Bought one today at the Apple Store. They didn't have them out yet but asked for it. I've been a Fuel Band user since April. I have a love/hate relationship with it because it's so damn inaccurate. I run 5 miles it tells me I only went 3. So that's my motivation for checking the Up out.
Can't comment of functionality yet, but not liking the design so far.
Aesthetically it's slimmer than the Fuel Band but a tad wider going outward. I'm not a fan of how the two end curl up at the end to grip your wrist. Nike's solution is a lot cleaner. The way the ends overhang means shirts and sweaters will get hung up on it and who knows what else.
Also for $129 -- just $30 less than the Fuel Band, you get no instant data readout or feedback. Everything has to be read from the App. That would not be a monster issue if it had wireless sync, but it doesn't (even though Jawbone is a BT speaker and headset co). So to find out where you are in the day you have to take the bracelet off, take the cap off, stick it in the headphone port, activate the app and sync. That's a lot of work just to find out where you are in the day. Even the Fitbit offers visual cues in the form of a growing flower.
So, so far not impressed. I'm going to reserve judgment until I've used it for a week but I don't think Jawbone learned as much about design of the Gen 1 as they think they did.
Thanks for the review. I really am torn between this and the lark life. I'm not considering the mybasis or fuelband as they don't provide the silent vibrating alarm when you're best rested feature, which is essential for me.
Here's how I can see it breaking down:
JAWBONE:
Pros:
- More fashionable. Looks smaller and comes in a variety of great colours
- Some extra features: the power nap feature looks very useful; as does mood tracking
- very water resistant (if their video is to be believed)
- does everything in one band
- it's already here!
Cons:
- no bluetooth, need to take it off to sync
- annoying cap, easy to lose
- need to take it off to charge
LARKLIFE:
Pros:
- two bands (night and day) each with their own battery so you can charge one while you wear the other one - no break in tracking
- the two bands also mean it's more comfortable during the night
- bluetooth syncing!
- expert tips on sleeping, diet, etc. available
- expert help on exercising available
Cons:
- waterproof? they don't say
- release date unknown
- only 2 day battery life
- only comes in blue right now
- the computer part of the thing is small, and possible to lose (although presumably you're always wearing it, so probably not)
- $20 more than the Up
So they stack up pretty nicely against each other. The main selling point of the Larklife is the expert advice: it was designed in consultation with fitness/sleep/diet experts and you can get expert advice if you choose based on your results. The bluetooth syncing so you can track yourself real time is also the big feature.
The main selling point of the Up (to me) is how fashionable it looks. Provided you get the right colour, it won't necessarily even look out of place whilst wearing my suit, and its 8 day battery life.
At this stage I'm leaning towards the lark life. But I might wait until both are available here in Canada, get both, and try them out for 30 days with my wife. Then we'll both order the one that we like.
Since I am also waiting on the pebble watch, perhaps the winner will end up being the first to integrate with it! Unless of course the pebble ends up being able to do all these things, but I suspect not as well
