We’ve come to expect a new Jawbone Bluetooth headset each year since Aliph shipped its original model in 2007.  This year is no different.

The newest headset from Aliph is the Jawbone Era, an evolution of an already impressive product with several new features. 

Perhaps the most interesting change is the included accelerometer, which makes it possible to control the headset with taps and shakes.  For example, shake the Jawbone Era four times (a Double ShakeShake), and the headset enters pairing mode.  Tap it twice (TapTap), to answer a call.  This functionality, powered by MotionX, will be updated over time with new commands.

NoiseAssassin, the noise cancellation technology that first put Jawbone on the map, has also been updated to v3.0 for better performance.  New, too, is a wideband “HD” speaker for clearer sounds on the user’s end.  The headset also supports A2DP for listening to music from many current smartphones.  iPhone and BlackBerry users will see a battery meter for the Era on their phone’s status bar.

Two processors power the Jawbone Era, likely required for all of the unit’s features.  MyTalk is back, a service which allows the headset to be updated, tweaked and otherwise personalized; it also allows you to install apps like Caller ID by Name. 

Basically the same size and dimensions as last year’s Jawbone Icon, the Era is available in four colors (shown above), each with a different external design pattern (the Silver Lining is shown at the top).  The Era also includes 7 earbud “fit options” and a removable earloop.  Battery life is rated at 5.5 hours, or 10 days standby, and charging is by way of a microUSB port. 

The Jawbone Era has an MSRP of $129 and is available now at the Jawbone web store. Amazon, along with other online and brick-and-mortar retailers will have the headsets in stock soon.