VanMardigan
has calmed down a bit.
I like the fitness band, now just give me awesome hardware and I'll be back.
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Windows Phone 8.1 |OT| Update 1
- Thread starter brotkasten
- Start date
brotkasten
Member
I'd like it as we'll, if it wasn't so expensive, wouldn't charge over USB and be only available in the US. Hopefully they won't Zune this thing. It would be perfect for my ex.
The French interns promised this awhile ago. Not yet.
juliushandle
Member
will probably pick up that band tomorrow. the strap buckle looks questionable and i still have a lot of questions about the band but i'm bored and want a new toy.
Steelyuhas
Member
The band looks cool and I've kind of started to bite on the idea of the fitness/health band, but $200 and only 48 hours of battery life don't exactly have me chomping at the bit. Going to have to think about it a bit.
juliushandle
Member
So how long before Cortana is brought over to Android and iOS. Seems like a no brainer to me.
antiquegamer
Member
I returned my Pebble few days ago and was going to wait for Fitbit Surge but this might do. The Surge is really thick and won't be available until next year. I am going to MS store tomorrow and check this out.
It said you can order on-line now.
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...?ClickID=ar0st5lks0nvazyt009vkavkw9vkyo99vllr
I wish they would make charging stand for it, the charging on Pebble was terrible and this look to have the same problem.
Looks like a nice device for those who like that sort of thing.
Two downsides: battery life and it should be water proof.
Also, while they're finally releasing something immediately after announcing it, their lack of any sort of information on when/if they're going to release it in the rest of the world is just ridiculous and a return to old form.
Could well be the Zune all over again. A very nice product bollocksed by their lack of conviction.
Two downsides: battery life and it should be water proof.
Also, while they're finally releasing something immediately after announcing it, their lack of any sort of information on when/if they're going to release it in the rest of the world is just ridiculous and a return to old form.
Could well be the Zune all over again. A very nice product bollocksed by their lack of conviction.
American hearts beat differently than the rest of the world.
brotkasten
Member
Other than wanting to repeat the success of the Zune, I can't think of a reason.
What band?
Edit: hmm looks pretty nice. Heart rate will be unreliable as it seems wrist based measurements aren't great. But sleep monitoring could be good if combined with a sleep sensitive alarm, and cortana integration seems interesting, along with notifications as long as they are discreet (vibration rather than noise)
US only but I suppose it should work if you import?
I am a bit unsure about the point though. Steps are already tracked by more recent phones, so they could issue 'encouragement' to keep active. Heart rate won't be accurate enough for cardio zone type exercise.
Edit: hmm looks pretty nice. Heart rate will be unreliable as it seems wrist based measurements aren't great. But sleep monitoring could be good if combined with a sleep sensitive alarm, and cortana integration seems interesting, along with notifications as long as they are discreet (vibration rather than noise)
US only but I suppose it should work if you import?
I am a bit unsure about the point though. Steps are already tracked by more recent phones, so they could issue 'encouragement' to keep active. Heart rate won't be accurate enough for cardio zone type exercise.
brotkasten
Member
The new Microsoft Band.
Not a great name, btw. But still better than coming up with something cool or edgy. I wonder if they were inspired by the Apple Watch name. Hopefully they drop the Lumia name too and call the next round of phones "Microsoft Phone" with a numbering from 1-4.
brotkasten
Member
The band should work if you import it (probably still cheaper than the retail price in the local currencies), but I tried to download the MS Health app on my Nexus 5 yesterday and couldn't from the Play Store, because it was region locked. I suppose I could sideload the APK, but I'm not sure how it would work on a Windows Phone or iPhone. As for the pedometer in phones. I just made a post in the Android thread complaining about the steps counted by pedometer on my Nexus 5. It reported 10 steps as 30 steps in Google Fit. Unless I made something wrong, I'm not sure how I could trust these things (unless they have a very specific motion sensor in phones, dedicated to that).
Please post impressions. I can't wait to hear them.
I mean I'm about to hit buy on the Microsoft site or debating traveling to the complete opposite side of my city to a Microsoft store tomorrow. Hmm
i just installed it on my Nexus 5 just now, looks like it requires a Band to do anything with the app.
You can get 5% off pretty easily from Bing Rewards.
Might get the band if it goes on sale or something. I certainly don't care about smart watches, but these new fitness bands might be kinda cool to motivate my ass to do some exercise.
I always forget about Bing rewards. Thanks for the heads up.
brotkasten
Member
Height in feet and weight in lbs? So that's why they're only selling it in the US!
Weird, I thought the health app was a hub for more than just the MS Band.
juliushandle
Member
Health app is different from the MSN/Bing Health & Fitness.
Also, this is a limited release because MS had to ship quietly and quickly. It isn't even available through other channels besides the Microsoft store.
Also, this is a limited release because MS had to ship quietly and quickly. It isn't even available through other channels besides the Microsoft store.
juliushandle
Member
Positive response so far about the the band, pre-release. Perhaps this Band can sell people on Cortana and WP.
Most positive MS hardware since....forever.
Maybe they should release more things silently.
brotkasten
Member
But Health is a platform, not a companion app for the Band.
"Microsoft Health is a cloud-based service that helps you live healthier by providing actionable insights based on data gathered from the fitness devices and apps that you use every day. Activity-tracking devices like the new Microsoft Band, smart watches, and mobile phones plus services like RunKeeper or MyFitnessPal connect easily to Microsoft Health. Using this fitness data and our Intelligence Engine in the cloud, Microsoft Health provides valuable, personal insights so you can reach your fitness goals."
"Microsoft Health will unite data from different health and fitness devices and services in a single, secure location. Once stored in Microsoft Health, you can combine the data you generate from different devices and services steps, calories, heart rate and more to receive powerful insights from our Intelligence Engine."
It has to work without the Band.
http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-band-is-a-game-changer-7000035251/
Microsoft? Game Changer? Impossible.
Microsoft? Game Changer? Impossible.
brotkasten
Member
Here is what Joe had to say regarding the availability.
"Folks asking about #MSBand - We’re starting out in the US to learn and get feedback for a little while. Definitely stay tuned!"
Good to see that they're still learning. I guess it takes a decade or so to make and distribute hardware properly. I expect the Band to launch in 2016 in Europe. The Fitness band beta test should be over by then. Can't wait.
"Folks asking about #MSBand - We’re starting out in the US to learn and get feedback for a little while. Definitely stay tuned!"
Good to see that they're still learning. I guess it takes a decade or so to make and distribute hardware properly. I expect the Band to launch in 2016 in Europe. The Fitness band beta test should be over by then. Can't wait.
Opus Angelorum
Member
So I've had my 930 for a few days and...I'm sending it back.
There is visible set of vertical bars 'ghosted' on the screen, can be seen very clearly when panning images left to right.
Super, super annoyed.
There is visible set of vertical bars 'ghosted' on the screen, can be seen very clearly when panning images left to right.
Super, super annoyed.
brotkasten
Member
I apologize for the snark, but I'm really interested in the band would really like to get my hands on one. The fact that it's again an US only product sours me a bit.
Perhaps it's really better to wait for the second generation anyway, if only for the hope that they'll use a curved display for the next one.
Other than that I can't wait for the reviews. I'm curious to see how accurate all sensors really are, but considering the fact that it was in development for a good while, I expect them to nail that part.
the 2010 version isnt great (on a 930)
But i think thats more to do with how the phone app connects to the server. Maybe 2013 is better, but my department hasnt allowed it.
We're running 2013, and the resuming, when unlocking phone is annoying as hell, also miss tons of conversations cause it doesn't "open in time", when I click the notifications on my 1020. In an active conversation, that I've managed to open, it works great. Voice, Video, even desktop sharing works great. But getting to the damned conversation in the first place... Was hoping it was an issue with the hardware and not the Lync 2013 software.
Haha, no worries. Microsoft's lack of international roll out bugs me as well. The fact that Bing/Cortana is gimped in Canada is quite annoying. Thankfully I can switch regions, but not exactly ideal.
Yeah, I imagine it wont be long before the Band sees a wider release. Boxing day would be awesome.
Just not seeing the point of tech bands and I'm a health nut. Keeping track of all that stuff is easy and I don't want to wear anything when I'm lifting because lifting heavy weights is uncomfortable enough. I also don't care what's going on twitter and don't need to be jacked in 24/7. Ah but that is just me.. I think its cool that people are interested in tracking their stuff to be more healthy, but you certainty don't ned a $200 bracelet to do that.
brotkasten
Member
What worries me a bit is the lack of any date or road map. Even a "Q1 2015" would've been great. But I'm sensitive to these kind of announcements anyway. Just thinking about Sega announcing VC for PC without a date or Konami announcing MGS:GZ for PC months ago with a Steam page and all and still no date. I just don't get it.
I said I was looking for something to upgrade to from my Fitbit Flex and the Band looks pretty much like the ideal product for me. It's a bit pricey though.
Aside from hearing general impressions, I need to know how usable it is for non-US plebs before picking one up. Luckily it seems like Peter Bright is on the case.
Daniel Rubino is livetweeting his impressions btw.
and his 16 minute unboxing/hands-on video is up
http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-band-unboxing
Aside from hearing general impressions, I need to know how usable it is for non-US plebs before picking one up. Luckily it seems like Peter Bright is on the case.
Daniel Rubino is livetweeting his impressions btw.
and his 16 minute unboxing/hands-on video is up
http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-band-unboxing
antiquegamer
Member
No you don't, just like you don't really need smartphone or other gadgets but it is because we love gadgets. That said, having Pebble for a week, the best part really is getting text notification on your wrist. While I am working I can quickly check who it's from and if it's emergency that I need to response right away. Having calendar and facebook on top is a big plus.
NeOak
Member
1520 huge?