7 ms·
All the sensors + apparently a very lightweight OS + small form factor = I like it. The killing feature is the integrated GPS. As mentionned on the website, yo
by guylhem 12y ago
All the sensors + apparently a very lightweight OS + small form factor = I like it.
The killing feature is the integrated GPS. As mentionned on the website, you can go without your phone. That alone could make it a buy if it supports wireless charging (I don't want to bother with wires in 2014)
Also, it is multiplatform, which is a big plus. I do not want an android watch or an iwatch, but something that will work regardless of the cellphone I chose.
I wonder if there's a devkit to read the data. If some HN is from Microsoft, I'd love some links to the devkit page (simple stuff, like retreiving GPS log, heartrate log, etc)
- numo16 12y agoBased on this interview/article on the verge [0], it sounds like there are plans to open up to devs eventually (not surprised, considering microsoft's current trends), sounds like they are just taking this one step at a time. [0]: http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/29/7118533/microsoft-health-band-hub-for-fitness-data http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/29/7118533/microsoft-health-...
- felixrieseberg 12y agoHey, I'm an Open Source Engineer with MSFT (and the msft dude for YC) - there isn't anything out yet, but we have always released SDKs for pretty much anything we build.
- swartkrans 12y agoIf this thing works with Android I'd definitely consider getting one. I'm considering getting a fitbit or pebble but maybe I'll wait.
- cwyers 12y agoThey've announced apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, at launch.
- integraton 12y agoDo those apps support HealthKit and Google Fit?
- dmishe 12y agoEven if they do, it seems that you get the best of it by syncing to MS cloud with algos to run over your data.
- cyanbane 12y agoLooks like it supports data relay to MapMyFitness Suite of Apps, which I would think could then relay it to HealthKit if there is not already a direct export from MS's iOS App.
- integraton 12y agoFollow-up: as far as I can tell, it appears that Microsoft has decided to not integrate with HealthKit and Google Fit.
- gaius 12y ago... But not BB, unless it runs in the Android emulation layer.
- boydjd 12y agoIs anyone even making new apps for BB now?
- iancarroll 12y agoWhen they pay developers to do so, yeah.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]
- jmsdnns 12y agoWhat does "the msft dude for YC" mean?
- grimmfang 12y agoCompanies like AWS, Google, and MSFT have representatives that consult with YC founders to help them with engineering goals. I suppose to up-sell them on scaling with their platform.
- rjbwork 12y agoPerson scaling with Azure here. It's pretty awesome and easy. But dear god, the XML! They've started making more and more stuff code-configurable though, so that's good.
- jacquesm 12y ago> Person scaling with Azure here. It's pretty awesome and easy. And it's pretty expensive. Now, if your competitor is on an open stack and on real computers they will eventually run rings around you because they get more control and lower costs. The initial boost you're experiencing will turn into a straightjacket with a hefty pricetag over the longer term.
- skc 12y ago> And it's pretty expensive. Nice blanket statement there. How can you claim it's expensive when you have no idea what or how he uses it?
- jacquesm 12y agoBecause I have fairly extensive insight into a very large number of companies and can see their license bills as well as their cloud bills if those are applicable. Compared to that doing a startup on an open source stack using dedicated machines eventually turns out much cheaper. It's like getting hooked on drugs. The most cost effective way as far as I can see is to hire a sysadmin on a freelance basis until you need one full time, own your own hardware (or lease it by the month until you can afford your own hardware) and pay flat rate for bandwidth. Anything else will sooner or later come to haunt you and then you will need to migrate to some new platform. At that point in time you will learn the true value of the words 'lock-in'.
- dalys 12y agoAny idea about Microsoft Health and when an API might be available? Something we would like to work with at my company probably. :)
- CmonDev 12y agoPlease give a link to a basic C# tutorial for MS Health.
- wildpeaks 12y agoBy any chance, do you already know which language(s) the SDK will support?
- kevingadd 12y agoIt's a shame there's no way to communicate feedback to the Band team that I can see on the website! I picked one up and like it so far, but it'll be a real disappointment if I can't ever use the mic for Google Now. Not expecting Cortana-level integration, it would just be silly for the mic to go to waste.
- jchristman 12y agoIs there any way to make iOS integration work better? I know that Apple Jails things and limits the BT. I am just hoping that a tweak will allow iPhones to use Siri with the cortana integration, and allow canned responses for SMS. Also, my notifications have been spotty, but I may reset and start over, because my friend with a band is not having that issue.
- jchristman 12y agoI heard "next year"
- glibgil 12y agoI'm waiting until 2016 to not bother with wires. Am I being too patient?
- nilkn 12y agoSeveral Android and Windows phones support wireless charging or can be modified to do so. (E.g., the Nexus 6 supports it and with the Note line you can just swap out the back panel for a special one). Devices like the Moto 360 also support wireless charging.
- turnip1979 12y agoI have Qi in my phone. Meh ...it isn't as amazing as I thought it would be.
- mrkipling 12y agoIt works exactly as I expected it too though. I don't look at it every day and think "wow, this is amazing"; it just works and I don't really think about it at all, which is how it should be. I'm not sure that I would buy a phone without wireless charging now.
- bhauer 12y agoI've been using wireless charging for nearly two years on my Lumia 920. And for the past year, my wife's Lumia Icon has been doing the same. I picked up a couple more charging plates when she switched to Windows Phone. Now that I've used wireless charging, I'll never go back. Connecting wires to charge is so 2012. I want my Surface Pro to charge wirelessly. And my Tesla Model S (well, that is, if I had one).
- dingaling 12y agoOne benefit of old-school wired charging is that I can still use the device in a normal orientation whilst it is charging, so long as the cable is long enough. Do you find that wireless charging prevents that? I assume the fevice has to lie flat on the plate somewhere near a power outlet.
- hbharadwaj 12y agoGPS alone re-categorizes this. One small addition - they are also heavily emphasizing the Health Cloud alongside the band as a feature http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Health/en-us http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Health/en-us
- jchimney 12y agowell invested in the apple ecosystem but this seems very good. I am very intrigued and may well end up with a few of these in my family. If the reality matches the marketing, I'm in. For a fitness accessory the on device GPS is the killer app.
- chaostheory 12y agoI wonder if you can ping the MS Band's GPS similar to Apple's Find My Friends feature? If so this would be an awesome feature. My parents, who are older, don't like carrying phones. This would be really convenient safety wise.
- kalleboo 12y agoIt would need a radio transmitter for that. GPS is one-way.
- iamshs 12y agoRegarding charging:- "Connector: Magnetically coupled connector to USB" http://goo.gl/mDFKbM http://goo.gl/mDFKbM
- jarin 12y agoI wonder how they're getting around Apple's MagSafe patent, considering Apple doesn't license it out?
- iamshs 12y agoSurface also uses these magnetic connectors btw. So either there is a patent sharing agreement, so they have somehow circumvented it.
- NickNameNick 12y agoMicrosoft have a patent on power-and-data connectors, which have shown up on devices before (I think ms kin phone had one)
- Joeri 12y agoApple and microsoft have a permanent patent deal since the 90's. They can use each other's patents for free as long as they don't make direct competitors. Hence why this is a fitness band and not a smartwatch ;)
- wfjackson 12y agoThe iWatch looks clunky and thick from some angles and tries too hard to be a smartphone on your wrist. http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/iwatch-iphone.jpg http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/iwatch-i... https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtB7RXj5vO_DrZ0Z-wgHkfGnXGKUsYG-ixAnpuJe3Z6D3P-PeDRQ https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtB7RX... The Moto 360 looks better because it's round but the UI is made for a square device. Whereas this appears to be a reimagination in an authentically digital and modern format. The iWatch is already looking outdated IMO.
- sjwright 12y ago> The iWatch looks Apple's wrist worn product is not called iWatch, and that linked picture is not of an Apple product.
- simi_ 12y agoIt's ugly, but if I were in the market for a smartwatch/fitness tracker this might be the only one I'd bother with. As I find myself saying more and more, I love this new Microsoft. It's insane how much harm a single man can do.
- 72deluxe 12y agoHaha is that sarcasm? Do you mean harm ==== good, or harm === bad? And harm to who? EDIT: No idea why I am getting downvoted - it's a serious question!
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]
- notwedtm 12y agoAs nbuggia pointed out above, it's likely he's talking about the circus that was Microsoft under Ballmer.
- krzyk 12y agoUgly? For me it's one of the best designs for a smartwatch (I think Samsung or Sony also have this "band" design), not the big clunky watches that were released this year.
- AtmaScout 12y agoI'm in agreement. I really like the way this looks.
- agumonkey 12y agoAnd they embraced their difference. It's not a luxury e-watch. Very little to no skeumorphism. And the vertical layout fitting the tiles list... very very nice derivation of the Metro language. Felt right at first sight.
- bduerst 12y agoI agree. It looks like something out of a scifi movie that tries to be trendy, which is a good thing in this case.
- CmonDev 12y agoNo barometer/altitude sensor though?
- Aissen 12y agoBarometer can be useful to accelerate a GPS fix or to have some sort of weather forecast. But for altitude, once GPS is fixed, you have reliable enough altitude, hence it wouldn't be that useful.
- at-fates-hands 12y agoMy only beef with these "fitness bands" is their lack of being able to tell you how accurately you sleep at night. Without a heart rate monitor, there's really no way to be accurate other than to say you were restless versus laying still. AFAIK the only product that does this is Polar's fitness band. And only because you can link their heart rate monitor to it to give you additional fitness information. I could be wrong to think they're the only one combining the two.
- crwll 12y agoDid you read the linked product page? It specifically boasts sleep tracking and 24-hour heart rate tracking.
- at-fates-hands 12y agoI actually missed it the first two times I read it. So yeah, I want one now. Thanks for pointing it out to me. I guess this means I won't be switching back to Android for a while now, just to see how my WP8 and this work together.
- Istof 12y agothat killing feature is very power hungry which is probably why others didn't include it