Microsoft Corporation introduces Microsoft Band 2. It will be on sale for $249 starting October 30.
The new Microsoft Band fitness tracker was unveiled on Tuesday. It will run on Windows 10 OS. The wearable band will be available for $249.
Not like other trackers, the Microsoft Band has a curved display. It has a barometer sensor for elevation in real-time and has a Corning Gorilla glass 3 display. Times of India divulged the screen works better on sweaty fingers. The Gorilla glass is also scratch resistant.
Other features adopted from the last year's version were on board GPS for tracking, heart-rate monitoring, speed and distance for running and biking, CNET reported.
Additionally, the Band will track burned calories. It has a UV sensor that calculates your exposure to UV rays. Likewise, a gyroscope and accelerometer track your steps and sleep. Microsoft also improved its personal assistant Cortana. Now it can reschedule your missed workouts.
The battery lasts up to 48 hours on a single charge though you would have to charge it overnight if you will use the GPS.
Microsoft is improving its cloud service and software. The Band is synced with Microsoft Health app. You can view your activity information through the application.
In the same way, Microsoft Health is also synced with other third-party apps like Strava, MyFitnesPal, MapMyRun and Loselt.
As always, it supports cross-platform functionality. The new fitness band is not only compatible with Windows Phone but with Android and IOS devices too.
The fitness band is more of a hybrid device than just a mere fitness tracker. You can do other tasks as it supports apps like Twitter, Uber, Starbucks and Subway.
All things considered, Microsoft designed it for both athletes and people who are health and fitness conscious. According to The Verge, it records VO2 max; a feature normally seen on athletes' watches. It is the amount of oxygen our body processed in a minute.
The Microsoft Band 2 will be out on U.S. stores on October 20 and November 19 in the U.K. It costs $249 or £200.
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