Tablet News Roundup for the week off Feb 25th:

• Apple to Intro iPad 2 on March 2: Round Up of New iPad Rumors
• iPad 2: What Would Prompt You to Upgrade from the Original iPad?
• iPad 2: The Rumors We Want to Come True
• You can’t beat the iPad if all you do is chase it
• HP Slate 500 getting attention from health industry
• Motorola Xoom Review Roundup
• Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 slate Tablet PC to launch at CeBIT
• Motion Computing Brings Intel Core i3 to C5v TabletPC
• When does size matter on your Tablet?

Smart Phone News Roundup for the week off Feb 25th:

• HTC Thunderbolt Details, Review & Hands-On Video Roundup
• HTC Incredible S Goes On Sale Early
• HTC Thunderbolt Commercial Debuts
• T-Mobile Increases Prices on Popular Android Smartphones
• Will Early Disgruntled 4G Owners Inspire AT&T to Enable High Speed Uploads on HTC Inspire 4G?
• Jawbone ERA Bluetooth Headset Marks the End of an Era for Me

What do you think the hottest news of the week was?

Week in Review: Tablet and Smart Phone News You Need to Read is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

There are now reports of a problem with the iPhone 4 and Bluetooth sound quality, according to Erica Sadun of The Unofficial Apple Weblog.

Sadun posted that TUAW were testing the Jawbone Icon wireless Bluetooth handset and people she was calling complained that her voice did not sound good. They told her it was muffled” and there was decreased dynamic range.” To investigate she went to Jawbone’s forums and found a couple of discussions with complaints of both muffled sound and poor voice quality while using the Icon with an iPhone 4.

“Informal testing here at TUAW central with a couple of Jawbone units on both an iPhone 3GS as well as the iPhone 4 showed that the 3GS displayed none of the problems that the iPhone 4 is demonstrating.” (TUAW post)

Her post links to a discussion thread at the Apple support forums filled with people struggling with the same issue, but not all of them have the Jawbone. Some were Motorola users.

I use an iPhone 4 and a Motorola Bluetooth speaker in my van and have not noticed a problem, nor has anyone told me there was a problem with sound quality. But it seems there are enough people complaining that it sounds like it is not just an isolated incident. Aliph is the manufacturer of the Jawbone Bluetooth device in question. TUAW quotes their spokesperson saying:

We are aware of and concerned with the user frustration surrounding the issues affecting all Bluetooth devices (headsets, car kits, and speakers) connecting to the iPhone 4 and iOS4 updated phones. We know users have come to expect the freedom of hands-free and we are working night and day with our partners, Apple and AT&T, to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. (Aliph spokesperson)

Like the reception issues that have been widely reported, I am sure this will get a lot of attention and experts will start speculating as to what is wrong. So look for more information going forward. Will this be one more straw that will break the Apple backs and lead to an iPhone 4 recall that many are calling for?

Let us know if you are having similar problems.

iPhone 4 Bluetooth Problems? is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

$20 and Under

AT&T Cell Phones via Amazon – $0.01 with new service plan

When we said options suitable for any budget, we meant ANY budget. Amazon is currently offering tons of feature phones and smartphones for only 1 cent, with the purchase of a new service plan. For example, give your dad a $500 BlackBerry Bold 9700 for just 1 cent. Visit the link for a full list of all the phones offered on this deal. It only makes cents…to pick one up for your father today!

Slacker Radio Plus – $3.99-$4.99

If you purchase a 12-month subscription to Slacker Radio Plus for your dad, the monthly cost would be $3.99 a month. If you want to purchase just one month, it is $4.99. With Slacker Radio plus, your dad will enjoy the complete lack of audio and banner ads, unlimited song skips, complete lyrics, unlimited song requests, and mobile station caching. Mobile station caching allows you to store your favorite station on your phone’s memory card, allowing you to listen to that station without a network connection, like when traveling on a plane.

Netflix – $13.99 a month

Netflix, the popular movie rental and streaming service, gives you the ability to send your dad a gift of monthly access to thousands of movies. The best value is the $13.99 a month plan, in which your dad can have 2 DVDs at a time, as well as watch instantly on a PC, Mac, TV, iPad, iPhone, PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii. You can give your father 1 month ($13.99), 2 months ($27.98), 3 months ($41.97), 6 months ($83.94), or 12 months ($167.88) of service.

$21-$50

Belkin Accessory Bundle for iPod Touch – $29.99

Made for the iPod Touch 2G and 3G, this bundle comes with an Ergonomic Silicone Case, Rotatable charger with folding prongs, and a four-foot charge-and-sync cable.

Pandora One – $36 a year

Give your father the gift of music with Pandora’s premium service, Pandora One. With this version of the popular music streaming service, your dad will get higher quality audio, unlimited listening, fewer interruptions, no advertisements, custom skins, and the Pandora Desktop Application. The application allows the playing of Pandora stations without opening a browser.

Callpod Chargepod Bundle Pack with 6 Adapters – $38.95

This device charges up to 6 devices at once. Included are six popular charging adapters. It is compatible with thousands of mobile devices such as iPods, cell phones, digital cameras and pretty much any other mobile device you can think of.

Eye-Fi Connect X2 4GB SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card – $47.16

The Eye-Fi SD memory card stores up to 2000 photos or 90 min. of video. What sets it apart from a normal SD card is that the Eye-Fi can upload photos and videos using your home WiFi network. It can also be set up so that your dad gets email, Facebook, and Twitter alerts when his photos are being uploaded. Photos and videos can be set up to automatically be placed in specific folders, or in iPhoto if your dad uses a Mac.

$51-$100

Shure Sound Isolating Earphones with Dynamic Microspeaker II – $67.10

These earphones offer superior sound quality, as well as a sound isolating design that blocks more outside noise than active noise cancellation technology. Various sizes and shapes of earbuds are included, en-shure-ing the perfect fit.

Aliph Jawbone ICON – $74.88

A bluetooth headset that is small and sleek. It features military-grade NoiseAssassin 2.5 for noise reduction, as well as spoken updates (caller ID, Battery Status, ect.), 7 different earbuds, an earloop, and the most sophisticated Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Technology.

$101-$200

Logitech Harmony One – $146.99

Sporting a color LCD touchscreen, this remote control could be the only remote control your dad will ever need. The Harmony One features easy internet-based set-up with live customer support, on-screen activity buttons, contoured backlit buttons, and it can even learn IR codes from existing remote controls.

Casio Exilim EX-G1 – $169.95

This 12.1-megapixel digital camera sports a new rugged design, making it suitable for any conditions your dad may put it in. The Exilim-G1 is waterproof, freeze proof, dust proof, and shock resistant. It features interval shooting, which would allow your dad to automatically take photos or videos of himself at specific time intervals while engaging in sports such as skiing or rock climbing. This is truly a versatile device.

Apple iPhone 4 16GB – $199 with new service plan

Apple recently announced the new iPhone 4 with features such as FaceTime, a new crisp retina display, HD video recording/editing, and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. Though he won’t get it in time for Father’s Day, you can pre-order your dad a black (white is currently unavailable) 16GB version that will be shipped to him by July 14th.

HTC Droid Incredible – $199.99 with new service plan

Verizon Wireless’s new installment in the Droid brand is the Droid Incredible by HTC. This Android smartphone contains a powerful 1 GHz processor, 3.7-inch touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera, 8GB of onboard memory, the Android Market, as well as many more features.

HTC EVO 4G Android Phone – $199.99 with new service plan

Give the gift of 4G by giving your dad an Android based HTC EVO 4G from Sprint. This is the first 4G capable phone, containing features like a massive 4.3-inch touchscreen, HDMI out, 8-megapixel camera with HD video capture, a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chatting, WiFi, Sprint TV, Amazon MP3 Store, GPS, and the Android Market.

$201 and Up

Amazon Kindle (Latest, Global Wireless Edition) – $259

Perfect for the dad that loves to read, the Kindle is a wireless reading device with a 6-inch paper-like display that’s easy on the eyes. Weighing only 10.2 ounces and the ability to download a vast variety of books globally over 3G signals makes the Kindle the perfect device to take a book collection anywhere in the world. Additionally, the Kindle lasts a full week on a single charge, with wireless on. With wireless turned off, your dad can enjoy two weeks of reading on a single charge.

Sony Cybershot TX5 – $299

One of Sony’s latest point-and-shoot cameras in its Cybershot line-up, the TX5 is waterproof, shock-proof, freeze-proof, and dust-proof, making it dad-proof if you have a clumsy father. It sports a 3″ touchscreen, 10.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, 720p HD video recording, built-in HDR mode, and the famed iSweep Panorama mode.

Apple iPad 16GB Wi-Fi (non-3G if he’s anyone important) – $499

One of Apple’s newest devices, the 9.7-inch iPad is sure to make your father say, WOW! Along with the thousands of apps on the App Store, internet browsing, and iBooks, the iPad is sure to please all types of interests. Alternatively, an AT&T 3G capable version is available for $629.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin – $599.95

This is the perfect gift for a true audiophile. The Zeppelin loudspeaker, which is too good to just be called a speaker, unparalleled sound reproduction using the two 1-inch aluminum tweeters, two 3.5-inch fiber cone mid-range drivers, and one 5-inch bass driver. This iPod dock/loudspeaker is compatible with all dockable iPod and iPhone models. It can also be integrated into your home theater system,  and can play sound using the 3.5-mm digital input jack. Also available at most Apple Stores.

Hopefully, this list gave you an idea of what to get your dad for Father’s Day. After all, they deserve much more than we could ever provide. Happy (early) Father’s Day to all you dads out there, from all of us at Notebooks.com.

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Father’s Day is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

The Jawbone 2 cancels background noise and isolates your voice by using algorithms developed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. What this means in the real world is you can call your friends or colleagues from a crowded cafe and they won’t hear a thing except your voice.

The Jawbone 2 is a huge improvement over the original Jawbone, which I purchased when it came out (but returned it because it was too bulky). The new Jawbone 2 is very light and comes with several ear loops and buds to fit just about anybody. It’s comfortable in the ear and its so light you’ll forget you’re even wearing it.

I’m a techie, but I like the fact that the Jawbone 2 looks more like a a fashion accessory than a gadget accessory. I like that there’s no visible branding or logos. Instead it has a white LED, which looks less geeky than the standard blue LED.

The Jawbone 2 box is very elegant. Both its packaging and marketing material appeal to fashion-conscious consumers. It’s available in black, silver, gold, pink and blue. The diamond-pattern finish resists fingerprints and the leather-wrapped ear loop ads a touch of class. When I showed the Jawbone 2 to my wife she instantly wanted one (and got a silver one).

When I first saw the following video demo provided by Aliph I was pretty skeptical, especially since I wasn’t completely satisfied with the original Jawbone:

Using the Jawbone 2

I’ve been using the Jawbone 2 for the past month and while I haven’t tested it in as extreme noise conditions as in the video, I did use it daily in a number of situations where I’ve had trouble making calls and was very happy with the results. I used it with my iPhone 3G, MacBook Pro and HP Mini 1000.

I called a friend while I was sitting at the counter at Peet’s Coffee & Tea. NoiseAssasin is on by default and after a few minutes I asked him if he could hear any background noise. He asked me “what background noise?” I explained to him that I was sitting about eight feet from an espresso machine, blenders and a coffee grinder. He insisted he didn’t hear a thing so I switched off NoiseAssassin (holding a hidden button for a couple of seconds) and my voice was replaced by the whirring and grinding of the coffee machines.

I used it while walking around the streets of San Francisco several times and not a single person mentioned they had a hard time hearing me. In fact, many said they didn’t realize I wasn’t in my office until I asked them to hold on while I ordered food or said hello to somebody I knew. Without the JawBone 2 you can clearly hear the city buses and cars passing, making it difficult to make business calls while walking.

I also used it to make Skype calls while I was in noisy environments with similarly positive results. I normally turn off my speakers while I’m on a call, but the Jawbone 2 cancels out background music completely which means I can just leave my music on.

As you can hear in the video demo, the Jawbone 2 can clip your voice and make it sound a little muffeled as it filters out background noise. While not ideal, this is much better than having a ton of background noise.

Not Perfect

As much as I like the Jawbone 2, it’s not perfect. There are two buttons hidden beneath the plastic. It can be difficult to locate the buttons while the headset’s in your ear. This makes it easier than I like to miss the button. A few times I kept jabbing at the Jawbone 2 with my fingers, pressing it into my ear without successfully hitting the answer/end button. With time I got used to the placement .

Another flaw is that the status light is directly on top of one of these buttons. To program it you have to hold both buttons down and wait for the LED to flash between red and white in order to pair it, makingit impossible to read its status while you’re setting it up.

The Jawbone 2 is rated for four hours of talk time and that should be enough for most users, but my Jawbone 2 ran out of juice several times towards the end of a long phone day.

A USB cable is used to charge the Jawbone 2, but the end that connects to the headset is proprietary. It’d be great if it used a mini-USB connection instead so users could ditch this cable at home and use the same cable they use to connect other devices to their notebooks.

At times I was jealous of the people on the other end of the call because they said they could hear me just fine while I couldn’t always hear them because of the background noise. The volume adjusts automatically and at times it wasn’t sufficient. A hand over my non-Bluetooth ear pretty much solved the problem though.

Conclusion

At $129 the Jawbone 2 is expensive compared to other Bluetooth headsets, but if you’re a phone junkie like me the investment is well worth it. The product has been out for several months now so the discount have kicked in. Amazon is seling the Jawbone 2 for $89.99 and I’ve seen online ads for as low as $69.

Its superior noise cancellation and high fashion make the Jawbone 2 a top pick for the holidays.

Review: Aliph Jawbone 2 Bluetooth Headset Assassinates Noise is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.