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Manufacturer | Microsoft |
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Type | Smart band (with smartwatch features) |
Release date | October 30, 2014USA) April 15, 2015 (UK) |
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Introductory price | $199 (USA) £169.99 (UK) |
Display | Capacitive 1.4" TFT full color display |
Graphics | 320×106 pixels, 245 PPI |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.0 |
Backward compatibility |
Windows Phone 8.1, iOS 7.1 or later, Android 4.3-5.0 connected via Bluetooth. |
Successor | Microsoft Band 2 |
Website | www |
Microsoft Band is a smart band with smartwatch features created and developed by Microsoft. It was announced on October 29, 2014. The Microsoft Band incorporates fitness tracking and health-oriented capabilities and integrates with Windows Phone, iOS, and Android smartphones through a Bluetooth connection.
History
The Microsoft Band was announced by Microsoft on October 29, 2014[1] and released in limited quantities in the US the following day. The Band was initially sold exclusively on the Microsoft Store's website and retail locations and due to its unexpected demand and popularity, was sold out on the first day it was released and in short supply over the 2014 holiday shopping season.[2]
Production and availability was ramped up in March 2015, several months after the release of Android Wear but ahead of the Apple Watch. Availability was expanded in US to include retailers Best Buy, Target, and Amazon.[3] On April 15, 2015, the Microsoft Band was released in the UK priced at £169.99 and available for purchase through Microsoft Store, or from select partners.[citation needed]
Features
The Microsoft band incorporates ten sensors of which only eight are documented on Microsoft's product page:
- Optical heart rate monitor
- Three-axis accelerometer
- Gyrometer
- GPS
- Microphone
- Ambient light sensor
- Galvanic skin response sensors
- UV sensor
- Skin temperature sensor
- Capacitive sensor
The Band's battery can run for two days on a full charge.[2][4] The device partially relies on its companion app Microsoft Health, which is available for Windows Phone 8.1, Android 4.3+, and iOS 7.1+ if Bluetooth is enabled.[5]
Despite being designed as a fitness tracker, the Band has numerous smartwatch-like features, such as built in apps (called Tiles) like Exercise, UV, Alarm & Timer, Calls, Messages, Calendar, Facebook, Weather and more.[6]
Band will work with any Windows Phone 8.1 device. If paired with a device running Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Cortana is also available (where supported), although for some features it is still necessary to use the phone directly.[7] This Update 1 is included with the Lumia Denim firmware for Microsoft Lumia phones. Users can also view their latest notifications on their phone by using the Notifications Center Tile.
The device functions as a way to promote Microsoft software and license it to developers and OEMs.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Introducing Microsoft Band". Twitter. Microsoft. October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ a b Popa, Bogdan (October 30, 2014). "Microsoft Launches Band, Smartwatch Superior for Windows Phone, iOS, and Android". Softpedia. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ "Microsoft outsmarts Apple Watch". USA Today. March 17, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ Hachman, Mark (October 29, 2014). "Meet Microsoft Band, Microsoft's $200, fitness-focused smartwatch". PC World. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ "System requirements for Microsoft Band". Microsoft. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
- ^ "The tiles on your Microsoft Band". Microsoft. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ "Use Cortana with Microsoft Band and your Windows Phone". Microsoft. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ Rubino, Daniel (1 November 2014). "Why Microsoft Band is in short supply (it's not a marketing conspiracy)". Windows Central.
External links
Media related to Microsoft Band at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
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