GeekSugar

Keep Your Fitness in Check With Jawbone UP

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:45:51 PDT

As 2012 approaches, you'll no doubt have some sort of resolution to get healthy. Rather than go it alone, why not employ some kind of smart technology to keep you at the top of your game? The UP might be just what you need. The Jawbone UP (yes, that Jawbone) is your wearable fitness monitor - it tracks your fitness levels, monitors your sleep and eating habits, and keeps you challenged with community activities.

Built with something called MotionX technology, the UP is said to be wicked accurate for monitoring your daily activities like walking, your pace, distance, calories burned, but also gets really detailed with your sleep habits since you wear the thing 24/7 (even in the shower - it's water-resistant!). No kidding - the UP doesn't just monitor the numbers of hours you've slept, but can also pinpoint how long it took you to fall asleep, the various different phases of sleep, and your overall sleep quality. The band even vibrates to "nudge" you awake at the optimal time during your natural sleep cycle. So thoughtful.

And as you may have guessed, the UP integrates with your iPhone to provide you with on-the-go stats and totals, but you can also use your camera to snap pics of the food and snacks you eat to compile your own virtual food journal. Fact is, when you know you have to take a picture of what you're eating, you're more likely to skip that piece of pie at the office potluck. Speaking of office, you can set the UP to remind you to get up and away from that computer screen during specific intervals throughout the day to get the blood flowing.

Coming in seven colors - blue, white, silver, brown, black, and two tones of red - the Jawbone UP seems to be the front-runner in the wave of new fitness gadgets, and by far the most wearable for the ladies. Get yours (or add it to your wish list) on Nov. 6 for $99.

3 Ways to Monitor Your Fitness Level

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:25:15 PDT

Summer is in full swing, and if you're still trying to shed the last of your Winter weight, don't go it alone. These three tools can help you track calories in and out while awake and even sleep (in some cases), which will not only help you drop pounds, but get improve your overall health.

Up by Jawbone

This newly announced fitness bracelet by Jawbone (seen here) stylishly monitors your movement, activity, sleep patterns, and nutrition in order to get a holistic view of where your calories are being burned, or more importantly, where they aren't. There will be a mobile app to use in conjunction with the bracelet so you can sync and see your totals on the go. The Up should launch sometime later this year with price TBA.

See a few more tools after the break.

Jawbone Releases the First Motion-Controlled Bluetooth Headset

Kristen Hawley — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 05:00:48 PST

Jawbone, manufacturers of Bluetooth Headsets and most recently the awesome Jambox Bluetooth-enabled speaker, has just released the first motion-controlled Bluetooth headset with HD audio. The Jawbone ERA features top-quality noise cancellation and volume control that automatically adjusts volume for both sides of the conversation.

Its MotionX technology uses a built-in accelerometer to give users control of the device; shake the ERA to connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device, tap to answer phone calls, and more. Pressing a button on the device gives users an audio update of how much battery life remains. It packs 5.5 hours of talk time or 10 hours of standby time.

Each of the ERA's four designs is available for $129 and is in Apple, AT&T, and Best Buy stores now.

View 5 Photos ›

Jawbone Releases Thoughts, a Texting/Voicemail Hybrid App

Kristen Hawley — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:30:47 PST

Yesterday, Jawbone released a new app that combines texting and talking for a whole new way to send messages. Thoughts for the iPhone encourages users to record thoughts or messages and then send to a friend or group of friends, similar to how you would send a text message, but without the hassle of actually typing the message. According to Jawbone, "It's like having a real conversation, but without the hassle of getting everyone together at the same time." And, if it's inconvenient for you to listen to the message, you can even have the app transcribe it for you - 10 transcriptions are included with the free app, and you can purchase more at any time.

While you do need to download the app to send a Thought, you don't need it to receive them; users can elect to have their Thoughts delivered via email or SMS, too. While I don't necessarily think that we need yet another way to send a message to a friend, the concept behind this is kind of fun. What do you think?

Take a look at the funny instructional video after the break.

Jawbone Gets Into the Music Business With Jambox

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:00:19 PDT

If you thought that Jawbone only made products that allowed you to speak with friends, family, and colleagues (or secretly to yourself - you know you've done it) while on the go, think again. Today, Jawbone introduced its Jambox, the first music player to come from the mobile communications company. Connecting to your computer, laptop, iPod, cell phone, or any other Bluetooth device, you can rock out to your favorite tunes wirelessly from anywhere. And since it's made of stainless steel with a sturdy rubber casing, you can leave it at home, take it on the road, or post it up at the office without worrying that it will get thrashed by rowdy co-workers.

Not only does it play music, but the Jambox can also be updated with apps and software from Jawbone's online platform, MyTalk, which lets you update your Twitter account and send texts with your voice, and listen to podcasts on your Jawbone devices.

Find out pricing and availability details on the Jambox when you read more.

Do You Use a Bluetooth Headset?

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:47:49 PDT

I don't drive that often, so I don't really have a need for a Bluetooth headset. However these new Jawbone Icon headsets ($99) are really making me reconsider my situation. Coming in four new styles, the Icon is definitely a fashion statement that I'd have no problem making if I needed to. But it got me wondering how many of you actually use a Bluetooth headset today. Now that more vehicles are allowing you to connect your smartphone to built-in systems, it seems that Bluetooth headsets may be on their way out, at least when it comes to handsfree driving. Tell me - do you use a Bluetooth headset in the car, or while wandering the world on foot?

Aliph Introduces Sleek Jawbone ICON Headsets

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:47:17 PST

Since most of the nation is hands-free, at some point you're going to need a Bluetooth headset in order to chat and drive. Although the bulky and tacky monstrosities are all over the place, you don't have to subject anyone to that tech fashion faux pas. Thankfully, Aliph has a long history of providing chic and stylish Bluetooth headsets, and didn't disappoint with the Jawbone ICON ($100), which hit stores yesterday. Not only are these babies nice to look at (and have some cute names), but they're also super smart - you can customize your headset settings online (or with an app) with the MyTalk platform, while the ICON delivers state-of-the-art noise cancellation in one of six beautiful packages. Plus, with the MyTalk app on your iPhone, you can see your ICON's battery life right next to your iPhone's battery life meter so you know when to cut the conversation short.

Find out more details when you

read more. Each ICON provides up to four hours of talk time, and can quickly charge 85 percent of the on-board battery in about a half an hour. Not only that, but the Jawbone ICON can pair with up to eight different devices, handles two different connections at the same time, and comes in a 100 percent recyclable package so you can chat on the go and help out mother earth at the same time.

10 Gifts You Didn't Find Under the Tree (but Should Buy Anyway)

GeekSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:47:36 PST

So the Christmas holiday has passed, and you're basking in the glow of your new tech toys. Or are you? If you didn't exactly get what was on your wish list this holiday season, take matters into your own hands and hit the stores - there's plenty of gadgets out there that are worthy of your holiday gift cards.

Daily Tech: The Jawbone Makes a Cameo on Entourage

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:02:35 PDT

Johnny Drama showed off a hot bluetooth Jawbone headset on this week's episode of Entourage - Engadget
Google Image gets some more search options for efficient photo browsing - TechCrunch
RIM could be debuting a BlackBerry with a front-facing camera as early as next year - Gizmodo
Find out how you can redesign and customize your YouTube channel page - Mashable
Google's Eric Schmidt steps down from Apple's board of directors - The Silicon Alley Insider
A city in the United Kingdom may name a road after Lara Croft - Kotaku

Bluetooth Headsets: Tacky vs. Trendy

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:07:42 PDT

After chatting with a friend on the weekend, who got nailed with a $130 after getting caught chatting on her cell phone (California law requires you to use a hands-free device while driving), I've decided to show some love to the Bluetooth devices. Just like Nadya Suleman, my friend is going to have to invest in a hands-free device. Since she's a bit of a fashionista and doesn't want to use the standard earpiece included with her BlackBerry, I feel like it's my duty to offer up some decent suggestions.

Although the first headset pictured here is a Dolce & Gabbana H700 Bluetooth Headset by Motorola ($73), I had to force my friend to ignore the D&G label. The headset is too big and the shiny gold is a little over the top - definitely not geek chic in my book. Instead, I recommended this sleek Jawbone Bluetooth Headset with Noise Assassin ($74) to her, which is still stylish, and offers amazing sound technology.