FLEX by Fitbit

A fitness tracking device has proved useful by many people I know. The best thing is that it enables you to understand your body, unlike reading fitness guides and references. References ARE references and deviate from person to person, Fitbit FLEX is really your reference, which tells you the exact calories you burnt after a rigorous workout, or the number steps you taken and even your quality of sleep. Just like the Jawbone UP, FLEX looks just as good, stylish and slim enough to wear it every day!

What I really like about FLEX is its minimalist design, simple yet very useful. There are indicator lights on the gadget, and each light represents 20% of your goal that you have set in the gadget. Jawbone UP had nothing like that, I have to take it off and sync it with my phone to know how I fare. You get to choose what goal to be displayed, maybe like calories, steps. These indicators like surely give you some motivation to reach your goal, like when you see you are already at four LEDs and just one more to go, you will feel really pumped up.

Just like UP, FLEX is a good sleep tracker, it measures your sleep cycle and present it nicely on a timeline. It also comes with the silent vibrator alarm that work 10 times more effective than the alarm clock. However, the silent alarm is not as good as Jawbone’s UP, as it doesn’t really wake you up at the best timing. But well, sometimes Jawbone really woke me up a bit too early. But I think waking up at the best time is still my preference, I don’t like to drag myself up from bed.

Another great feature for FitBit’s FLEX is its sync abilities. It’s WIRELESS… unlike Jawbone’s UP. You don’t have to take it off and plug it to your phone. Simply do it through Bluetooth to your Android or iOS phones, and also on your PC or Mac through a dongle included. I like the idea of wireless and syncing on phones and PCs, sometimes a bigger screen helps when reading charts, or navigating the app. And also, the app is fun! It awards you badges when you accomplished something, like 30,000 steps daily step achievement, lifetime achievements! It even tells you through your phone that you are nearing an achievements. FLEX really give you a lot of encouragement, through its LEDs and the app, certainly do better than Jawbone’s UP.

As for the design, plain and simple. No fancy designs like Jawbone’s UP. It may look a little too plain. No one will notice that you are wearing a gadget but a rubber band. So if you like being discreet and subtle, it will be great. Also, there are bands of different colors, which you can yank out the tracking device and put it into the other band to suit your mood or your clothing. Customizations are always welcome for any gadget right? However, FitBit FLEX is much wider and thicker than the Jawbone’s UP. So it may not suit well for ladies with smaller arms. It look kind of like “fitness shackles” on them! Jawbone UP provides a better trendy and fashionable design for ladies. So think twice ladies!

Now to the bad thing… Being powerful and useful has its dark side… Wireless and fancy LEDs means shorter battery life. A fully charged FLEX last half as long as UP. Five days. Not too short I guess, but if you are travelling and without a laptop or PC does bring some trouble. FLEX uses a USB cable which is not as user friendly, you got to remove the tracker from the band and plug it into the cable, which can be a hassle. 

 

Overall, Fitbit Flex is a step ahead of other activity tracking gadgets. Its ability to encourage you gives you direct motivation and the extra energy you need. But shorter battery life can be improved in order to suit people who are on long travels or without PC / USB. Water resistant and the idea that you don’t have to remove it to sync, is really great. Customization of different color bands is awesome, since you can’t wear a bright red Jawbone UP in your business meeting. FLEX is also a little thicker for comfort, so doesn’t look as good on people with thin arms.

 

FitBit is available through this link and we are offering exclusive deal from FitBit:  Free Shipping for any Fitbit FLEX ordered!  

ERA Bluetooth Headset by Jawbone

Want to look techy and cool? Or want to be just subtle and discreet? Jawbone's ERA is a great Bluetooth earpiece for you! Its exquisite design resembles Stealth technology, and just only one sided, it allows you to listen to your favourite music and also listen to sounds in the surroundings. Don't worry about its size or whether it can fit in your ear, Jawbone has packaged a set of rubber ear fittings just to make sure the ERA fit perfectly in your ear.

Unlike other Bluetooth headsets that stream music from your phone, this one-sided gadget proves to be useful some times, when you are on the move and you need to be aware of the surroundings, like crossing the roads, driving or even at work. And it comes with an optional over-ear hook, if you are wearing ERA in extreme sports or activities with great movements. But in most cases, you don't have to worry about ERA dropping off from your ear. I am pretty amazed the rubber fittings can fit securely and comfortably in your ear. I tried shaking my head vigorously and wow! ERA just stayed in place as if it is part of my ear!

 

ERA in various ear fittings

One of the major issues of using wireless headsets, especially those that are really small, is noise. Being a smaller form factor, these gadgets have to use strong microphones to pick up your voice effectively. Being strong means taking in other undesired sounds, aka noise. But Jawbone ERA solves this issue perfectly. Its cutting edge technology, Noise Assassin, reduce almost 95% of the noise and it is able to do that through a sensor that sit on the side of your cheek to detect your jaw movements! I am really satisfied with the voice quality and its just perfect!

Jawbone has also done pretty well if its user experience. The ERA has only one button, so foolproof when it comes to picking up calls, and switching on the earpiece. What's even better, you can download the Jawbone app on your PC to further customise your ERA! You can select voices you want Jawbone to communicate with you, from a sweet lady's voice who will jumpstart your morning when you turn it on, or a manly sporty guy to keep you awake! Voice dialing through your Jawbone assistant is not a bad feature too, SIRI like features but not really perfect.

The ERA can also comes with Jawbone's MotionX technology. You can simply tap ERA with your finger to pick up calls or shake it to activate its pairing mode!

ERA’s design is something worth considering when you are looking for something that is designed so exquisitely. It’s layered surface exterior and faceted body looks stealthy and sophisticated. It comes in various colors and designs, and one of them is sure something you will like! Battery life is good, I can charge it once every 3 days with 3-4 hours of music streaming everyday. Charging it is easy, just plug it into its micro-USB adapter and a full charge probably take 90 minutes. Battery life is displayed in the status bar of your iPhone and Android! You can also press the button and you will hear your lovely assistant telling you how many hours of battery life remaining!

  

Now talking about other considerations, the ERA is small and highly portable, it means easy to be lost. I have to dig my bag for a while just to find it. I can stuff it in my pocket and I almost forgot to take it out when sending my jeans to the laundry! If you are a careless person and things got lost easily, you need to be more careful when using the ERA! :)

The ERA is not perfect for music lovers, being one sided means half the experience. Although ERA gives you the best sound quality of all Bluetooth headsets, but its just not as enjoyable to have music in both ears. SO if you are not too fussy about music and just to have music and awareness of your surroundings, ERA is really made for you.

 

Pros	Cons
Subtle, exquisite design Highly Portable Great sound quality, NoiseAssassin Unique features, TapTap / ShakeShake Comfortable & secure. Various fittings	One-sided, not for music experience Easily lost

Jawbone ERA is available in Amazon for amazing affordable deals:

Jawbone ERA Bluetooth Headset - Shadowbox	Jawbone ERA Headset - Midnight
Jawbone ERA Headset - Smokescreen	Jawbone ERA Headset - Silver Lining

Jabra Halo 2 Bluetooth Headset

Want to look futuristic in the office? Try the space age The Jabra Halo 2 Bluetooth Headset. Comes in two colours, white and black, this wireless headset is an awesome headset for almost anyone! The slim, highly compact headset fit comfortably on your ears, streaming soothing music and crystal clear calls wirelessly through Bluetooth.

 

I am a fanatic when it comes to wireless gadgets, no tangles with cables, clutter-free desk and maximum portability. Halo 2 just fit exactly what I wanted. I got myself a white Halo 2 not too long ago and has been using it for more than 6 months. Well, though it is one of my favourite wireless headsets, but it has its own cons that I barely can live with it.

Pros	Cons
Futuristic design Touch Controls Folding design Easy Connection Cabled option	Above average sound quality White stains easily Dust attracting interior Not as compact after folding

Halo 2 has a plastic make, smooth and nice to touch surface. That’s what most futuristic gadgets feel like right? Matte but smooth. The minimalistic black and white design truly make Halo 2 an unique headset, however white is not the best choice. My white Halo 2 started to discolor, probably from some clothes or in my bag, as the matte surface seemed to be easily stained andh arder to remove than those glossy ones.

The inside of the headset is made of black velvet, though there is not much cushion in it, but not a problem wearing it. Feels really comfortable, but it is a real dust magnet. You are sure to find lint or small particles of dust on the velvet.

To maximize portability, Halo 2 can be compacted by folding the ear pieces inwards, one over the other. Though the size got smaller, but it is not that small. Halo 2 take up quite a bit of space in my bag that way. Note that there is no on / off switch, folding it out is turning on and folding it in is turning off. Not bad! The snapping sound when folding can be quite scary at first as it sounded like you are breaking it. I used to close my eyes and hold tight when trying to fold in the headset.

 

Bluetooth connection is easy to set up. The provided quick start-up guide is simple, just like most Jabra’s headsets. But don’t expect perfect sound quality from Halo 2. It is not made for music fans who want to hear every single beat of the drums, but it is still good. Halo 2 also does not cup your ears perfectly like other headphones and it take a while before you can adjust it to the perfect spot where you can hear great music. Crystal clear voice calls is a plus and good microphone too. I had no problem using it for my long distance conference calls.

 

Another futuristic feature is its only button and volume control. Like most other headsets, pressing the button allows you to pick up calls and playing music. The best thing I like about Halo 2 is the touch-based volume control. Just like Apple’s Magic Mouse, finger gestures can be used. Moving your finger up along the volume scale turns the volume up, and likewise moving down turns the volume down. Double tap on the + sign indicates playing the next song, – sign for the previous. Pretty neat!

Charging the headset is done through a USB cable provided. Also, you can use Halo 2 as a cabled headset on your PC with the cable too. A full charge probably take an hour or so and battery life pretty much around 10 hours of streaming and 15 hours on standby.

I will recommend Halo 2 to anyone who need a wireless headset that looks really cool and futuristic. Tapping on the headset on the streets just make you look like some high tech guy out there haha! Also, it does not fold in to a really compact size, so if you don’t mind about your bag space, get it. But if you are looking for a perfect headphones for your music, then Halo 2 is not for you. White one generally looks better, but susceptible to stains. Overall, Jabra’s Halo 2 is a nice master piece in the realm of Bluetooth technology.

 

Halo 2 is available on Amazon these links:

Jabra HALO2 Bluetooth Stereo Headset - Black

 

 

 

 

 Jabra HALO2 Bluetooth Stereo Headset - White

iPhone 5 Charge & Sync Dock By Belkin

Belkin’s iPhone 5 dock is a simple but useful accessory to set your iPhone up nicely on your desk. What’s great about this dock is that it has the additional allowance for most slim iPhone cases!  Not only just a regular charge & sync dock, Belkin also included a earphone jack for your earpods right in the dock and still allow you to listen to your music while charging your iPhone on the dock!

 

                  

Charging docks may not be a very much needed accessory for your iPhone 5 and there aren’t many choices available, but when I got mine, it just feels better! A dock that can sit your iPhone upright on your desk just help to free your desk of running cables. And if you have heaps of paper or things cluttered on your desk and you risk burying your phone, the dock helps you to keep organized and ensure that your phone is always in your sight when a message or call comes in.

 

Pros	Cons
Fit iPhones in most cases Headphone jack Stable and safe	Require Apple Lightning Cable Bigger and bulky

There are two versions available, one comes with a lightning cable built in and one does not. The main difference between these two is the additional headphone jack integrated with the one without the cable. This allows you to listen to music, answering calls with the earpods and the other has no access to the audio jack when your phone is docked in.

I got myself the one without the lightning cable and I have to use the Apple lightning cable. Installation is idiot-proof, just slot in the jack and run the cable in the groove at the underside of the dock. The rubber padded silver magnetic base cleverly conceals the running cable and provides the friction needed to keep the dock up from accidental knocks or sliding. In fact, this is a great dock stable enough to be used on your car’s dashboard!

(L-R)Audio Jack, Apple Lightning cable installation, Fit iPhone in Cases

What I really like about this dock is the additional allowance that will fit most of the cases. Forget about trying to fit those in Otterbox or the rugged shock proof cases. Belkin has made enough space for the slim cases to easily fit into the dock. Don’t worry about the depth too, as some of you may think that cases might be thicker and will hit the bottom of the dock before it is connected. As long as the Apple cable can be used to charge your phone, the dock will be suitable for you. Even better, you can charge your iPad or iPad Mini too!

However, if you only own a single lightning cable, then you will probably need to remove it if you want to use it on a portable charger or bring it along for travel. I do own two cables so it was not a problem for me though. Also some people might not like the oversized dock. The base is rather thick and heavy and it may be an eyesore for minimalists. However if these doesn’t bother you and you just like a great dock that can help you organize your desk like a sci-fi movie, this Belkin dock is perfect for you!

 

The dock I am using is Belkin’s Charge & Sync  Dock for iPhone 5 and it is selling at $29.99 at Amazon.

Click here to go to the sales link: Belkin Charge and Sync Dock with Earpods for iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 5th Generation

If you think that you want a smaller, without the audio port and do want an integrated cable, you may want to consider Belkin’s variant, selling at $34.99 at Amazon. Click here to the the sales link: Belkin Charge and Sync Dock with 8-Pin Lightning Cable Connector for Apple iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 5th Generation

The Gadget Boutique on Facebook & Google+

We are pleased to let you know that we have set up pages and communities in Facebook and Google+! You will be able get updates from these fan sites on the latest, coolest and amazing gadgets. Not only that, we are planning for online events at these social sites in the future. Lucky draws, competitions and giveaways are on our lists and we hope to bring them to you as soon as possible! Do 'Like Us' / '+1' on our pages now!

   

The Gadget Boutique on Facebook    

The Gadget Boutique page on Google+     

The Gadget Boutique on Google+ Communities

 

About The Gadget Boutique

Can’t decide on what gadgets are best for you? Want to make sure you spend on something that you really need? Or maybe to find the best deals available?

Yes The Gadget Boutique is here to provide all that you need to own these  amazing innovations. With close collaboration with many tech-giants around the world, The Gadget Boutique reviews gadgets and offers direct-buy links to the gadget brands or authorized retailers, ensuring you get the best deals in town.

The Gadget Boutique believes the best reviews and user experience comes from passionate gadget lovers like us, who are able to better relate to you, the users of these cool stuff.

UP by Jawbone

Jawbone has been giving us many surprises since the first Bluetooth Headset with superb sound quality. This time with a fitness gadget, UP is pretty good at its job. Using its proprietary MotionX Technology, UP keeps track of your daily activities and sleep efficiency, and together with a well designed mobile app for iPhone and Android, present you beautiful charts, metrics and trends.

   

 

Looks like those rubber bands or friendship bands on the streets, UP comes in three sizes (S, M, L), fits amazingly well on my wrist. It looks subtle, no one can tell you are wearing a powerful gadget. Comes in eight colors (Onyx, Mint Green, Light Gray, Blue, Navy Blue, Red, Orange, Hunter Green), with an embossed zigzag on the length of the band makes it another great master piece by the Jawbone’s creative team. UP is made of surgical grade, hypoallergenic TPU rubber, enable you to wear it all the time. Yes! its water proof and can withstand thousands of showers! I have no problem wearing it to a shower and it works just good after the a hot shower.

Like many new gadgets, it’s almost fool proof and comes with a simple, not-so-helpful guide. You will find more information in app though, since you will be interacting with the app more. It also comes with a charging USB cable, and is able to fully charge the UP in 80 minutes. Battery life is incredible, 10 days on a full charge and you can monitor battery life in the app.

Another great feature of UP is the built in silent vibrator alarm. It is so strong and yet quiet that will only trigger up to 30 minutes ahead of your designated wake-up time if it spots an ideal moment for you to get up based on your sleep states. I myself was pretty amazed with this feature. I woke up feeling energized and ready-to-go instead of the usual dragging to the bathroom with droopy eyes.

Also, the vibrator can be configured to trigger when you are on idle for some time. This actually reminds me to walk around every hour instead of facing my laptop at my desk at work. Cool feature.

For the app, overall very well-done and good use of colors and user interface. It keeps a log of your previous syncs and allow you to log in your meals and workouts. This gives you a full perspective of your calories intake and monitor your daily activities well. Various charts are available, including your sleeping patterns, which is pretty helpful to understand if you are fully rested or not.

Compared it with other similar fitness gadgets, UP is pretty good one. Easy to use and looks fashionable, UP can be a great companion on-the-go, regardless at work or play. The downside would be UP is not recommended to be worn when swimming. Also, UP is look just too cool and fashionable for formal wear. Probably you will have to be more discreet by wearing it under your sleeves. Another consideration will be its compatibility, currently UP only supports mobile devices on iOS or Android, you wont get to do your fitness analysis in your PC. So if you don’t mind looking at the charts in your phone, it is still a great option.

 

Other gadgets like FitBit One or Nike Fuelband, UP does fare better in terms of aesthetics and app design. FitBit One would probably do better with the stats right in the gadget and web app, but battery life is not as great as compared with UP.

I will recommend UP for people who need a basic but useful fitness tracker to monitor daily activities. It is quick, easy to use, which makes it a great gadget for any busy man. Forget about FitBit or Fuelband if you are going for fashion and aesthetics, Up is just the right thing for you.

 

Pros	Cons
Aesthetically appealing Great, easy to use app Unique functions Vibrator alarm Wide range of metrics	Limited to iOS, Android platforms No display on gadget

Get UP at Amazon here! Sizes: S: 5.5–6 in (14-15.5cm),  M: 6-7in (15.5-18cm), L: 7-8in(18-20cm). Download sizing guide here.

 

UP by Jawbone - Small Wristband - Onyx	UP by Jawbone - Small Wristband - Blue
UP by Jawbone - Medium Wristband - Onyx	UP by Jawbone - Medium Wristband - Blue
UP by Jawbone - Large Wristband - Onyx	UP by Jawbone - Large Wristband - Blue