Black Aliph Jawbone Noise Shield Headset Review
Is there a better Treo Bluetooth headset than the Aliph Jawbone? Not really, particularly if you want to ensure that any background noise stays in the background and does not come in to disrupt your conversations. In this respect, the Jawbone’s “adaptive” noise cancellation technology is nothing short of amazing since as its manufacturer claims (and I previously reviewed) it does indeed “virtually eliminate all background noise from your call”.
So, if there isn’t quite a better Bluetooth headset available there is nonetheless now the option to own an Aliph Jawbone in Black – a colour which is apparently rather hard to get your hands on and that the manufacturer regularly has out of stock thus adding to its exclusivity.
Instead of the plain (albeit elegant) perforated silver surface of the standard Jawbone (above right), the Black version offers a shiny, ultra-smooth, lacquered black coating which feels absolutely sensational in your hands. This coating is so much better in fact that I wonder why Aliph didn’t apply the same one to the silver model – it makes a small but important difference.
As I stated in my original review, I found the Jawbone to be extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods and because the sound is so good I make sure to use it for any conversation lasting more than 5 minutes.
Having said this, because of its size the Jawbone is not particularly “pocketable” and if this is an important criteria for you I would instead highly recommend the ultraslim Jabra BT5020 which I have found very impressive.
Treonauts always choose the best… 
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Comments
I bought an Aliph. There are a lot of comments about the TREO700P and it always needs to be paired. They said they were working on it. Loved the headset, just wouldn't last past 2 calls at best before pairing.
I concur with Andrew as far as an outstanding BT headset ... the Jawbone is tops. As to pocketable, that is an issue although I have found that it is relatively comfortable to wear EXCEPT for the "pairing" issue mentioned by Rick above. My Palm Treo 700p has to repair regularly and when it does, the Jawbone lets you know ... over and over and over again by beeping in your ear. Eventually one gets the hint and hangs it on the 700p's handy "Jawbone" holder. (see link below and note the audio tests in the right hand sidebar)
http://blog.myarchive.us/?p=806
:-)
I have the Aliph Jawbone in the gray color. I really like the earpiece (and the envy of my older brother :D )
It DOES perform as described except in windy outdoor conditions. Frankly I don't know of a BT earpiece that does. I have recommended it to colleagues and will continue to do so.
However, it IS so comfortable to wear that I can and do tend to wear it all day, and that can illicit strange looks from the uninitiated... and it looks silly in Birthday party photos.
CHEERS!
Remember that wind noise can NEVER be attenuated with active noise cancelation. It is not a background noise, it's the noise generate by the wind passing the mic. Just as much as you voice is wind into the mic. The only thing you can do is a wind guard, like the fuzzy covers you see on reports mics or boom mics. Or, like the old image of a reporter holding an ear piece in his ear, I put my hand up to shield the BT headset from the wind.
And, it looks silly in photos because it's silly to wear a headset at a birthday party. Put the phone down. ;)
Be careful if you are buying the Jawbone for a Sprint 700WX. The phone constantly drops the BT connection between calls and usually I have to do a soft-reset on the phone to repair the connection. The problem is inconsistant, but extremely annoying! Based on the other blogs, this is now a known issue with the TREO and supposedly both Aliph and Palm are working on it, but nothing yet.
When the headset will connect, it works outstandingly, except as noted in wind. FYI, there are also reports that it will not work with the Sprint Q phone, so be careful.
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