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Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable
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Has anyone gotten one? I want to know if it can control your music player.
This would make a great Pebble replacement!
This would make a great Pebble replacement!
Unfortunately, it cannot. Hopefully they'll add that with a future firmware update.
Honestly this is what Apple Watch should've been. I don't understand how people are calling it ugly, it's just a band with a screen inside of it. Apple's device looks like a fugly brick compared to it. At $199 price point and 48 hour battery life, I think I'm just going to get this instead of Apple's watch.
OK, so went over to the MS Store at lunch to take a look w/ interest in buying. I came away empty handed by choice.
The big problem for me is my small wrists. Unlike the Apple Watch which comes in two face sizes, the MS Watch is one face size w/ multiple size bands. With the display straight, not curved to naturally conform to the wrist, I found it awkward and uncomfortable, and also dorky looking. Maybe this is why so many of the official pix show people wearing it upside down.
As far as the watch goes it's a nice piece of tech. The OS is smooth, responsive, and intuitive. I had no issues figuring it out myself. The screen is very bright and seems to be non-glare. It should be readable in sun light as advertised. One problem I have w/ the screen though (and this might be the case w/ the Apple Watch too) is that when its off it looks stupid -- like you are wearing a turned-off computer. Take something like the Fitbit Force, which, of course is a different kind of screen, that blends into the band when off. Much cleaner, less nerdy, appearance.
Since I didn't get to workout w/ it I can't say how accurate it is. The heart rate monitor was no better than any of the iPhone apps, that is to say not great. My typical resting heart rate is in the high 50s to low 60s (as measured by a chest strap monitor). The MS band had me in the high 60s up to the low 80s. So that was another reason for me not to get it.
Bottom line here is I think the watch might appeal to male tech geeks. It won't appeal to anyone else. MS missed again mostly because of the (go figure) aesthetic design.
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It's not. MS even state's its an "estimate," in its literature and on the web site. When wearing the watch it polls your heart rate as specific intervals and then averages it out. When you go to the HR screen you can see if it's "acquiring" or "locked" onto HR. The main screen will show the most current HR.
The big problem for me is my small wrists. Unlike the Apple Watch which comes in two face sizes, the MS Watch is one face size w/ multiple size bands. With the display straight, not curved to naturally conform to the wrist, I found it awkward and uncomfortable, and also dorky looking. Maybe this is why so many of the official pix show people wearing it upside down.
As far as the watch goes it's a nice piece of tech. The OS is smooth, responsive, and intuitive. I had no issues figuring it out myself. The screen is very bright and seems to be non-glare. It should be readable in sun light as advertised. One problem I have w/ the screen though (and this might be the case w/ the Apple Watch too) is that when its off it looks stupid -- like you are wearing a turned-off computer. Take something like the Fitbit Force, which, of course is a different kind of screen, that blends into the band when off. Much cleaner, less nerdy, appearance.
Since I didn't get to workout w/ it I can't say how accurate it is. The heart rate monitor was no better than any of the iPhone apps, that is to say not great. My typical resting heart rate is in the high 50s to low 60s (as measured by a chest strap monitor). The MS band had me in the high 60s up to the low 80s. So that was another reason for me not to get it.
Bottom line here is I think the watch might appeal to male tech geeks. It won't appeal to anyone else. MS missed again mostly because of the (go figure) aesthetic design.
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It's not. MS even state's its an "estimate," in its literature and on the web site. When wearing the watch it polls your heart rate as specific intervals and then averages it out. When you go to the HR screen you can see if it's "acquiring" or "locked" onto HR. The main screen will show the most current HR.
For what it's worth, there's a 'watch mode' that has the time always dimly displayed in white with no background. I'm sure it will kill the battery quicker than 48 hours, but it does look nicer than the blank screen.
I'm here to be informed on my Apple products and provide a sane perspective on Apple news without having my lips on the Apple caboose.
I agree with this. The one big issue I have is with the Apple Watch is that it needs to be paired with an iPhone to get the benefit. The MS Band can live on its own when you are out running, biking, whatever. The onboard GPS is the right feature to include and the biggest reason I won't get the Apple Watch. Some people don't want to carry their phone at all times. I can't understand how you can make a smartwatch without it. Having to be connected to a phone in order to use some key features doesn't seem very "smart".
Platform agnostic, below $200, onboard GPS, seems to check a lot of boxes. I can see it doing well.
Needs a music remote feature asap.
i got the zune hd, it was actually a nice, thin player and had potential if they released an SDK + Store sooner, but, yeah, they gave up on it wayyyy to quickly.
Because getting all your tech new from your favorite enthusiast forum isn't wise. Tech is an industry not a brand if you don't take an eagle eye view of it you get left behind.
Just saw one in person at our local Windows store. I am just not sure on this, on one hand, it's got some nice features and is very simple but then on the other hand it looks and feels cheap which is very Microsoft'esque and non-Apple.
I guess I just appreciate the way Apple makes their products and that is enough for me to wait for the Apple Watch. But the MS Band is definitely interesting.
I guess I just appreciate the way Apple makes their products and that is enough for me to wait for the Apple Watch. But the MS Band is definitely interesting.
I don't think it's meant to be a competitor to Apple Watch. It's a 'fitness wearable', not a over priced computer on your wrist that does unnecessary things to justify the price (as others have said, what's the point of a photo app on such a tiny screen, especially when you need an iPhone to utilise it to its full potential). I have a Jawbone UP24 and was looking at getting a Garmin Vivosmart to replace it (the jawbone is turning out to be a disappointing purchase), this Microsoft wearable looks like a good alternative to the Garmin, but is not a competitor to an apple watch.
This thing looks nice for what it does.
This thing looks nice for what it does.
Apple is partnered up with Nike to create a Nike band type device that is rumored to come out sometime 2015. It's going to be an apple version of the Nike Fuel Band.
Thanks for the heads up. Looks good, and I'll admit, being able to swim with it is a very powerful plus. Being able to either block or pass thru sound, too. And it would go far in soothing my serious case of Motorola Hint envy
I'll have to see what the reviews are like when it comes out.
Yep. Microsoft is stepping up. It seems only yesterday I was begging a co-worker not to buy the Surface RT.
My husband just went to our local Microsoft Store (for the first time) and picked up one for each of us. We were going to get the Fitbit Charge HR, but this seems like it can do so much more. We have 30 days to test it out. Excited to go home and get my MS Band set-up. Cheers.
^ This
I want a fuelband that:
1. is Waterproof
2. Displays *very* basic notifications
3. Doesn't change the form-factor much
4. Allows me to do simple watch things like timers
I think this one by MS is a touch "clunky" with the square factor - but I'm psyched to see the space heat up. Personally, I'm hoping the Razer Nabu comes out tomorrow as planned, and makes this space even more interesting. We'll see. So far - I think MS has the best "fitness band" specs yet...
But the Basis Peak does not have GPS
Sorry, you are right, the Basis Peak doesn't have GPS.
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