Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable

[andiwm2003]

I'm a bit surprised at the enthusiasm for this device on these boards given that it doesn't look very stylish to me.

this is a fit band, not a fashion device. i would only wear it during work outs, biking and running and believe me after the first 15 min I'm not going to look stylish or even presentable in any way.

i think the "killer" feature of this device is the GPS and the price, not style. MS can't compete on style against Apple's iWatch anyway.

 

[69Mustang]

I'm a bit surprised at the enthusiasm for this device on these boards given that it doesn't look very stylish to me.

I think what you're witnessing is people being enthusiastic about the actual function of the Band. Style is less a concern since it's not trying to be jewelry + fitness. As many have pointed out, it's more for fitness than fashion.

Personally, I think it looks great (great as in functionally efficient). I can wear it with or without my watch, the Band is slim and unbtrusive, it has sensors up the wazoo, and most importantly it's ecosystem agnostic. That's a win/win.

 

[Blakjack]

Honestly, in terms of what it does, this is the watch that I was expecting Apple to create. Im loving the sensor capabilities in this band.

 

[spazzcat]

this is a fit band, not a fashion device. i would only wear it during work outs, biking and running and believe me after the first 15 min I'm not going to look stylish or even presentable in any way.

i think the "killer" feature of this device is the GPS and the price, not style. MS can't compete on style against Apple's iWatch anyway.

GPS is big, now that phones are getting stupid big and will be too hard to wear and/or carry with working out. It will be nice to leave the phone in Jersey pocket when biking or in my car...

 

[andiwm2003]

GPS is big, now that phones are getting stupid big and will be too hard to wear and/or carry with working out. It will be nice to leave the phone in Jersey pocket when biking or in my car...

yeah, this MS Band and a iPod Nano is all you need for running. Together they are 10% of the weight and bulk of an iPhone 6.

I will look at the Apple watch again when it is a full fledged phone independent of the iPhone. In 10 years or so....

 

[GroundLoop]

I didn't read the entire thread...so this may have been mentioned...

The tile orientation would really start to bother me after a while. If you hold your arm as if you were looking at a watch, everything would be sideways. I don't want to contort my arm every time I Need to swipe through tiles.

Maybe I am missing something though.

 

[addicted44]

Yes, more than the apple watch but does it have the same funationality?

I really have no idea about the Apple Watch as announced (unlike the iPhone or the iPad). As far as I can see the Microsoft Band covers everything id want from a phone (and the GPS inclusion is a big + over the Apple Watch).

All that being said, the Apple Watch is trying to be a breakthrough product unlike the MS Band, which is a better version of existing fitness bands. The question yet to be answered is if the additional functionality the Apple Watch is promising through powerful native apps will be the same kind of upgrade in user experience as native apps on the iPhone were.

 

[opfreak]

You can't compare this to Apple's device. This is a basically a data collector. I'm not saying that as a bad thing just different focus. Apple's not really a data company, they don't really think that way, so I'm not surprised we didn't see something similar from them. I think Watch was designed to be a nice piece of fashion/jewelry that also does some cool techy stuff. And my guess is Apple has saved some things to announce at next years launch.

so apple is looking to rip you off.

Holding back features just so you buy two of something.

----------

After 25 years of dominance, this is what they're reduced to. "We make those too!"

isn't that all that apple does?

ipod -me too mp3 player
iphone -me too smart phone
imac -me too pc
iwatch - me too smart watch

ibranding - well thats world class.

 

[69Mustang]

What do you expect? This board, especially the news discussion, is so anti-Apple it's not even funny. Weren't you here when iPhone 6 release? I'm surprised not everyone have bought this by now.

I think this board is one of the best around. I've only been posting since January but I have been a fan for years. I am more of a fan now. The MR Community is no where near anti-Apple, but it does seem to be less accepting of mediocre. Apple doesn't seem to get a pass because of this anymore. Being critical when it's deserved doesn't equate to anti-Apple. Also being accepting of good products without this doesn't equate to being anti-Apple. The competition has stepped up to compete. Acknowledgement of that doesn't... you know where I'm going.

You can take solace in the fact that there is still a significant faction that will say Apple is the greatest thing since sliced bread regardless of topic. With those folks Apple could introduce a dog turd on a stick and call it a lollipop (see what I did there) and there would be responses like: "See, only Apple could deliver a product like this. I mean, who else but Apple would give us purebred? Not like Samsung. I bet they just get theirs from the pound. All of Apple's lollipops come from AKC certified stock."

There's nothing wrong with that either. Everybody's opinion counts.

 

[subsonix]

isn't that all that apple does?

ipod -me too mp3 player
iphone -me too smart phone
imac -me too pc
iwatch - me too smart watch

Apple made personal computers before the PC, in fact it was among, if not the first personal computer. Funny that you refer to the iPhone as a me to smart phone, perhaps you don't remember what a smart phone was prior to the iPhone.

 

[pietrov]

I'm really impressed, I like it.
I prefer to wear an high end watch and not the Apple watch, I don't like his style.
I had a casio with calculator at the primary school and it remainds me that...

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Ah, of course in the end I'll buy it...

 

[grandM]

Wow, that looks horrible.

Probably the back color can be changed. I actually find it prettier than apple watch.

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Apple made personal computers before the PC, in fact it was among, if not the first personal computer. Funny that you refer to the iPhone as a me to smart phone, perhaps you don't remember what a smart phone was prior to the iPhone.

lol Jobs would get mad again but the term pc was patented for ibm-architecture clones...

 

[erzhik]

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?

It has a long battery, Cortana support, GPS, notifications and works with all platforms. What's so laughable about it? Are you so far up Apple's rear hole that you bash any product that doesn't bear an Apple logo? The only thing that Apple watch does on top of this is NFC support and photos (which is seriously a retarded idea).

 

[whiteboytrash]

Stupid people will always be stupid. If they are too idiotic to take notice of their surroundings then no amount of technology will help them. However, I think you are trying to create a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

I didn't create the solution but Apple did. I think the ability to glance at your watch to see a text like you would with the time of day is vey useful.

I think the ability to get haptic direction by pulses onto your wrist a very good idea. That beats taking you're phone out of your pocket to do the same by visual.

Similarly with text messages and notifications.

 

[subsonix]

lol Jobs would get mad again but the term pc was patented for ibm-architecture clones...

Yes, but what's your point? Apple made personal computers before IBM made the PC, here's Apple's taunting ad from the time.

 

[K-Rob]

Am I the only one who thinks the screen orientation is stupid and will make for a very uncomfortable user experience?

That was my first thought and continues to go through my mind when I see it.

 

[bawbac]

It has a long battery, Cortana support, GPS, notifications and works with all platforms. What's so laughable about it? Are you so far up Apple's rear hole that you bash any product that doesn't bear an Apple logo? The only thing that Apple watch does on top of this is NFC support and photos (which is seriously a retarded idea).

CORRECTION: The Apple Watch does NOTHING. It Does not exist. It's vaporware. Comparing an actual product with a non-existent product is lunacy.

When Apple copies all these other watch/band products, adds one small feature, released it, I'm sure it will be touted as the great wrist device of all time.

 

[0000757]

This is absolutely perfect. I've been wanting this exact type of device for the longest time. I will DEFINITELY be getting one.

I just hope it also integrates with HealthKit

 

[joneill55]

Oh good, yet another entry into the long line of "epic" hardware failures for the "Big Softie"

#kickittothesideoftheroad

 

[matrix07]

I think this board is one of the best around. I've only been posting since January but I have been a fan for years. I am more of a fan now. The MR Community is no where near anti-Apple, but it does seem to be less accepting of mediocre. Apple doesn't seem to get a pass because of this anymore. Being critical when it's deserved doesn't equate to anti-Apple. Also being accepting of good products without this doesn't equate to being anti-Apple. The competition has stepped up to compete. Acknowledgement of that doesn't... you know where I'm going.

You can take solace in the fact that there is still a significant faction that will say Apple is the greatest thing since sliced bread regardless of topic. With those folks Apple could introduce a dog turd on a stick and call it a lollipop (see what I did there) and there would be responses like: "See, only Apple could deliver a product like this. I mean, who else but Apple would give us purebred? Not like Samsung. I bet they just get theirs from the pound. All of Apple's lollipops come from AKC certified stock."

There's nothing wrong with that either. Everybody's opinion counts.

Meh.

Please. If you believe this board, you'll believe iPhone 6 is the ugliest phone in the world, the band at the back is so hideous nobody would wanna buy it, the iPhone 6+ bends just by putting it in the pocket, so on and so forth.
Please stop this "I'm in the middle ground, I'm so objective unlike these sheep" nonsense. We're not babies who can't see through things, you know.
I didn't say you can't criticize Apple. I just want it to have a little bit of intelligence, which right now most of the times in the news discussion here it is lacking, not unlike Engadget or the Verge so to speak.

 

[iamPro]

This is exactly what I was hoping the apple watch to be.
Now, if only if it had the polish and finish of an apple product..

 

[XtraSmiley]

Is the watch really the next big thing? Boring...

 

[unplugme71]

Overpriced fitbit

 

[tomegun]

Microsoft Band = fitness band that can be worn with a normal watch.
Apple Watch = smart watch

I get it, but for me, I would like several devices that put all the data in one place.
- when I am at work and feel like wearing it, I would like the Apple watch
- when I want to wear another watch, I would like something like the Fitbit flex or Microsoft band
- when I exercise in the elliptical, the Fitbit flex or Microsoft Band is fine
- for runners, the Micosift Band with GPS
- when I officiate a basketball game I can't have anything on my wrist so the Fitbit flex out it the strap or a Fitbit one
- when I weigh myself every morning the Aria scale (which I have) or the Withings body analyzer

If I could get all of that data to go to one place AND if I could switch between those devices as needed, they would all get my money. The way things are going I will keep Fitbit and add the Apple watch later. I will still have to put things in multiple apps. Oh well.

 

[GoCubsGo]

The newest FitBit coming out in 2015 will be $150 for what appears to be similar functionality. I love my Fitbit Flex but would like to have a HR monitor. This product from MS looks decent and I love that it is open to iOS. Good move.

Quite nice. I wonder if the 48 battery life will be worrying Apple.

Apple seems incapable of actually worrying about anything. In my opinion, they do what they want, when they want and how they want. It is up to the consumer to decide if they want whatever they push out.

no...i'm not going to get Zune'ed out again. biggest mistake I've ever made.

hahaha! True. Those with Zune nightmares may shy away from this product.