Jawbone Jambox delivers powerful sound in a stylish package

— -- Don't be fooled by the stylish packaging: There's a lot of power packed into the Jawbone Jambox, a powerhouse personal speaker that connects to a smartphone or computer via Bluetooth. It produces some of the best sound I've ever heard from a speaker of any price, and it fits in the palm of your hand.

It's the most smile-inducing piece of technology I've used in months.

The Jambox ($200) comes from Jawbone, which has made a name for itself by producing stylish Bluetooth headsets for hands-free calling.

The company knows how to have fun. With each Jambox purchase, customers can get a free Jamchain, which allows them to carry the speaker around their necks.

The Jambox's key innovation is that it contains software that can be updated. Users can hook up the speaker to a computer with a USB cable.

This summer, Jawbone updated the software to include a souped-up algorithm for playing music. Dubbed LiveAudio, the brand-new listening experience gives you something like surround sound, all from this tiny box.

You have to hear it to believe it.

Even better, when users complained that the software update lowered the device's volume, Jawbone devised an update to correct the problem.

Because the Jambox can pair via Bluetooth with a smartphone, users can take calls as they come in through a microphone in the speaker. It's a great tool for conference calls, too.

Still, the device has some limitations.

While the sound is great, it isn't powerful enough for a bustling party. The Jambox is very much a personal listening device. It's perfect for iPad gaming, mobile Netflix watching and small gatherings.

It would also be nice to be able to skip songs from the speaker itself when using a streaming service such as Spotify through a mobile phone. As it is, users have to wake up the phone, often unlock the screen and advance the song.

There's no doubt that speakers like the Jambox are the future. Just like every other piece of technology, the devices will need to become smart with software that can be expanded and features that can be added.

Customers buying the Jambox, which comes in four colors, are buying more than a speaker. They're buying a platform that will keep on growing.

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Contact Mark W. Smith: msmith@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @markdubya