Jawbone, the maker of the popular UP24 fitness tracker, has rolled out a firmware update that doubles the wristband’s battery life to 14 days on a single charge.
Previously, wearers had managed to eek a week out of the Bluetooth-enabled device which helps health-conscious smartphone users track their steps and sleep patterns with the aid of a mobile app.
That means the makers motion sensors in rival devices like Android Wear smartwatches and other trackers from the likes of FitBit could also sync data back to the UP app.
The timing of the firmware update and the pending API launch is significant due to the expected launch of the Apple Watch at Apple’s keynote on Tuesday evening.
The iWatch is expected to be a health-focused device with multiple sensors and tight integration with the new HealthKit app for iOS 8. Jawbone’s API announcement on Monday means the UP app will be compatible with the iWatch.
Boosting the UP24 and the presence of its UP platform across the wearables industry could give Jawbone a chance to become a true leader in the field.
On top of that, Jawbone also confirmed the UP app will be available on Windows Phone devices, finally joining iOS and Android.
The UP24 firmware update, released on Monday evening, requires users to their device into their computer’s USB port, install a piece of software on their Mac or PC and then re-sync the band with the latest version of the UP app.
Read more: Best Fitness Trackers 2014
Via: Recode | Venture Beat
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
