You know what the big deal about using your cell phone while driving – it not only endangers your life, but that of other road users as well. Hence, in many countries, it is against the law to do so, making hands-free kits a must. Some people prefer to opt for a wired solution, while others look towards Bluetooth connectivity being their savior.

Aliph has brought their expertise to the world of wireless communications with the Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset, which is also the latest in their collection. The Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset is touted to deliver the highest quality HD audio experience on-the-go, boasting unprecedented intelligence courtesy of motion technology and a robust computing platform which will work in tandem to deliver richer applications.

Jawbone CEO and founder Hosain Rahman claims that they have “perfected a complete in-bound and out-bound audio experience that is so rich it is almost addictive – whether you are listening to your favorite song or a phone call.” Of course, apart from HD (High Definition) audio, the use of integrated sensors and intelligence will also pave open the road for new ways to interact with the device and apps via natural, intuitive motion control, and this alone is hoped to change the way we use headsets.

Thanks to a 25% larger wideband speaker, expect High Definition audio to be the norm even while you converse over the phone, listen to music, watch movies and play games. Jawbone will also be relying on their legacy of noise-cancelling expertise by including the newest version of military-grade NoiseAssassin 3.0 technology with the Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset. Being able to detect your surroundings, it will then go ahead and adjust the inbound volume and intelligibility, regardless of whether you are in a restaurant, ball game or traffic, so that your ears will be able to enjoy the clearest, richest sound, automatically without any user intervention.

Not only that, the Jawbone ERA Bluetooth headset is also hailed to be the first headset with a built-in accelerometer and MotionX, being one of the more accurate motion sensing technology on the market thanks to their partnership with Fullpower-MotionX, the leaders in motion technology. Jawbone ERA is capable of detecting your natural movements when you interact with it right out of the box. Available for $129 a pop, it will come in Shadowbox, Smokescreen, Midnight and Silver Lining designs.

Press Release

In a post on the Red Bull blog, Rhys Millen advises gamers on how to handle the Pikes Peak rally course in Gran Turismo 5. Only trouble is, Pikes Peak hasn’t been in a GT game since Gran Turismo 2.

Could it be a mistake, or is RB teasing a Pikes Peak add-on to GT5, which arrived for Playstation 3 just in time for the holiday season. Here’s the quote from Millen from the Red Bull site that raised more than a few eyebrows.

Millen recommends that gamers study the surroundings to help serve as memory markers to what’s coming up. A tree here or a boulder can help offer handy reference points for specific corners to help gamers prepare for what’s coming, something that’s been known to help a driver or two in actual race cars, he adds.

“As for picture painting, running most video-based course layouts will aid a driver in course recognition prior to laying sight on the course. This will also help in corner exit speed as to placing the car in the correct position on track.”

While Gran Turismo 5 gives an accurate reflection of the actual Pikes Peak circuit, there are some things that the video game simply can’t do. And, even though Millen sees the quality of the gaming experience increasing, he still thinks there’s nothing like the real thing.

Users on the GTPlanet forums noticed that comments questioning the article’s accuracy were deleted early this morning, yet the article itself remains unchanged. Yet, confused commenters remain confused.

Big mistake or brilliant viral marketing? We’ll find out soon enough.

Carscoop via GTPlanet

Send an email to Mike Spinelli, the author of this post, at mike@jalopnik.com.

While it won’t cast enough light to read by, Huey the chameleon lamp would make a great night-light. Like a true chameleon, he adapts to his environment and glows in the same color as whatever’s underneath him.

If your whole house is void of color, he can otherwise cycle through the whole color range. A small squeeze of his body when he settles on your preferred color locks it in. Surprisingly, this lamp only costs $30, which I think is a great price for something that uses a couple of white LEDs and an optical sensor to recognize and emulate the color under his belly. ThinkGeek via Technabob

Send an email to Kat Hannaford, the author of this post, at khannaford@gizmodo.com.

Star Wars gear never ceases to amaze us.  Adding to the ever growing list is “Star Wars Arcade: Falcon Gunner” for the iPhone.  The game, which pits you against an onslaught of tie fighters – just like in the movie – uses the iPhone’s camera to superimpose your surroundings directly into the game’s background (otherwise known as Augmented Reality).  There will also apparently be rendered screens as well.  So if you’re like the guy or gal in the video below, you’ll be taking on the imperial fleet on top of your New York City apartment building.  

The game will be available sometime later this month for a yet to be disclosed price.

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