Microsoft’s first wearable device is a fitness tracker called the Microsoft Band. It’s a wristband with activity-tracking sensors, a display for notifications, and support for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone apps.

The $199 Microsoft Band is part of a new platform called Microsoft Health which is basically the company’s answer to Apple’s HealthKit and Google’s Fit.

band_01

Unlike those competing platforms though, Microsoft Health doesn’t require you to stick within the company’s own hardware ecosystem. Have an iPhone or Android phone? No problem. Just install the Microsoft Health app on your device.

Microsoft Health data can also be shared with third-party apps such as RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal.

In terms of hardware, the Microsoft Band has a 1.4 inch, 320 x 106 pixel touchscreen display, up to 2 days of battery life, built-in GPS, a microphone, and sensors to track steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns, among other things.

Unlike some fitness trackers which only check your heart rate when you tap a button, Microsoft says its band will monitor your heart rate 24 hours a day to help you better understand your resting heart rate, peak exercise rate, sleep patterns, and other health stats.

The Microsoft Band also has some basic smartwatch-like features including the ability to display email, text, and social media notifications. When you use the band with a Windows Phone device you can also use Cortana integration to set reminders or take notes using your voice.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,547 other subscribers