Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft Band

microsoft.com

11–20 of 534 posts

Re: Microsoft Band

#14
Looks interesting and good on Microsoft for finally getting in front of a new hardware trend. I kind of wonder if all these health trackers are just going to be a fad though. Do you really need to micromanage every calorie and heart beat with a $200 gadget? There's a ton of hand waving about combining all the data, synergies, etc. but what are the actual benefits of these devices over just regular checkups with a doctor?

Re: Microsoft Band

#15
At first, the $199 pricepoint seemed high, but it seems to be a cross platform high end fitness tracker with basic smartwatch functionality. Incidentally, this puts the price point right in-between FitBits and Android Wear watches (and also the iWatch).

Furthermore, 2 day battery life is a very welcome addition. I wouldn't mind putting one of these on my wrist.

Re: Microsoft Band

#17
post #14

Looks interesting and good on Microsoft for finally getting in front of a new hardware trend. I kind of wonder if all these health trackers are just going to be a fad though. Do you really need to micromanage every calorie and heart beat with a $200 gadget? There's a ton of hand waving about combining all the data, synergies, etc. but what are the actual benefits of these devices over just regular checkups with a doc…

I think there is benefit in at least recording and optionally uploading data to the cloud for now.

Re: Microsoft Band

#19
post #14

Looks interesting and good on Microsoft for finally getting in front of a new hardware trend. I kind of wonder if all these health trackers are just going to be a fad though. Do you really need to micromanage every calorie and heart beat with a $200 gadget? There's a ton of hand waving about combining all the data, synergies, etc. but what are the actual benefits of these devices over just regular checkups with a doc…

Yep definitely a fad. I used up band religiously for a year couple of years when it came out. After a while I got sick of one more thing to keep track of, was just too overbearing.

I see a counter trend where technology becomes invisible, fades into background and still works for us instead of being in out faces all the time.

Smartphones, smart glasses, smart watches everything that wants a piece of our attention is going away soon.

I want to learn the routes around my neighborhood and not need a map in my eyeglasses. I want to talk( or not talk) to friends in real life not text message them. I just want to come home an play my piano not read a twitter battle on my phone. I want fall asleep talking to my partner/dreaming about future, not obsesses about my deep sleep rem cycles. I want wake up when I am done sleeping not by a smart alarm keeping track of my sleep cycles. I just want to eat eggs and toast for breakfast not powdered rice from a plastic bag.

I don't want any of this smart* shit. Please make it stop.

Re: Microsoft Band

#20

The battery lasts for two days http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/hardwa...

Not surprising with all its features, but for wearables, that's a killer. My Fitbit can do 5-6 days, and I would consider that on the shorter end of decent battery life.
Post reply on HN