54 MacDirectory
CLOSER LOOK
JAYBIRD > WHERE SPORTS AND MUSIC COLLIDE
There are many of us out there who still
remember the big bulky pieces of equip-
ment that used to pass for headsets.
These behemoths were not only uncom-
fortable and unwieldy, but so overly
sensitive that even the slightest bit of
movement caused sounds to fade in and
out, or just die completely.
Judd Armstrong, founder and CEO of
JayBird Gear remem-
bers those days too, because that was
one of the things that inspired him to
start his company.
"When we started working on [our
product] about three years ago the only
Bluetooth headphones around were the
big bulky ones that made you look like
Princess Leia. … We were dissatisfied with
this and wanted to do something you
could actually use for sports, something
that would be the smallest on the market,
something that would stay on no matter
what and be out of the way."
He was successful on all fronts, developing
a Bluetooth headphone that is not only
small (about two inches long) and comfor-
table, but doesn't have a bar connecting
the two ear pieces. This makes the set easy
to wear whether you're doing a full on
workout or just straightening up the house.
And, as an added bonus, this "athlete's
choice" headset also comes with a lifetime
warranty against sweat.
Perhaps best of all, JayBird works with a
variety of equipment, including iPhones
(requires the JB-BA-100m Universal
Bluetooth Adapter), iPods (requires the JB-
BA-100i Bluetooth Adapter for iPod), PCs,
GPS, and home theaters.
Currently about 60 percent of Jaybird
customers are Apple aficionados, with 25
percent of them being iPhone users, and
35 percent iPod users. This number,
Armstrong believes, could be increased
significantly if Apple added Bluetooth
functionality directly to its iPod and
iPhone capabilities.
"Most of these customers would love to
get rid of the adapter, and a lot of the
customers that don't want to deal with
the adapter would come on board."
In June, JayBird will be introducing a new
headset feature, designed specifically to
combat listener fatigue. This feature will
be the apt-X codec from APT
in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that makes
the Bluetooth signal sound just like a wired
earphone headset. This headset will offer
a sound quality so pure that users will hear
no background noise whatsoever, not
even between songs. Gone too will be
the "pitchy, mid-range noises that pierce
your ears, typical in Bluetooth and even
non-Bluetooth headphones," Armstrong
said. "The apt-X codec will dull those
noises and amplify the treble and bass so
you have a richer, truer sounding audio."
Armstrong also expressed optimism about
the future of both his company and the
industry, telling
MacDirectory that he
expects the Bluetooth market to surge
over the coming two to three years as
more devices come with Bluetooth stereo
ready to go. To back up his prediction, he
noted that about one million Americans
have memberships to a gym or health
club, with most of those individuals
listening to an iPod or some other music
player while they work out.
Then there is the emerging market in
"mobile phones, which are becoming
more and more popular as music players.
iPods and other MP3 players are losing
market share to phones because now so
many phones can also function as music
players, so we're really hoping Apple puts
Bluetooth stereo on the iPhone."
And while Armstrong is always interested in
the designs being produced by his compe-
titors, he still maintains that he has yet to
experience any headset that is as light-
weight and comfortable as the JayBird.
JayBird, like no other, will always design its
products with the athlete in mind.
WORDS BY JONE DEVLIN
