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Microsoft Enters the Wearables Market With 'Band'

Posted by Soulskill on from the competing-for-the-forearm dept.

Microsoft has announced the availability of "Microsoft Band," a wearable device that goes on the wrist. It's designed to do health- and fitness-related tasks, like monitoring heart rate and how well a wearer sleeps, and its on-board GPS lets users map their run/bike routes. The company says Band plays nicely with iOS and Android devices in addition to Windows phones. It also has full support for viewing phone notifications and calendar alerts, and a built-in microphone enables queries through the Cortana personal assistant software. The display is rectangular, 11mm x 33mm (0.43" x 1.3"), and has a resolution of 320x106. They claim a battery life of 48 hours, with a charge time of 1.5 hours or less. The device costs $200.

4 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Finally a unique, original idea from Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Why hasn't Nadella killed off all these "me too" wankers whose projects are just going to be discontinued after a few years anyway?

  2. Microsoft makes a stunning move by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 5, Funny
    Microsoft announced that starting from 2015, there will be a grand fusion of ALL User Interfaces. All devices, from wearable watch like device, to 4 or 5 inch phones, to 7 or 10 inch tablets to 15 or 18 inch laptops to 23 to 36 inch desktops will all use the Microsoft Band UI as the default UI.

    There will be a hidden hotspot at the lower left corner to bring up the phone UI, and it will have another hidden hot spot and the mid point of left edge of screen to bring up the tablet UI, and that will have a hidden hot spot at top right to bring up the laptop UI and there will be a hot spot on the top left to bring up the desktop UI.

    So, in one fluid motion, you can hit all the four corners and move up and down the UI. National Association of Chiropracters and Carpel Tunnel Healers of America welcomed the new UI and gave 10$ off coupons to all Microsoft users.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  3. If it's as successful as their other gadgets... by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...we can call it the one-man band.

    --
    How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  4. Re:But... by doramjan · · Score: 3, Funny

    And can it squirt songs?