Microsoft Band: A cross-platform fitness-oriented smartwatch for $200

 

Right on schedule — just a couple of days after the release of Google Fit, in fact — Microsoft has unveiled its first modern attempt at a wearable computer: the Microsoft Band, a fitness tracker with a small screen and some smartwatch-like properties. To get the most out of the Band, you’ll also need Microsoft Health, a quantified self/mobile health app that produces pretty graphs and tracks your various fitness-related activities (or lack thereof). Microsoft Band is available to buy today (in the US) for $200, and the Health app is available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

First, let’s talk about the Microsoft Band. Yes, it has an awful name — but I guess the only other option was the Windows Band or Surface Band, both of which are pretty bad, too. The Band is pretty much your standard fitness tracker, but with a rather large selection of sensors, including GPS, heart rate, and even UV, so that you know when to reapply the sunscreen lotion. There’s also a 1.4-inch touchscreen display (33mm by 11mm) with a fairly high resolution of 320×106. The whole thing, including 24-hour heart rate monitoring, will apparently have a battery life of 48 hours.

The interface, as you’d expect, looks like Windows Phone — in that it uses the same kind of typography and animations — but it has obviously been reworked specifically for a small, narrow screen. It looks like there’s a lot of swiping left and right — but you do have Cortana, if you want to take a note or set a reminder. The Microsoft Band also relays notifications, text messages, and incoming calls from your phone (though I don’t think you can actually answer the call on the Band). These features are apparently all cross-platform compatible — you don’t need a Windows Phone to use the Band; an iPhone or Android works just fine. (This is important, as the Microsoft Band’s prospective market — the rich middle class — are more likely to have an iPhone than a Windows Phone.)

Microsoft Health is a cloud-based “actionable insight” engine that takes data from your Band (or other compatible fitness tracker) and gives you feedback on how to better live your life. Apparently Health can tell you which exercises during your previous workout were the most effective, how long you need to rest before your next session, and how well you slept last night. There’s also a Health app for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone that links into this cloud-based engine to show you some pretty graphs and statistics. The Health website doesn’t explicitly say so, but I assume there’s also a web-based interface that you can log into from your PC.

Microsoft Health app, running on a Windows Phone

Microsoft Band, exploded

All in all, I’d say Microsoft Band — along with Health — is both well placed and well timed. $200 is a little bit on the expensive side, but the inclusion of a screen, Cortana, and relayed notifications definitely add some value — plus, $200 is still well within the “oh, maybe I’ll buy this as a Christmas present” range. $200 is also nicely placed against the Apple Watch, which will probably be in the $300-400 range. Samsung’s Gear Fit, which pretty closely resembles the Microsoft Band, is also $200 — but without the excellent cross-platform compatibility, and some interesting sensors, that Microsoft is promising.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Microsoft is handling the release of Band and Health rather oddly. There was no launch event, no coordinated PR carpet bombing, no review units — just a silent launch of their respective websites. We also don’t know what operating system the Band runs (presumably a cut down version of Windows Phone?) nor whether the claimed 48-hour battery life actually stands up to everyday use. Still, I’m sure everything will be clarified in the next few days and weeks.
The Microsoft Band is available from online and real-world Microsoft Stores for $200, starting today — but only in the US.

Source: http://www.extremetech.com