The new Microsoft Band is (much) better-looking and has two-day battery life
Microsoft appears to have learned from its mistakes. Its first wearable, the Microsoft Band was a cheap and cheerful affair -- although there wasn’t really all that much to be cheerful about in all honesty. Today the company unveiled the second edition of the Band, and the look is in line with the leaked images from a couple of weeks ago.
With the latest version of the Band, Microsoft has gone back to the drawing board and come up with a design that is sleek and stylish, and features a curved screen. The health and fitness tracker is nicely rounded, and the curved display is strengthened with Gorilla Glass 3. There are now no fewer than 11 built in sensors, including a new barometer for measuring altitude.
Battery life in the wearable has been boosted, and Microsoft now claims that you can expect 48 hours of use between charges. Speaking of charging, a full charge takes under 90 minutes and the Microsoft Band is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices ("Windows Phone 8.1 update, iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, iOS 8.1.2, and many Android 4.3-5.0 phones, with Bluetooth" according to the product website).
Once paired with a phone, the Band can display email, text, and calendar alerts, and Cortana is on hand for Windows Phone users to dictate replies to texts. Microsoft has partnered with a number of other companies to bring additional functionality to the Band, including Starbucks, Runkeeper, and Uber. Golfers will be pleased to see support for a couple of golf apps, as well as a swing-monitor by the wearable.
The new Band is available from 30 October, priced at $249.99 -- pre-orders are open right now.