Microsoft has launched a $US199 wearable, Microsoft Band, that could be the right price and right mix of fitness tracker and smartwatch features.
A wearable from Microsoft has been expected for long time, but while most were expecting a smartwatch, the Microsoft Band is being marketed primarily as a fitness device.
Microsoft Band specs
- Display: 11 x 33mm, 320 x 106 resolution touchscreen
- Battery life: 48 hours
- Compatibility: Android, iOS and Windows Phone
- App integration: Microsoft Health, plus RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal and MapMyFitness integration.
- Price: $199
It has all the standard features you would expect, including a 24 hour heart rate monitor, run tracker, step counter, calorie burn calculator and sleep tracker. You can also set personal goals for steps taken and calories burned via the associated Microsoft Health smartphone app (more on that below), and the Microsoft Band will let you know when you’ve achieved them.
It has a 11mm x 33mm full colour capacitive touch display (320 x 106 pixel) and can provide text, call and email notifications. It also has a “Watch Mode”, which will make the device constantly display the time and date without pressing any buttons.
While marketed as fitness wearable, Microsoft Band has a lot of smartwatch features, including: calendar, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter notifications, Starbucks app*, a stock value tracker, weather reports, and Cortana integration, providing your device is syncing to Windows Phone 8.1.
while the Fitbit Flex syncs with all three main mobile OSes, it doesn’t have any of the smart features of the Microsoft Band.
Currently, the device is only available in the US.
*Please Note: The first version of the post had the Starbuck App coming soon. It is out now for the device.
