Microsoft Band: Fitness/Smartwatch pics and info ($199 pricetag)

[Lloydbm41]

On Windows Phone it is called Microsoft Health. And you can download the app now. Only thing you can do is set up your vitals (birth year and height/weight) and then you are supposed to go to phone settings and sync to your band via BT. Can't do anything else right now.

The app is also available via the Mac OSX app store, but not on iOS or Android app stores. Should be available soon though.

Microsoft Band, as the product is known, will go on sale Thursday for $199 and be available at Microsoft’s physical and online stores. The device, which somewhat resembles Samsung’s Gear Fit, is designed to last 48 hours on a single charge and to be worn all day to track both sleep and exercise as well as receive smartphone notifications.

The band has 10 sensors to track the usual things like heart rate as well as more novel detectors, including a UV sensor for sun exposure and a galvanic skin response measurement which can help identify stress. The Microsoft Health cloud-based service will be able to crunch numbers from data gathered from either Microsoft’s band as well as data from other devices, including rival smartphones and fitness bands. A companion app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone offers a deeper look at the data gathered by the band.

Here is the band and app (OSX version):

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Looks ugly as sin. I see a huge price drop in several months.

 

[akuma13]

The huge bezels are a downer. I'm shocked that it's a multi-OS tracker. Good on them for thinking a bit forward.

 

[sracer]

It'll be interesting to see it in action. At the very least, I can appreciate that Microsoft didn't try to force the "band" into a wristwatch form-factor.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Interesting to see what windows' variant of a smartwatch/smartband looks like.

At least battery life looks to be decent.

 

[Renzatic]

Looks ugly as sin. I see a huge price drop in several months.

I kinda like it, mostly because it looks like it was designed to fit its function, rather than trying to push an entire world of new features into an ages old form factor that was only meant to serve one very singular purpose.

 

[tbayrgs]

Looks ugly as sin. I see a huge price drop in several months.

I think it looks pretty nice, but then I'm comparing it to other fitness bands more so than other smart watches. Put it next to a vivofit, vivosmart, or new Fitbit Charge and I think it looks much nicer. Microsoft isn't calling it a smart watch, but rather a smart band. I personally don't want something as big as the Apple Watch or Moto 360 on my wrist for fitness tracking.

I'll certainly keep my eye on it.

 

[JaySoul]

Just read a very glowing review of it.

It just seems a year late, that's the main problem. I'm quite into the idea of a smartwatch now.

But it's very interesting.

 

[mclld]

Kin 2.0

 

[2298754]

Looks cheap. No thanks.

 

[Altis]

I like that it can be used with WP, iOS, and Android.

Also, checking UV is a pretty big deal. It can be really hard to tell when you're getting too much until it's too late.

Wish it were fully waterproof rather than just resistant, but otherwise a pretty decent looking device. Smaller bezels would always be nice.. perhaps next time.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Looks ugly as sin. I see a huge price drop in several months.

Looks like a fitness band to me. Not sure what else you would expect? It follows the same sort of design we have seen from other fitness bands like Fitbit, Nike Fuelband, Jawbone Up, and Samsung Gear Fit.

It is unique though with a lot of additional sensors, built in GPS and works with all major OS's, plus Health kit. They threw in a few bonus items to give you some Smartwatch functionslity, which I like.

I may end up going with this fitness band after I see some reviews and see how it survives on other people after a few months of use. Until then, I have my Nike+ Fuelband.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Looks like a fitness band to me. Not sure what else you would expect? It follows the same sort of design we have seen from other fitness bands like Fitbit, Nike Fuelband, Jawbone Up, and Samsung Gear Fit.

It is unique though with a lot of additional sensors, built in GPS and works with all major OS's, plus Health kit. They threw in a few bonus items to give you some Smartwatch functionslity, which I like.

I may end up going with this fitness band after I see some reviews and see how it survives on other people after a few months of use. Until then, I have my Nike+ Fuelband.

I didn't even like the Gear Fit when I tried it on, and that's much nicer looking than the MS Band. The MS Band just looks like it was designed last decade. Maybe it looks better in person, but from the pics, it's as plain and dull.

 

[spinedoc77]

It's nice, but probably useless as a fitness tracker for me unless the heart rate monitor doesn't need you to sit still for half a minute every time you need to measure HR. That's the Achilles heel in these wrist worn HR devices.

I'm also glad for the non watch looking design. After owning a Gear and a Moto 360 I realized I don't want to give up my real watch. I'd rather have a fitness band on the other wrist.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I didn't even like the Gear Fit when I tried it on, and that's much nicer looking than the MS Band. The MS Band just looks like it was designed last decade. Maybe it looks better in person, but from the pics, it's as plain and dull.

I guess for me, plain and dull is fine for a fitness band. It looks like my Fuelband and Fitbit, so no big deal IMO. It isn't designed to be a competitor to the 360 or other smart watches.
If it does what it says on the tin and survives months of sweat, I'll take it. But I'm going to wait and see if it does meet these goals first.

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It's nice, but probably useless as a fitness tracker for me unless the heart rate monitor doesn't need you to sit still for half a minute every time you need to measure HR. That's the Achilles heel in these wrist worn HR devices.

I'm also glad for the non watch looking design. After owning a Gear and a Moto 360 I realized I don't want to give up my real watch. I'd rather have a fitness band on the other wrist.

Bingo. I have my Martian Notifier on my left wrist as a real watch. I want a dedicated fitness band that works with all my phones on the other.

And from what I have seen in the videos, the heart rate is instant. No delays. But I'll wait for real reviews before I can say that is the way it really is.

 

[spinedoc77]

I guess for me, plain and dull is fine for a fitness band. It looks like my Fuelband and Fitbit, so no big deal IMO. It isn't designed to be a competitor to the 360 or other smart watches.
If it does what it says on the tin and survives months of sweat, I'll take it. But I'm going to wait and see if it does meet these goals first.

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Bingo. I have my Martian Notifier on my left wrist as a real watch. I want a dedicated fitness band that works with all my phones on the other.

And from what I have seen in the videos, the heart rate is instant. No delays. But I'll wait for real reviews before I can say that is the way it really is.

That would be excellent news about the HR monitor, although I have serious doubts. I think the only wrist sensor that can be taken continuously without standing still is the one on the MIO bands, they have some proprietary algorithms that take data from accelerometers and allow it to filter out movement.

 

[Lloydbm41]

That would be excellent news about the HR monitor, although I have serious doubts. I think the only wrist sensor that can be taken continuously without standing still is the one on the MIO bands, they have some proprietary algorithms that take data from accelerometers and allow it to filter out movement.

Look at this video at the 1:10 mark

 

[dba415]

Looks good compared to the god awful Apple Watch

 

[fredaroony]

I quote liked the look of it until I was a video review and then it just looks too big and uncomfortable to wear.

 

[pietrov]

Sincerely I like that very much indeed...

 

[spinedoc77]

For those of you who have it, how is continuous HR monitoring while you are exercising. Does it display your HR while you exercise, or do you have to sit still like the other fitness bands out there?

It's getting some great reviews. I may stop by and see if my MS store has any left. I think this is the way to go, a separate device that doesn't look like a watch.

 

[tbayrgs]

For those of you who have it, how is continuous HR monitoring while you are exercising. Does it display your HR while you exercise, or do you have to sit still like the other fitness bands out there?

It's getting some great reviews. I may stop by and see if my MS store has any left. I think this is the way to go, a separate device that doesn't look like a watch.

I don't have one yet (no stock at local Microsoft kiosk--no full stores here in Tampa ) but was able to check it out in person and try it on to determine best size. It is a bit thicker/chunkier than other fitness bands (I've owned the Fitbit Force and Garmin Vivosmart) but not excessively big.

As far as HR monitoring goes, it's always on and displayed right on the initial screen. The Band is designed to fit comfortably yet snuggly around your wrist so there isn't any wobble that you find in other bands or watches. I don't know how accurate it is but is gave a reading within a couple of seconds of me putting it on and continued to do so for the few minutes I was wearing it. One thing to note though was that they were advising it be worn with the display on the inside of your wrist (and thus with HR sensor on the outside/top of one's wrist) if you plan on using the HR monitor and some users were reporting sporadic result if worn in the traditional fashion (display out). It was equally comfortable in either manner and TBH, I found glancing at it a bit easier with the display on the inside.

 

[spinedoc77]

I don't have one yet (no stock at local Microsoft kiosk--no full stores here in Tampa ) but was able to check it out in person and try it on to determine best size. It is a bit thicker/chunkier than other fitness bands (I've owned the Fitbit Force and Garmin Vivosmart) but not excessively big.

As far as HR monitoring goes, it's always on and displayed right on the initial screen. The Band is designed to fit comfortably yet snuggly around your wrist so there isn't any wobble that you find in other bands or watches. I don't know how accurate it is but is gave a reading within a couple of seconds of me putting it on and continued to do so for the few minutes I was wearing it. One thing to note though was that they were advising it be worn with the display on the inside of your wrist (and thus with HR sensor on the outside/top of one's wrist) if you plan on using the HR monitor and some users were reporting sporadic result if worn in the traditional fashion (display out). It was equally comfortable in either manner and TBH, I found glancing at it a bit easier with the display on the inside.

Great news, thanks. Now the only question is how accurate it is, and also if there is any lag. My main use of a HR monitor is for interval training when I may switch from a jog to a full sprint and back again at intervals and am interested in my HR during these intervals. So whatever I get can't have much of a lag time in displaying the correct HR.

The MS band does look promising though.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Great news, thanks. Now the only question is how accurate it is, and also if there is any lag. My main use of a HR monitor is for interval training when I may switch from a jog to a full sprint and back again at intervals and am interested in my HR during these intervals. So whatever I get can't have much of a lag time in displaying the correct HR.

The MS band does look promising though.

I see. You are looking to jump from 60% Max hr up to 80-90% and back again. I've always had to use a chest band for accurate readings like that, so if this can be as accurate, those chest bands are obsolete. (and good riddance too)!

 

[spinedoc77]

I see. You are looking to jump from 60% Max hr up to 80-90% and back again. I've always had to use a chest band for accurate readings like that, so if this can be as accurate, those chest bands are obsolete. (and good riddance too)!

Yeah, the only optical sensor that can keep up like that is the Mio one. Hoping the MS one can as well.