Microsoft this week announced the second generation of its
own wearable product – the Microsoft Band.
The first generation Band
didn’t really leave a mark in the wearable tech scene especially since it was
offered in limited quantities when it quietly launched last year. This time
around, it seems the Redmond tech giant is now more serious in advertising the
product as it was launched alongside its new Surface and Lumia models this
week.
A lot of improvements has been incorporated into the Band.
For starters, the material used on the device is TPSiV (Thermal plastic
elastometer silicone vulcanite), which is said to provide more comfort than its
predecessor.
The AMOLED display on the device is now slightly curved for
a more comfortable fit and features a 320 x 128 pixels resolution. As with
other smart bands in the market today, it comes equipped with a plethora of
sensors, which includes: an optical heart rate sensor, a 3-axis gyrosensor, a
gyrometer, GPS, ambient light sensor, skin temperature sensor, capacitive
sensor, a barometer and Galvanic skin response sensor, all of which send your
personal data to Microsoft Health.
The device connects to a smartphone (iOS, Android and
Windows Phone) through Bluetooth and charges using a proprietary cable that can
charge the phone in less than 1.5 hours. Microsoft claims the Band can last up
to 48 hours of normal use thanks to its Li-Polymer battery.
Microsoft is now offering the band for pre-order on its
website for $249.99
