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Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable

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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This, because I'm ACTUALLY kinda interested in this Microsoft Band. It's nifty, slimmer, and provides most of the functions of the Apple Watch that I care about. And of course, it's cheaper.

However, Microsoft has left a bad taste in my mouth especially since I've tried both the Kin and Zune years back. Yuck.. I don't know. I'll decide once Apple Watch is officially unveiled. I do hope this pushes Apple to make the Watch even better.
 
Why is this being announced close to midnight during Game 7 of the World Series? Fail. Another product destined for the Microsoft graveyard. #DOA.
 
Tankmaze said:
48 hours on a single charge huh, that's seems better than the apple watch
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Yes, but looks like it also does less.

Gotta give up something.. Looks more like a Fit-bit.

Apple Watch is more like the swiss army knife of sensors.
 
looks like iDontNeedThis device

also
"Psychics who claim to be able to observe the aura with their third eye report that those who are practicing occultists (magical thaumaturgists) often have a violet aura."
Beware of violet))
 
Now everyone of any flavor can track their health/fitness in harmony, but will all this actually make us healthier as a nation?
 
The thing is, today the word "Microsoft" has so much baggage associated with it. It's also fairly plain to see that "Microsoft Band" is a rip on the "Apple Watch" branding.
 
Built in GPS, you say? That, with the other capabilities it has without having to use a smartphone, 2-day battery life, and the form factor, this is the closest fit to what I've been looking for in a smart fitness watch. I'll just have to accept that for music I'll need an iPod Shuffle if I value battery life.
 
I don't know, I think it looks pretty cool. Honestly, this is closer to what I hoped the Apple watch would look like. (There was a rendering that looked similar to this as I remember before the:apple:watch was shown) More a band than a watch. But buying the first MS hardware product is always a gamble I'm my opinion. I have a Microsoft store relatively close to me. I may go by and check one out.
 
quagski said:
Now everyone of any flavor can track their health/fitness in harmony, but will all this actually make us healthier as a nation?
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…Tune in next week for another exciting installment of vaguely-related, sweeping questions!

:p
 
I like what I see here. I can see the Microsoft Band selling in the dozens worldwide. I just hope it is capable of running the sacred suite of Microsoft Office applications.
 
Honestly I would prefer this to a watch replacement from apple since I can wear this with a normal watch.
 
Microsoft already has inroads in the healthcare industry with HealthVault. I use it to be able to see all of my LabCorp results. It also works with a lot of devices like blood pressure machines and glucose monitors already on the market. I wonder why they would create another system called Microsoft Health. I think Microsoft does some great work, but no company seems to be able to market and sell like Apple, and I think it's partially because Apple's offerings are so simple.

This device looks really impressive with the number of sensors it has. I wonder if Microsoft is too bureaucratic though to combine a possibly great device like this with an already very broad service (HealthVault).

There's something about Apple where no matter how buggy or late-to-the game it is, the product is singular (in number) and on the minds of everyone. For example, waterproofing has never been a big "thing" in the media despite Samsung and Sony having done it with their phones. If Apple ever does it, it will be a big "thing." When other companies have valid products come out, they look lost in a sea of other products. And I think that could be the case with this product by Microsoft--especially with Microsoft itself creating so many products and services (HealthVault and Microsoft Health) that products got lost within their own offerings.

Having said that, as a health nut, this is more exciting to me than the Apple watch.

EDIT: Nevermind, this DOES integrate with HealthVault.
 
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I'm loving my Moto 360, this looks horrible and so plain compared to it. Maybe I'll wait for a "fire sale" :rolleyes:
 
blahblah100 said:
Does it have an Apple logo on it? No? Must be crap! :rolleyes:
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Exactly! The sheer amount of hatred the name 'Microsoft' seems to engender is pretty sad. This looks like the best device for consumers given the total cross-platform compatibility. 2x the battery life of the :apple: Watch with hardly much less in terms of app functionality.

MS has clearly set up Health & HealthVault to compete directly against Apple's HealthKit platform.
 
The BodyMedia Fit measures galvanic skin response. It is a nice feature, but MS is not the only one like the article states.
 
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