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Microsoft Band

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Microsoft Band
ManufacturerMicrosoft
TypeSmart band (with smartwatch, and activity tracker/fitness tracker features)
Release dateOctober 30, 2014 (2014-10-30) (USA)
April 15, 2015 (2015-04-15) (UK)
Introductory price$199 (USA)
£169.99 (UK)
DiscontinuedOctober 4, 2016 (2016-10-04)[1]
DisplayCapacitive 1.4" TFT full color display
Graphics320×106 pixels, 245 PPI
ConnectivityBluetooth 4.0
Backward
compatibility		Windows Phone 8.1, iOS 7.1 or later, Android 4.3 or later connected via Bluetooth.
SuccessorMicrosoft Band 2
Websitewww.microsoft.com/en-us/band
Microsoft Band's clasp

Microsoft Band was a smart band with smartwatch and activity tracker/fitness tracker features, created and developed by Microsoft. It was announced on October 29, 2014. The Microsoft Band incorporated fitness tracking and health-oriented capabilities and integrated with Windows Phone, iOS, and Android smartphones through a Bluetooth connection. On October 3, 2016, Microsoft stopped sales and development of the line of devices.[1] On May 31, 2019, the Band's companion app was decommissioned, and Microsoft offered a refund for customers who were lifelong active platform users.[2]

History

The Microsoft Band was announced by Microsoft on October 29, 2014[3] 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; due to its unexpected popularity, it sold out on the first day it was released and was in short supply over the 2014 holiday shopping season.[4]

Production was ramped up in March 2015 to increase availability, several months after the release of Android Wear but ahead of the Apple Watch. Availability was expanded in the US to include retailers Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.[5] On April 15, 2015, the Microsoft Band was released in the UK priced at £169.99 and available for purchase through the Microsoft Store, or from select partners.[6]

Features

The Microsoft band incorporated ten sensors, though only eight were documented on Microsoft's product page:

  1. Optical heart rate monitor
  2. Three-axis accelerometer
  3. Gyrometer
  4. GPS
  5. Microphone
  6. Ambient light sensor
  7. Galvanic skin response sensors
  8. UV sensor
  9. Skin temperature sensor
  10. Capacitive sensor

The Band's battery could run for two days on a full charge,[4][7] and the device partially relied on its companion app Microsoft Health, which was available for operating systems beginning with Windows Phone 8.1, Android 4.3+, and iOS 7.1+, if Bluetooth was available.[8]

Despite being designed as a fitness tracker, the Band had numerous smartwatch-like features, such as built in apps (called tiles) like Exercise, UV, Alarm & Timer, Calls, Messages, Calendar, Facebook, Weather and more.[9]

The Band worked with any Windows Phone 8.1 device. If paired with a device running Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Cortana might also be available, although some features still required direct use of the paired phone.[10] This Update 1 was included with the Lumia Denim firmware for Microsoft Lumia phones. Users could view their latest notifications on their phone by using the Notifications Center Tile.

The device functioned as a way to promote Microsoft software and license it to developers and OEMs.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b The Microsoft Band is dead - The Verge
  2. ^ Warren, Tom (1 March 2019). "Microsoft to offer Band refunds, announces end of apps and services". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Introducing Microsoft Band". Twitter. Microsoft. October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Popa, Bogdan (October 30, 2014). "Microsoft Launches Band, Smartwatch Superior for Windows Phone, iOS, and Android". Softpedia. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  5. ^ "Microsoft outsmarts Apple Watch". USA Today. March 17, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  6. ^ Macro, Ashleigh. "Microsoft Band UK release date & price, features & specs". Tech Advisor. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. ^ Hachman, Mark (October 29, 2014). "Meet Microsoft Band, Microsoft's $200, fitness-focused smartwatch". PC World. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  8. ^ "System requirements for Microsoft Band". Microsoft. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  9. ^ "The tiles on your Microsoft Band". Microsoft. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  10. ^ "Use Cortana with Microsoft Band and your Windows Phone". Microsoft. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  11. ^ Rubino, Daniel (1 November 2014). "Why Microsoft Band is in short supply (it's not a marketing conspiracy)". Windows Central.
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