Since this year, the wearable market has been booming, and major technology giants have successively launched wearable products and digital health platforms. Not long ago, as a PC giant, Microsoft also stepped into the wearable product market and released its own brand fitness tracker, Microsoft Band. Unfortunately, this product is currently only available in the U.S. market.
Basic parameters
Product size: 19 × 8.7mm
Product weight: 60g
Product material: thermoplastic rubber
Processor model: ARM Cortex M4 MCU
Memory capacity: 64MB
Battery capacity: 2 × 100 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Screen: 11 × 33mm, TFT full-color touch screen
Supported operating systems: Windows Phone 8.1，iOS 7.1，iOS 8，Android 4.3、4.4
Sensor: optical heart rate sensor; Triaxial accelerometer; Gyro tester; GPS； Ambient light sensor; Skin temperature sensor; UV sensor; Capacitive sensor; Picoelectric reaction sensor
Design
The main body of the Microsoft Band is a semi-rigid plastic belt. An adjustable buckle is designed at both ends of the wrist belt, so that users can easily relax or tighten the wrist belt.
On the back of the adjustment button is an optical heart rate monitor, which can emit neon green light to read your heart rate.
The front of the Microsoft bracelet is equipped with a 1.4 inch color touch screen, which can be read in strong sunlight. The display resolution is 320 x 106 pixels.
Two entity keys are arranged on one side of the screen.
Although the Microsoft Band is waterproof, it can only prevent sweat and splash, and its waterproof level is IP 54.
Software
One of the major selling points of this product is that it supports three mobile platforms: iOS, Android and Windows Phone. At this point, Microsoft won.
The box said that with Microsoft Band, the phone only needs to be upgraded to Windows Phone 8.1. In fact, you need 8.1.1 or "Update 1", otherwise you can't use Cortana, and there is no Facebook Messenger tile, email tile, etc. So those phones running the developer preview version need to be updated first.
Every user with a smart watch has experienced the notification function. It is really convenient to lift your wrist and see the notification. Even if you leave your phone somewhere else, you will still know that someone has sent you a text message. Compared with ordinary smart watches, Microsoft Band has a wide range of Bluetooth support, and can basically stay connected in a medium-sized four bedroom house.
Despite Cortana, Microsoft Band does not support voice reply to new SMS messages, and can only select some pre generated replies. This design seems a bit anti human. If you want to send your own reply, you must press and hold the operation button to start Cortana, and go through the whole process before sending a new text message.
When you use Cortana on Microsoft Band, the phone screen in your pocket will automatically open to display Cortana. At this time, you can't send messages, check the weather or calculate calories. This should be the biggest bug in Microsoft's bracelet.
Microsoft Band has as many as 10 sensors, which can stably collect various exercise data, and seems to be promising; However, some of the data it monitors is not accurate, and the use experience is also poor. The Microsoft Health health application also needs to be improved.
Running with a Microsoft bracelet is definitely more convenient than carrying a mobile phone. The heart rate monitor of the Microsoft bracelet is very powerful. It not only displays the heart rate, but also provides timely feedback to tell users about their current physical conditions.
However, Microsoft doesn't have much creativity in the running tracking function. It uses GPS to track the distance of movement. Since GPS is turned on, it will consume more power.
Now Microsoft bracelet only supports two types of activities, running+exercise. There is no subdivision, for example, you cannot choose jogging or walking in running. And there is no GPS tracking function when you choose to exercise.
As long as the distance is involved, whether you are hiking, cycling or walking, the closest option is "running", which is obviously not user-friendly. Hopefully, Microsoft can optimize it later.
The run status screen displays the run time, heart rate, and calories burned. Use the action buttons to pause and resume your run. Microsoft Band also supports viewing other running data. You can switch between viewing the current speed and the distance you have run by sliding the screen.
Unfortunately, Microsoft Band only allows users to view recent runs. If you want to see more, you must search through the Microsoft Health app on your phone.
Microsoft Band supports multitasking. For example, if you want to measure the UV intensity while running, no problem, but first pause the run. After pausing, click the Back button to return to the main page, select the UV application, and then the measurement is OK. To continue running, just open the running app again and click Restore. You can also turn off the screen when tracking a run to save power. The default setting is to keep the screen lit. You need to press the screen on/off button.
There is still some controversy about Microsoft Band's support for multitasking. Some people think it is a fake background, not a real multitasking, while others agree with such multitasking.
Endurance
Although Microsoft Band is equipped with 2 × 100 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, in theory, "normal use is 48 hours, GPS positioning and other functions will affect the endurance", after actual measurement:
Test without GPS:
Time interval: 33.5 hours, battery use from 100% to 30%
9:30 p.m., 100% electricity on October 31
7:00 a.m., 30% on November 2
Usage: Use the bracelet normally
2 night sleep tracking
Viewing mode enabled (screen lit)
Bluetooth connected to mobile phone
4 or more notifications per hour
Hourly discharge rate: 2.09%
Estimated total endurance: 47 hours and 51 minutes
Test with GPS:
Total battery life using GPS: 3 hours of GPS use, 11.5 hours of comprehensive use (GPS disabled) until power off
Power 100%, 7:00 am
Start running/hiking at 8:10 (using GPS)
11:00 AM End Run/Hike (GPS disabled)
Shutdown 6:30
The screen lights up about half the time during a GPS run
Similar to previous tests during non GPS
Battery consumption percentage of non GPS part: 17.77%, more than 8.5 hours
In the GPS part, the percentage of battery consumption: 82.23%, 3 hours
Discharge rate per hour (using GPS): 27.41% per hour
Estimated total endurance (using GPS): 3 hours and 39 minutes
summary
(Please click the magnifying glass in the upper right corner to view the dynamic picture)
In general, Microsoft Band performs very well, and it is a good choice from the compatibility of the system to the diversity of functions.
Although Microsoft's bracelet still has a lot of room for progress in terms of endurance and software, according to Microsoft executives, Microsoft Band is a demonstration product, allowing partners to manufacture more smart wristbands. It is expected that under the leadership of Microsoft, other manufacturers can innovate and manufacture different smart wrist strap products, such as wrist strap, headband, foot ring, etc.
The Microsoft Band sells for US $199 (equivalent to 1220 yuan) and is currently only available in the US market.
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