Hasta La Gadget!

The folks over at Jawbone are famous for their Bluetooth headsets, and I still remember how the world was abuzz with their bone conduction headset which they released a fair number of years ago. Well, they are still in the communications accessories game, and their latest device to hit the market comes in the form of the next generation Jawbone ERA headset. This is a totally reengineered Bluetooth earpiece which would allow you to take full advantage of your smartphone or mobile device, all the while not cramping your style since you would end up with a more natural, comfortable way to talk on the phone. Of course, using it in tandem with Siri or Google Now would also go some way in increasing the usefulness of this device.

The Jawbone ERA would be able to direct audio to the ear in a completely hands-free manner, ensuring that your phone conversations are liberated while simplifying your smartphone interactions by leveraging a more human-centric, less intrusive voice-based user interface. Not only that, Jawbone engineers have more or less worked out a miracle with this puppy, seeing that it is now 42% smaller compared to Jawbone’s previous headset model, and it will also arrive with a convenient charging case which will be able to delivers up to ten total hours of talk time.

The Jawbone ERA has been efficiently crafted and designed straight from the ground up so that it can deliver the best audio experience possible, never mind where you are at that particular point in time. There is also a new earbud and unique audio porting system which will leverage the entire acoustic chamber and high efficiency of the drivers so that sound is routed directly into the ear. Not only that, the MEMS microphones (micro-electro-mechanical systems) are also smaller and better-performing, seeing action for the first time in a Jawbone headset, while custom DSP algorithms (digital signal processing) would be able to adjust loudness and deliver the best audio possible based on your surroundings. Expect the Jawbone ERA to retail for $129.99 a pop.

Press Release
[ Jawbone ERA headset announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Bluetooth headsets, as anyone without a popped collar will tell you, are often items of last resort for the average cellphone user. But Jawbone makes pretty good ones, and their new Era headset aims to be their best yet. More importantly, the company that helped define the headset market alongside its competitor Plantronics has cut its product line and is releasing the Era as its only headset for 2014, an interesting move to be sure.

First a bit about the product. It’s surpassingly small and it fits in the ear well thanks to a uniquely-shaped and swappable ear bud. It has a single button that controls calls, can activate Siri voice control, and skip through your music library. Because it is so small – about an inch long – it is surprisingly unobtrusive. It will come in four colors – black, red, brown, and silver. I haven’t tested the battery life but the vast majority of the headset consists of a battery topped by a very thin circuit board. An included charge case allows you to connect the headset to a secondary battery to top it up during the day. Jawbone expects it to last at least a full work day of jibber-jabber.

One great feature is a cool ping system that will force the headset to let out a loud tone if you’ve lost it in your bag or under a couch cushion. Triggered via a Jawbone app on your phone, the device will warn you first before sending out a screeching ping.

Jawbone is an interesting company. Over the years it has moved from just another headset maker to a high-design CE maker thanks to a partnership with Yves Behar. Their products – now focused mostly on highly designed speakers – the Jambox line – and their unique screen-less activity tracker, the Up. While others in the space, including Jabra, have taken a similar tack I think Jawbone is the first to really do high-design in low-cost/high-margin accessories well.

What’s even more surprising, however, is that Jawbone is betting the farm on this new headset. The company originally had a line of four separate headsets, including the previous version of the Era, and now it has one – a bold choice for an accessory maker.

I haven’t put the Era through its paces yet – Jawbone released it today – but I’m pleased to note it’s not ugly, it’s surprisingly small, and, I can imagine it would be a great driving companion and, barring that, an excellent choice for a loud middle-aged guy in line at the back who is howling into his headset about getting his Porsche detailed.