Microsoft Band

[Praxius]

Just recently released and currently available in the Microsoft Store (US Only) for $199.

Microsoft Band - YouTube

Microsoft Band: Live Healthier - YouTube

Compatible with Windows Phone, Windows PC's/Tablets, Android Phones and iPhones.

Comes with Cortana, receive text messages, organized calendar, fitness tracker and features, pay for coffee at Starbucks, etc. etc.

Additional details here:
Microsoft Band: Read the backstory on the evolution and development Microsoft's new smart device | Windows Central

Tonight, Microsoft unveiled their new health and fitness device dubbed Microsoft Band. You can now order it online in the US or pick it up at your local Microsoft Store starting Thursday, October 30 for $199.

How did Microsoft get to this point of entering in the brave new world of smart wearables? More importantly, what is it that they can bring to the table that other companies have not?

Luckily, Microsoft has answers for us. The company has unabashedly shared a massive 3,000-word essay about the Microsoft Band story, including its conception and development.

The big take away from the Microsoft Band is the thought and care that went into its design. Reportedly, the team behind the Surface was involved with the Band's design and implementation, and it certainly sounds that way. Take this quote from Zulfi Alam, GM of Personal Devices:

"This is just the beginning…Microsoft Health will develop a physical substrate about your data and use that together with a digital substrate to provide you with contextually relevant information be it your feeling of exhilaration when parachuting out of an airplane, how you felt the first time you saw the Grand Canyon or your stress level the first time you presented to Bill Gates. I know that my heart rate topped 120 when I shared our plan for Microsoft Band with him."

Whether it was the size of the band, the sensors or the information engine that collects the information, every bit of the Band just seems…smart. Moreover, it seems realistic for 2014, whereas so-called 'smart watches' all seem like attempts reaching for the moon, but fall well short of the promise.

So grab a coffee and go read the whole thing to understand what Microsoft is trying to do with their Band. We know we will be up early to pick one up at our local Microsoft Store in the morning (you can also now order it online).

 

[damngrumpy]

I love this a host of features and interactions I have a smart phone
I am trying to have less not more. I have a ton of apps for games
and movies and crap that I will never use Why can't they have the
phone set up so only the apps you want would be there?
I hear oh the come with the phone. I don't use music, movies and
that sort of stuff text only if i have to photos i use but not a lot more

 

[DaSleeper]

I love this a host of features and interactions I have a smart phone
I am trying to have less not more. I have a ton of apps for games
and movies and crap that I will never use Why can't they have the
phone set up so only the apps you want would be there?
I hear oh the come with the phone. I don't use music, movies and
that sort of stuff text only if i have to photos i use but not a lot more

Yes....I wish a phone would come with no preloaded apps or at least give you the option to delete the ones you don't need

 

[mentalfloss]

Kinda like the idea but with limited functionality these watches should be cheaper than smartphones.

 

[Praxius]

Kinda like the idea but with limited functionality these watches should be cheaper than smartphones.

Well the only cheaper Windows Phones (less than $200) is the Lumia 530, 630 ad maybe the 635 depending where you look. I just upgraded from my Lumia 925 to the 930. Loving the 20mp camera and the 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound HD video capturing. The Wireless charging is also a neat feature, though one I have no need for. This phone was something like $600+.... But I got it unlocked and with my credit card mainly to get my credit rating up here in Aus.


Oh and the battery is much better too. I can get about a day and a half of regular use before charging. Though the 1320 can go 2-3 days.


As for removing apps you don't want, there's no problem removing 98% of the apps on a Windows Phone.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

I'm holding out for DNI.

 

[DaSleeper]

Well the only cheaper Windows Phones (less than $200) is the Lumia 530, 630 ad maybe the 635 depending where you look.


As for removing apps you don't want, there's no problem removing 98% of the apps on a Windows Phone.

If you can control what the apps have access to, such as contacts, photos etc...My next phone might just be a windows phone....
The best I have been able to do on my wife's Sony (android) phone is just disable "some" of the unused apps so they don't have access to anything, I hope while disabled....

 

[Locutus]

Just so you bums can have some perspective into who you are listening to and where the name and voice comes from:

Cortana (Halo) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bungie.net : Bungie Interviews Jen Taylor : 2/6/2002 10:18 AM PST

you bastards be nice to her or else

don't be raising your hipster voices to Cortana, get all uptight and impatient, don't be talking dirty to her or rubbing your little 'watch' against your tan pants...you be nice.

 

[Praxius]

If you can control what the apps have access to, such as contacts, photos etc...My next phone might just be a windows phone....
The best I have been able to do on my wife's Sony (android) phone is just disable "some" of the unused apps so they don't have access to anything, I hope while disabled....

Yes every app you install warns you first that it may need to use your location (GPS) which you can accept or decline prior to downloading and installing.


When you first start up the app, even pre-installed apps, they ask you again for confirmation on whether they can use your location or any other information. In most cases you can decline and the apps will still run but with limited features. Or you can customize exactly what they can access.... If all else fails, you can delete the app.


There is also another section within the Windows Phone settings which again gives you further control over background tasks and app behavior where you can disable notifications or running in the background to save battery, etc. Or just disable the app completely until you manually open and run it yourself.


There is also Data Sense and Storage Sense.


Data Sense can be set to track your data usage on your phone from your mobile provider and shows you which apps are using you 3G/4G the most and which ones use you WiFi the most.... And you can not only switch each apps settings on and off based on that information, but you can also set the phone to cap it's network usage & time it to specific dates so that you can make sure your phone doesn't run you over your plan and incur fees. Once it hits your set limit, it bottlenecks all apps so they stop using your data plan unless you specifically allow them.


As an example, I dropped down to a 500MB plan from a 1GB plan (wasn't using it all that much) and have it set to cap at 495MB which resets the same day my plan rolls over to the next month.


Data Sense doesn't tell you all sorts of information or tracks personal stuff. It just shows you which apps use data and shows you how many MBs each used.


Storage Sense is somewhat similar but for your storage on the phone.


I personally love the freedom in the Windows Phone OS and the amount of control I have. Even with a locked phone from a provider doesn't restrict what you can and can not remove. In Australia I am with Vodafone and while there were a couple of apps ore installed that were not from the Windows Phone / Nokia package, I could still delete them. Even most of the Windows Phone / Nokia apps can be removed with the exception of the core apps you need for text messaging, phone calls, Internet Explorer.


And the GPS (Here Drive+) is a very accurate, clear and effective turn by turn GPS that rivals the expensive car mount GPS's like TomTom or whatever it's called..... The difference though is the Here Drive+ is free with the phone and you never have to pay..... Ever.


Tl;Dr


I like my Windows Phones. I went from a Lumia 800, to Lumia 925 and now a Lumia 930. My wife went from a Samsung Galaxy S3 to a Lumia 1320. Her mom went from a Samsung to a Lumia 625 and then a Lumia 630.


My Co-Worker picked up a Lumia 1020 (the one with the 41MP camera) and loves it and my boss picked up a Lumia 630 for his son. Not one of them have complained about the switch and simply don't want to go back.