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Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable

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Apr 12, 2001
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Shortly after apps on the Mac App Store and iOS App Store revealed Microsoft's fitness wearable, the company has revealed its $199 Microsoft Band fitness wearable to Re/code. The device will go on sale tomorrow at Microsoft's online and retail stores.

microsoft-band_hero_2.png
The Microsoft Band is designed to last 48 hours on a single charge and can be worn all day and all night, as it tracks both physical activity and sleep. It includes 10 sensors that track standard health statistics like heart rate as well as unique points of data that other fitness bands do not track, like a UV sensor to measure sun exposure and galvanic skin response, which can identify stress. Like smart watches, the Band can also receive notifications from a user's smartphone.

Microsoft is also launching a cloud-based health service called Microsoft Health, which can gather data from both the Microsoft Band and other fitness data gathering devices, like smartphones and other fitness bands. The service spans the web and multiple mobile platforms like iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The Windows Phone app, however, integrates Microsoft's voice assistant Cortana.

The company also says that the feature set of device and services will grow, as users will be able to pay for things at Starbucks with the Band and will be able to see how certain events influence health or sleep.
The company also notes that-if customers want to- Microsoft Health can combine work and personal data and gather insights such as how a big meeting with the boss affects that night's sleep. Other features include access to Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as weather and stock data.
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The Microsoft Band goes on sale tomorrow for $199.

Article Link: Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/29/microsoft-band-wearable/
48 hours on a single charge huh, that's seems better than the apple watch
 
Yes, more than the apple watch but does it have the same funationality?
 
Does it exempt the user from having a Microsoft phone? THIS is nice.

If I'm able to sync it with my Android phone, I'll buy one of these hypochondriac watches.
 
MacRumors said:
It includes 10 sensors that track standard health statistics like heart rate as well as unique points of data that other fitness bands do not track, like a UV sensor to measure sun exposure and galvanic skin response, which can identify stress.
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If it measures stress mine would be alerting the entire time I am at work. No significant commute anymore so no traffic stress at least. I will be interested to see what people say about the accuracy of the stressometer.
 
K-Rob said:
Yes, more than the apple watch but does it have the same funationality?
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This. If no one finds a need to buy or use it, what's the point of a longer battery life? I guess we'll see how this pans out as well as the Apple Watch.
 
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K-Rob said:
Yes, more than the apple watch but does it have the same funationality?
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Not exactly.

But at least they aren't wasting their time putting the photos app on a watch.

I'd rather a smart watch be good at a few key things that a watch is good for rather than try to stuff it with all the apps on your phone.

I'm interested to see how this turns out.
 
Tankmaze said:
48 hours on a single charge huh, that's seems better than the apple watch
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That long battery life is because it doesn't do anything! If this is the best that the new Microsoft CEO can do it is laughable! Microsoft is so bad a Marketing it is not even funny! LOL! Who is their Ad agency?
 
This is the type of device I wanted apple to release to be honest, something that gives me the time , quick glance of information , lasts more than a day , etc nothing too enturisive and big.

Hope it works with Siri via the microphone ? If it does and I can text people via this band then it's a winner for me.
 
captain kaos said:
Quite nice. I wonder if the 48 battery life will be worrying Apple.
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The Fitbit One charge lasts for 5-6 days but it doesn't do as much as the Apple Watch. If the Microsoft Band does as much as the Apple Watch then they will have a competitive advantage. The Band and the Apple Watch sure look different though.
 
I love it

Fitbit and Microsoft are putting the pressure on Apples Software Engineers. I love it. I was debating getting another fitbit since i lost my force. With this announcement I'll just hold off a little while longer. I would assume we will be receiving some Apple "leaks" about Apple Watch functionalities that weren't already announced or known. Competition is great with the fitness and health functionality.

With that I know that the Apple Watch has more features, but they were really pushing the fitness and health aspect. Now I'm just even more excited about what Apple has to offer. Now to do research no this "band".!!
 
wilhoitm said:
That long battery life is because it doesn't do anything! If this is the best that the new Microsoft CEO can do it is laughable! Microsoft is so bad a Marketing it is not even funny! LOL! Who is their Ad agency?
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It tracks a huge amount of data for you via a large number of sensors. It also displays all the notifications you want and can access Cortona etc

What do you want a watch to do ? Internet ? Video, games and pictures ? Lmao try doing that on a 2.5 inch screen and come back to me
 
Microsoft is leaning on the fact that it works with all the major mobile ecosystems as a key selling point..

“We are as open as you get,” said Matt Barlow, who heads marketing for new devices. “We are iOS, we are Android and we are Windows Phone.”.
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I should definitely think so.
 
Slix said:
This. If no one finds a need to buy or use it, what's the point of a longer battery life? I guess we'll see how this pans out as well as the Apple Watch.*
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It's like the Pebble. My Pebble battery lasts a week because it doesn't do anything.

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Robstevo said:
It tracks a huge amount of data for you via a large number of sensors. It also displays all the notifications you want and can access Cortona etc

What do you want a watch to do ? Internet ? Video, games and pictures ? Lmao try doing that on a 2.5 inch screen and come back to me
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Agreed. This device is actually really nice. I might get one to pair with my iPhone 6 Plus.
 
Robstevo said:
It tracks a huge amount of data for you via a large number of sensors. It also displays all the notifications you want and can access Cortona etc

What do you want a watch to do ? Internet ? Video, games and pictures ? Lmao try doing that on a 2.5 inch screen and come back to me
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It should do all of those things! :apple: Why are you so closed minded?
 
Cisco_Kid said:
My prediction is Microsoft can lay this in the ground next of Kin.
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I'm not sure you really want a lack of competitors to the Apple Watch if the Apple Watch is all you care about. A lack of competition is the reason why the iPad mini 3 only got Touch ID and not the A8X, laminated display, better camera, and 2GB RAM like the iPad Air 2.

You want FitBit, Jawbone, Android Wear, and this Microsoft Band to all be very competitive products so Apple produces the best Apple Watch possible at a very affordable price. There's nothing worse than when a company rests on its laurels (especially price-wise) because the competition is lacking.
 
dagamer34 said:
I'm not sure you really want a lack of competitors to the Apple Watch if the Apple Watch is all you care about. A lack of competition is the reason why the iPad mini 3 only got Touch ID and not the A8X, laminated display, better camera, and 2GB RAM like the iPad Air 2.

You want FitBit, Jawbone, Android Wear, and this Microsoft Band to all be very competitive products so Apple produces the best Apple Watch possible at a very affordable price. There's nothing worse than when a company rests on its laurels (especially price-wise) because the competition is lacking.
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Competition is the only reason why the iPhone 6 is as good as it is

NFC
Big screens
Widgets
Mobile payment systems
Third party key boards
Even the look and feel of iOS

All this is as good as it it because the competition is snapping at apples feet and forcing them to improve, implement more features etc

Having as many good wearables in the wild as possible will only improve the Apple watch, when the competition release a smart watch that can last a week, Apple will be forced to develop a watch that will be better than that or people will go to the competition
 
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