Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period.

See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills!

Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?

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A hypoallergenic rubber skin is made to be sweat-proof and water-resistent to a distance of 1 meter

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Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?
Jawbone Up fitness band review

You're fat, lazy, and not getting enough sleep. At least that's what the consumer electronics industry seems to be saying with the recent deluge of fitness devices announced. In the last month alone, we've seen the introduction of the seventh generation iPod nano with integrated Nike+ sensor, the Fitbit Ultra clip-on sensor, and Motorola's MOTOACTV knockoff of the iPod nano + LunaTik watchband. And that's not even counting the myriad of dedicated cycling, running, and swimming computers targeting hardcore athletes over the same period. See, fact of the matter is, we are fat, lazy, and tired, particularly in the US and increasingly in parts of the UK and Western Europe. According to 2008 statistics compiled by the US Department of Health Service, 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese. Ironically, the US also leads the world in gym memberships with 50.2 million people (16.3 percent of the total population) toiling away in air conditioned sweat boxes. Unfortunately, 80 percent of those well meaning individuals don't actually use their memberships beyond the month of January — "resolution month" — resulting in about $12 billion wasted each year. In other words, the recent glut of fitness products has nothing at all to do with corporate altruism; there's gold in them thar cellulite hills! Today also marks the retail release of yet another fitness device: Up, by Jawbone. While most of you know the Jawbone brand from its highly stylized Bluetooth earpieces, the company has branched out recently with its well-received Jambox portable speaker. The Up fitness wristband is meant to be worn 24-hours per day, every day. Like the Fitbit, Up includes an accelerometer that tracks your movement in order to give an estimate of your calories burned. It also features a sleep measurement mode that continuously measures your sleep cycle. However, unlike the Fitbit, Up can vibrate your wrist at just the right moment so that you awake feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Or at least that's the claim. Up is also very much post-PC, meaning it connects directly to the iPhone's headphone jack to synch with a free app. Question is: is it worth $99 given all the competition?

If you've seen a Jawbone Jambox then you're already familiar with the Up's rubber covering. The band itself is composed of a steel spring vertebrae that snaps rigidly into place around the wrist. It's hypoallergenic covering is made to be sweat-proof and water-resistent to a distance of 1 meter (about 3 feet).

There's no clasp on the wristband so it's easily removed and put on — faster than a wristwatch in most cases. In practice, mine has held up to daily showers over the last four days of testing. It dries quickly in the air or with a wipe of the towel.

Beneath the rubber epidermis you'll find a high-tech carcass made from a 10 day battery, a vibration motor for alarms, and a motion sensor

I don't wear a wristwatch on a regular basis, and when I do the strap is made from steel or leather. I found Up's rubbery texture to be mildly annoying, especially at first. The rubber can be sticky resulting in a slight but noticeable tug at the skin and hairs around the wrist, especially when the sweat begins to flow during a working out.

In general though, I found Up to be comfortable enough that I rarely noticed it except when it would stick inside a shirt sleeve while getting dressed. I also have to slide it up my wrist whenever placing my hands on the palm rest of my laptop.

Up's anatomy benefits from the miniaturization of sensors, batteries, and motors driven by demand for smaller and smaller smartphones. Beneath the rubber epidermis you'll find a high-tech carcass made from a built-in 10 day Li-ion rechargeable battery, a vibration motor for alarms, and a motion sensor. At one end of the band is a square multifunction button for putting Up in activity, sleep, or workout modes. Press-and-hold to switch between active and sleep modes; or press then press-and-hold to go into workout mode. Two indicator lights — a blue moon (sleep) and star (red when charging, green when in activity mode, or flashing green when in workout mode) — are neatly integrated into Up's skin and illuminate briefly to confirm your selection. Unfortunately, while the lights are easily seen in the gym, they are nearly invisible when outside in the sunlight. A 3.5-mm plug is on the other end, hidden by a Jawbone-branded cap. Now, about that cap...

Eventually you will lose the plug cap, I'd put money on it

It's my guess that at some point in time you're going to lose the 3.5-mm plug's end cap. I remove and plug the Up into my iPhone three or four times a day: one in the morning to see how I slept, once or twice during the day to check my activity, and a final time at night to see how my overall day looked. That's three or four opportunities to lose the cap. Eventually, you will lose it, I'd put money on it. Fortunately, unlike the Fitbit device which can inadvertently pop off your belt and disappear (like mine did), the Up wristband itself is not likely to fall off your wrist without you knowing about it.

Update: Jawbone responded saying it will sell a pack of three replacement caps for $9.99 on jawbone.com

If you haven't figured it out already, the Up mates directly with the audio jack of the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. It doesn't charge via the jack, naturally, but it will manually sync with the free Up iOS application. Jawbone claims full Up compatibility with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. It also support the iPad and iPad 2 but the Up app isn't formatted to take advantage of the iPad's larger screen. It does support the iPod Touch 4th generation and above but the GPS functions in the app are limited.

Oh, and as a bonus, the Up also makes a decent video viewing stand just as long as you don't mind listening to your video through the on-board speaker.

Software

The polish is applied to a thin veneer — the app feels very much like a 1.0 product

Up integrates the same Fullpower-MotionX engine already found in Jawbone's Era motion-controlled headset. It's this internal software that allows Up to make sense of the data collected by its motion sensor, converting it into steps, distance, calories burned, pace, intensity level and active versus inactive time. You sync data off the Up by attaching its 3.5-mm plug to your iOS device, launching the free Up app, and hitting sync.

The iOS app is free but not all that intuitive even though it features the kind of UI polish you'd expect from a Jawbone product. Unfortunately, the polish is applied to a thin veneer — the app feels very much like a 1.0 product (although it's listed as version 1.1 for launch) with its confusing structure and buggy operation.

In portrait mode you can see a segmented view of your sleep, activity, and meals. Rotating your device into the horizontal presents you with a detailed view of each segment ordered chronologically in a timeline. I ran into a bug more than once, where nothing would display on the landscape timeline until I swiped the screen. There's more finicky behavior if you tap the screen in portrait mode, as doing so will force the display into landscape. The only way to return it to portrait is to rotate the phone 90 degrees in one direction and 90 degrees back.

With great lucidity and intent, I stripped Up off of my wrist and allowed my backup alarm to rouse me later

Sleep tracking

One of Up's potentially hyperbolic features is the programmable Smart alarm. Jawbone claims that Up "wakes you at the best possible moment in your natural sleep cycle." It does this through actigraphy, a non-invasive monitoring of your body's nocturnal activity (Fitbit does the same). In essence, putting the Up into sleep mode turns the device into a sleep actigraph where Jawbone's "proprietary algorithms" (as they were described to me) begin actively measuring your states of sleep based upon micro movements at the wrist (similar to eye flutter in REM). The data is then converted into hours slept, time to fall asleep, light versus deep sleep, and sleep quality. Actigraphy is established science. More to the point, it does seem to work. Sleep mode turns itself off automatically after it detects a certain number of steps.

You set and activate Smart Alarms using the iOS app. Unlike typical alarms that wake you at a discrete time that you select, Up wakes you up anytime within a 30 minute range. Therefore, it's important to set the Smart alarm for the last possible moment that you must be awake.

In practice, it does seem to work. However, the first time I used it was shortly after we launched The Verge. Up started vibrating at the earliest possible time within the 30 minute range. With full clarity of mind I was able to calculate that I was robbed of an extra half hour of sleep. So, with great lucidity and intent, I stripped Up off of my wrist and allowed my backup alarm to rouse me later. I certainly prefer being awoken by a gentle vibration instead of the piezoelectric blast of audio released by traditional alarms. However, the idea of waking up even a minute sooner than my allotted sleep quota is too great a mental hurdle to overcome.

meal tracking

Up's food journal is by far the weakest part of the overall experience. At the moment, all you can do is photograph your food for reference on a timeline. After an hour or so, you'll receive a push notification asking you to pick an appropriate facial expression icon that best describes how the meal made you feel. Jawbone says you can use your responses to help discover which foods make you feel the best. Really, that's just marketing spin for an underdeveloped feature. Fitbit, for example, allows you to match your meals to a large database of predefined generic and branded foods with their calorie counts already inserted. The Fitbit site then lets you know how your caloric intake balances with your activity allowing you to adjust your activity to match your weight loss or fitness goals. It's still an approximation and requires a lot of manual input but it far surpasses Jawbone's feeble attempt at managing your eating habits.

In an ideal world, using the Up app to photograph your food's label would recognize it, Google-Goggles style, and automatically assign the caloric data to the meal. Someday, maybe.

The more team members you have the more effective it is, I guess

activity tracking

Up-gpsrun-step-treadmill-gpsrun-555

Activity tracking is pretty straight forward and entirely consistent with my Fitbit experience. The Up tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, pace, intensity level, and active vs inactive times and presents the data as vertical bars on a timeline — the longer the bar the more intense the activity. The sections with a red foundation are workouts (activated each time with a press of the Up's button followed immediately by a press-and-hold). The image above represents today's workout broken into four parts: a 0.40 mile run to the gym, a 3.11 mile climb on the Stairmaster, another 1.83 miles on the treadmill, and then the 0.38 mile run home (hey, I walked a little). The yellow gaps in between represent normal activity.

3.11 mile workout climb exploded

Activity prior to the workout exploded

Workout activity can be tracked with or without GPS data. To start a workout in GPS mode you simply put the band in workout mode (causing the band to vibrate and briefly illuminate a rapidly flashing green star) and then choose "workout with GPS" in the app. To stop collecting GPS workout data you have to stop the app and set the band back to activity mode with another press-and-hold of the Up's button. The GPS data will be combined with the band's data the next time you sync the two. Confusingly, the GPS data doesn't appear in the main activity view along with all your other workout data. Instead it shows up in your general feed alongside data from all your teammates. Yet another annoying design feature of the app.

Up also offers a number of public "challenges," some sponsored by big name health clubs, meant to help keep your motivated. One, like Eiffel Tower, unlocks a charitable donation for the first person to climb 1,655 steps. Another is a group effort to walk the Great Wall of China by combining the total steps of the team. Jawbone's "team" concept lets you see (and compare) how your friends and family are progressing to meet their goals. The more team members you have the more effective it is at motivating your competitive spirit, I guess.

Jawbone automatically publishes your name and profile image to the searchable Up directory. Your user data, however, is set to private by default. You can of course change that to share your data with individuals, teams of people, and / or everyone. Public challenges require you to post some activity data publicly in order to combine with the team effort or to verify your accomplishments towards the goal.

Finally, Up features unique "activity reminders" that alert you with a gentle vibration whenever you've been idle for too long. You control the hours that these alerts are active (for example, 9am to 10pm) and the duration of idle time that triggers a reminder (15 minutes, 30, one hour). Being gently nudged as a reminder that you've been motionless is a far better motivator than Fitbit's witless "you can do it!" messages.

Update: Jawbone responded telling us that an Android app is up next.

Wrap-up

Both the Up and Fitbit Ultra can inspire owners to move more, sleep better, and eat smarter by making them consumers of their own health

I've now lived with both the $99.99 Jawbone Up and $99.95 Fitbit Ultra fitness devices so you're probably wondering which I would recommend? So am I, honestly.

First, Up is only available for owners of the iPhone 3GS or newer models. The iOS app is a basic requirement of the UP system — without it the Up hardware is a functionless rubber bracelet. So the choice is obvious if you don't own an iPhone.

The Up app is pretty limited in functionality compared to what you can do with Fitbit's full-blown web interface and mobile site. And Jawbone's "meal tracking" feature is laughable in comparison. Having said that, iPhone owners will appreciate the convenience of being able to sync and view their data wherever they are (Fitbit owners must walk in range of their dock).

As a 24 / 7 wearable device I greatly prefer Up's wristband design as opposed to Fitbit's clip design. I never worry about Up sliding off my wrist whereas I lost my Fitbit when it popped off my belt. Both devices measure the quality of your sleep but only Up offers an integrated vibrating Smart alarm to wake you up and activity reminders to nudge you out of your lethargy. Up, unlike the Fitbit, is waterproof, allowing you to take it swimming, and it can draw your runs onto a map using GPS data collected from the iPhone. Fitbit Ultra, however, includes an altimeter, which the Up lacks, to more accurately measure the exertion required to climb and descend stairways.

So, I'm calling it a draw and urge you to carefully consider the benefits and shortcomings of each device based upon your own needs. Neither can compare to expensive fitness computers (costing two to three times as much) that measure peak athletic performance while quantifying your every move. They don't have to. The Jawbone Up, like the Fitbit Ultra before it, has successfully inspired me to move more, sleep better, and eat smarter — and that's worth 99 bucks to me.

Update November 22nd, 2011: Since reviewing the product we have experienced a product failure that we've seen repeated too frequently in the Jawbone support forum and on Twitter. We've discussed the issue with the Jawbone team, including Travis Bogard, Jawbone’s VP of Product Management. Jawbone is offering free replacement units but does not yet know the root cause of the issue. Until this is fixed, we can not comfortably recommend this product.

Update: December 8th, 2011: Jawbone has discovered hardware issues with the Up bands and is offering a full "no questions asked" refund.

Compare It

Jawbone Up

8.0 Verge Score 6.0 User Score Write Review

Good Stuff

Waterproof
No risk of losing the wristband
Sync and view data wherever you are
Smart alarms work as advertised

Bad Stuff

Meal tracking is a joke
App software is clearly a 1.0 work
Data management not as fun or robust as Fitbit
You'll lose the cap eventually