Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Microsoft Unveils $199 'Microsoft Band' Fitness Wearable

Rogifan said:
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.
Click to expand...

Or more likely they'll save a few things for version 2 a year later. They never go all in on the first version. Version 2 will include what most of us think Version 1 should have had.

----------

Tonight is the first time I have heard or read anything about MS Band. Coincidentally, I will be a few minutes from a MS store in the late afternoon, so I will probably drop in and check this out and see what it looks like.
 
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. Like smart watches, the Band can also receive notifications from a user's smartphone.
Click to expand...

Uncontextualised galvanic skin response is a terrible measure of stress. Excitement, for example, would produce the same GSR and heart rate profile as stress. This watch could end up CAUSING stress by telling people who are not stressed that they are!
 
Rogifan said:
Perhaps it would make sense to wait until the product has been released and we get reviews? You might be right, but since basically no one but Apple employees have actually used this device writing it off might be a bit premature.
Click to expand...

Knowing what it is, what it looks like, and what it does, I'm just not all that excited about it personally. I'm not saying it's crap, or destined for failure, but I feel pretty safe in saying that it won't start all out iPhone style revolution.

It's alright. Not incredible. It'll find a market, and some people will like it, but I'd class it more along with the Apple TV than the iPad or Macbook Air. A nice side item that'll round out their line up more than become a focus of it.
 
It's just another fitness band and is aiming for that market and not the watch market. I doubt it will bring any new customers in and will purely sell to current Fitbit, gear fit users and owners.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Satori said:
Uncontextualised galvanic skin response is a terrible measure of stress. Excitement, for example, would produce the same GSR and heart rate profile as stress. This watch could end up CAUSING stress by telling people who are not stressed that they are!
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter. The battle for sensor numbers have started. People will want more and more sensors because more sensors equals more innovation! People want innovation because they think it is a feature!

Get ready for sphincter dilation sensors, bladder volume sensors, brain moistness sensors, and total body cell count sensors etc...

for those that need it: /s
 
smoledman said:
It beats Apple due to usable screen and no stupid click-wheel. It shows more imagination not sizing it in a way that is trying to imitate a watch.

So which company is the foward-looking one?

Man, MS is really firing on all cylinders now between Azure, Office 365, Windows Phone, Windows 10, Band/Health, Cortana, Surface Pro 3.

Now they just need to make a clamshell Surface Book and we're golden.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. Microsoft is doing amazing things lately but is so under-appreciated, it is almost unfair. I really hope for them that Windows 10 will give them a massive push in the mobile market as well, to address the app gap. But the branding connotations will still be a problem, I cannot explain it otherwise.
 
Am I the only one who thinks the screen orientation is totally off? When you have it on your wrist, you cannot look at it without having your arm in a totally awkward position.
 
Where is the Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot this after every three hours of running?

----------
KALLT said:
Completely agree. Microsoft is doing amazing things lately but is so under-appreciated, it is almost unfair. I really hope for them that Windows 10 will give them a massive push in the mobile market as well, to address the app gap. But the branding connotations will still be a problem, I cannot explain it otherwise.
Click to expand...

Put your money where your mouth is and buy stock.
 
peterdevries said:
It doesn't matter. The battle for sensor numbers have started. People will want more and more sensors because more sensors equals more innovation! People want innovation because they think it is a feature!

Get ready for sphincter dilation sensors, bladder volume sensors, brain moistness sensors, and total body cell count sensors etc...

for those that need it: /s
Click to expand...

You are correct!

However, I think that most people already have their own sphincter dilation and bladder volume sensors built in. Brain moistness, though, now there's a thought....
 
Satori said:
Uncontextualised galvanic skin response is a terrible measure of stress. Excitement, for example, would produce the same GSR and heart rate profile as stress. This watch could end up CAUSING stress by telling people who are not stressed that they are!
Click to expand...

Maybe they're targeting Scientologists for auditing on the go.
 
jafingi said:
Am I the only one who thinks the screen orientation is totally off? When you have it on your wrist, you cannot look at it without having your arm in a totally awkward position.
Click to expand...

It's not any more uncomfortable then holding your arm parallel to your torso to view the Apple Watch screen. In fact it's slightly more comfortable positioning the watch face on the inside of the wrist.
 
Looks very nice, nice functionality, but will it awake you with a vibration like other fitness bands?
 
One issue...

It looks to have really good functionality, but man it looks like crap on your wrist. The strap-integrated battery makes the thing gigantic where it shouldn't be.

I think I might be more inclined to get a garmin vivo smart and skip the pulse monitoring.
 
Swift said:
After 25 years of dominance, this is what they're reduced to. "We make those too!"
Click to expand...

Actually, this seems to be a pretty advanced device, on par with Intel's Basis, which is probably the best currently.

If the heart rate monitor works in real time, or close enough, it will be probably the most useful smart watch/fitness tracker hybrid on the market.

The battery life is key: if the Apple iWatch lasts only a day, it will likely not track sleep, which will be a deal-killer for many. It would be for me.

P.S. The MS site says it's a "24 hour" heart-rate monitor which sounds it's more like the old Basis model, rather than the new Basis which does real-time heart rate. The new Basis Peak (http://www.mybasis.com/) also has 4 days of battery life.
 
Last edited:
Iconoclysm said:
Yes, Satya Nadella designed this watch all by himself in the 8 months since he took over...

Really? Don't be so thick headed. Also, what does this have to do with marketing?
Click to expand...


I am not being thick headed! This shows me that Microsoft is bringing their "C" game instead of their "A" game! This is not a game changer wearable device for example like Google Glass.

Marketing is everything! Apple is the best at it in the World! These watches are not just for geeks! Apple will be Microsoft's biggest competitor for this thing! These devices need to have mass appeal to be successful! I can see teenage girls ready to kill to get an Apple Watch not whatever Microsoft came up with this thing! :confused:
 
I find it kinda ironic people want smartphones with bigger screens, only to end up buying yet another device to take along with a screen in the 1,5 ~ 2,5-inch range.
 
PatriotInvasion said:
Why is this being announced close to midnight during Game 7 of the World Series? Fail. Another product destined for the Microsoft graveyard. #DOA.
Click to expand...

Cause the whole world revolves around the U.S. and where you live.....

The world is actually round, and while it's midnight were you are , it's not midnight everywhere else ;) think about it.....
 
jafingi said:
Am I the only one who thinks the screen orientation is totally off? When you have it on your wrist, you cannot look at it without having your arm in a totally awkward position.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm thinking too. After watching the video, it appears it's designed to be worn with the screen on the bottom of your wrist, which I don't prefer. Although the overall design is pretty cool, I think the screen orientation is a no-go for me, but to each their own.

I do like that GPS is built-in on this watch. I'm still waiting on more details from Apple Watch. I really don't like to run with my phone. I currently use the Garmin Watch but am in the market for a new one. I'll have to wait and see if I can leave my iPhone at home and still track my runs with Apple Watch. If I can't, that would be a deal breaker (for me).
 
CFreymarc said:
Where is the Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot this after every three hours of running?

----------



Put your money where your mouth is and buy stock.
Click to expand...

Is this how your resolve arguments.... Buying stock!!!

And while your throwing stones, iOS 8 and Yosemite are far more buggy than the equivalent windows OS at the moment . Read the forums mate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back