The Jawbone's connected to the jawbone

As of July 1st of this year, it's illegal in California to talk on your cell phone while driving UNLESS you have some sort of hands-free device.  A few days before the law went into effect, Jenny was in the office with me and she helped me come up with a way to adhere to the law without having to shell out any cash:

This method wasn't totally unworkable, even though it made the both of us laugh until we snorted and couldn't much breathe, and Jenny snapped herself in the face a few times getting things in place.  I laughed with her, not at her.  Really.

Not long after this photo was taken, I got an offer to review a bluetooth thingy called The Jawbone.  I don't usually do product reviews, at least not solicited ones, but the timing of this offer and the fact that I'd just recently talked with a friend who told me he was getting one because of the new law swayed me, and the swaying was mainly because he said it was Very Kewl, but also a little due to the chance to say to him, Hey, I got one of those Jawbone things!  For FREE!  mwahahaha.  Because I am a weirdo, I told the company offering the product for review that if I decided I liked and wanted to keep it, that I'd like to buy it.  I didn't ever hear back about that, so I think I'll give this one away (maybe to my brother, because I totally owe him twenty times as much as one of these costs) and then buy myself a new one.  Which means, YES! yes, I do love this thing. 

It showed up on my doorstep in a tiny little box one happy day.  After I it charged up (the charger has USB possibilities, but I just plugged into the wall, old-skool style), I tried to turn it on with what turned out to be not-the-power-button.  Then I decided to actually read the directions. Ahem.  The set up was super simple.  I think I turned it on (correctly!), turned on my iPhone, and then pushed a couple of buttons on the phone when prompted.  Or entered a password maybe.  See?  SO simple that I don't even remember. 

The next part was not so smooth, but that is only because sometimes I am not so smooth.   I picked the most wee of the three ear piece attachments and the small cuff thing.  And, I got it on and plugged it in and started making phone calls.  And my friends were all, What?  Huh?  I can't hear you!  And I'd look in the rear view mirror and see that the part that was supposed to be all hooked up to my jawbone was just on the mushy part of my cheek.  So I'd hike it back up and hold it in place, because it kept sliding down, and drive with one hand thinking, This is better than just holding the phone?  Really? while my friends would say, Hey! that's better!

I knew I needed to make an adjustment to the headset before I decided to chuck it in favor of the rubber bands, so I got the original box out again and pulled out all my options: four ear loop things and three ear piece covers.  I was already using the smallest ear loop (there are only two sizes, but there's the for-use-with-eyeglasses thin version and the regular, thicker one), so I rethought my selection of the wee ear cover and went with the middle sized one.  I tried to push it into my ear, and it did seem more stable.  Then I flung my head around again for good measure and there it was, right back down my cheek.  Finally, I put the grande size on, and had a vigorous head shaking/flinging moment of truth.  Success!  It was still in place! 

Next I decided to learn how to use the mysterious sequences of squeezing the thing to turn down the volume and answer and end calls.  That's when I learned that if you squeeze it three times you redial the last number you called.  That was funny and sent me back to the directions.  I don't know why I resist.  I think it's just impatience. 

I've been successfully using the Jawbone now for a few weeks.  I must be doing it right, because on several occasions the person on the other end has been shocked to discover that I'm actually in my car driving, one time, with the window open. 

Even though I won't ever walk around wearing it as an accessory (it's for driving only in my fashion world), the Jawbone gets a highfivin two thumbs up from me.  I've got a week to buy a new one before my brother and his wife arrive for a visit. 

You can learn more about The Jawbone here, including how it works and what a Noise Assassin is, and also how swank it is.  Look, you can even buy one right off the internets. 

Comments

[furiousBall]

i need that

[lizriz]

I totally need to get one of these Bluetooth thingies. My phone came with an absurd headset, and untangling it and trying to attach it to my phone is the single most dangerous thing I've ever done while driving.

Thanks for the review!

[jenijen]

furiousBall ~ you DO, you do need that

liz ~ exactly. the jawbone thing is way, way easier and you don't have to hold your phone in your lap :)