The New Microsoft Band Is Less Awkward, More Powerful

Last year, the Microsoft dove straight into the wearables market with an ambitious device that unfortunately didn’t live up to its promise.

Remember that awkward, blockly looking fitness bracelet / smartwatch Microsoft made previous year, the Band? Calorie tracking, stair climbing, GPS, guided workouts, sleep tracking, calorie tracking, notifications-Microsoft’s blend of the Band hardware and the cloud-bolstered Health app software does it all, Matese said.

So here’s a stack of pics (in our gallery above) everything you need to know about the new Microsoft Band. Rather than the rigid display that created an awkward chunk on the wrist, the new Gorilla Glass 3 OLED display now curves, making it more of a true bracelet and less of a transparently clunky accessory.

Microsoft is unveiling a new fitness tracker that now monitors elevation and works with the company’s Cortana virtual assistant for reminders.

Microsoft launched the new Band during its Windows 10 devices event on 6 October and announced that pre-orders in the United States are available immediately. It also integrates with third-party apps like Lose It, in a partnership announced today.

The Microsoft Band 2 also offers functionality across iOS, Android and Windows platforms.

In the meantime images leaked on social media suggest that the Band 2.0 will come with curved screen.

One of the big gripes we had with the first Microsoft Band was comfort.

Microsoft is pushing the fitness smarts of the band really hard: not only was the presenter moonlighting as a half-Ironman triathlete, but the new Band can even estimate your VO2 Max.

The phones start at $549 and will be available in November.

Microsoft has taken Microsoft Band back into the lab and cooked up its successor, and it finally feels ready for the mainstream.