Yeah this is quite sad. Makes you think twice to invest in one of their new eco systems, when they quit so easily
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Microsoft Likely Discontinuing Microsoft Band Wearable Device
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VR solves the problem of having too much money in my bank account.
I'll build a $1,000 gaming PC and also buy an $800 scuba mask to strap to my face!
That'll fix it!
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I would disagree. Sales figures and my own anecdotal evidence seems to show that the Surface Pro 4 is doing okay.
No, I was talking about the Xbox and how Microsoft acquired Bungie after seeing their demo for Halo (which was set to release on Mac and PC simultaneously) at MacWorld 1999. It was the Xbox's "killer app".
One of the few decent products Microsoft has.
I remember that ... and remember being pissed off when it didn't come to PC/Mac.
I think the Surface Pro is a great product, and one that's much better than the Xbox. I just don't know if it's going to last.
The feature I use on my Band 2 every night is sleep tracking. It also has a pretty good stand alone GPS tracking function, plus full time heart rate monitor. Apple Watch (version 2 no less) will have GPS, when they ship. Sleep tracking, nope. Full time heart rate, I don't think so, but I would have to check.
Yes, the Apple Watch has Apps, but for my purposes, the Band does what the Watch does not. I am sad to see it go.
Yes, the Apple Watch has Apps, but for my purposes, the Band does what the Watch does not. I am sad to see it go.
I have a first generation band, still wear it every day and love it. The GPS function while running is what attracted me to it, that and I was able to pick one up for about 1/4 of what an Apple watch was. It was, and still is, a great device for me. However as with most thing Microsoft and mobile, there just seemed to be zero support for it. A few tiles here, an app which worked ok. Much like the Windows Phone, respectable hardware with halfhearted software support.
I still do like the slender face as opposed to big square. But that is just me ...
I still do like the slender face as opposed to big square. But that is just me ...
Okay: First, yes, I have a Microsoft Band 2 and I do like it. And while it was expensive, the addition of the GPS into the mix put it ahead of almost all the other fitness trackers. And I liked the Zune, both as a device and a UX. It, like the Band, was simply a solution that was comparable/better to the rest of the market, but released in a way to not get any market share whatsoever (already saturated market with a major winner).
That said, I have an issue with "It received poor reviews for its price point, design, battery life, and lack of utility"
Poor reviews for its price point = 3/5 stars? While I'm not sure I'd call that a good review, I wouldn't call it a poor review, for it's price point or anything.
The review regarding its design seemed entirely positive in spite of faulting its design, and the battery life review stated in its 3.5/5 star "poor review" "Battery life isn’t great". Hardly damning.
And I note you didn't link to a review that pointed out the Band's "lack of utility."
As many others have pointed out, it's a fitness tracker. What utility was it lacking for a fitness tracker?
I think your biases are showing.
That said, I have an issue with "It received poor reviews for its price point, design, battery life, and lack of utility"
Poor reviews for its price point = 3/5 stars? While I'm not sure I'd call that a good review, I wouldn't call it a poor review, for it's price point or anything.
The review regarding its design seemed entirely positive in spite of faulting its design, and the battery life review stated in its 3.5/5 star "poor review" "Battery life isn’t great". Hardly damning.
And I note you didn't link to a review that pointed out the Band's "lack of utility."
As many others have pointed out, it's a fitness tracker. What utility was it lacking for a fitness tracker?
I think your biases are showing.
That's beautiful.The Safari push notification on my Mac said "Microsoft Likely Discontinuing Microsoft". Thanks for the laugh, MR!
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Are you really arguing that the Xbox is only successful because Bungie once made Mac games, therefore, Microsoft has Apple to thank for the Xbox's success?
If you were into gaming it makes sense and solves the problem of having to interact with your environment through a flat screen.
Take driving games, a steering wheel solves the control issue.....the next obvious issue is awareness of where you are on the track in relation to everyone else and where you are going.....enter VR....
I and a friend both tried one of these. I already had an Apple Watch, my friend was considering one but balked at the price.
We both discovered that the band was big, chunky and uncomfortable. Not nearly as stylish as the AW. The software and battery life were okay, but one of its main differentiators was a major fail: trying to read text that ran across your wrist rather that along your arm (90 degrees). We both took them back to Best Buy. He bought an AW. Later that year our company announced they would reimburse employees for purchase of a health & fitness device, which included the AW. So we got ours free.
We both discovered that the band was big, chunky and uncomfortable. Not nearly as stylish as the AW. The software and battery life were okay, but one of its main differentiators was a major fail: trying to read text that ran across your wrist rather that along your arm (90 degrees). We both took them back to Best Buy. He bought an AW. Later that year our company announced they would reimburse employees for purchase of a health & fitness device, which included the AW. So we got ours free.
This. Even if they didn't fall apart, the physical finish was not very durable. My year-old Band 2 "band" (equivalent to the Apple Watch "band") looks very bad. The "band" is also not replaceable, since it contains sensors, charging connection, and (Band 2) battery.
I've moved on to the Apple Watch 2, but haven't found sleep monitoring software as good as on the Band. Any suggestions, anyone?
For what it's worth, the original Band was introduced more as an experiment than as a robust product; Microsoft was taken by surprise by the sales volume. What their intent might be now, I have no idea, but it would be hard for them to re-enter this market now.
Like the smartphone killing off single purpose devices like stand-alone GPS, camera, PMP, flashlight, etc. we're going to start seeing consolidation of wearables as the market matures. The only surviving wearables will be the multipurpose ones with built-in cellular to operate untethered from smartphone like the Galaxy Gear and LG Urbane.
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