Microsoft Band 2, a new fitness tracker with more sensors launched!

The new Microsoft Band is not designed as a smartwatch, but as a health tracking device.

With the Microsoft Band 2, the company hopes to fix the original flaws.

Not only does this make the elastomer band an easier fit, but it makes navigating the interface feel more natural.

The other features incorporated in the updated Microsoft Band 2 is barometer for elevation and stair-climbing readings, flexible strap with no rigidity, 48 hours battery life with new battery charging mechanism. But getting a closer look at Band 2 helped convince me that Microsoft has something brewing inside this little wearable, but it’s not quite there yet. It also integrates with Microsoft Health, which works across the Band, your phone, and your PC. It is expected to continue to function chiefly as a fitness-monitoring wearable, potentially with new sensors such as Global Positioning System to track your exercise and it should, inevitably, be powered by Windows 10. It can also monitor the maximum volume of Oxygen your body can process per minute also called VO2Max.

To learn your VO2 Max requires completing an terrible treadmill test while wearing a mask and a bunch of wires.

Again, this isn’t brand new: a few of Garmin’s fancier workout devices can do the same thing. It’s unclear how many units Microsoft initially plans to distribute or what sort of qualifications devs must meet.

The elastomer band uses a new latch that’s adjustable.

The biggest new addition is Cortana integration, which can notify you if you miss a scheduled workout – we’re not sure if this is a handy new feature, or if it will quickly become annoying when you’re away from home and have no access to the gym.

With this said though, the Microsoft Band 2 continues to walk a fine line between being a time-focused notification wearable and fitness bracelet, falling in a slightly awkward use case space somewhere between the Apple Watch and the Fitbit.

The Band 2.0 can be connected to many back-end solutions just like other Windows 10 gadgets can: Event Hubs, Application Insights, Microsoft Health and many more programs. The Microsoft Band 2 is available now in three sizes (small, medium, and large) for pre-order from the Microsoft Store for $249.99 and will ship by October 30.