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The Microsoft Band Is Dead (zdnet.com)
Microsoft's fitness-band line of devices have not be very well adopted over the years. Last month it was reported that Microsoft will be killing off the Lumia brand in favor of a new Surface Phone brand. Now, it appears the company is discontinuing its Band devices, as it has removed all references to them from its Microsoft Store listing online. Mary Jo Foley writes via ZDNet: A tipster who asked not to be named showed me a cached version of the Microsoft Online Store listing from yesterday, October 2, which included Band devices; today, October 3, references to the Band devices are gone from the company's Store sites. Microsoft also removed the Band software development kit (SDK) today, which isn't surprising given it's no longer selling Band 2 devices. Microsoft is believed to have disbanded the software team that was looking to bring Windows 10 to the Band a couple months ago. I've gotten various tips that at least some of the Band hardware team members have dispersed, too, with some moving to other Microsoft hardware teams inside the company. Even though sources of mine have said Microsoft is planning to phase out its fitness band devices and to have no plans to roll out a Band 3 device any time soon (or likely, ever), company officials still haven't completely conceded that it's the end of the line for Band. I asked again today and have yet to get an updated statement from the company regarding when and why Band devices were removed from Microsoft's online stores. A spokesperson sent me the following statement: "We have sold through our existing Band 2 inventory and have no plans to release another Band device this year. We remain committed to supporting our Microsoft Band 2 customers through Microsoft Stores and our customer support channels and will continue to invest in the Microsoft Health platform, which is open to all hardware and apps partners across Windows, iOS, and Android devices."
brand*
I got a Zune Band with Clippy built in.
Table-ized A.I.
*Nelson Muntz style* Ha ha!
I bought a MS Band 2 to replace a Basis B1 after Basis basically dropped support for the B1 the moment the Peak was announced, and also broke a number of promises, etc... I picked it because it had the best sensor package around, even including a UV sensor. I found it very useful. I also found it very flawed. My band was replaced FOUR times under warranty due to cracks in the non-replaceable band at where it met the device. Microsoft was very good about replacing it, but it just never really solved the problem, just bought me a few more months of use. The magnetic attached charger also had some issues, and the software has always been a little buggy...especially syncing with the app...which right now includes claiming the battery died and the clock reset basically every few hours. It was a brilliant sensor package hindered by lousy industrial design. When my band breaks again, which I'm sure it will, this means the end for my Band.
Anyone remember the first smart watch? The Timex data link watch that you needed a CRT screen to use, and then it was found it couldn't work with LCD's so they released an add-on part for the PC to make it work.
Every time you invest in bleeding-edge Microsoft things, you get burned. Eventually this is going to happen to the Xbox.
I didn't know about this product before today. I guess it's the new Zune.
Read it as "the Microsoft brand is dead"? It was a letdown reading the rest of the story.
Looks like MS doesn't do well in the design or advertising side of things. But they do deliver on product (I know wrong forum for that comment). Where as Apple gets design and advertising but lacks on product delivery. Maybe the two should marry with Apple no longer focusing on software because they fail miserably at that and MS can let Apple do the hardware because they suck at that.
Microsoft Band, obviously.
Dammit I never even got to hear them in concert.
I heard all their songs are just obvious but worse copies of other more successful bands music though.
Putting BIll Gates on drums was always a bad move.
I don't usually like MS products but this one met all my requirements. It integrates with my fitness pal. I can select my workouts and specific cardio options for calorie counting.
Now I have to hope Samsung catches up...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
What will all the groupies do now?
who actively tried to sabotage OS/2?
"Fitness bands" are a fad, anyway. MS is smart to get out of them sooner rather than later. "Fitness bands" are something that out of shape people use for a week, then toss in a drawer, somewhere, never to be seen again. People who exercise on a regular basis don't need to know heart rate and all of that other silly stuff, unless they're seriously competitive athletes, which is, of course, a tiny market.
I don't respond to AC's.
Lasted as long as Wings.
Stupid, useless one-not products like this are an absolute waste of time, development hours and money.
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
It's actually pretty neat. Has a few smartwatch features and lots of sensors.
MS kills HW like Google kills SW.
What's a fad is all these expensive devices with crap battery life. The Mi band does all the fitness (and sleep) tracking for $20. Now that's something you can just get for fun, and if you don't find it useful, pass it on to someone else. Personally I like mine. Making people buy $200+ devices with yearly upgrades? Of course that won't last.
Twinstiq, game news
Has Netcraft confirmed it?
Great. Now what I am I going to use to cover my Zune Tatoo?
The Band is the perfect example of Microsoft's ability to come up with a great product but completely botch its execution.
I owned the first gen for a month before returning it. The thing actually died within that first month due to the ingress of sweat, and that was without doing any strenuous activity. I didn't want to be stuck with something this prone to failure, but the actual functionality was fantastic. It worked well, and it had GPS.
So when the Band 2 was released I decided to get that, assuming and hoping that issues had been sorted out. The device is definitely much improved, but there have been two major issues. One is the band tearing and the second is some kind of battery failure. I experienced the second issue 6 months in and got a replacement. As others have mentioned, getting the replacement was effortless, but these kinds of problems shouldn't be happening at all.
The big frustration for me, however, was that smartwatch functionality never worked properly between my Lumia 950 and the Band. You'd figure that Microsoft's own devices would work with each better than with anything else. I've since gotten an iPhone, but continue to use the Band, and it works reliably like it never has with the Windows phone.
It really is a joke how Microsoft is incapable of getting their shit together to make reliable products. It's also disappointing that so many opportunities have been squandered. The flaws aside, the Band is a fantastic device.
I misread this as the Microsoft "Brand" is dead, nevermind
I see what you did there.