Last of the giants Microsoft jumps in the fray with the launch of their fitness tracker Microsoft Band.
Rumors were rife only a few hours ago of Microsoft launching its cross platform health app. However, it is now official that Microsoft is indeed launching their first wearable fitness tracker that it is calling Microsoft Band. Unlike Android Wear or the to-be-released Apple Watch, the Microsoft Band is not a smartwatch, it is only a wearable fitness tracker.
The best part about the Microsoft Band is that it is cross platform, meaning it will work in tandem with all smartphones including iOS, Windows and Android. Rumors began circulating a few hours before the official announcement from Microsoft, when Microsoft Health apps appeared on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
The fitness wearable will cost $199 and will come packed with loads of sensors. It is a Bluetooth band that will feature the following sensors:
- Heart Rate sensor
- 3-axis accelerometer with a gyroscope
- Skin temperature
- Galvanic skin response (to measure sweat)
- Ambient and UV light
- Microphone
- GPS (to track your run even if you leave your phone at home)
The wearable will come in 3 different sizes, so fitting on the wrist should not be a problem. It will have a 1.4-inch touch screen that can deliver 320×106 resolution. Two 100 mAh batteries are included that will require a 1 hour 30 minute charge session and work for 48 hours.
