jawbone Up

I'm not even remotely interested in wearing a HRM all day every day. The point of the FitBit and the Up and other devices like them is to wear them daily and use the feedback to increase the amount of physical activity you do throughout the day, not just during your workout. Pedometers do the same. You cannot "do" this with a phone unless you're willing to enter in information about your activity hourly at least, and self-reporting your activity is just about the least accurate data you can get. These devices are not about optimizing your "burn" during a specific workout. If that's your goal, then yes, you should use a HRM. But please don't discourage others from using them based on calorie accuracy alone--that's not necessarily everyone's only reason for using a device like this. Maybe you don't need a "gimmick" but not everyone is motivated the same way.

I don't know anyone who has the UP--one of my friends ordered it and hasn't yet received it. It does not contain a HRM. The Android app is not yet available. And you should be aware that although some users are loving their units (particularly the alarm clock and the activity reminder feature, which is great for those with sedentary jobs) a lot of users are having to return theirs for replacements because they stop working after as few as 6 days, so depending on your patience with new technology, you might want to wait until such problems are resolved before you consider buying one. (I'm guessing they'll try to fix this before they market it to Android users, but who knows.) I'm excited about the social networking possibilities of the UP, but I have an Android, too, so I haven't had an opportunity to try it.

I have the Philips DirectLife monitor, and wearing it definitely makes me more aware of small choices like where I park, climbing stairs, walking to the store instead of driving, and how often I get up from my desk during the day. It's nice but requires a monthly subscription, which I'm eager to get away from. In return you get a coach who can help you set daily activity goals and figure out ways to meet them, but for me I'm not sure it's worth the monthly fee (the device was about $90). The FitBit seems like a better device now (it gives you lots of opportunities to interact with other applications, and I think there's no monthly fee associated with it), but I've heard of people losing them easily due to the "clothespin" design. The UP seems easier to wear every day (it's cuter and less prone to getting lost) but I do like the fact that I can check my DirectLife monitor to see how close I am to my activity goal without plugging it into my phone.