This looks intriguing. Much more so than Apple Watch. However, the thickness of the band has me concerned. I stopped using UP because the band was thick enough it made my hand fall asleep when typing. (Having to take it off negated one of its main purposes alarm.)
Microsoft Band
111–120 of 534 posts
Re: Microsoft Band
#112Got a nice package of on board sensors: Optical heart rate sensor 3-axis accelerometer/gyro GPS Ambient light sensor Skin temperature sensor UV sensor Microphone Haptic vibration motor The 2 day battery life is the one turn off for me. Otherwise this is actually quite nice for $199 cross platform fitness wearable
I looked several times for the battery life but couldn't find it. Actually, for me, the 2 day battery life is the killer feature - it means I'm almost certain to get a full 16 hours out of it - which is pretty damn hard to believe given it has a GPS radio in it. That's something the Apple Watch won't have - which means if you are going out for a run - Microsoft Band will be there for you, but you won't be able to track with the Apple Watch.
Re: Microsoft Band
#113The battery lasts for two days http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/hardwa...
If I can get a solid 16 hours out of it - this will be a killer product.
Re: Microsoft Band
#114I'm surprised so many are drawn to the industrial design of this. It seems quite clunky with the electronics distributed throughout the band. The flat portion is also too long. Microsoft wants to sell you a gadget while Apple wants to sell you a watch.
I'd barely call the iWatch a watch. It fails at what makes a watch a watch -- being able to tell time immediately. The iWatch display is off most of the time to conserve battery.
Re: Microsoft Band
#115Re: Microsoft Band
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
If this thing works with Android I'd definitely consider getting one. I'm considering getting a fitbit or pebble but maybe I'll wait.
They've announced apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, at launch.
Do those apps support HealthKit and Google Fit?
Re: Microsoft Band
#117While everyone is trying to make a watch that looks as traditional as possible, Microsoft is thinking radically different for how the future watch should look likes. That's some guts.
At $200 this looks like great device with built-in sensors including GPS and UV that also talks to whatever phone you own. I also like the fact that heart rate monitor is always on. Addition of barometer could have been nicer, however.
Other tidbits:
-Screen looks too small to do much of an interaction so I'm guessing type of apps would be mostly notification types.
-I seriously hate all these stock photos and videos. Marketing seems to be out of ideas and creativity yet again. Show the f*ing product, not random faces.
-48 hr battery life
-Cortana works only for Windows Phone
-It's supposedly made for the right hand which is very weird.
-Sleep quality monitoring seems pretty cool
-The whole thing is projected as health device and makes me feel that it's designed for fitness nuts. This is going to severely limit the audience and very bad marketing strategy. Apple's watch is much more human/teens oriented that anyone wearing watches wouldn't mind to wear regardless of its health related features and probably mostly just for fun (send my heartbeat!).
Re: Microsoft Band
#118This actually seems better than Android Wear. I like their form factor more than a watch. It might give Apple a run for their money.
They are chasing after slightly (but not completely) different markets. This is a (very capable) fitbit competitor. Apple is definitely targeting fashion. Microsoft is marketing a In some ways, the Microsoft watch is actually much more capable than the Apple Watch (Hello, untethered GPS!) - but nobody is going to put it on the front page of vogue.
Re: Microsoft Band
#119The 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.
The overall quality of the fitbit (both as a band and a clip) is complete crap. My wife, hardly a heavy user of such, has had the clip die within two months, the band (a replacement) started acting up within about 3 months. Bought at two separate times from two different places. Friends have similar stories.
I haven't delved into wearables yet. I mostly have used my iPhone 5s (now 6) for the motion tracking, but it certainly doesn't catch everything (let alone doesn't catch vitals) since I don't carry it everywhere.
Re: Microsoft Band
#120I'm surprised so many are drawn to the industrial design of this. It seems quite clunky with the electronics distributed throughout the band. The flat portion is also too long. Microsoft wants to sell you a gadget while Apple wants to sell you a watch.
I belong to a certain group of people that I'm guessing many smartwatch makers are targeting.
That is, I've not worn a watch for years, mostly because a) I've never needed time to be any more convenient than checking my phone, and b) watches tend to be more about style than function, and I care almost zero about the former and almost everything about the latter.
Now that the "watch" is becoming functional, it really is more of a gadget, and that's the only thing drawing me back to considering having something attached to my wrist again.
Of course, I also realize there is a group that does care more about style, and maybe these people aren't the target for the more "gadgety" type smartwatches.
One of the reasons I think the Apple Watch Edition is a joke is that it's trying to target both groups (the other reason being the ridiculous name). And I don't think there is that large of an audience that is willing to spend that much for style + functionality -- if they want to spend that much, they likely care more about style, and will stick to a traditional watch.
So if gadget = functionality, then I say "Finally. Sign me up."