New Fitness Tracking Device

"Microsoft's New Fitness Tracking Device Is a Welcome Surprise"
By: Molly Wood
NY Times
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/microsofts-new-fitness-tracking-device-is-a-welcome-surprise/?ref=technology&_r=0

Just last week Microsoft has introduced a brand new fitness tracking wristband. It also includes an app and cloud-computing technology for tracking health and fitness data. This band costs at $199 and it may be the most flexible wearable device on the market right now. This device includes useful smartphone notifications for calls, text messages, emails and calendar items. It also includes fitness tracking that has constant heart rate monitoring. All of these features are rare in different fitness bands. If this fitness band is paired with a Windows Phone the user will be open to a few more features. "You would be hard pressed to find a wearable that does as many things as the Microsoft Band and that also works across platforms. The Pebble Smartwatch works on iOS and Android, but does not include the advanced fitness features of the Microsoft Band. The Jawbone Up and Fitbit Flex have apps on iPhone and Android, but do not do smart watch-style notifications"(Wood,1). This new fitness band can sync with apps like RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal and also has built in work outs from different sources. You can only have one work out on the band at a time and it is a little hard to navigate. This band's battery life is good, especially compared to other smart watches.  "Microsoft tends toward blocky industrial design and this device is no different. It’s a thick, black rubber band with a basically uncurved display grafted on. A power button is in the middle of the band, while an “action” button is on the right side of the display. It comes in three sizes — small, medium and large" (Wood,1).  The band still needs some work done to it, but it seems like it is going to become a big deal.