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Jawbone Companion makes your Jawbone Bluetooth headset smarter [Review]

Among the 450,000-plus apps for Android phones, a growing number of them are in support for other devices. These apps make our smartphones a bit wiser and our accessories much smarter. The Jawbone Companion for Android is an example of how one little app can make a big difference.

Jawbone Companion is a complementary Android app that works with a trio of Jawbone Bluetooth headsets. The Companion app keeps users aware of some important stats. The obvious features like caller ID are included, but more interesting is the ability to get notifications on upcoming calendar events. Ten minutes before a meeting or event is scheduled, Jawbone pipes in to send a reminder. Users can also tap the Talk button to hear the current time and how much talk time is left on the current charge. There’s also a meter in the notification drawer.

I received a loaner Jawbone Icon HD Bluetooth headset to test out the feature. I won’t spend too much time talking about the Icon HD specifically, because the Jawbone Companion app also works with the Era and Icon models. Each has good sound quality, and gives notifications in Google Maps or Pandora streaming as easily as it receives calls.

The real story here is that Jawbone can extend the features of its Bluetooth set via the Companion app and MyTalk, an online system that lets users customize certain sounds and features. I would much rather have these features available directly within Jawbone Companion, but they are still nice to have as an option. MyTalk includes the ability to change Caller ID settings, have simultaneous connections to two devices, and change what happens when long-pressing during a call. Holding down on the button can either turn on NoiseAssassin, which makes a massive difference in canceling background noise, or raising the volume. I’d recommend setting it to NoiseAssassin because even with a house full of noisy kids, I had a call without any of that getting in the way. See a video demo to hear the difference.

MyTalk also offers 10 different audio profiles to change the voice used for notifications. Voices are intelligent, sexy, standard, sporty, or even with mob-affiliated. The default voice is okay, but I much preferred using The Thinker or The Bombshell because their tones were less robotic.

Which ever you prefer, it’s just a sign of the improvements that Jawbone can offer Bluetooth users when they purchase a compatible device.

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ITC to investigate Apple over HTC’s patent complaints

Tech Armageddon continues, and now the ITC (International Trade Commission) will be launching an investigation against Apple Computer Corp. over disputes brought by HTC earlier this year.  TechCrunch reports (by way of BusinessWeek) a basic description of the patents in question as:

The patents in the ITC case relate to an interface that lets the user add identifiers such as .com or .org; an interface that enlarges characters being typed; a way to display information on mobile devices; and status bars that let a user check phone calls, text messages or calendar events.

The investigation itself goes well beyond the smartphone arena — the ITC states it will cover "computers, tablet computers, and smartphones."  It's worth noting that some of the patents in question were granted to HTC by Google, who so far has stayed out of the current tech courtroom drama it's OEM's are involved in. 

As always, it's the consumer who will be the biggest loser here.  Licensing agreements will be worked out, and that cost will be funneled down to all of us.  It's a war with no winners.

Source: ITC; via Tech Crunch