did something surprising. The company, best known for its Bluetooth headsets, announced it was cooking up a wristband called "Up" -- a wearable device that would track the wearer's sleeping, eating and exercise habits. At the time, we didn't know much more than that, but given the company's expertise in wearable tech, we assumed it would at least have a Bluetooth radio, tying it together with all the other products Jawbone sells.

As it turns out, the wristband doesn't sync your vitals wirelessly and for better or worse, it doesn't work quite the way we thought it would. To use the wristband, you'll need an iOS device -- no other platform is supported, and there isn't even a mobile website to which you can upload all your data. Then again, it does things other fitness trackers don't: it monitors when you're in deep or light sleep, so that it can wake you when you're just dozing. And because it's waterproof up to one meter and promises up to 10 days of battery life, it's low-maintenance enough that you can wear it every day, which could be key to making some healthy lifestyle changes. So how did Jawbone do, stepping so far outside its comfort zone? And should you consider this over identically priced fitness trackers such as the new Fitbit Ultra? Let's see.

Gallery: Jawbone Up review

Continue reading Jawbone Up review

Jawbone Up review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Up detailed: tracks activity, food intake and sleep cycles, available November 6 for $100 (video)

Dana Wollman — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST

Back in July, Jawbone did something puzzling. The company, best known for its Bluetooth headsets, teased a photo of a colorful wristband called the Up -- a deceptively simple thing that could purportedly track your eating, sleeping and exercise habits. The outfit left out a few teensy details: the price, shipping date and, the biggest riddle of all, how it works.

At last, the company's ready to talk specifics. We just got word the Up will be available in the US November 6th for $100, and will continue its world tour on the 17th. With that price, it's well-matched against the clip-on Fitbit Ultra tracker, and indeed, they have some key features in common -- namely, a step counter and a few requisite social networking features. But with a sensor that knows when you're in deep sleep and a mobile app that can identify photos of food, it has a few unexpected tricks that could give devices like Fitbit a run for their money. We'll be getting one to test very soon, but in the meantime, join us past the break to learn more.

Gallery: Up by Jawbone

Continue reading Jawbone Up detailed: tracks activity, food intake and sleep cycles, available November 6 for $100 (video)

Jawbone Up detailed: tracks activity, food intake and sleep cycles, available November 6 for $100 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone's Up wristband warms up at AT&T store, wants you faster, stronger

Mat Smith — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST

Jawbone's fitness-obsessed wristband appears to be closing in on the retail finish line. The Up pairs with what appears to be an iOS app, (no news on whether an Android version is in the pipeline), and will pile on the guilt about your disgustingly sedentary lifestyle. You can have the luxury of feeling like a weight loss reality show contestant by scheduling "get up and move" reminders when you've succumbed to watching back-to-back mediocre sitcoms with a Doritos family bag chaser. There's also a sleep tracker and a challenge tab to plot your amazing weight loss journey (or descent to an early demise) against friends and family. It'll monitor what you eat, and even tell you which foods "help you feel your best." (We think it's cake.) No word on price or arrival date just yet, so you'll just have to put up with Autom until we hear more.

[Thanks, Luke]

Jawbone's Up wristband warms up at AT&T store, wants you faster, stronger originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone announces Icon HD headset with improved audio, 'Nerd' adapter for making PC-based VoIP calls

Dana Wollman — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST

It's been the better part of a year since we've seen a new Jawbone headset, and in that time the outfit's clearly been focusing less on brainstorming cutesy names for its Bluetooth earpieces and more on tweaking the sound quality. The company just announced the Icon HD, whose wideband speaker is 25 percent larger than the original Icon's, and which lets you pause and play songs and podcasts by pressing a button on the headset. The real story, though, isn't the Icon HD, but The Nerd, a questionably named add-on that plugs into your computer's USB port, allowing the headset to field VoIP calls from PCs and Macs, in addition to ones coming through to your cellphone. The hook here -- aside from the added functionality -- is that it's a plug-n-play device that doesn't require any software installation. It's almost as if -- wait for it -- a nerd took the reins and set up wireless VoIP calling for you. The pair's on sale as a bundle for $139, and will hit brick-and-mortar stores soon. In other news, Jawbone's Companion for Android app, which displays headsets' battery life among other vitals, is now out of the testing phase and ready for general consumption. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Jawbone announces Icon HD headset with improved audio, 'Nerd' adapter for making PC-based VoIP calls

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Jawbone branches out from audio products, teases "Up" wristband that keeps tabs on your bad habits

Dana Wollman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:47:00 EST

According to our calendar, this is one of the least timely days of the year for us to harp on New Year's Resolutions, but that's no matter to Jawbone. The company, best-known for crafting those high-end headsets, is at TED talking up its first non-audio product: a wristband dubbed "Up" that tracks and analyzes your eating, sleeping, and exercise habits -- kind of like a bare-bones Fitbit or Nike+. As you can see in that photo up there, it's about the size of those ubiquitous rubber Livestrong bands and lacks a display (not to mention, wireless radios) -- all concessions made in the name of keeping the cost down, says Travis Bogard, VP of product marketing and strategy. So, this is a good 'ol wired product, with a bundled adapter connecting the band to your phone via the 3.5mm jack. Once you connect, you can view all your data on a website or through a mobile app. Or, if you thrive on public shaming, you can challenge people to fitness duels to the death (our phrasing, not Jawbone's). All told, this falls outside the outfit's comfort zone, but then again, it does know a thing or two about wearable tech. For now, the company's keeping mum on pricing and availability, though it says Up will be available in the states later this year. As for compatibility, well, Bogard tells us it's going to work with "all the relevant" mobile platforms. Make of that what you will, folks.

Continue reading Jawbone branches out from audio products, teases "Up" wristband that keeps tabs on your bad habits

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Jawbone Era sticks an accelerometer in your noise-canceling headset, we go hands-on

Sean Hollister — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

With a fantastic Bluetooth headset on the market and a pumpin' portable speaker to blast out jams, how could Jawbone improve their product lineup? Well, we still think a stereo headset might be swell... but that's not what the company delivered today. No, this is the Jawbone Era, the world's first Bluetooth earpiece with a built-in accelerometer for motion-sensing apps, and plenty more improvements where that came from. There's a new version of the company's NoiseAssassin noise-canceling algorithms that adjusts inbound volume and equalization to let you hear better, an extra-large 10mm cone speaker with a larger range of frequencies, two processors, more memory, and an hour of extra battery life compared to the Jawbone Icon, to be specific. With only two motions currently recognized -- a double-tap to begin / end / switch calls and a rapid shake to pair -- the accelerometer's a bit of a gimmick for now, but Jawbone suggests more gestures are probably on the way. In the meanwhile, the other advancements might make the Era worth the price of entry -- which is $130, by the by.

We've spent about five hours with the headset already, listening to music and taking calls, and while the accelerometer seems almost wasted at present, there's no discounting that new 10mm driver and the audio it can pump out. While no substitute for a set of quality dedicated earbuds, it sounded worlds better than the Jawbone Icon's tiny, tinny drum, and playing Pandora tracks we no longer felt an overpowering desire to take it out of our ear -- making a cyborg existence all the more bearable, we suppose. We'll bring you a full review soon, but if you're already sold, you'll find four different Era designs on sale at Jawbone's online store... oh, right about now. PR after the break.

Gallery: Jawbone Era unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Jawbone Era sticks an accelerometer in your noise-canceling headset, we go hands-on

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Jawbone Jambox vs. Soundmatters foxL v2... fight!

Sean Hollister — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST

Two portable speakers clamber into the ring, each boasting big, beautiful sound for their diminutive size. Both cost $200. Both have the same technology inside. The Jawbone Jambox and the Soundmatters foxL v2 with Bluetooth each want to be your wireless audio wunderkind, blasting music and taking Bluetooth calls. At best, you're only going to buy one. Which speaker should you choose? Following our Jambox review, we got our hands on a foxL and put the two head to head, and after the break you'll see which one came out on top -- both literally and figuratively.

Gallery: Jawbone Jambox vs. Soundmatters foxL v2... fight!

Continue reading Jawbone Jambox vs. Soundmatters foxL v2... fight!

Jawbone Jambox vs. Soundmatters foxL v2... fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph gets into the app game with Jawbone Thoughts voice messaging

Joanna Stern — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:43:00 EST

We know, it's a bit odd to see the Jawbone name attached to something other than a Bluetooth headset or speaker, but Aliph is forging into the application game with a new voice messaging service for iOS. Called Thoughts, the software is basically like text messaging or instant messaging with voice. The free audio-based messaging iPhone app, which should be hitting the App Store today, lets you send short audio recordings to either a single contact or a group with a tap of a button. We got a chance to check it out at the D: Dive into Mobile conference this week and found the whole thing to be a really great way to circumvent voicemails or longer texts -- all you have to do is tap the name of your contact and then leave a short voice message. There's absolutely no ringing or waiting. If and when that contact responds it appears as a threaded message, and if you're in an area that isn't conducive to listening to those thrilling messages, there's also a transcription feature. The app should be hitting today, but if you need more details before tapping install, hit the break for the full press release and a short promo video.

Continue reading Aliph gets into the app game with Jawbone Thoughts voice messaging

Aliph gets into the app game with Jawbone Thoughts voice messaging originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Jambox review

Sean Hollister — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:55:00 EST

You may have already gathered that we're fans of the Jawbone Jambox -- seeing as how it appears in our Holiday Gift Guide -- but does a miniature portable speaker, even one that pumps out 85 decibels, deserve a $200 price? How about that battery life? We've spent weeks now with the little Bluetooth speaker that could, throwing it at every scenario in sight, and after the break you'll find a full review with all the upsides and downsides.

Gallery: Jawbone Jambox unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Jawbone Jambox review

Jawbone Jambox review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Jambox Bluetooth speaker now available for $200

Donald Melanson — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:10:00 EST

It's hardly the most affordable Bluetooth speaker around, but Jawbone's new Jambox did manage to impress us when we got our hands on it earlier this month, and you can now finally pick one up yourself directly from Jawbone, or at your local Apple store and "select" Best Buy stores. As expected, it'll set you back $200, and it's available in your choice of four different colors / designs, each of which pack the same 800mAh lithium-ion battery that promises ten hours of continuous use, a built-in mic that will let you use it as a speakerphone, and an output capacity of 85 decibels that Jawbone says "fills even the largest rooms with stellar hi-fi sound." If you're looking to judge that for yourself, you can apparently do so at an Apple store, where Jawbone says the Jambox will be "featured alongside the iPad."

Jawbone Jambox Bluetooth speaker now available for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone intros Jambox portable bluetooth speaker, we go hands-on (update)

Sean Hollister — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

Since 2006, Jawbone's been making noise-canceling bluetooth headsets boasting modern design and military-grade sound. This is not one of those. This is the Jawbone Jambox -- a wireless bluetooth speaker -- and it's what happened when the company decided to let the music out. Functionally it's almost exactly the same as a Jawbone Icon, down to the pairing process, and MyTALK upgradable software platform, but instead of a tiny mono earpiece you're getting a stylish portable speakerphone with a 3.5mm input jack and some serious stereo potential. We've had it playing for several hours now, and while it's not going to be the life of a large party even at maximum volume, it pumps out a terribly impressive amount of clear, room-filling sound for its size. If you pick it up or set it down on a table, you'll feel the vibrations nearby.

You can't quite tell from this angle, but that stainless steel grill wraps around an airtight enclosure made of polycarbonate infused with glass, which houses a pair of full-range drivers and a microphone up front and a "moving-wall passive bass radiator" around back for some extra low-end goodness. We're told this last was quite the innovation, which didn't impress us much until we were told what Jawbone put inside the radiator to ensure mass and rigidity: the unit's 800mAh lithium-ion battery. Speaking of juice, Jawbone tells us the unit's good for about eight hours of continuous playback at 75 percent volume. You'll be paying a good bit to get this designer toy pumping out your jams, as any of the black, red, blue or silver units will run $200 at Best Buy and the Apple Store when they hit November 16th, but if you've been aching for a modern, handheld ghetto blaster, this is definitely one way to go. PR after the break.

Update: As some have pointed out in comments, a number of the ideas here aren't actually new -- you can find a very similar portable Bluetooth speaker (down to a patent-pending "BassBattery" and a $200 price) in the Soundmatters foxL v2 with Bluetooth.

Update 2: As it turns out, the foxL v2 isn't exactly a competitor, it's an ally of sorts, because the Jambox is a collaboration with the same Dr. Godehard Guenther who invented the original device. "JAMBOX leverages the core analog acoustics that made FoxL great," says a representative, but with numerous improvements: Jawbone's noise cancellation and Bluetooth know-how, a thicker, stiffer speaker enclosure and a Yves Behar design.

Gallery: Jawbone Jambox unboxing and hands-on

Gallery: Jawbone Jambox press shots

Continue reading Jawbone intros Jambox portable bluetooth speaker, we go hands-on (update)

Jawbone intros Jambox portable bluetooth speaker, we go hands-on (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What is the Jawbone 'Nerd Dongle'?

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:02:00 EST

Aliph is a company known for producing its line of Jawbone Bluetooth headsets -- emphasis on "headsets." So when we see a product in the FCC from Aliph with Jawbone branding described as the "Nerd Dongle" and looking a whole lot like a USB stick, you can imagine that our curiosity is piqued a bit. From the test report, it seems there's a lot of testing going on in the 2.4GHz range, which would be indicative of either Bluetooth or WiFi... most likely Bluetooth, if we had to bet. Other than that, though, the possibilities are wide open -- we can't imagine this isn't anything more than a standard Bluetooth dongle, especially considering that virtually all laptops have it built-in these days. Any educated (or uneducated) guesses?

What is the Jawbone 'Nerd Dongle'? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Icon for Cisco is the for-business Bluetooth headset compatible with VoIP phones

Sean Hollister — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:52:00 EST

Got a workplace fancy enough to warrant $500 video conferencing VoIP phones? Then Aliph's got a Bluetooth headset you might like to own. From what we can tell from the press release, the Jawbone Icon for Cisco doesn't have anything new in terms of audio quality or styling -- the old adage of don't fix what ain't broke -- but instead adds upgradable firmware and allegedly seamless switching between a Cisco Unified IP Phone (or that Cius tablet) and your personal cell. The idea is that you could walk around all day untethered, and never need to bend over to pick up calls from either phone. The headset's already shipping in the US and Canada with top-tier Cisco phones. Hear that? That's the sound of the last vestiges of humanity fading away as the Bluetooth cyborgs take over. PR after the break.

Continue reading Jawbone Icon for Cisco is the for-business Bluetooth headset compatible with VoIP phones

Jawbone Icon for Cisco is the for-business Bluetooth headset compatible with VoIP phones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show: Inside the mind of Yves Behar

Joanna Stern — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:16:00 EST

Lots of tech companies would like you to believe that they're responsible for the design of its best looking gadgets, but in reality most of them hire outside groups for all that non-spec stuff. And well, if they're smart they get leading industrial designer Yves Behar and his FuseProject team to dream up something incredibly groundbreaking and head-turning. Having birthed the designs of the OLPC XOs and Jawbone headsets we've always been incredibly fascinated by Behar and his knack for coming up with eye-pleasing technology, so naturally we caught up with him when he was in NYC last month and shot some footage of his studio. Uh, so what are you still doing here? Watch it now! Hit up the video after the break!

Host: Joanna Stern
Special guests: Yves Behar
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger
Edited by: Michael Slavens
Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec

Download the Show: The Engadget Show - Segment 006 (HD) / The Engadget Show - Segment 006 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted)

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Continue reading The Engadget Show: Inside the mind of Yves Behar

The Engadget Show: Inside the mind of Yves Behar originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Icon 'The Ace' Bluetooth headset review

Richard Lai — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:34:00 EST

While Aliph was announcing its luxurious Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headsets earlier today, we've been playing with one of its six designs -- The Ace -- at our cozy London pad. Being the smallest and lightest Jawbone ever, the Icon's obviously challenging the likes of Jabra Stone with attempts to outperform in noise elimination, battery life, ergonomics and ease of operation. On paper, the Icon already wins on battery life and price, although the Stone has a charging dock good for six extra hours. What really matters, though, is the usability -- something the Stone had little of in a noisy environment. Read on to find out if Aliph has done it right.

Gallery: Aliph Jawbone Icon review

Continue reading Aliph Jawbone Icon 'The Ace' Bluetooth headset review

Aliph Jawbone Icon 'The Ace' Bluetooth headset review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors (Update: video!)

Richard Lai — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST

Turns out that leak we saw of the Jawbone Icon was for real after all, but it was only one of the six designs straight out of Aliph's oven: (clockwise from top left) The Thinker, The Rogue, The Hero, The Ace, The Catch and -- our favorite -- The Bombshell. While these are the smallest and lightest Jawbones ever, Aliph has managed to cram in an allegedly improved NoiseAssassin and simultaneous dual-phone linkage, along with an onboard 'AudioApp' which vocally broadcasts battery level and caller ID. If you prefer a visual indication, the Icon also does a battery gauge on the iPhone -- a first on a non-Apple Bluetooth headset -- and apparently "Apple's aware of this" so a firmware update shouldn't kill this Palm Pre-style. We're digging the MyTALK website -- currently in beta -- where you can pick and install other AudioApps and DialApps (for the multifunction button; e.g. voice dialing, free directory assistance and voice-to-SMS) onto the Icon, and both will be free except for some DialApps which require subscription. Oh, and there are seven earbud sizes plus an earloop to keep everyone happy too. When you're done with picking, hit the Verizon stores for the initial launch today and pony up $99.99. Press release and video walkthrough of the MyTALK website after the break.

Gallery: Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headsets launched in six lush flavors

Continue reading Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors (Update: video!)

Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors (Update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset leaked on Craigslist?

Richard Lai — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:46:00 EST

We know the rule of thumb is to not trust everything on Craigslist, but when an unreleased refresh of the cool-looking Jawbone Bluetooth headset pops up for sale, it'd be wrong to ignore it. HTCPedia managed to get cozy with Mr. Blurrycam and got a few shots of the supposedly forthcoming Jawbone Icon, which appears to don the same skin pattern as the Jawbone Prime but in a form factor similar to the original Jawbone -- quite an odd decision so we remain skeptical, but it'd be a welcoming addition for the market nevertheless. A couple of close-up shots after the break.

[Thanks, Brian!]

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Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset leaked on Craigslist? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screen Grabs: Jawbone gets chewed out by Entourage's Johnny Drama

Darren Murph — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:01:00 EST

Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

The best show to ever land on HBO has certainly seen its fair share of hot technology, from last week's Ferrari-fest (with a notable 'holla' to Porsche) to this week's love affair with Aliph's Jawbone. As you can see in the Screen Grab above, Johnny Drama couldn't help but sport the all-black Bluetooth earpiece to match his ebony jacket and equally dark motorcar whilst jabbering to Turtle. Nah, it's not the Jawbone Prime, but we wouldn't put it past Sloan to tease E (again) over one here in the not-too-distant future. Now, if only Marky Mark could convince the suits at Time Warner to allocate an hour per episode to this masterpiece, we'd really be in heaven...

[Thanks, SmoothMarx]

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Screen Grabs: Jawbone gets chewed out by Entourage's Johnny Drama originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Prime hands-on and unboxing

Paul Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:46:00 EST

We've got Aliph's new Jawbone Prime in hand, and while it's not much different to look at compared to its predecessor, there's enough new on the noise reduction and ergonomics front to warrant a quick look. Follow along after the break.

Gallery: Aliph Jawbone Prime hands-on and unboxing

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Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

Aliph Jawbone Prime hands-on and unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Prime hands-on and unboxing

Paul Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:46:00 EST

Gallery: Aliph Jawbone Prime hands-on and unboxing

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Aliph Jawbone Prime hands-on and unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Prime arrives to coddle your ears, raid your wallet

Paul Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST

It's been almost a year since Aliph last graced the Bluetooth headset world with its presence, and now it's back with the Jawbone Prime to reclaim the throne. The Jawbone Prime is only a minor update -- on the surface, anyways -- to its predecessor, and in fact the only visible change is a slightly different surface pattern and a minor indentation to denote one of the headset's two invisible buttons. Other than the quite welcome addition of Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR (multipoint connections, easy pairing), almost all the improvements under the hood have to do with the algorithm tweaks of NoiseAssassin 2.0 to improve noise reduction. It's really too bad the original isn't firmware-upgradable (we asked). The Prime will be replacing existing Jawbones at retail for the same old $130 pricetag, and comes in Blah Blah Black, Coffee Talk and Going Platinum, while an "EARCANDY" edition is available in Frankly SCARLET, 'YELLO!, Drop Me A LIME and LILAC You Mean It. Both will be available at retail on May 2nd.

Gallery: Aliph Jawbone Prime press shots

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Aliph Jawbone Prime arrives to coddle your ears, raid your wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Prime arrives to coddle your ears, raid your wallet

Paul Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST

Gallery: Aliph Jawbone Prime press shots

Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

Aliph Jawbone Prime arrives to coddle your ears, raid your wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph brings Babbling Blue / Rambling Rosé Jawbones to Best Buy

Darren Murph — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:31:00 EST

Not sure what exactly was so wrong with Blah Blah Black, Silver Tongue and Goldy Lips, but for those not really turned on by any of the aforementioned hues, you should probably set your navigator to the nearest Best Buy. Aliph has just introduced two new colors in the Jawbone family -- Babbling Blue and Rambling Rosé (shown after the break) -- which will be offered up exclusively at Best Buy Mobile. Same heralded Bluetooth headset, same $139.99 price tag -- just with two new tints.

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Aliph brings Babbling Blue / Rambling Rosé Jawbones to Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph's new Jawbone (the sequel) hands-on and unboxing

Paul Miller — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:02:00 EST

We got to spend a little bit of time with Aliph's new Jawbone headset, and we'll confess we're a tad smitten. The headset is considerably smaller than its predecessor, and the improved earbud design gave us a comfortable fit right out of the box -- with other options waiting in the wings. That old overly-complicated ear hook is gone in favor of a simple, slightly flexible one, clad in leather with the intention of an eventual worn-in feel, but thanks to the new light design we're actually planning on going hook-less -- we haven't managed to shake it off yet, and have already probably caused considerable brain damage in the attempts. The interface is the same invisible one of its predecessor, but the first time you turn it on it's in pairing mode so we had no trouble there. We'd be hard pressed to notice a sound difference either way, but that was never the original's problem. The smaller design does mean a reduction in battery life, which could be a deal breaker for some, but if you're not going to be yapping away constantly the new Jawbone is a useful bit of "earwear," as Aliph would like to call it.

Gallery: Aliph's new Jawbone (the sequel) hands-on and unboxing

Filed under: Peripherals

Aliph's new Jawbone (the sequel) hands-on and unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 May 2008 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jawbone headset from Aliph now official

Paul Miller — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:01:00 EST

Don't call it Jawbone 2, Aliph's Jawbone sequel is the company's new flagship product, with the old Bluetooth headset being put out to pasture to make way for the new hotness. The new Jawbone is 50% smaller than the original, and includes "NoiseAssassin" technology, a followup on the noise canceling tech of the original. There's a faster processor on board to handle heavier signal processing duties for canceling out ambient noises better and faster, along with that Voice Activity Sensor which lets the Jawbone know when you're talking so the rest of the time can be noise free. A new fast charge battery can suck up 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes, but the overall battery life is lower than the original, with 4 hours of talk time and 8 days of standby. The whole unit weighs in at 10 grams, and is available now for $130 at AT&T retail stores and online at Jawbone's site. Initially it's being offered in black only, but silver and rose gold (pictured after the break) versions are coming soon.

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New Jawbone headset from Aliph now official originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 May 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone 2 in the wild!

Paul Miller — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:02:00 EST

A friendly tipster sent us over some shots of a demo unit of the Jawbone 2 -- which the FCC so kindly leaked for us last month -- that he says his store is getting in stock tomorrow. He also says the headset will sell for $129, that it "looks pretty sweet" and provided some shots that pit it quite favorably against the now clunky original. Enjoy!

Gallery: Jawbone 2 in the wild

Filed under: Peripherals

Jawbone 2 in the wild! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 May 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone 2 exposed

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:13:00 EST

So there are a couple of big complaints about Aliph's otherwise-lauded Jawbone noise canceling Bluetooth headset: one, it's rather porky, and two, the charge connector is about as reliable as a Comcast installation appointment. Hang tight, though, because help is on the way -- help in the form of the Jawbone 2. The new model just broke through the FCC's surly bonds in full visual glory, showing a headset that maintains the distinctive industrial design of the original while getting just a bit smaller and adopting a new connector that looks moderately less sketchy. The last thing we all want to do is blow another hundred on the next best headset, but if this means we can run a teleconference standing next to a freight train traveling 40 miles per hour and do it in style, count us in.

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Aliph Jawbone 2 exposed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone 2 exposed

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:13:00 EST

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Aliph Jawbone 2 exposed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Love To Talk Jawbone headsets make your other ear jealous

Darren Murph — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:06:00 EST

Quite frankly, the traditional Jawbone headset is pretty stylish as is. Nevertheless, Yves Behar has somehow managed to make it even sexier with the creation of the Love To Talk family. This trio, which will reportedly be made available "in a very limited quantity," consists of a gold Sweet Talk version, black Dirty Talk edition and white Trash Talk model. No word on a price nor where to actually find one outside of the totally shady black market, but feel free to take a closer look at each in the read link below.

Filed under: Peripherals

Love To Talk Jawbone headsets make your other ear jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone whips CES into a nerd frenzy with free headsets

Nilay Patel — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST

Jawbone's giving away free headsets to anyone willing to trade in their old one here at CES -- which means they've accumulated an impressive collection of busted old headgear from nerds around the world. Check a few more pics of dudes waiting around for free stuff at the read link.

Filed under: Peripherals

Jawbone whips CES into a nerd frenzy with free headsets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jawbone whips CES into a nerd frenzy with free headsets

Nilay Patel — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals

Jawbone whips CES into a nerd frenzy with free headsets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TEAC's bone conducting HP-F100 headphones

Darren Murph — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:02:00 EST

TEAC's latest headphones may not sport the sexiest of designs, but the HP-F100s do tout the always-fun bone conducting abilities. Aside from delivering frequencies from 25Hz to 25kHz, the phones also come with a "personal amplifier" (shown after the break) that cranks out .76-watts to each channel, and will reportedly last around 10-hours without needing another cell. Additionally, the foldable earphones weigh in at about 120-grams, and while the "aerial vibration" won't exactly rattle your skull, it could make your listening a bit more full nonetheless. Of course, we don't expect these to land on US shores without a little help from your favorite importer, but you can reportedly snag these later this month in Japan for a stiff ¥52,500 ($440).

[Via Impress]

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TEAC's bone conducting HP-F100 headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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