jawbone
Latest
Wearable device stats prove it: you're not getting enough sleep
If you've ever groused that you don't get enough sleep, you now know that you're not alone -- far from it, in fact. The Wall Street Journal has provided a rare glimpse at the tracking data from hundreds of thousands of Jawbone Up wearers worldwide, revealing both their collective sleeping habits as well as their activity when they're awake. And... it's not looking good. Even in well-rested cities like Melbourne, the average person slept just over the minimum recommended 7 hours. In Tokyo, many people get less than 6 hours. You don't want to look to your friends for help, then, since they're probably just as groggy as you.
Jawbone takes on Weight Watchers with its latest app update
There are things fitness trackers are generally pretty good at. You know, like counting your steps, measuring how many calories you burned. And then there are things fitness trackers are generally bad at. Logging your food intake is a particularly sore point. After all, it's not like the onboard sensors can tell when or what you've eaten, so you have to go through the tedious business of manually entering all your meals. What's more, companies like Jawbone and Fitbit aren't exactly weight-loss specialists, which means their food databases tend to have gaping holes compared to services like Weight Watchers. So, even if you're disciplined enough to keep a food diary, the thing you ate might not even be in the system. That goes double if you eat out -- how are tech companies supposed to know how many calories are in the brownies at that cafe around the corner?
Nest devices start talking to Google, washing machines and your car
Nest's Learning Thermostat and Protect smoke detector are now part of a much, much larger universe. The company has just launched a developer program that lets third-party apps and devices talk to Nest hardware, making it do things that aren't possible through official software. The initiative is kicking off with a whole host of partnerships in place, in many cases with feature updates either available now or due in the near future. Chamberlain's garage doors can now tell your Nest thermostat when you're home, while Mercedes-Benz lets you check the temperature on the road; Logitech's Harmony Ultimate remote can lower the heat in mid-movie, and Jawbone's Up24 fitness tracker can tell Nest when you wake up.
Jawbone and Automatic can now log runs and road trips in one place
Jawbone makes an activity tracker that goes on your wrist. Automatic makes an activity tracker that plugs into your car. The opportunities for synergy there just seem endless, don't they? Thanks to a little inspiration from a well-received hackathon project, these two tracking tech companies have partnered up to put all your movement data Jawbone's iOS and Android companion apps.
Jawbone now lets you link Mini Jamboxes -- if you happen to have two
As far as portable Bluetooth speakers go, Jawbone's Mini Jambox falls short of being our favorite; it's more expensive than the competition, without being significantly better. Given that, then, you might want to take this post with a grain of salt: The company just announced a new feature called Multiplay that allows you to turn the tiny Jambox into a stereo speaker. The catch? You need not one, but two of these $150 units to make it work (N.B.: They're priced at $130 right now, but only as a limited-time offer). Assuming you can pony up, or have a friend with the same speaker, you can send music from one to the other by holding down three buttons on the device. Or, you can play the same song through both at once, with the option to designate a right and left speaker, allowing for a wider soundstage. (The Mini already has a "LiveAudio" feature that does basically the same thing, except the effect is subtler.) Given the prohibitive cost, this is a fairly improbable setup for most folks. That said, if you happen to own the Mini, and have access to a second unit, you can enjoy the feature now through a free firmware update.
Jawbone's Up24 fitness tracker lands in the UK, Europe and Asia
If you've been eagerly waiting for Jawbone to bring its first wireless fitness tracker to your locale, today could be your lucky day. After a period of exclusivity in the US, the accessory maker has expanded sales of its Up24 wristband to 29 new markets (including the UK, China and Japan) letting customers enjoy low-energy Bluetooth support that Fitbit and others have been offering for more than a year. The launch is timely, given that Jawbone recently updated its Android app with wireless syncing and push notifications to get the most out of the rubberized wearable. As with all its products, Jawbone's making the Up24 available to buy on its local webstore, but the company is also enlisting the help of Apple and Amazon to manage sales. Prices start at £125 in the UK and €149.95 in Europe, but do make sure to check out the full list of confirmed markets after the break.
Jawbone updates its Android app with wireless syncing and push notifications (updated)
If you own a Jawbone fitness tracker, you may have read last week that the company made some changes to its app. Unfortunately for some of us, the updates were all for iOS only -- in fact, the company didn't even bother to mention Android that day. Turns out, Jawbone had a good reason: it was planning an update for the Android app that brings it more in line with its iOS counterpart. In particular, it now fully supports the wireless Up24 band, which is to say it syncs wirelessly and sends out push notifications (e.g., you're about to hit your daily step goal). In addition, the app includes most of the new features that were introduced on iOS last week -- things like sunrise/sunset times in the sleep graph and "Insight Reports," which establish a connection between things like how much sleep you got and what foods you're likely to crave the next day. So, even if you own an older Up band you'll want to head over to Google Play straight away. Update: An earlier version of this story reported that the Android app would be missing the new features that were just introduced on the iOS version last week. A Jawbone rep later said that the Android app would, in fact, include most of these features, with the exception of custom reminders.
Jawbone's 'Up Coffee' app tracks your caffeine intake, estimates when you'll finally be able to sleep
Ah, caffeine. So addictive. So energizing. So unhealthy. It's no secret that coffee lends itself to spurts of early-morning productivity, only to be followed by mid-afternoon slumps. And yet, we're somehow always surprised when that 4PM frappuccino keeps us up past a reasonable hour. "Up Coffee," a new iPhone app from Jawbone, probably won't wean you off the good stuff, but it might take the surprise out of your next coffee coma. Here's how it works: you enter a few specifics, including your sex, weight and caffeine tolerance, and then it's your job to start logging. And let's be clear here: this isn't just a coffee-tracker, but a caffeine app, so in addition to all those coffees you consume throughout the day, you also should be logging any late-night Red Bulls.
Recommended Reading: Jawbone on the rise and the indie gaming bubble
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books dealing with the subject of technology that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Jawbone Is Now the Startup Apple Should Fear Most (978 words) by Marcus Wohlson, Wired Pocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement("script");j.id=i;j.src="https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1";var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,"pocket-btn-js"); In case you hadn't heard, there are reports that Jawbone is securing a massive round of funding that would fuel the company's IPO. The Bluetooth gadget outfit has given us a range of wireless speakers and it's line of Up fitness trackers, but more capital could mean new product categories -- things like smart clothes and improved wrist gadgets. As Wired's Marcus Wohlson notes, those new categories are "a move Apple has struggled to make in recent years." And of course, there's always the chance Google could nab Jawbone up before Cupertino has a chance to.
Wearable tech deals of the week: 2.14.14
If you've been considering a wearable purchase, but are unsure about parting with the requisite funds, today's gaggle of discounted tech may finally urge you to commit. There are activity trackers and the Galaxy Gear that's currently marked at 50 percent off waiting on the other side of the break. With a price drop that like, you'll want to decide quickly as the offer won't last long. Just window-shopping? No worries. Join us and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your Want list; every time there's a price cut in the future, you'll get an email alert!
Wooden iPad mini case creates the 1950s TV that never was
Jeffrey Stephenson has long had a knack for giving PCs an elegant retro look, and he's now bringing his crafting skills to the mobile realm. His recently completed DuMont project turns an iPad mini, a Jawbone Jambox and a heap of wood into a tiny 1950s TV set, complete with a woven speaker grille; the owner just has to slot devices into the enclosure's side to indulge in some nostalgic viewing. Stephenson isn't officially selling the box, but he is taking inquiries from those who want a tablet TV of their own. If you're wondering how he did it, you can visit Bit-Tech's forums to check out the project work log.
Jawbone's second-gen Era headset is 42 percent smaller, comes with its own charging case
Wearables may have been the talk of the town at CES, but given that Jawbone just released the Up24 a month ago, chances were slim it was going to announce another fitness tracker so soon. Instead, then, the company is going back to its roots: It just announced a new version of its Era Bluetooth headset, with a markedly smaller design, a 10-hour battery and a bundled charging case. In particular, the new Era is 42 percent more compact than the last-gen model (see the comparison pic after the break), with a new earpiece that's said to fit more securely. On the audio front, Jawbone moved to tiny MEMS microphones and also overhauled its Noise Assassin noise cancellation technology with support for wider-band audio. You can also use voice commands to order Siri around, assuming you have an iDevice. It's on sale today in four colors starting at $100, though if you want that charging case, you'll need to shell out $130 for the bundle.
Wearable craze adds skin sensitivity to the list of considerations for gadget buyers
We were quite impressed with Jawbone Up24 when we reviewed it. But, a few weeks later, things soured a bit when an editor developed a rather unpleasant rash from the device. Turns out it's not all that uncommon a reaction. While the usual list of concerns for gadget buyers focuses on specs, features and in certain cases portability, with the advent of the wearable, consumers need to start worrying about their own skin sensitivity as well. Are you particularly susceptible to bacterial infections? Are you allergic to nickel or latex? Then that's something that you'll have to take into consideration when it comes time to pick out a fitness tracker or smartwatch. In addition to our anecdotal experience, we've heard similar complaints about past versions of the FuelBand and the Engadget forums are alive with reports of sores and rashes associated with the Fitbit Force. While a sensitivity to nickel would be the most immediate suspect in cases like these, according to dermatologist J. Todd Williams, M.D., it appears something else is to blame. The Force does contain trace amounts of the metal in the surgical-grade stainless steel used on its body, but the position of the rashes would seem to rule out it out in many cases. The same would be true of Up users, as only the cap emblazoned with the Jawbone logo contains nickel plating. And since the Up is coated in a hypoallergenic rubber and the Force forgoes latex as well, it seems an allergy to that particular polymer isn't the culprit either.
Jawbone Up24 review: wireless syncing makes this Jawbone's best fitness tracker yet
Late last year, Jawbone faced a herculean task: regaining consumers' trust after widespread reports of brickage on the original Up fitness tracker. The outfit was able to right many of the wrongs that plagued the first edition, but there was still room for improvement. You still had to plug the Up into a smartphone to sync your collected data; sleep tracking left a lot to be desired; and the iOS app needed more usable functionality beyond tallying steps and monitoring dietary habits. However, the 2012 model did offer more than seven days of battery life and, you know, kept working even after a week of use. This time around, the company has finally opted to go wireless. Thanks to a Bluetooth Low Energy radio, the new Up24 can sync wirelessly and only needs to be plugged in when it's time to recharge. The convenience of wireless comes at a cost, however. The 2013 version got a $20 price increase to $150. So is the ability to sync wirelessly worth the extra coin? Are the software improvements impressive enough to make folks trust Jawbone above rival companies? I spent a few weeks tracking my every move to determine just that.
Jambox and Mini Jambox score a water-resistant option for an extra $50
Sure, you might shrug off peril when it comes to placing portable speakers near the tub or sink, but it wouldn't hurt to have an added line of defense. To that end, Jawbone is now giving folks who purchase a Mini Jambox or its normally-sized counterpart from their website the option to add Liquipel 2.0 protection for an extra $50. The coating bestows hardware with an IPX-5 rating, which lends it protection from water splashed upon it from all angles. It might not be the time of year to bust out your super soaker or dip into a pool, but you can prepare for summer by picking up one of the specially-treated gadgets at the bordering source link.
Daily Roundup: PlayStation 4 test drive, Moto G unveiled, Jawbone Up24 and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Jawbone intros the Up24, its first wireless fitness tracker: on sale now for $150
It took Jawbone two tries to release a fitness tracker that didn't break after several days of use. And it took the company three generations to release one that could sync users' sleep and activity data without having to be plugged in. Today, about two years after the first Up band went on sale, the company is introducing the Up24, its first fitness tracker that syncs wirelessly. Aside from the fact that this makes for a potentially more convenient experience, this is interesting because Jawbone used to be stubbornly against wireless syncing. Specifically, the company once said that it didn't want to use Bluetooth in the Up band because it would necessitate chunkier hardware, put a dent in battery life and generally complicate the user experience. Well, here we have the Up24, which promises seven days of use, thanks to the Bluetooth Low Energy radio inside (that's the same power-efficient standard used in other new fitness trackers). The Up24 is also roughly the same size as the current Up band, and just as water-resistant, too. In addition, Jawbone just released version 3.0 of its iOS app, which includes some features that will only work on the new Up24 (think: live notifications letting you know you're about to meet your fitness goals). Also, because the Up24 works over Bluetooth, you can set a vibrating "Smart Alarm" using the app, instead of having to take the band off and plug it into your phone. Fortunately, the app is mostly compatible with the old Up band. Most important of all, perhaps, is a new sleep recovery tool that allows you to estimate how much sleep you got, even if you forgot to put the band into sleep mode.
Facebook likes wearable technology, but the tech's not quite ready to like back
We've become accustomed to posts flooding our news feeds proclaiming that a friend has just completed a 5-mile run or taken their 3,000th step of the day, but that's not enough for Facebook. At a recent hackathon held at its headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., the company partnered up with Google, Jawbone, Fitbit, Recon and Pebble to see what a few handpicked developers could do to combine Facebook's services with their hardware. The goal? To create some new, novel and practical uses for wearable technology.
Jawbone's Mini Jambox now available for purchase with regular-sized dollars
If you like your Bluetooth speakers nearly pocketable and can live without wall-shaking volume, the Jambox's diminutive offspring is now available for $180 at Jawbone.com. The aptly named Mini is available in nine colors and five textures and debuts alongside iOS and Android streaming apps that are compatible with iTunes, Spotify and Rdio. The speakers will be available at US retailers "shortly," according to the company. Hit the source below to get your Mini jams on.
Daily Roundup: Xperia Z1 review, JetBlue's 12Mbps Fly-Fi, iMessage briefly appears on Android, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
