Protection

ColcaSac has yet to create a sleeve without a lot of padding and the iPad version is no exception. They use soft cotton-like material which provides superior protection from both scratches and dings. With protection comes thickness and due to the amount of padding inside the sleeve, the ColcaSac is not necessarily slim. Is that a bad thing? No, because it is comfortable to carry, not to mention protected from mostly anything an average day might throw at it (excluding the obvious activities). As for drop protection, it isn’t impact gel but I feel that it would survive a drop – not that we have tested this theory.

Snug Fit

The ColcaSac is designed for a naked product rather than one with a case which makes the fit it rather snug. We tried using my Apple iPad Case with the sleeve and the fit was so tight, it made using them together seem impractical, so we removed the Apple Case and don’t plan on putting it back on. It is possible that using a slimmer hardshell might work but as of now we have not tried one and can’t say for sure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we feel that the ColcaSac offers great protection and style but the true decision comes down to preference. If you can handle the slightly thicker sleeve, you will get supreme protection, a comfortable deign, and an overall great product which is why we can’t help but to fully recommend ColcaSac’s iPad Sleeve and award it a 4.5/5. They are available in five different colors and patterns from ColaSac’s website for $35, a cheap price for hand made perfection.

Related posts:

1. Announcement: ColcaSac iPad Sleeve
2. ColcaSac’s Notebook Sleeve
3. Announcement: ColcaSac for Amazon’s Kindle

Form

What I really appreciate about the solBAT II is it’s design – it was definately designed for the geek on the go.  The included carabiner, which you can choose whether or not to attach, makes it easy to clip to the belt-loop closest to your iPhone pocket.  I further appreciate the solar features of this battery.  Intuitively, you might tend to think this may not be so useful.  On the contrary, I tend to spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, and I have found that keeping the solBAT II clipped to my belt loop (or my backpack) with the solar panel facing outwards is enough to charge it completely in the course of a day.  Although the battery is only 1500mah in capacity, you actually get much more out of it than that, since it charges fairly quickly in the sun.  It also includes a USB charge cable.

Function

Also included is a suction holster for the solBAT, which is immediately useful is several ways.  First, it can clip to the back of your Macbook or Macbook Pro monitor to keep the battery off of your desk.  If you do this, the glowing Apple logo will actually charge your battery slightly.  It’s also incredibly useful as a windshield mount.  I often keep mine suctioned to a non-critical part of my windshield to keep it charged – then just slip it out of the holster to use it!

Conclusion

I really like the solBAT, in fact, it has replaced a much larger and higher capacity battery, substituting features and portability for the extra battery capacity.  I find it innovative and highly useful, and for that, I award Scosche’s solBAT II a 4.5/5.  For fore information, or to purchase for the extremely reasonable price of just $30, visit Scosche’s product page on the web.

Related posts:

1. Versa Battery VS190 Review
2. iPad Battery Replacement
3. Review: OtterBox Defender for iPhone 3G/3GS

Name?

I am quite confused about this products name, the box reads “Clear Flexible Protective Case” but in a recent press release it also was referred to as the FLEXFITP4. In this review I will refer to it as the FLEXFITP4.

Design

The FLEXFITP4 is made of non-slip TPU material which to me feels like a tough rubbery plastic which allows for it to be installed without any removable pieces – you work the iPhone into it. All buttons and ports are easily available, sort-of (see below).

Protection

Protection is a big part of buying a case especially for a phone with glass on both front and back. The FLEXFITP4 has a durable design that I am sure will protect from the dangers of everyday use but I feel a drop could end badly. There is a rim on the front of the case to allow the phone to be sat screen down on a surface and not be resting on the display itself. That rim, I feel, is not strong enough to protect the phone if it hit the ground face down, which possibly could end very badly. As for a drop on a side or the back, I cant say as I have not tried and do not plan on testing it.

The Good

Personally, I love the look of the iPhone and most cases make me have to hide it. The FLEXFITP4 is made to be transparent preserving the look of the phone while protecting it at the same time.

The Bad

There are three buttons covered with this case, one being the sleep button, the other being the volume buttons, all of which are very difficult to press when the case is on. The buttons were not made to be like the ones on Apple’s bumper nor are they made to be easier to click making this the true downfall for the case.

Conclusion

I like how snugly the FLEXFITP4 fits the iPhone 4 and I especially love that it is clear. But when the case is on three buttons are made extremely difficult to use (to the point where you do not even get feedback that you clicked the button) which is why I can not recommend this case at this time. The FLEXFITP4 will be available soon form MacAlly. (link)

Related posts:

1. Review: CaseCrown Polycarbonate Glider Case
2. Review: Pong Research iPhone Case
3. Review: Bone Collection Bubble Case

Finding cases for the newest iPhone is not so easy. Why? It seems like companies are struggling to get their newest products to markets. The timing isn’t great, particularly given the iPhone’s known problems. Hard Candy is an exception. They quickly sent me one of their Bubble Slider cases and as such, a review comes quickly.

Out of the Box
It’s the case. That’s all. No screen protector, cleaning cloth, dock, earphones or bunnies.

Design
It looks like a golf ball. It’s the basic slider design that Incase brought to the market a couple years ago. The Bubble Slider comes in five colors, we were sent the black one as opposed to the white, red, blue and pink. It’s significantly more matte than the pictures show, which isn’t a bad thing – except for that it looks like a dark gray. The back features a smooth edge which is molded rather uniquely creating an additional design. But the defining feature? It looks like a golf ball.

Protection
It’s what you would expect from your case. Sides are covered with the exception of the volume and lock screen buttons, headphone jack, dock connector and ringer switch. The bottom leave the speakers and dock connector open. The camera hole in the back is open with room for the flash. The plastic is fairly flexible and a couple squeezes show this. Putting the case on is not as smooth as one would have hoped. Unlike previous models from companies like Incase, the flex in the plastic means that sometimes it requires a couple tries to get the case on. It’s annoying, but it’s not a huge problem.

Usability
The case keeps everything entirely usable. The case works with the iPhone 4 dock from Apple, I haven’t tested it with anything else, but I would doubt there would be problems because of the case. Other than that, it’s your typical iPhone hard case, back is covered, screen is open, etc. It does fine avoiding finger prints, until your fingers get greasy and then it becomes a magnent.

In the End
It’s a unique case, but it’s also not. It’s not poorly made, but it could definitely benefit from some improvement. I’d still recommend it given the utter lack of alternatives, but I doubt in six months this rendition will be at the top of my list. Still, I have to credit Hard Candy for being able to get good cases to the market quickly. You can purchase the Hard Candy Bubble Slider directly from Hard Candy for $34.95.

Related posts:

1. Review: Incase Slider
2. Review: Bone Collection Bubble Case
3. Review: Bioserie’s iPhone Cover

Intro
Saddleback sent over the small rendition of the Gadget Pouch in tobacco, which is fitting given my newest site. Inside, they included a business card a soft cloth case for the pouch. For a second I thought about leaving the pouch in the box. I didn’t want my hands to rough up the beautiful leather, but then I realized the wear gave it the character that would make timeless. Finally, I let my dirty hands touch the leather. Oh how good real leather feels.

Design
The first thing I noticed after finally coming to terms with touching the pouch was the weight and sturdiness of the case. It’s two pieces of full grain boot leather with pigskin interior. I don’t understand leather like the folks in El Paso do, but this is the real thing. It’s not something you will find in your local Apple Store (for now at least), and a boot shop will probably be able to tell you more about it than an Apple Genius. The stitching is industrial marine grade, which I assume means it’s pretty strong. My tests, which weren’t industrial in nature, found that it’s really strong. There is an opening at the top to slide the iPhone in and a small hole at the bottom allowing you to use the 30-pin connector without taking the phone out. The bottom hole also allows flex in the case, which is key for getting the iPhone in and out.

Protection
Saddleback claims the interior pigskin is the second strongest natural material, I don’t doubt them. The case is thick and the material makes you feel even better about the protection afforded to your iPhone. There is a tad bit of softness, but in general I’d describe the case as “firm.” The beautiful stitching on the side reates a hard frame around the phone. The one are of concern is the top. If the phone lands on the the top of the case, there are going to be scratches in all likelihood. That being said, it’s the first case I put my brand new iPhone 4 in – so that’s probably a pretty good endorsement.

Usability
It worked with the iPhone 3G, but that’s a cluttered definition of “worked.” Getting the iPhone in was a fun enough task and getting it out required some force. Now, there was an obvious break-in period, but every time a call came, there were 50-50 odds as to whether I would get my phone out quick enough to answer the call. Then came the iPhone 4. The shaved bulk means that the iPhone slides nicely into the pouch. Two firm shakes and the iPhone slips out, or I can just use the hole at the bottom to push the phone out. Unfortunately, the game that entertained those around me for the first few days of using the Gadget Pouch is now sadly defunct. Fortunately, the Gadget Pouch as a case is a whole lot more usable.

In the End
I’m not an iPhone case addict by any stretch of the imagination. But, I do go through them pretty frequently. Occasionally, I’ll find one that keeps me occupied for a couple months and that will be my case of choice, then there are times like now where I have a lot to try out. A few cases come to mind as ones where I would get questions constantly, but this is definitely towards the top. The striking design, the classic looks and the timeless character of the Gadget Pouch intrigues people. It’s not for everyone, but it’s hard to imagine a pouch I’m going to like more. For those that want to reconnect with their inner-Texan, the Gadget Pouch (Small) is available in four colors directly from Saddleback for $31.00.

Related posts:

1. Review: CAZE Classic Folder Pouch
2. Review: Tech21 Slim Fit
3. Giveaway: CAZE Classic Folder Pouch

Design

The Munkey is made from a single piece of anodized lightweight aluminum into a very simplistic stand that just works, no latches, no slide out pieces, no little bells and whistles, just a stand, a hell of a good one at that. At the moment, it is available in five different colors: green, yellow, red, black, and lightning – hopefully a blue future.

Cases? No Problem

A big thing for me with iPhone stands is that I use a protective case and I do not want to take it off every time I want to use my phone with a stand, nor is doing that practical. Finally, someone listened to my cry and created a stand that can be used with just about any case, and to me, that makes this stand great.

Usability

I used the Munkey on a plane, in a car, and on my desk and I have yet to be disappointed. Using it in the car was a close call as the included strap was nearly too short to reach around my headrest but I managed to get it to work in addition, it never did fall off of the stand during a 12 hour drive, which is a plus. As for the plane use, I do believe a lot of people walking past me were envious. Must I explain the desk? It worked, it didn’t fall, and it is a pleasure to use anywhere, anytime.

Conclusion

I don’t see why I shouldn’t recommend the Munkey, It works with my case, it works on the plane, hell, it works everywhere. The Munkey is available in 5 colors from their site for $29.99 which also includes the strap and case.

Related posts:

1. Review: Mobi Stand
2. Review: OtterBox Defender for iPhone 3G/3GS
3. Review: Movie Peg

Intro
The perrenial champ for iPhone sound is still the (pricey) combination of the Shure MPA and SE530, but for most that’s not the right solution. The requests pile up: Voice Control and good sound at $100. And still, there’s few solutions.

v-moda has been in the earphone industry for a couple of years and while we’ve never delivered a lengthy review on TheMacFeed, that’s not to say we haven’t heard some of their earphones. At first, classifying v-moda as a form over function company was not a problem, but with the Remix line, v-moda promised a focus on clarity in their redesign. It was a breadth of fresh air as far as we were concerned as to say they were lacking in that area in their prior attempts would not be an understatement by any stretch of the imagination.

Out of the Box
There were a lot of shocking moments at first. It starts with the shipping, which was next day. Next was the competition of how much v-moda could stuff in the packaging. The list is pretty comprehensive: detachable earhooks, seven pairs of tips, a carrying pouch and the earphones. v-moda offers an interesting warranty program with their products – including a traditional two-year warranty and a the ability to replace them at 50% of the cost for the life of the earphones, which isn’t a bad deal in our books.

Design
Without a doubt the design is unique. It’s a rubber cable with a recessed tip that includes a flush controller/mic unit that resembles a lengthy pill at the y-connection. Each bud is a combination of black plastic and semi-polished chrome. Still, the leightweight buds seem more reminiscent of a modern era car trim than of earphones. The recessed cables continue onto the buds themselves as the connectors on each of the buds angles slightly further then 90 degrees outwards. There are a few markers printed on each earphone: tiny v-moda text logos adorn the front, while the ends feature solely the v printed on the buds themselves and the insides feature the L/R identifiers

Isolation
You get seven pairs of tips. If you can’t find the right size, you probably aren’t going to have much better look with any IEM. Furthermore, it’s the same tips that are used on about 90% of the industry, so finding replacements to the seven included shouldn’t be that hard. v-moda claims to have combined new material with the Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone (BLISS) to provide better isolation. While we’d be intrigued as to the isolation performance absent this technology, with it – you get high quality isolation. The style used by Shure and Westone is still top notch in our book, but the difference between those two and v-moda is minimal. While most IEMs block out the vast majority of external noise when music is playing, the v-modas block out a significant amount without sound playing from the earphones, which for users who enjoy music at significantly lower volumes will be a huge plus.

Comfort
We found the sport earhooks to be of use, although it’s not as if the Remix Remotes struggled to stay in our ears anymore then any other IEM. At 17 grams it’s not that hard to forget that the v-modas are in your ears, however it’s not the floating sensation that is produced by some. We wear them for hours with no problem, but that’s just us. Like we said before: You get seven pairs of tips. If you can’t find the right size, you probably aren’t going to have much better look with any IEM.

The Mic
Normally the quality of the mics replicates Apple’s stock buds. For once we really feel like our call quality was improved significantly. The mics ability to pick up our voice in isolation was an unexpected feature that led to us using the v-modas way more then we had planned. Omni-directional? Perhaps. Even if that’s an overstretch, the mic drastically improves call quality, which is good enough in our books. Furthermore, the inline controls and support for Voice Control are features, as we mentioned, not found in most earphones. In addition to iPhone support, the remix remote earphones are both Skype and iChat compatible. If you’d like to Skype Daniel, his info is on the contact page.

Sound
It’s June. June is a big month for us. Quite a few anticipated albums dropped, including one by Marshall Mathers. Hence, these were put through quite a host of genres in various places. From the get go, the emphasis on clarity became apparent. The headphones are aggressive, but not ambitious. Rather then simply reigning in the low-end, v-moda’s approach seemed more to imrpove the quality of the highs and mids while taking a different approach to the low-end. The result is an earphone that falls somewhere in between what people want to hear and what people should hear.

Highs
They are clear and perhaps even vibrant. On delicate songs like U2’s “All I Want Is You” they avoid fall ill to added warmth. For the most part the underappreciated highs deliver the clarity needed to compliment the more dynamic mids and lows. Still, when called upon to deliver an array of highs, such as when the Gorilllaz are played, they prove to be a worthy asset of the Remixes. At times on the extreme deep upper-ends where a lot of earphones just gave out, the Remixes tried and their 9mm neodymium drivers delivered a harshness.

Mids
These headphones aren’t balanced, but it’s not the mids’ fault by any stretch of the imagination. They are clear, yet vibrant. Slightly warm, but still incredibly accurate. They embody what is the concluding characterization of the earphones: a balance of accuracy and pleasure or at least a combination of the two. Transitions weren’t necessarily as graceful as we would have hoped, but they were clean. The mids are the last thing that need revision as far as we are concerned. Rather then being bold, they are consistent. Rather then overextending, they perfect what is needed. And at the end of the day, they are the last thing one would complain about it.

Lows
Dynamic? Yes. Balanced? No. We are a fan of being a tad bit bassy and while this more then tolerable, it does challenge are comfort zone. But in a lot of ways, the low-end is the most spectacular part of the earphone – there’s no denying that it’s the most exciting, one wouldn’t need to state the obvious. It’s worth marveling at. For example, the length of each strike on the low-end is absolutely incredible. The various types of bass from punch to pop highlight was a phenomonal rendition of all the low-end. Is it overpowering? Oddly no. More importantly, the bass didn’t destroy any of the songs that didn’t benefit from the additional low-end.

In the End
We have some odd thoughts regarding the sound, but at the end of the day we really enjoy it. We still haven’t heard the Klipsch earphones, but the bar has been rasied – quite high in our opinion. Let’s face it, most of you aren’t going to have your iPhone filled with lossless tracks played through your portable amp and for those of you that do – these aren’t for you. But for the rest of the world that is looking for high-quality earphones with all the bells and whistles at $100 – you’ve got a solution. The v-moda Remix Remote earphones are avaiable at a variety of retailers and directly from v-moda at $99.99.

Note: While we haven’t heard the oppurtunity to listen to the v-moda Remix Audio, our understanding is that it’s the same earphone minus the mic/volume controls.

Related posts:

1. Review: Wicked Little Buds
2. Review: thinksound rain
3. Review: Wicked Empire (Bones)

It Blends

The design of the BookArc line is practically identical, the only difference is the size of the arc itself (iPad version being much smaller than the MacBook for obvious reasons). The BookArc is made up of “heavy gauge steel” which keeps it strong, padded legs which allow it to grip, and scratch free silicone inserts to ensure a perfect fit for the device (3 for the MacBook version to fit most models and cases & 2 for the iPad version).

Uses: MacBook

With the BookArc, an external monitor, a mouse, and a keyboard any MacBook can easily be turned into a desktop computer which can free up desk-space and increase the machine’s overall performance, not to mention it just looks great. Lets go back to the performance statement, according to Twelve South:

When your MacBook is running closed in the BookArc, your machine will automatically dedicate 100% of its video memory to the external display – instead of splitting it with the internal display. You’ll enjoy a noticeable speed increase when working in Photoshop, Aperture, iPhoto and other graphics-intensive applications.

Uses: iPad

With the BookArc for iPad, you can easily turn your iPad into a beautiful typing computer with a bluetooth keyboard, in-fact I think they were made for each other based on how well they blend. When would you need an external keyboard? Though the iPad’s onscreen keyboard is great to type on, it is not practical to type an essay using it. With the BookArc and a keyboard, it just makes sense.

Packaging

I normally do not mention a products packaging but I am making an exception for the BookArc. The way the boxed the BookArc is very Apple-like with the nice simple design and the great looking box. This just serves as another way you know you are getting quality products with Twelve South.

Conclusion

The BookArc is an amazing product that is made to last, and we cant help but to love it and recommend it. The BookArc for iPad costs $39.99 and the BookArc for MacBook is $49.99 from Twelve South’s Online Store (Here), the Apple Store, and Best Buy (MacBook Version Only).

Related posts:

1. CES: Twelve South
2. First Look: Twelve South Launches the BookBook
3. Review: Twelve South’s BackPack

Out of the Box
CAZE packs quite a bit into the packaging for the Classic Foulder Pouch. Included is the case, a mirror screen protector, anti-FingerPrint screen protector and two microfiber cleaning cloths. We found two methods for installation, both required a little extra push regardless. The method we preferred was to slide the phone down from top to bottom and then one more push to align the camera and camera hole. The other method was to insert the phone either left to right or right to left and then provide the same push to adjust the phone’s camera to the appropriate hole. Neither way could be described as challenging and fortunately once we got the phone where we wanted it, it seemed to remain in place for weeks. Getting the screen protectors on weren’t as fun, as the normal soap and water methods didn’t work. That ruined our attempt at putting on the mirror screen protector, but we got the anti-FingerPrint screen on pretty easy and enjoyed the matte finish.

Design
It’s a leather flip case with red suede inside. We don’t think that the outside is genuine leather, but that’s not really the one area we’d change. The case looks stunningly professional outside of the CAZE logo on the front and the “handmade” text on the back, both embedded into the case itself. The flip portion stays on top via a latch. The case is shockingly thin and fits nicely into our pockets. We did notice for the first few days that more material, including red particles (presumbly from the suede) were appearing on our screen, but after a couple days that seemed to have disappeared. Our largest area of concern was how the case was going to do in our hands, particularly with the flip cover undone, but that quickly became a non-conern. We didn’t find any discomfort with holding the case unflipped or even just dangling, which was a bit odd to us.

Protection
It actually does protection surpsingly well. The flip portion means the screen is covered at all times (there’s also the two screen protectors included) and when closed, the 30-pin port and speakers are also covered. When closed the to leaves the headphone port and lock buttons full exposed, although the additioanl leather padding means that subtle drops would avoid risks of dents. The back contains a hole cut perfectly to the size of the camera and the side is the traditional open approach to the volume and ringer button. Our largest concern is bezel scratching as the majority of the bezel is left exposed even with the case closed. Despite the thin nature of the case, we feel that it provides a tad bit more protection then a traditional plastic slim case as it has the combination of soft and hard padding.

Usability
It’s become the most important factor with our iPhone cases, although not a problem here. The CAZE Classic Folder Pouch leaves the iPhone almost 100% usable. The one exception is obviously the docks, but this is one of the easiest cases to slide your iPhone in and out of and unlike a lot of popular plastic cases, the installation and removal of this case doesn’t risk a whole lot of damage on the phone.

In the End
Our largest gripe are the two logos that we feel ruin a very sharp looking case. The one on the back seems a little unnecessary, but the one on the front should definitely relocate. The only other issue was how this case will hold up over time. Through the abuse of normal wear and tear combined with the Texas heat, this case has done well, but it’s starting to develop imperfects on the leather. That being said, the inside is holding up fine and our iPhone seems to be in the same condition as when we first had the case three weeks ago. What makes this case a winner for us is the protection offered by the case combined with the value you get. Some companies offer one screen protector, but at the $29 price point – CAZE offers two with a pretty good case.

Don’t forget to check out our giveaway!

Related posts:

1. Review: Tech21 Slim Fit
2. Review: OtterBox Defender for iPhone 3G/3GS
3. Review: Bone Collection Bubble Case

First GlanceThe first impression that this device had one me was one of style.  From the packaging to the device itself, aesthetics must certainly have been among their primary considerations for this headset.  Further, the size of the package was impressive to me – it’s quite small, yet still manages to hold everything necessary.  Power adapter, USB cable, extra ear buds, optional loops, instructions, etc.  I even appreciated the color – the device in this pearl color is known as “The Catch.”

What’s In The Box?Pulling the cover from the bottom of the box reveals a very tightly-organized storage system.  On the lid of the accessory box is a full set of ear buds and loops, to fit all sizes of ears, and several different styles, for comfort.  Both round and ear-hugging designs are included.  In addition, lifting up this lid reveals the main storage area of the product box.Inside the main compartment is where you will find the bulk of the accessories.  Included are a USB power adapter, a flexible USB cable (which can be used as a nice angled adapter to hold your device upright while it is being charged), and several leaflets discussing the features of the device, as well as how to use it.

First Use

After removing the device from the packaging and charging it completely (which is not necessary – it comes with a charge, I just always make a habit of this), I attempted to pair the device with my iPhone – This was very simple and problem free – I just held the top button while flipping the switch on the device, and the iPhone saw it immediately.  This is by far the simplest headset pairing procedure I have ever gone through.

I began exploring the device – it came pro-loaded with a computerized voice that tells me what number is calling my phone.  A tap on the top of the headset tells me how much talk time I have left, and holding down the top button for a moment allows me to access voice dialing, which recognized my voice immediately and, for the time I have ever experienced, had 100% accuracy in interpreting my voice commands.

The device was very simple to use, and worked right out of the box – One could scarcely ask for a better consumer experience.

Features

This particular device includes one very unique feature that helps to set it apart from it’s peers, and that feature is called MyTalk.  In essence, MyTalk is a system for installing so-called “Apps” on the headset itself.  This feature is still in beta, but already Aliph has produced a very cool idea.  Some of the available apps include voice sets for the device, so you can make it sound like various characters (which each have different styles for telling you who’s calling, if you have a text, and so forth), and a further important App – A2DP.  This app, once installed, allows you to beam music, podcasts, and other media to your headset.

Also among the included features are a minimalist interface (There is only one button, which controls calls, volume, and every other feature that the device supports) and a vibration-detecting microphone (a physical module that rests on your cheek, picking up your voice and canceling out background noise).

The Good

I really enjoyed using this headset – it has a solid feature set, has a respectable battery life (at least with the default firmware), is customizable, and works really well with the iPhone 3GS – better than most, I’d daresay.

It has a very attractive design, fits in your ear well without wiggling or falling out, and comes with enough fitting options to work with anyone’s ear size or shape.  The Icon is clearly a feat of engineering – and it’s the best Jawbone headset to date (this coming from someone who has used all of their headsets.)

The Bad

I really liked this headset at first – it had really excellent sound quality, a nice design, and a lot of interesting features.  However, I did take issue with the fact that once I installed the A2DP app, callers reported that my voice sounded “tinny” and “artificial.”  I realize that the feature is in beta, however, consumer-level betas need to be more polished than this before release, in my opinion.

I also found that my battery life while listening to music via A2DP was somewhat lacking – I only got 3-4 hours, whereas my current Plantronics headset (a Voyager 855) lasts much, much longer, even after 1yr of use.

Conclusion

The Jawbone Icon is a very solid contender in the headset world.  It’s attractive, effective, and has enough unique features to really stand out among competitor’s products.  While business users might not find it “industrial” enough, I think that most consumers will find this to be an idea everyday headset.

There were a few negative points to this headset, mostly relating to the features that are still in beta.  All in all, however, my experience using the Icon were very positive – and I really appreciate the design of the device.  I sometimes am skeptical of “one-button” designs, but Aliph has hade it work for them.

I really appreciated the time that I spent with the newest member of the Jawbone family, and, all things considered, award it a 4/5.  I’d give it a solid 5, but the issues with the heavily promoted beta features need to be resolved first.  For more information, or to purchase the Jawbone Icon, visit it’s product page on the web.

Related posts:

1. Review: Tritton AX 180
2. Review: Tritton Technologies AX 720
3. Review: Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset