Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Introducing Microsoft Band, the first wearable powered by Microsoft Health, that keeps fitness and productivity insights a glance away.

This is an AMAZING piece of hardware that contains an astonishing 8 different sensors on it:

1. Optical heart rate monitor
2. Accelerometer
3. Gyrometer
4. GPS
5. Microphone
6. Ambient light sensor
7. Galvanic skin response sensors
8. Ultraviolet sensor

I’ve had one since day 1, and it’s been revolutionary for me, but not for the reasons one might think.

• Calls on Microsoft Band
  If you keep your phone in a bag or in your pocket and need to keep the ringer “silent”, Band is for you.

  Band vibrates on your wrist when an incoming call or voicemail comes in and allows you to see notification with the inbound phone number on your wrist.

  You can reply instantly with a standard quick response like “I’ll call you later” or choose one that you’ve created in the Microsoft Health app.
  http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/tiles/phone-calls

• Calendar Notifications on Band
  If you depend on your phone for your calendar, again you’ll like this feature.

  Band vibrates when an upcoming appointment is approaching and shows you what it is on it’s screen.  For Windows Phone users, it also receives early warning notifications from Cortana to let you know when you have to hit the road to arrive at your destination on time based on current traffic.
  https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/email-and-calendar/calendar

• Collecting Sleep patterns & tracking
  I have pretty severe sleep deprivation and sleep apnea.  As a result, Band’s ability to track my sleep patterns night after night is very interesting to me in making sense of the way I feel in the mornings.

  Immediately after waking up, I can look at my phone and it will pull up the data that my Microsoft Band collected overnight about my sleep.  This data is viewable as a history and is very useful in understanding how I should prepare for a good night’s rest.
  https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/health-and-exercise/sleep-tracking

• Using GPS Mapping
  Throughout the day, my Microsoft Band estimates my steps and distance traveled using data from its internal motion sensors (considering height, weight, age, and gender). I can improve the precision of these estimates by using the GPS sensor. My Band will use data collected during GPS-enabled run/walk sessions to better estimate my stride-length for future walks/runs.
  https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/health-and-exercise/gps

Gizmodo had a very insightful article about Microsoft’s strategy around Band.  Here’s a hint:  It’s not about competing in the wearables market necessarily.

• GIZMODO: Microsoft Band Hands-On: An Activity Tracker That’s Actually Smart
  http://gizmodo.com/microsoft-band-hands-on-an-activity-tracker-thats-actu-1652836668

One thing however I do have a problem with is that it requires a proprietary cable to charge the device.  And the cable is $19.99.  So I sucked it up and bought 2 extras because depending on how you use it, the battery on the device lasts from 2-5 days between charges.

• Microsoft Band USB Charging Cable ($19.99)
  http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Microsoft-Band-USB-Charging-Cable/productID.308337900

For more details on Microsoft Band, check out the press release and the press kit:

• MICROSOFT BAND PRESS RELEASE: Microsoft Band, the first wearable powered by Microsoft Health, keeps fitness and productivity insights a glance away
  http://news.microsoft.com/features/microsofts-new-cloud-powered-wearable-keeps-fitness-and-productivity-insights-a-glance-away/
• MICROSOFT BAND PRESS KIT:
  http://news.microsoft.com/presskits/microsoftband/
• MICROSOFT BAND PRODUCT GUIDE/SUPPORT
  http://www.microsoft.com/band/productguide