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

It does provide GPS tracking! And works with my good old iPhone4 and simple yet battery hogging Bluetooth.

Trying it for shure! :D this band just made me keeping my Phone even longer. But they need to get Nike on board. This is definitely a thing for the Nike+ App

Apple you now need to DO a lot more to convince me to buy your jewelry! :mad:
This Band (at first glance) is much better than the apple sport watch. and with the way Microsoft is heading it will get better over time. This band is surprisingly unblocked and personal to active people. It tracks your path without your phone! Nice for cycling running hiking without being dependent on a phone. This is turkey competetive.
 
Last edited:
TL-DR
The multifunctional 'jack of all trades - master of none' Apple Watch is beginning to look like what smartphones were in 2006 were - cumbersome and frustrating to use.

Photos on a watch? All the computing power on your wrist, at the expense of battery life? Apple, you should let your wearable be a stand alone and unique device, such as this; a wearable shouldn't replicate what your brilliant iPhone 6 can do better.

MS has got it right. They must have kept a close eye on products already in the market, and simply improved on that. Even better, it's not a Windows Phone exclusive (except for Cortana, but please - who would talk to their wrist in public?!), AND better still it's available!
 
anthorumor said:
TL-DR
The multifunctional 'jack of all trades - master of none' Apple Watch is beginning to look like what smartphones were in 2006 were - cumbersome and frustrating to use.

Photos on a watch? All the computing power on your wrist, at the expense of battery life? Apple, you should let your wearable be a stand alone and unique device, such as this; a wearable shouldn't replicate what your brilliant iPhone 6 can do better.

MS has got it right. They must have kept a close eye on products already in the market, and simply improved on that. Even better, it's not a Windows Phone exclusive (except for Cortana, but please - who would talk to their wrist in public?!), AND better still it's available!
Click to expand...

I think you are a bit too quick in drawing that conclusion. Apple is targeting a slightly different segment than the MS band is doing. We can be absoluetly positive that Apple did a thorough market research (many companies do not have the resources for that) to confirm their Apple Watch addresses a large part of the market. It might not push your (and my) buttons, but you can bet it will be of interest for a very large public and is unlikely to fail in the market.
 
Well, I didn't see that coming...

...how comes they were able to keep a lid on this more tightly than Apple re the watch? Is it because no-one cares?
 
dazzer21 said:
...how comes they were able to keep a lid on this more tightly than Apple re the watch? Is it because no-one cares?
Click to expand...

Smaller production numbers and less public scrutiny. The larger the value chain is, the more possibilities for leakage. Remember that the Apple Watch was rumored but only started to leak 2-3 days before the announcement. The reason is because it was not in large-scale production.
 
Looking at this more closely. I really think I might buy one today if the local "kiosk" store has one. I have been on the Fence for a FitBit. I'm too self conscious to wear an Apple Watch (plus it looks like it is trying too hard to be cool), but this thing looks like the sort of thing a programmer like myself could wear to work, and then go running with without it seeming out of character.

When I want to go out and be formal, I'll do that with a nice watch.

The Apple Watch epitomizes everything I think is wrong with Apple currently. I'm sure they'll make a bazillion dollars under Tim Cook, but I just don't think it is the same technology company I grew to love. Apple Watch, Beats, and Thinner iPads and iPhones seems to be the direction the company is going towards.

Sad to see a day when Microsoft products are more compelling. I never would have thought I'd type those words.
 
looks loke a lot of things i wanted from an apple smartband/watch - more sensors, built in gps, 2 days battery life (which is still not enough), rugged build, cheaper...

if it weren't that ugly...

still, given the choice between this and the apple watch, i'd rather take this.

but i'll wait for a more matured smart watch/band anyway, with gps, lots of sensors (accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, blood oxygen, body temperature, air temperature, blood pressure, humidity, air pressure, elevation, nfc, micro-location tracking, microphone, UV, CO2, ...), a week of battery life and ipx waterproofed. that's when it starts to get interesting.

Sad to see a day when Microsoft products are more compelling. I never would have thought I'd type those words.
Click to expand...

sad indeed. apple seems to move into the "function follows form" direction recently. i love my air 2, but i'd rather exchange that extra .5 mm for a bigger battery, or stereo speakers, stylus compatibility, a flash or an icloud drive that does not f...king break compatibility with my older devices.
 
Last edited:
One thing I didn't even catch the first time that's a major selling point to me: Build-in GPS chip!

This feature is massive to everyone biking, running etc. that doesn't want to have their iPhones on their arms the entire time. GPS is one of the biggest missing features of the Apple Watch in my view. I'm not going to get a digital watch that's not even able to be a proper sports watch.
 
kodos said:
Sad to see a day when Microsoft products are more compelling. I never would have thought I'd type those words.
Click to expand...

Agree. They have stepped up so much in the past 5 years:

- Windows Phone OS, although late to the game, was a fresh take.
- Their 'flat design philosophy' (Metro) has now permeated throughout the entire industry.
- Windows 8 was ambitious and risky. It failed to capture the market, but interesting computers came out as a result (Surface 3, keyboard cover, etc.).
- Yosemite is safe, mature, yes; but safe - and somewhat 'Windows Vistary' looking. No risks there, however OS X always had the upper hand compared to Windows in terms of features and polish.
- However, for the Mac's 30th anniversary, the newly released Mac Mini has soldered RAM, and is technically inferior (just visit the 2014 Mac Mini forums to see what I mean).

Personally, I think if Steve Jobs ever conceived an Apple wearable he would have approached it with a 'do more with less' approach. It may even share similarities with the Pebble Steel, with its simplicity and fantastic battery life.
 
Looks a little like fitbit. I may be tempted but I do want something that integrates with my iPhone.
 
Great job there.

My favorite feature, not trying to keep the traditional watch look. I was so disappointed in Apple for hamstringing their design by conforming to old watch styles. It turned their attempt into a gimmick, a toy.

Now all I have to wonder is, why isn't there a multitude of colors for this wearable?
 
Madonepro said:
Another original idea from Microsoft!

Redmond start your photocopiers...
Click to expand...

You do realize that they have a product as does Motorola, and Samsung well before Apple has one for sale. Regarding Samsung and Moto, both were offering wearables well before Apple announced their products. Then there's Nike and fitbit with there's which were the first ones out the door for wearables.

My point is that you can make that same accusation regarding apple since they were not the first to the market.
 
wilhoitm said:
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?
Click to expand...

Looks far more useful than that stupid Apple Watch. What Microsoft have produced is what I would have expected Apple to have done with the whole iWatch project.
 
Madonepro said:
Another original idea from Microsoft!

Redmond start your photocopiers...
Click to expand...

WWCD (What would Cupertino Do?)

IMG_3742_large_verge_super_wide.jpg
 
maflynn said:
You do realize that they have a product as does Motorola, and Samsung well before Apple has one for sale. Regarding Samsung and Moto, both were offering wearables well before Apple announced their products. Then there's Nike and fitbit with there's which were the first ones out the door for wearables.
Click to expand...

And Casio too.

6a00d83452989a69e201156f35715b970b-800wi


I think it remains to be seen where this product category will end up. The way I see it Apple's ambitions seems higher.

Steve121178 said:
Looks far more useful than that stupid Apple Watch.
Click to expand...

Why?
 
I can't believe i'm about to admit this, but I think i'd prefer one of these over the Apple Watch!
 
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