Microsoft Band 2

[Sonas]

A nova Microsoft Band 2 pode trazer mudanças extremas (http://pplware.sapo.pt/gadgets/wearables/a-nova-microsoft-band-2-pode-trazer-mudancas-extremas/)


A presença da Microsoft no campo dos smartwatches e das smartbands é reduzida e tem uma expressão que não podes ser comparada com outras empresas.Mas essa posição pode estar para mudar em breve. A nova versão da Band promete ser muito mais atractiva e com melhores sensores.
http://pplware.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Microsoft_Band_2_1-720x450.jpg (http://pplware.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Microsoft_Band_2_1.jpg)



Espera-se que no próximo dia 06 de Outubro, no meio de todas as novidades que a Microsoft tem para a apresentar, surja a nova Band da Microsoft.
Esta nova smartband promete trazer sensores com maior grau de sensibilidade, o que resultará em informação mais precisa e mais detalhada, funcionando de forma ainda mais personalizada.
Mesmo não tendo sido ainda lançada, surgiram (http://www.microsoftinsider.es/83853/exclusiva-conoce-la-microsoft-band-2-antes-que-nadie-en-microsoft-insider/) já imagens da Microsoft Band 2, mostrando um design muito mais apurado, que resultará numa imagem muito mais apelativa e interessante.
A presença de elementos metálicos dará à Microsoft Band 2 uma diferença grande face à versão anterior. Também a forma será alterada, com a segunda versão a ser mais curva e mais adaptada ao pulso do utilizador.
http://pplware.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Microsoft_Band_2_2-720x456.jpg (http://pplware.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Microsoft_Band_2_2.jpg)
Os botões físicos são agora também mais visíveis e mais simples de usar, ficando na lateral da Microsoft Band 2. Esta é uma mudança grande face à versão anterior.
O acesso à Microsoft Band 2 será também mais simples, com esta smartband a chegar a novos mercados. Deixará de estar apenas disponível no EUA ou no Reino Unido.
Alguns mercados europeus, onde a Microsoft Band não chegou, constam agora da lista onde vai ser possível comprá-la.
http://pplware.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Microsoft_Band_2_3-720x404.jpg (http://pplware.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Microsoft_Band_2_3.jpg)
Esta nova aposta da Microsoft quer reforçar a sua presença no novo mercado dos smartwatches e das smartbands, algo em que precisava de investir.
Não se colocando ainda ao nível dos smartphones, e provavelmente não sendo esse o seu alvo, esta nova banda promete ser muito mais interessante que o modelo anterior, mudando de visual e com melhorias, que a tornam ainda mais interessante.
A nova versão será conhecida já no dia 06 de Outubro, com todas estas novidades a serem mostradas, em conjunto com o restante novos equipamentos.

Fonte: PPLWARE (http://pplware.sapo.pt/gadgets/wearables/a-nova-microsoft-band-2-pode-trazer-mudancas-extremas/)

[Jorge-Vieira]

The Microsoft Band 2 Review (http://www.anandtech.com/show/9821/the-microsoft-band-2-review)

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/Carousel_678x452.JPG

At the end of October in 2014, Microsoft surprisingly released a late night press release about a new device they were launching. It was the Microsoft Band (http://www.anandtech.com/show/8661/microsoft-launches-microsoft-health-and-the-microsoft-band), which is a fitness wearable that was a key component of their Microsoft Health service. It was their first real wearable, and it was packed with sensors to track everything from your heart rate to your sleep quality. At the Microsoft devices event (http://www.anandtech.com/show/9692/microsoft-windows-10-devices-day-nyc-live-blog) in NYC on October 6th, Microsoft announced an updated version of the Band, known as Band 2. Its goal is to provide even more health insights, while being more comfortable and stylish than the original Band.
The first obvious question though is what the Microsoft Band actually is. In a time of everything from step counters to smart watches, where does the Band 2 (which will be called Band from here on out) fit in. Apple has the Apple Watch, Google has Android Wear, and Microsoft has the Band. But it’s not really a smartwatch, although it does do some of the things a smartwatch can do. It’s more than just a fitness band as well - it straddles the line of a 'smart fitness' band. You can do some of the things that a smartwatch can do, but not all, and it can do more things than most fitness bands. Like the Surface Pro 4 is a tablet that can replace your laptop, the Microsoft Band is a fitness band that can replace your smartwatch, except most probably do not have a smartwatch yet.
Design The Band 2 makes some significant changes from the original, with the goal of a better fit, comfort, and improved ergonomics. It features a curved AMOLED display, which has a resolution of 320x128. This is a big improvement over the original band which had a flat display, and the new one does a much better job of fitting around your wrist than the original Band. Another nice change from the original band is that the entire display and surrounding bezel is now covered by Corning Gorilla Glass, which should alleviate the scratching that occurred on the original Band. Microsoft let me know that complaints of scratching on the display was almost always plastic bezels around the display, so the glass has been extended all the way to the edges as a result. The housing of the Band is now finished in silver metal, and keeps just two buttons on the side for actionable items. The large button in the center is power, and the smaller button on the side is the action button.

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/Buttons_575px.JPG (http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/Buttons.JPG) Another improvement over the original Band are the straps on the sides. On the first generation, Microsoft actually fitted the two 100 mAh batteries into the straps on the side, which made them kind of stiff, which is no longer the case this time around. In addition, the strap material is now a new material - a thermal plastic elastomer, silicone vulcanite. As with many materials, is comes across as a lot of big words, but the strap is a very smooth silicone rubber, and it doesn’t seem to get affected by sweat and oils on your arm. The clasp itself has not changed much, but it has the same silver finish as the main housing, and the battery has been moved to the lower half of the clasp. The upper clasp features a UV sensor, and the charging pins.

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/IMG_6249_575px.JPG (http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/IMG_6249.JPG) I feel like the design has come a long way from the original Band. The new curved display is the most obvious change, but the other design changes have also improved the overall look and especially feel of the Band on your wrist. The clasp is still fairly large, which might be an issue for some people. It would be nice to see a thinner clasp mechanism on a future version, although as this is where the battery is housed it may not be possible for a while.

<tbody border="1">
Microsoft Band Specifications



Microsoft Band 2 (2015)
Microsoft Band (2014)


Band
Thermal plastic elastomer silicone vulcanite with adjustable-fit clasp
Thermoplastic elastomer with adjustable-fit clasp


Display
12.8mm x 32mm AMOLED
320 x 128 pixels
11mm x 33mm TFT
320 x 106 pixels


Sensors
Optical heart rate sensor
3-axis accelerometer/gyro
Gyrometer
GPS
Ambient light sensor
UV sensor
Skin temperature sensor
Capacitive sensor
Galvanic skin response sensor
Barometer
Optical heart rate sensor
3-axis accelerometer/gyro
Gyrometer
GPS
Ambient light sensor
UV sensor
Skin temperature sensor
Capacitive sensor
Galvanic skin response sensor


Additional
Technology
Microphone
Haptic vibration Motor
Microphone
Haptic vibration Motor


Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Bluetooth 4.0 LE


Compatibility
Windows Phone 8.1 Update,
with Bluetooth 4.0
iOS 8.1.2 or later: iPhone: 4S,
5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus
Many Android 4.3 – 5.0+ phones with Bluetooth
Windows Phone 8.1 Update,
with Bluetooth 4.0
iOS 7.1 or later: iPhone: 4S,
5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus
Many Android 4.3 – 5.0+ phones with Bluetooth


Battery
Lithium-Polymer 48 hours
Dual 100mAh
Lithium-Ion polymer 48 hours


Environment
Dust/Water
Dust and splash resistant
Dust and splash resistant


Temperature
14°F to 104°F
(-10°C to 40°C)
14°F to 104°F
(-10°C to 40°C)


Altitude
-300m to +4877m
1200m


Price
$249 USD
$199 USD

</tbody>
The new Band has even added to the sensor total, with a barometer now available, serviced by a small hole in the side of the Band. Due to the holes for the barometer and microphone, the Band is not waterproof, although it is rated as water resistant. Internally, the holes have a fine mesh cloth which is fine enough to not let water through during temporary mild wet weather, but this is not enough protection for immersion such as swimming.

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/HeartSensor_575px.JPG (http://images.anandtech.com/doci/9821/HeartSensor.JPG) The Band itself is powered by a Cortex M4 processor. One would expect it might run Windows 10 IoT, at least with this version, but they still need a bit more power before they will move it to Windows 10, which is something to look for in the future. The UI is a custom specifically for the Band though, influenced by Windows 10 in its look and feel.



Toda a review:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9821/the-microsoft-band-2-review

[Jorge-Vieira]

Microsoft Band 2 Gains Music Controls, Digital ‘Coach’ To Bake Your Inner Couch Potato



image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35965/content/big_microsoft_band_banner.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35965/content/big_microsoft_band_banner.jpg

Microsoft (http://hothardware.com/tags/microsoft) announced its second generation fitness wearable at a blockbuster event in early October that also saw the reveal of the Surface Pro 4 and the innovative Surface Book (http://hothardware.com/news/hands-on-with-microsoft-surface-pro-4-surface-book-and-lumia-950xl-in-new-york). While the Microsoft Band (http://hothardware.com/tags/microsoft-band) isn’t billed as a full-fledged smartwatch, it does come with a wealth of smart- and fitness-related features that are sure to please just about anyone that maintains an active lifestyle. The second generation Microsoft Band received its first major update on Friday, which adds music controls and activity reminders. With this update, any app that you use on your smartphone (Windows Phone (http://hothardware.com/tags/windows-phone), iOS (http://hothardware.com/tags/ios) and Android (http://hothardware.com/tags/android) are supported) to playback music can be controlled using the Microsoft Band via Bluetooth. You’ll have access to the song title along with onscreen controls to adjust the volume and play/pause and skip forward/backward.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35965/content/big_microsoft_band_1.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35965/content/big_microsoft_band_1.jpg

And in move that is similar to the Apple Watch’s nagging notifications that remind you to stand up and walk around every hour, the Microsoft Band will now prompt you to get off your rear-end and start moving. To add insult to injury, the wearable will even display a snail icon to mock your sluggish behavior. The alerts can be modified so that you don’t receive activity alert while you’re driving (which can be distracting) or while you’re actually trying to grab some sleep at night (which can be infuriating).
The Exercise Tile has also been beefed up to allow you to track your heart rate and calorie burn during exercises and a “What’s New” tile will automatically display on your Microsoft Band when the folks in Redmond release a new update for your device.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35965/content/big_microsoft_band_2.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35965/content/big_microsoft_band_2.jpg

The Microsoft Band retails for $249.99 (http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-stuffs-an-11th-sensor-inside-curvy-second-gen-fitness-band-available-october-30-for-250), features a curved AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass 3, and a total of 11 sensors (it gained a barometer not found on the first generation fitness tracker). If you don’t need that 11th sensor and don’t mind a chunkier design, the first generation Microsoft Band has been available for a little as $79.99 in recent months (http://hothardware.com/news/first-generation-microsoft-band-falls-to-79-vastly-undercutting-its-successor).




Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-band-2-gains-music-controls-digital-coach-to-bake-your-inner-couch-potato#AVXDKy6l9Cm7JDa5.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Microsoft Releases $20 Charging Stand for Band 2 Fitness Tracker


The market for wearables is starting to take off, and first-party manufacturers are stepping in to offer accessories that were previously only catered to by third-party companies. We saw this earlier this month with the release of the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock (http://hothardware.com/news/official-apple-watch-dock-will-drain-79-from-your-wallet-on-november-20th). Today, Redmond is filling a void for Microsoft Band users with a new Charging Stand.

image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35975/content/microsoft_band_2_stand.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/35975/content/microsoft_band_2_stand.jpg

The Charging Stand is constructed primarily of plastic and features a weighted and rubberized base so that it won’t slid around when inserting or removing the Microsoft Band. Microsoft describes the accessory, stating:

This stylishly designed charging stand helps with cable management and doubles as a beautiful table clock. It features magnetized adhesion which makes it easy to remove and re-attach the charging cable. When in use, the charging cable tucks away from view tangle-free.
On the minus side, the Charging Dock doesn’t come with its own charging cable, so you’ll have to use the one that originally came in the box with Microsoft Band. On the plus side, the stand only costs $19.99, which would make it a perfect gift for the holiday season. Compared to the $79.99 that Apple is charging for the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, it’s nice to see that some companies haven’t lost touch with reality when it comes to accessory pricing.
News of the Microsoft Band 2 Charging Stand comes just after the company released a new software update (http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-band-2-gains-music-controls-digital-coach-to-bake-your-inner-couch-potato) that brings Bluetooth-based music controls and activity tracking for the fitness wearable. As for the Microsoft Band itself, it’s available right now for $249.99 (http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-stuffs-an-11th-sensor-inside-curvy-second-gen-fitness-band-available-october-30-for-250).




Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-releases-20-charging-stand-for-band-2-fitness-tracker#cktAbZsdoVYzZFvC.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Microsoft Band 2 Update Brings Weight Tracking And Power Enhanced GPS Mode


Microsoft (http://hothardware.com/tags/microsoft) made a splash in the wearables market with its original Band device (http://hothardware.com/news/first-generation-microsoft-band-falls-to-79-vastly-undercutting-its-successor), and then followed that up with the Band 2 (http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-band-2-gains-music-controls-digital-coach-to-bake-your-inner-couch-potato), a fancier and more feature rich version of the original. The second iteration is one of the best fitness wearables on the market, and it just got a little bit better courtesy of a new update.

One of the biggest issues with wearables is battery life. It's the nature of the beast when you're dealing with a small and lightweight gadget, so rather than roll with bigger and heavier batteries, manufactures have to get creative. Microsoft's done that with its newest update by enabling a new GPS Power Saver mode.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36446/content/Microsoft_Band_2.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36446/content/Microsoft_Band_2.jpg


According to Microsoft, you can squeeze an additional four hours out of its Band 2 device when enabling GPS Power Saver. How so? Well, rather than continuously tracking your exact location, the Band 2's GPS samples your location in intervals.

"Even with GPS Power Saver turned on, Microsoft Health will still map your route in the mobile app and web dashboard. Get to the finish with your full performance summary and observations, even on those long runs or rides," Microsoft says.

In addition to better battery life, Microsoft issued an update to its Health app that allows users to track their weight by entering it on a regular basis. It's a basic but handy feature for keeping tabs on your progress and perhaps seeing if your new workout routine is paying dividends.



Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-band-2-update-brings-weight-tracking-and-power-enhanced-gps-mode#AOoqwdxmzXDK4oAu.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Dell Discounts Hot Microsoft Band 2 To $199, Tosses In Free $75 eGift Card



image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36473/content/big_microsoft_band_banner.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36473/content/big_microsoft_band_banner.jpg

Back in early October, Microsoft announced its next generation Band fitness tracker (http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-stuffs-an-11th-sensor-inside-curvy-second-gen-fitness-band-available-october-30-for-250), which is sleeker and more capable than its predecessor. But the handsome new looks and curved AMOLED display came at a high price: the second generation model debuted at $249 at the same time its predecessor was hovering around the $100 mark (http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-band-fitness-wearable-falls-to-100-weeks-ahead-of-successors-debut). While we’re certain that early adopters willing to pay full MSRP are still happy with their Bands, those that decided to wait it out for a significant price cut are in for a real treat. Dell has slashed the price of the Band to $199, which is impressive enough in its own right. However, to further sweeten the deal, Dell is also tossing in a free $75 eGift Card which can be used for future purchases at Dell.com (http://dell.com/).


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36473/content/microsoft_band_dell.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36473/content/microsoft_band_dell.jpg

To see the $199 price, you have to click “Add to Cart” and then “Proceed to Cart & Checkout.” At that point, you’ll see the $50 instant discount along with the $75 eGift Card promo. While your Band will ship out within 1 to 3 days, you’ll receive your eGift Card with 10 to 20 days via email.
The promotion ends on February 11th, so if you’re at all interested in the Band, you have better get your credit card ready right now.
For those that need a refresher course on the second generation Band, curved AMOLED display covered with Gorilla Glass 3 and a total of 11 onboard sensors. The Band is compatible with Windows Phone devices (of course) as well as Android and iOS smartphones.




Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/dell-discounts-hot-microsoft-band-2-to-199-tosses-in-free-75-egift-card#zo7SFK06kZkAb6m4.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Microsoft drops the price of its Band 2

http://www.fudzilla.com/media/k2/items/cache/6c9846c0d5c9b3a62581ae016477de57_L.jpg (http://www.fudzilla.com/media/k2/items/cache/6c9846c0d5c9b3a62581ae016477de57_XL.jpg)

Now a reasonable $175

Microsoft has decided to give the wearable a price cut of $75. This makes the device more affordable with a price tag of $175.

The Microsoft Band 2 was initially launched in 2015 and followed the original Microsoft Band, a device. We have a Band 1 and have been using it a lot. We bought the original band when it was knocked down in price to $50 and have to admit it was a jolly good price.
This price cut appears to be a sale and not a permanent, although we think that the $250 price was far too much for what the band can do. The deal seems to be available via Microsoft’s online store or Best Buy. Amazon is pricing the device over $200.
The Band 2 has a couple of features which the Band 1 lacked. One of them was a UV warning and the other was monitoring what height you are on. It would be difficult for me to justify both as I don’t do outdoor running and don’t really care about details of how many stairs I have climbed. The Band 2 is a bit more curveed and so fits on the wrist better. However the Band 1 &2 are good clear and simple watches and if you can pick one up cheap they are well worth it.



Noticia:
http://www.fudzilla.com/news/wearables/40085-microsoft-drops-the-price-of-its-band-2