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My Jawbone is busted

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Illinois

* I read some very positive reviews online about Jawbone’s Bluetooth headset with “Noise Assassin” technology. The concept seemed sound, so I bought it Friday.

The device does, indeed, appear to filter out a lot of background noise - which is important to me since I have a convertible and can barely hear a thing on my mobile phone whilst driving and neither can the people with whom I’m speaking.

But there are huge problems with this device. First, it appears to have a major design flaw. While you’re trying to put the thing into your ear, the “hangup” button is easily activated. Oops. I missed several calls over the weekend because of that flaw.

Also, for whatever reason the Bluetooth connection kept dropping between my iPhone and the Jawbone, necessitating constant “searches” to reconnect. Seriously aggravating, especially while driving.

Today, the “answer” button stuck. It’s busted. After just four days.

I’m returning this thing for a refund.

* Do you have any “bleeding edge” tech horror stories that you’d like to share?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:01 pm

Comments

No horror stories, but I am firmly convinced that no one should buy any technology that does not have a very visible OFF switch.
And no one should be licensed to use tech without passing the test: “Can you show me the OFF switch?”

just sayin

Comment by Skeptic Cal Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:04 pm
Loved my jawbone, but I lost one at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur and the other in my yard on the way to the Farm Progress Show in Iowa. Note to self, buy another one and DO NOT take it to FPS. It does take moment to get used to but well worth it in the end.

Comment by farmerspice Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:07 pm
once upon a time my Handspring Visor was a beautiful shiny new silver toy. that froze up after about a week’s use and had to be replaced. i know, it’s so 90s, but it was fun back then in “Palm” land.

Comment by Amy Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:08 pm
Part II
And wouldn’t it be great if there were a “remote” OFF switch on every pol’s mic so when they are just talking or seeking publicity but not saying anythng, the people could just “switch it off”? I don’t mean to start this by being too off topic, but it makes great sense to me.

Comment by Skeptic Cal Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:08 pm
Whew….. I’m glad we are talking about your Blue Tooth, I thought the Speaker Labled ya one on the kisser after your Article from yesterday

Comment by I'm Just Saying Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:13 pm
I just got my jawbone last week and have had the same problem with inadvertantly hanging up and disconnecting the bluetooth from the phone. That said, it’s clearly the best headset in terms of call quality, so I’m going to keep it for now unless it completely breaks down like Rich’s.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:16 pm
Just got a splinter from my brand new Abacus.

Comment by Yellow Dog Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:19 pm
I once had the Moto Q when it was all the rage…it was the worst phone in the history or phones. there were several hour delays in email reception, dropped calls, and the battery had about a 30 minute talk time life…went back to a blackberry and never looked back

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:19 pm
Got an I-Pod Touch 16gb from the kids last Christmas. I had to replace it because the thing kept turning on by itself. It was the weirdest thing.

Comment by Beerman Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:23 pm
I had to replace my trusty Timex Sinclair computer so I could follow CapFax.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:33 pm
Rich, I think you have a faulty headset. I’ve got the same one that I use with my iPhone with no connectivity issues. Maybe it’s beard interference?

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:45 pm
Rich,
I read a good review on CNET about the Plantronic Voyager Pro. I bought it and love it! I use it with my iPhone.

Now to answer the question. I bought the MagicJack which allows you to make calls through your computer. I never got it to work right. I’m still mad about it!

Comment by Hoping For Rational Thought Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:45 pm
And you have to get used to holding it on the sides when you put it in. Shouldn’t be above your skill set…

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:46 pm
I keep cutting my finger on the stick I use with the clay pads.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:49 pm
John, it didn’t work long enough to get used to it. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:50 pm
@A Citizen

I still have my Timex Sinclair 1000 sitting on a bookshelf at home… Pretty sure I don’t have the power cables anymore. (or that TANDY tape recorder to load the software off of)

Comment by Anonymous Coward Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 2:52 pm
Blackberry pearl 8100 cool for about a month, then got tired of its tiny size.

Comment by hv in hp Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 3:03 pm
A Microsoft Service Pack for a database platform I once worked with would screw up your backups if you used to tool to check if they were around.

Not having valid backups is a job ender in my line of work.

Glad to say it didn’t catch me, still feel sorry for the poor SOB who discovered that little bug for Microsoft out in the field.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 3:07 pm
I bought a Laser Disc Player…then 9 mos later the much hyped “DVD” came out. I had a very nice Pioneer boat anchor!

That one still chaps my hide.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 3:13 pm
My car has bluetooth in the radio so all need to figure out how to use it. I can’t tell you how many times my phone rings in the house and the bluetooth device in my car picks up and when I try to talk through the phone I can’t. I feel like such a dunce.

Comment by Boscobud Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 3:35 pm
My wife purchased a Blackberry Storm about 1 month ago that is giving us nothing but headaches. We have already had to reload the software on it 2x.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 4:05 pm
Give the style of men;s slacks these days it is difficult to cary enough quarters for the phones
and juke box

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 4:18 pm
I have three email accounts on my sidekick. Two of them retrieve messages almost immediately while the other takes 2-6 hours. Super.

Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 4:50 pm
I once had the sharp edges arouond the hole in one of my two tin cans cut the string and I lost my connection. I switched to higher tech foam and wax cups…those provided poor sound quality. Then I found rigid plastic cups, drilled the holes and they worked great until my friend moved and I could not get the string tight enough to continue the converstation. Bummer!

I now have a great VZN cell phone!

Comment by one day at a time Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 6:03 pm
I have a Blackberry 8830 and for some reason it will freeze up when trying to manually shut it off. To get it to reboot, I have to take the back cover off and then take the battery out, reinsert the battery and put the back cover on. Takes a couple of minutes to reboot.

Since I’ve enabled the auto on/off feature, I haven’t had the problem. Still, its a pain because I like to be able to turn on and off the phone when I want to.

Comment by Anon in BB Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 6:21 pm
I’ve had the new Jawbone for about two weeks and I’m constantly hanging up on people. I work in the tech industry and it’s too embarrassing to admit to being this inept so maybe three times i’ve blamed the hangup on “dropped” calls, giving AT&T and my iphone a bad rap. I also lost the damn thing in my desk clutter for 5 days. May be reverting back to ear buds soon.

Comment by LG Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 6:37 pm
Well, there was Betamax..anyhoo, the recent tech clunkers AA has dealt with more recently include the MOTO V710 cell, with most Bluetooth functions neutered by Verizon (got most of my money back in a class action lawsuit filed by some folks in CA who were even more ticked than I) and the much-maligned Jawbone. Mine went back after 3 days.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 6:52 pm
My wife had problems with the new Blackberry Bold. It kept overheating on her. They claimed that this was only a problem in the models sold in Japan. Evidently her two (original and replacement) were imports. She’s now happy with her lowly Blackberry Curve.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 8:32 pm
I bought a paper this morning, and kept pointing at and tapping the headline with my fingertip–but the text wouldn’t move and nothing colorful popped out at me screaming “BUY, BUY, BUY”.

Confused and exhausted, I finally gave up and just read the darn thing.

Interesting stuff it was. In a twisted sort of way, I’m looking forward to the next system outage.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 10:07 pm
On a serious note, I did clean up an extra room upstairs a few weeks ago and found my old Pioneer 8-track player. Spent about 10 hours over the next few days hooking it up to an old receiver–and then the receiver to some old speakers, and finally got it to work.

Finally got a chance to play part of a Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Rod Stewart, and George Harrison tape before each one fell apart. Reminded me of listening to them in an old boyfriend’s car not TOO long ago.

Those were the days.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 10:22 pm
Forgot to deactivate the “Original Clapper” attached to the light fixture in the exercise room before I started my new workout today to “Sweatin’ with the Socialists”.

Lights kept going on and off as I tried to keep up with Nancy. Had a slight seizure, bumped the pedestal upon which I keep my Pet Rock–and now the Rock isn’t working properly.

Does anyone know where I can buy a new one?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 11:31 pm