Microsoft Wearable device

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Discussion

Russ35

Original Poster:

2,491 posts

238 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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So MS have now released a wearable device (US only at the minute), the Microsoft Band - $199

Basically another health monitor device, but can also do email,text, reminders etc and use Cortana.

There is also cross platform support via apps (Windows Phone, iOS, Android). Data can be uploaded to the new Microsoft Health servers where data can be tracked and data crunched etc.

http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us



andycambo

1,077 posts

173 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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With built-in GPS, I'm sold. I haven't understood why the other wearable technology depends on the phone for GPS (unless I'm mistaken?)

I want an all round device that can replace my Garmin 310XT (in most scenarios) so if I can go for a run with this device (without a phone) then I'll probably buy it.

Also, it looks pretty good since it isn't trying to be watch.

trixical

1,054 posts

174 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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A bit of a shame the battery is only 48 hours but better than 24 I guess, definitely interested

Russ35

Original Poster:

2,491 posts

238 months

Friday 31st October 2014
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I do like the look of this. Have to see what price it is when finally released in the UK

A couple of videos from windowscentral.com

Unboxing and setting up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7a-GTyEEbg

and a bit more about the settings available
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPIq4gC_zCY


Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
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Think they've really produced something good here.

Its open to all three platforms which is a wise move. People are not going to give up iOS or Android for WP for the sake of a device like this. They'd be counting sales on their fingers if they did that. But, the device itself seems to impinge a lot on the smart watch. Its not technically a smart watch, but they've bestowed it with features which kinda put it in the same space.... it tells the time, you can use Cortana through it, you can get notifications and respond to messages all in addition to the fitness stuff. Plus, 48 hour battery life, which surely puts the K.O. on some of those who rushed smart watches out the gate.

I think its a great first shot by MS and shows what they're capable of. I think with this way of thinking, more people are going to come round to MS mobile products and software. Besides some poor third party app experiences I have to admit, WP8.1 has probably been my favourite mobile OS so far. This is after years of apple and now Android (I'd have waited had I known the my HTC One M8 could eventually be had with WP!!)

andycambo

1,077 posts

173 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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So it's out now at £170.

When everyone was talking of it costing £130 I was definitely going to get one but now, at this price, I'm a bit unsure it's worth it as it's out of the 'just have a try of it' price range.

I guess the price isn't that bad since it has built in GPS as well as a wide range of sensors.
a review

Anyone going to get one for sure? I can't decide!

Edited by andycambo on Wednesday 15th April 12:22

Fas1975

1,777 posts

163 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Going to buy one but need to check in person which size I need. According to their size guide print out I'm a small, but on my Jawbone, I'm a large, so will try them out and get the best fit. Been waiting for this a while, looks like a great piece of kit.

RobinBanks

17,540 posts

178 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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If I understand it correctly, with GPS, 48 hour battery and costing £170 isn't this massively better than the Apple watch?
Especially since it supports Android, iOS and Windows.
Or are they not competing? Are they different types of product?

Tycho

11,554 posts

272 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
For a fitness device, it's miles ahead of the Apple Watch but that's what it is made for. The Apple Watch and Android Wear watches are more interactive when it comes to messaging etc which the MS Band isn't about.

andycambo

1,077 posts

173 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
RobinBanks said:
Or are they not competing? Are they different types of product?
I would say it's more of a fitness watch that happens to have smart watch functions. Apple's, Samsung's, LG's all require phones to be able to track runs and rides (using GPS) and 'proper' fitness seems to have been an afterthought.

With the band you can also download plans and the watch will take you through the exercises. There are cardio plans (like interval bike riding), strength plans and another one which I can't remember. The display will take you through your chosen plan telling you when to start, stop, push etc. whilst tracking everything.





Edited by andycambo on Wednesday 15th April 13:56

Russ35

Original Poster:

2,491 posts

238 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
I was looking at getting one, but after downloading the size guide the large will be to small.

Anyone know of any places that have them on display to try?

WindowsCentral have a forum for the band, so you can see some feedback http://forums.windowscentral.com/microsoft-band/

andycambo

1,077 posts

173 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Russ35 said:
Anyone know of any places that have them on display to try?
I believe Currys and PC World have them in stock. The bands are adjustable so you may get one to fit.

Oakey

27,523 posts

215 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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I'm tempted for the sleep tracking, however, I'm a little bemused it's not waterproof. Sony can waterproof a phone but this thing is splash resistant at best?

And as per usual MS price it a little too high, give it a month and it'll have a third off!

Polariz

867 posts

154 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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After using a Fitbit Charge with my Windows Phone for a while, the biggest thing that annoys me? 7 day battery life and the fact that I keep misplacing the special cable for charging.

I have no idea how I would cope with 48 hour battery life.

The Charge isn't a bad bet though Oakey for the price (£99ish) - it does sleep tracking and the usual fitness bits, but not great at any kind of notification (Calls/texts/emails etc.)

Oakey

27,523 posts

215 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Cheers, I'll have to look into that. I'm on Windows Phone so does it work well with that?

Polariz

867 posts

154 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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It seems to work reasonably well as a fitness band yes. The Charge's only smartphone related feature is that it's supposed to tell you that you have an incoming call on your phone and display the caller ID on the screen of the watch. It doesn't seem to work for me though, as the watch isn't constantly paired via Bluetooth (By design I think). Therefore when a call comes in, the phone attempts (Or doesn't maybe) to pair with the watch ad-hoc; and I guess this process takes so long that either you've answered the call already or missed the call and it's gone to VM.

For me, meh, so what, but it might be important to you - and I think it's more of a problem with Windows phone as usual.

Otherwise, it does step count, stair count, distance, stopwatch and calorie count. It also has sleep tracking, vibrating alarms, and tells the time! The App is top notch for a Windows phone App, I have to say.

However, it's also NOT water resistant. Sigh.

furtive

4,498 posts

278 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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There is also a Fitbit PH group:

https://www.fitbit.com/group/22NFFX

clonmult

10,529 posts

208 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Polariz said:
It seems to work reasonably well as a fitness band yes. The Charge's only smartphone related feature is that it's supposed to tell you that you have an incoming call on your phone and display the caller ID on the screen of the watch. It doesn't seem to work for me though, as the watch isn't constantly paired via Bluetooth (By design I think). Therefore when a call comes in, the phone attempts (Or doesn't maybe) to pair with the watch ad-hoc; and I guess this process takes so long that either you've answered the call already or missed the call and it's gone to VM.

For me, meh, so what, but it might be important to you - and I think it's more of a problem with Windows phone as usual.

Otherwise, it does step count, stair count, distance, stopwatch and calorie count. It also has sleep tracking, vibrating alarms, and tells the time! The App is top notch for a Windows phone App, I have to say.

However, it's also NOT water resistant. Sigh.
None of these general purpose fitness trackers are water resistant. Not one. Most are okay in the shower, but thats about it.

I'd ignore the FitBit charge, spend £20 more on the Charge HR. The HRM on that is a brilliant little feature, being able to have a value for your resting heart rate is rather useful. Just remember that the HRM isn't a replacement for a decent chest strap, its a supplement (which is something that Apple Watch owners are soon to discover)

The WP client is continually improving, they've now finally added the run mapping (will have to try it cycling), it occasionally takes a few minutes to "find" the Charge, but otherwise its brilliant.

andycambo

1,077 posts

173 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Agreed about the water proofing. My Garmin 310XT is waterproof because it's designed for using in triathlons but I still don't go in the shower with it... I'd imagine waterproofing would bump up the price by quite a bit.

I keep hearing about these fitbits but do any of them have a GPS chip? GPS tracking opens the possibility of getting more precise data.

I've tried to find decent review videos about the band being used as an actually fitness advice but all I've been able to find are videos of people playing with it on a table.

I would love to hear / read about any real world fitness reviews.

Polariz

867 posts

154 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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clonmult said:
I'd ignore the FitBit charge, spend £20 more on the Charge HR.
Agreed, I bought my Charge when the HR wasn't yet released - but didn't feel comfortable putting a recommendation for the HR as I hadn't tried it with WP. You seem to indicate that it works ok, so yeah, go I would go with the HR over the standard Charge.