Microsoft Band: Microsoft's New $199 Fitness Band/Smartwatch w/Cortana

[Crono]

Microsoft just announced it's entry in the smartwatch/health tracking space:

http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-...rganic_socialmicrosoft_tw_29102014_LaunchBand

Compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Does notifications, health/fitness tracking, and works with Cortana. It's designed around Microsoft's new "Microsoft Health" platform.

$199, and it comes in three band sizes (small, medium, and large) and looks to be available for purchase now.

It looks promising, and it's not too expensive. Form factor is very similar to existing bands like the Gear Fit. I think simple is the way to go for these early smart wearables, for the sake of battery life and usability. I'm glad it's supports the major three smartphone OS'. I may purchase one soon if the initial reviews are good, to use with my Lumia Icon.

 

[Red Storm]

I think it's ugly, but then I'm the type that wants their smartwatch to look like a watch.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I think it's ugly, but then I'm the type that wants their smartwatch to look like a watch.

One thing Microsoft mentioned is this isn't a smart watch, not meant to compete against smart watches. But go on the opposite wrist to compliment a watch. It's an activity tracker.

 

[Crono]

I think it's ugly, but then I'm the type that wants their smartwatch to look like a watch.

There's room for more than one style. The Moto 360 or LG G Watch R are a better fit for a full smartwatch, while the Gear Fit and the Microsoft Band are fine for fitness tracking and notifications.

Microsoft itself did the SPOT watch a decade ago and it looked like a regular digital watch. I think focusing on health is a good strategy, though they aren't alone. I much prefer the look of the Band to the Apple Watch, in any case, I was hoping that would be a band.

 

[Ravynmagi]

It's hard to know what to think. I've seen so many of these.

I like that it includes a GPS and heart rate monitor for only $200. I think that's pretty impressive.

And Microsoft will have (sounds like they don't yet) apps for Android and iOS. This thing goes on sale tomorrow, but I won't consider it until I see an Android and iOS app though. But I do like Microsoft is going for cross platform compatibility.

 

[zokudu]

If I didn't feel burned by every Microsoft hardware puirchase I've made in the last 5 years I'd be interested but I'm over being a Microsoft Early Adopter, even if their products are good they are always hindered by public perception to a point that they are irrelevant.

 

[Ravynmagi]

If I didn't feel burned by every Microsoft hardware puirchase I've made in the last 5 years I'd be interested but I'm over being a Microsoft Early Adopter, even if their products are good they are always hindered by public perception to a point that they are irrelevant.

Haha... I think that's going through the back of my mind as well. I'll wait and see... but wait and see is how I feel about all activity trackers and smart watches at the moment as well.

 

[zokudu]

Haha... I think that's going through the back of my mind as well. I'll wait and see... but wait and see is how I feel about all activity trackers and smart watches at the moment as well.

The only thing that I haven't regretted purchasing from them is my Xbox 360 and One. My Zune, Surface, and Lumia 920 have all been wonderful but just never got enough momentum to become more than a novelty or an annoyance in the case of the phone after 2 years of half hearted promises.

 

[Deeko]

I love the built in GPS and heart rate monitoring, and the fact that it's multi platform. However, it's pricier than I'd like, battery life sucks, and do I really need a fitbit, fuelband, and this?

 

[Brian Stirling]

Built in gps and HR monitoring at that price and in a package that compact could be a win if the apps come around soon. I've looked into activity trackers and though I'd like gps and HR I don't want a full sized watch and most of the smaller bands lack either the HR monitoring or, more often, the gps.

I was thinking about the Samsung Gear Fit for it's compact size but it lacks gps so M$ would be a bit ahead though it is about $70 more expensive than the Gear Fit.


Brian

 

[seepy83]

I'm not usually an early-adopter, but I ordered one of these this morning. I've been looking at fitness bands for almost a year...I was holding out for Fitbit to release something with a HR Monitor, and I was pretty upset to see that their new devices with HR won't be out until next year.

For me, MS got this on the market at the right time and the right price-point. It does more than I really wanted, and I would have sacrificed the big color touchscreen for better battery life, but other than that this looks like a good product to me.

 

[Denly]

Any information if it is waterproof?

 

[seepy83]

Any information if it is waterproof?

Not waterproof

http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/safety-guide

 

[Denly]

Not waterproof

http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/safety-guide

Dam, MS almost hit a home run.

 

[darkewaffle]

I think it's a nice looking form factor, but I still can't see any of these watches/bands actually being useful.

 

[seepy83]

I think it's a nice looking form factor, but I still can't see any of these watches/bands actually being useful.

For me, I'm hoping it's a motivational thing. I'm in a sedentary career in IT where basically all of my working time is spent sitting at a computer, and that often overflows into my personal time on nights/weekends (due to continuing education, required off-hours work, etc) and I've always struggled with getting in enough "active" time focused on my health. In my 30's now, my metabolism is definitely slowing, and I'm hoping that the activity tracking in the band will help supplement the little voice in the back of my head telling me that I need to push myself more.

The other stuff...email, calendar, social media notifications, etc...that's all secondary for me and I doubt I'll use it.

 

[Kaido]

For me, I'm hoping it's a motivational thing. I'm in a sedentary career in IT where basically all of my working time is spent sitting at a computer, and that often overflows into my personal time on nights/weekends (due to continuing education, required off-hours work, etc) and I've always struggled with getting in enough "active" time focused on my health. In my 30's now, my metabolism is definitely slowing, and I'm hoping that the activity tracking in the band will help supplement the little voice in the back of my head telling me that I need to push myself more.

The other stuff...email, calendar, social media notifications, etc...that's all secondary for me and I doubt I'll use it.

I think that would be a great use for it...motivation. It's hard to get started & it's hard when there's an overwhelming number of things to do when you're already busy, stressed-out, and tired (mostly tired, haha). Having it tailor a health & fitness plan to exactly your needs would be pretty cool, because then it'd be about you meeting a requirement to achieve the levels you want rather than having to figure everything out yourself, set goals, keep track of it manually, etc.

 

[Nebor]

I'm going to pick one up at one of the many local Microsoft stores on my way home tho afternoon. Called and confirmed in stock!

Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

 

[darkewaffle]

For me, I'm hoping it's a motivational thing. I'm in a sedentary career in IT where basically all of my working time is spent sitting at a computer, and that often overflows into my personal time on nights/weekends (due to continuing education, required off-hours work, etc) and I've always struggled with getting in enough "active" time focused on my health. In my 30's now, my metabolism is definitely slowing, and I'm hoping that the activity tracking in the band will help supplement the little voice in the back of my head telling me that I need to push myself more.

The other stuff...email, calendar, social media notifications, etc...that's all secondary for me and I doubt I'll use it.

That's not a bad angle to take with it really. I could see that kind of constant presence/reminder as beneficial. But I feel like you could also accomplish that for less than $200

If you could use it as a progress tracker/guide, like for weightlifters, that actually could be kind of cool. There's definitely phone apps for it but I kind of hate getting my sweatyass hands on my phone because of the grime and slip factor.

 

[Kaido]

That's not a bad angle to take with it really. I could see that kind of constant presence/reminder as beneficial. But I feel like you could also accomplish that for less than $200

If you could use it as a progress tracker/guide, like for weightlifters, that actually could be kind of cool. There's definitely phone apps for it but I kind of hate getting my sweaty hands on my phone because of the grime and slip factor.

Yeah. Nintendo is making a sleep & fatigue-tracking device:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/29/nintendo-sleep-tracker/

I wonder if something like that could be setup in front of you while working out to track reps & whatnot, similar to say the Xbox Kinect or the Leap Motion controller. Especially if it could tell you how to improve your form to be perfect when you don't have someone experienced spotting you (at least for non-safety-issue workouts).

I suppose a cell phone could be programmed to do some sort of advanced image recognition, but then you'd need a stand & the processing would probably eat the battery down real quick. Ideally a wristpad with some sort of multi-axis tracking would be awesome, but an external device that could "watch" you would be even better since it could see form AND reps for tweaking & tracking.

Exciting to see fitness technology advancing!

 

[michal1980]

how good is the heart rate monitor?

If its as bad as all the other wrist based ones then its worthless.

 

[Commodus]

It's interesting to see the contrast between wearable device philosophies from Apple, Google and Microsoft.

Apple is treating the watch as more of a full-fledged platform, with its own apps and things you can do without reaching for your phone. Google sees them as purely companion devices that surface relevant info. Both useful, just very different.

And Microsoft? Microsoft is trying to be Switzerland; the Band is more of an activity tracker than a smartwatch, and it works with all the major platforms. It has little to lose, because it's not trying to hook people on an ecosystem (although it'd really like if you bought a Windows Phone).

 

[dullard]

Is there any chance that this would work without a phone (email and calendar especially)? It looks perfect for my wife, but she doesn't want a smartphone.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Just checked the online order site and there promising delivery by mid December ... and I thought available immediately meant today...


Brian

 

[Crono]

Is there any chance that this would work without a phone (email and calendar especially)? It looks perfect for my wife, but she doesn't want a smartphone.

I don't think so, not for email anyway, since it needs data and it doesn't have its own modem.