Rumors about the supposed Microsoft smartwatch that will be released before the Christmas holidays have been going viral over the last few months, but nobody expected the tech giant to release a wearable device before the end of October. And it is not actually a smartwatch.
The tech giant from Redmond, California just unveiled the Microsoft Band, a device that focuses on monitoring the user's health by tracking heart rate, footsteps, burned calories, as well as the quality of sleep with the use of the Microsoft-developed Health app.
It can also be connected to the user's smartphone so that, when worn, it can provide notifications for new incoming text messages, emails, calls, as well as social media and calendar updates.
The wearable device comes in an 11 mm x 33 mm full color capacitive touch display with 320 x 106 pixel resolution touchscreen.
Aside from the Microsoft Health app, the new Microsoft Band also has several useful softwares installed such as the MyFitnessPal, RunKeeper, as well as the MapMyFitness app.
It seems like the new Microsoft wearable device is similar to other available fitness wearables in the market like the Jawbone UP24, the Fitbit Charge, the Garmin Vivosmart, as well as Samsung's Gear Fit smartwatch.
However, the Microsoft Band is equipped with breakthrough features that are not available in other leading fitness bands, including the UV sensor that lets users know how much ultra violet light they are getting while out in the sun, the built-in GPS tracker, as well as its very own monitor for skin temperature.
Microsoft's wearable device is also reported to be cross-platform compatible, since it can be used alongside any Android 4.3 or 4.4 KitKat device, as well as iOS 7.1 devices. The company is also planning to make the Windows Phone 8.1 compatible with the Microsoft Band.
The limited edition Microsoft wearable is only available in the U.S. at the moment for $199. There are talks that it will also be available in the European market soon.
