Wearable tech company Jawbone is not resting on its laurels, especially since a lot of competition has been springing up, with smartwatches and fitness bands all over the place. They’ve announced a few new products, which includes a new flagship with payment abilities and a successor to the original UP24 band. Also, finally, they’ve annnounced when shipping for the UP3 will be, after encountering some manufacturing problems with the final product, but at least, you know it will soon be on your way.
The UP2 seems to be a hybrid of the heralded UP24, but packaged in a sleeker version, kind of what the UP3 looks like (good luck keeping track with all the UPs and numbers). The andonized aluminum framework, coupled with a sleeker look gives this wearable a “low profile and stylish design” but packed with the functionalities that made the UP24 popular with the fitness band crowd. It has a vibrating motor that’s not too intrusive, but should be enough to wake you up when you need to and even let you know that you’ve been inactive long enough and so reminds you to stand up and walk a little. You can also set custom reminders, for example if you need to take certain meds or when you have to go to sleep already. It can last up to seven days with its rechargeable ion lithium battery and is designed to be worn 24/7 as it is shower and splash resistant.
Another new thing that the UP2 brings is Smart Coach, a system that will study your habits, analyze it, and then give you feedback as to how you’ll be able to reach your fitness goals based on your current lifestyle (and the changes you need to make). UP2 is now for sale at Jawbone.com and it will be available at Best Buy outlets nationwide by April 19. It will cost you $99.99 and is currently available in Black Diamond, but soon, the Light Grey Hex and other colors will be available.
Meanwhile, Jawbone has announced a partnership with American Express for their upcoming new flagship, the UP4. What makes this new band so special, aside from the upgraded fitness functions of course, is that it might just be the first time that a wearable can be used for payment in establishments where there is a contactless payment option. It uses NFC technology, and after you’ve set-up your credit card details using the UP app, then you’ll just need to tap your wearable onto the wireless-capable cash register, and your payment is taken care of (well, until you receive your credit card bill, that is). It’s also easy to temporarily freeze payments or unpair the card from your band if need be, again through the UP app.
UP4 has all the features that has made Jawbone a great brand for fitness trackers and wearables. And this latest incarnation also brings bioimpedence sensors which can track your resting heart and eventually, other metrics as well. It is also splash-resistant and can last for 7 days before you’d need to recharge. This new wearable will be available in the market by summer and will cost you $199.99.
Meanwhile, UP3 is finally expected to start shipping by June this year. It encountered manufacturing problems when the full waterproofing feature that they wanted did not fully materialize and they had to settle for good ole splash resistance. So shower and washing dishes, yes, but swimming or any other prolonged submersion, no.
