Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable

[blizaine]

I picked up a Microsoft Band yesterday. Got it setup with my iP6 in a matter of minutes and this thing is awesome. Did a workout yesterday evening and tracked my sleep last night and the info it gives you is amazing. I've been waiting for a wearable with these features forever. I was (am) still planning on getting an Apple Watch when they are released but currently this is the device to beat. They just crushed Fitbit's unreleased products in both features, price, and looks.

 

[Michael Goff]

Can't swim or shower with it I see.

Sucks, no buy.

So I take it you won't be buying the Apple Watch either?

 

[macjosh]

Only drawback is it's not water proof and the 48hr battery life is a bit short.

I agree, however I hope that it's not less water resistant then, for example, JawboneUp.

Does anybody know if the GPS tracking (when wearing the band without phone) can transfer the data later on to a computer and allows creating a path overlaid on an actual map?
I hope also one can export the GPS data and link them to pictures taken.

It should be, since it works with Runkeeper. Only you won't be able to take selfies after the run

 

[MrXiro]

Not as bad as people wearing baseball caps backwards.

You must not have been a fan of Kriss Kross

 

[kdarling]

But portrait mode would be pretty useless for text. That would mean a line width of about five characters max, given how narrow this display is. It seems landscape mode works alright if the display is oriented on the back of the wrist though.

(Approximation based on this image https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20255644/)

All I can repeat is that it was a huge deal for the Gear Fit to get portrait.

Everyone was bashing the landscape mode as being uncomfortable to view without contorting your wrist. Heck, I changed mine to portrait the instant it got the software update to do so.



(Notice the little rotate icon at the upper right. In the rare cases where you really wanted landscape for big words or something, you could flip it temporarily.)

However, you're right that the MS Band display is not as wide as the Fit, so portrait might not work as well.

 

[scottwaugh]

I picked up a Microsoft Band yesterday. Got it setup with my iP6 in a matter of minutes and this thing is awesome. Did a workout yesterday evening and tracked my sleep last night and the info it gives you is amazing. I've been waiting for a wearable with these features forever. I was (am) still planning on getting an Apple Watch when they are released but currently this is the device to beat. They just crushed Fitbit's unreleased products in both features, price, and looks.

I didn't find the Apple Watch compelling so far (saying that as a Mac, iPhone, iPad owner)...but the things this band offers (GPS, heart rate, sleep monitor etc.) for significantly less are rather compelling. It doesn't try to be something as complicated as the Moto 360 or the Apple Watch (i.e. a smartwatch) - this is a fitness/health tracker. At least for me, that's all I want (not another ~$400 Apple gizmo that will be obsolete in a couple of years after some Watch OS updates make it crawl).

Unfortunately, using a Microsoft band also results in Microsoft housing your biometric data....presumably, forever - and we absolutely know Microsoft can't be trusted when it comes to watching out for their user's privacy etc., as Microsoft was the company who did so much above and beyond stuff for the NSA (pre-encryption access to all Skype communications, all Outlook.com & Hotmail.com e-mails etc...which was just what we do know about, there's probably much more). You know the NSA would love to have biometric data on every U.S. citizen for their files.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data

That said. It appears their team did a great job on this for a v1.0 product and keeping the capabilities restricted so it'll just be very good at a few things.

 

[macjosh]

I want something that accurately monitors my sleep patterns. I don't care who makes it. Microsoft, fitbit, Apple...

From what I've read, the fitbit doesn't really work. Apple has nothing out that I'm going to sleep with. Jawbone doesn't really work either. So that leaves this thing. We'll see, I'll keep an open mind, but I'm pretty doubtful.

Just curious - why "Jawbone doesn't really work"? For me it works perfectly, and does good job with waking me up.

 

[subsonix]

A computer that does... what?

Since it enables applications with WatchKit, that's a rather open ended question.

 

[iPadCary]

Between, Zune/Kin/Courier/Surface/Vista/Windoze8/WindozeNT, this is MS's most successful
venture since XBOX, and, as such, they're gonna nurture the dickens outta this baby.

This is gonna be a strictly HANDS OFF affair: anyone who effs this up and puts the bug
in the public's ear that BAND doesn't work will have thier head summarily placed on a chopping block.

Expect "feature enhancement" [i.e., "apps", after a fashion] updates up the wazoo.

 

[gorkt]

I really hope so - this thing would be very awesome with a few more apps. I was very impressed with the sleep tracking, blows the fitbit out of the water! The only thing I can't get to work quite right is myfitnesspal - it is not recording my steps on the website.

 

[iPadCary]

I think it's safe to say we were hoping more for a superduper Band-like ["iBand", anyone?] device
from Apple than what it is we ended up getting, instead.

There's that "Nike+Apple=New FuelBand" rumor floating about, so we'll see ....
But until such time, it looks as if Band is the band to beat thus far.

 

[maflynn]

My wife picked up a MS Band for me last night, and I've been using it since then.

I'm impressed to say the least. Microsoft really does pack a lot of features into such a small watch that is priced at 199.

It integrates with RunKeeper (among other app/services) and when I went out for a run earlier, I saw the results show up in my RunKeeper app when I got back home (it also showed up the MS Health app).

The size, battery, GPS, and price all superior to what we expect the apple watch to have. For my needs, I'm not interested in a piece of stylus jewelry, but something that tracks my runs and workouts. This does it for less then what the apple watch charges.

 

[mentaluproar]

Why must people criticize Microsoft's first attempt at a smartwatch? I actually think this is pretty good.

 

[eelpout]

Why must people criticize Microsoft's first attempt at a smartwatch?

First time at Macrumors, eh?

 

[TimelessOne]

It has promise and I think it can work well but my question is how well does it work with Android as that is my phone. I am not going to switch Windows phone.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Why must people criticize Microsoft's first attempt at a smartwatch? I actually think this is pretty good.

Because it's not an Apple product. Apple products are always the best; even when they aren't.

 

[kdarling]

Why must people criticize Microsoft's first attempt at a smartwatch? I actually think this is pretty good.

Microsoft previously created the Spot platform, which piggybacked news data over radio stations.

Unfortunately, using a Microsoft band also results in Microsoft housing your biometric data....presumably, forever - and we absolutely know Microsoft can't be trusted when it comes to watching out for their user's privacy etc., as Microsoft was the company who did so much above and beyond stuff for the NSA (pre-encryption access to all Skype communications, all Outlook.com & Hotmail.com e-mails etc...which was just what we do know about, there's probably much more). You know the NSA would love to have biometric data on every U.S. citizen for their files.

NSA has no interest in our health data. They're communications oriented.

However, insurance companies would probably love it.

 

[subsonix]

It looks like a screen protector is a must.

#scuffgate

Because it's not an Apple product. Apple products are always the best; even when they aren't.

As if people never criticize Apple here.. C'mon man.

 

[scottjl]

Had one, lasted 24 hours with me before I took it back. The band is thick and must be worn tightly for it to function properly. In the end, it just wasn't comfortable. Felt like I was wearing a tracking bracelet for house-arrest.

Functionality wise it was very good, lots of ways to customize the unit, 48 hour (or less) battery life, and only "splash proof". It also had sleep tracking, but was very uncomfortable to wear sleeping (which was the final straw convincing me to take it back).

Note, it does not have direct HealthKit integration, you have to go through MyFitnessPal, another drawback to the unit.

 

[Black Belt]

Not true.

The sensors and the battery life are what is " + over the Apple watch".

The Apple watch does not appear to track sleep patterns, which is a biggie for many. Apple hasn't mentioned it and if they say you are likely to charge it every day, presumably you can't sleep with it.

I still think the most advanced of the health trackers is the Basis Peak. It has the most advanced sensors on the market, as far as I can tell. It is also the only wrist device which can track real time pulse.

The Basis also has 4 days of battery life. I have the current model and this is in line with my experience. The lack of GPS is less valuable to most.

Overall, the MS watch provides a good balance, although I would go for the Basis, since it is better at what it does.

I am really not sure the Apple watch will be all that competitive, if they don't have sleep tracking and better battery life.

The "sleep tracking" on wearables is sketchy at best (I certainly don't want to wear **** all night) and there are apps, though equally as sketchy, Withings has a new "thing" that is tied to a sensor under your mattress as well as a sophisticated nightstand monitor which may be the best idea, if it better than sketchy I can't say.

Lots of battery life on a crappy device doesn't interest me. The Apple Watch seems much more capable and expandable where these other devices are 1 trick ponies. Yes the battery life isn't great, but it is doable.

 

[unplugme71]

I have read about them with much interest. The new Charge is $129 and replaces the recalled Force. I had a Force and it was a terrific band -- for $129 it did a lot more than my $149 Fuel Band.

Sounds to me like you are just anti all fitness trackers. But just because you have no interest in them doesn't mean they don't provide value to others. If they sell then by definition they can't be overpriced because consumers don't pay readily more for something than they perceive it's worth to them.

It's just that my iPhone can track my steps for free. Why would I want to have yet another device worn on me that costs an absurd amount of money?

They have activity trackers for under $30 bucks that track your steps. Nike had one years ago for the iPod, not sure if its still around. But there are other brands too.

 

[AppleScruff1]

As if people never criticize Apple here.. C'mon man.

They certainly do, but they buy the products they criticize anyway.

----------

It's just that my iPhone can track my steps for free. Why would I want to have yet another device worn on me that costs an absurd amount of money?

They have activity trackers for under $30 bucks that track your steps. Nike had one years ago for the iPod, not sure if its still around. But there are other brands too.

Which model Apple Watch are you getting?

 

[Mainsail]

Had one, lasted 24 hours with me before I took it back. The band is thick and must be worn tightly for it to function properly. In the end, it just wasn't comfortable. Felt like I was wearing a tracking bracelet for house-arrest.

Functionality wise it was very good, lots of ways to customize the unit, 48 hour (or less) battery life, and only "splash proof". It also had sleep tracking, but was very uncomfortable to wear sleeping (which was the final straw convincing me to take it back).

Note, it does not have direct HealthKit integration, you have to go through MyFitnessPal, another drawback to the unit.

When I first saw the MS band online, I thought it might be the perfect compromise between watch and fit band, but I have been reading reviews and looking at unboxing videos, and I had a similar observation about the size and bulk. This band is really more of a large bracelet. I would really have to weigh the inconvenience of wearing and charging this thing to the features that it would bring that i don't already get with my phone. In fact, much of the functionality provided by the device requires that you carry your phone with you.

My iPhone 5s already has gps and activity tracking (steps and distance) that integrates with all kinds of apps. I think there are pulse rate apps for the phone. How many sensors do I really need to do a simple workout? If I want exercise guidance, I am sure there are apps that give guided workouts.

Another issue for me is that i need reading glasses for almost any print, and I need to reach into my pocket for glasses just to read notifications. So, a small readout on my wrist doesn't really add much convince for me. I might as well use my phone, so i can reply if needed.

 

[Tech198]

What bugs me, is that it looks more "fashionable" if you wear it so the display is on the inside... (at least that's how MS thinks of it)

What is this ? Cools-vill-high ? 90210 ?

Its like you have something to hide.

 

[goir]

When I first saw the MS band online, I thought it might be the perfect compromise between watch and fit band, but I have been reading reviews and looking at unboxing videos, and I had a similar observation about the size and bulk. This band is really more of a large bracelet. I would really have to weigh the inconvenience of wearing and charging this thing to the features that it would bring that i don't already get with my phone. In fact, much of the functionality provided by the device requires that you carry your phone with you.

My iPhone 5s already has gps and activity tracking (steps and distance) that integrates with all kinds of apps. I think there are pulse rate apps for the phone. How many sensors do I really need to do a simple workout? If I want exercise guidance, I am sure there are apps that give guided workouts.

Another issue for me is that i need reading glasses for almost any print, and I need to reach into my pocket for glasses just to read notifications. So, a small readout on my wrist doesn't really add much convince for me. I might as well use my phone, so i can reply if needed.

Yeah, i rather carry a brick in my pocket with all kinds of "pulse sensor" apps etc, than quite small wristband with a lot of functionality that tracks my workout.

Especially when i run or do push ups, jumps etc...