Just tried the band. I wanted to want it but I wasn't into it. Wearables in general have some ways to go aesthetically. Every band/watch I've tried so far has fairly unflattering proportions (which is totally understandable given the hardware). Wearables would ideally disappear into the fabric of your life but so far they're mostly big plastic chunks you strap to your arm. I definitely like where things are going, but they haven't gotten there yet.
Microsoft Band
411–420 of 534 posts
Re: Microsoft Band
#412Galvanic skin response is listed as one of the sensors, but there's no mention of it in the marketing material.
Anyone know if it'll be able to measure exertion via sweat?
Re: Microsoft Band
#413Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Person scaling with Azure here. It's pretty awesome and easy. And it's pretty expensive. Now, if your competitor is on an open stack and on real computers they will eventually run rings around you because they get more control and lower costs. The initial boost you're experiencing will turn into a straightjacket with a hefty pricetag over the longer term.
Stack Overflow seem to be doing OK: http://highscalability.com/blog/2014/7/21/stackoverflow-upda... I think there is a case for an open stack, but I think unless you pick a real dog of a platform good people can make it work well. It comes down to a "can I get good people for stack X?" as much as "Does stack X work or cost too much?"
StackOverflow isn't running on Azure: if anything, that article should make it obvious how much they're saving by not using cloud, with OS being unrelated.
Re: Microsoft Band
#414I went and picked one of these up at lunch from local Microsoft Store/Kiosk. No line, walked right up. Sales person was very informative, helped with wrist sizing. Came with some small swag (Starbucks gift card, water bottle, etc). There were two other people at the store - one looking at Surface another started looking at Band as I was leaving, I noticed they were looking at mine as I tried it on. Not hard to purchase one, no line.
I walked by the Apple Store on the way out and there were people queued up outside to get in, probably about 10-12 deep.
It was a sign of the times, as someone who purchases products from (and develops for) both camps, I am really happy to see the competition. Happy to see MS embrace iOS devices with their new tech and happy to see Apple allow MS apps in the app store. Its not all pats on the backs between Apple and MS, but the competition benefits all us and is great to see. Plus, some cool gear is coming out of it.
Re: Microsoft Band
#415This is probably said pretty rarely on the internet as a whole (and even more rarely here), but way to go microsoft for knocking it out of the park and creating a great product.
Bravo for committing to cross-platform support also, thanks for putting user value above locking people in (in hopes they'll buy other MS things)
Re: Microsoft Band
#416At 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.
My problem is that if it's also a sleep tracker. When are you supposed to charge these things?
Re: Microsoft Band
#417Earlier quoted context omitted.
> single threaded lightweight runtime based around call backs Sounds like Javascript to me, or maybe something like Erlang. I wonder if we'll be able to install apps on the device or just build external apps for cell phones. What about hooking it up to your desktop/laptop for notifications and stuff? I'm thinking there could be some cool features there.
Our runtime is straight ANSI C. No comment on anything else mentioned:)
If you also use libevent, I win! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8532192
Congratulations for this btw. I'm not an MS fan, but I hope this works for you guys!
Re: Microsoft Band
#418Re: Microsoft Band
#419Earlier quoted context omitted.
Regarding charging:- "Connector: Magnetically coupled connector to USB" http://goo.gl/mDFKbM
I wonder how they're getting around Apple's MagSafe patent, considering Apple doesn't license it out?
Surface also uses these magnetic connectors btw. So either there is a patent sharing agreement, so they have somehow circumvented it.
Re: Microsoft Band
#420Earlier quoted context omitted.
Several Android and Windows phones support wireless charging or can be modified to do so. (E.g., the Nexus 6 supports it and with the Note line you can just swap out the back panel for a special one). Devices like the Moto 360 also support wireless charging.
I've been using wireless charging for nearly two years on my Lumia 920. And for the past year, my wife's Lumia Icon has been doing the same. I picked up a couple more charging plates when she switched to Windows Phone. Now that I've used wireless charging, I'll never go back. Connecting wires to charge is so 2012. I want my Surface Pro to charge wirelessly. And my Tesla Model S (well, that is, if I had one).
Do wireless chargers spend more electricity to charge your phone? Or the same amount?