Almost four months after its release, Microsoft Corporation’s (MSFT) Band fitness device and its cohort Health app are getting their first major update.
Microsoft's fitness tracker now has a number of fresh features. These include a newly-developed Bike Tile, which optimizes the Band for biking; a quick read feature that lets users have a look at their notifications, and a virtual keyboard, located on the Band which can be used to text.
The Band now also gives its user an option to use their voices for dictating responses. This is a Windows Phone 8.1 feature only though since it relies on Cortana.
A web dashboard for Microsoft Health was also launched. This will give the user access to entire data available in the mobile apps. All of the users’ sleep exercise and guided workouts data will be accessible from any browser. MapMy Fitness and Microsoft HealthVault will be integrated to the band through the Health app.
Another interesting feature that Microsoft introduced was an SDK for the Band that allows third-party apps on the fitness tracker. This is, however, still in developer preview.
These will be rolled out over the next few days.
Looking Forward
According to IDC, the wearables market is expected to expand to nearly 112 million units shipped by 2018. Intel (INTC) seems to be eager to target all kinds of customers for its new wearable device.
Besides its partnership with Opening Ceremony, the chip giant has already collaborated with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to develop a wearable that would be able to better monitor and treat Parkinson’s. It also acquired Basis Science, which manufactures health-tracking smart watches earlier this year.
The wearables market is heating up with companies like Samsung, LG and Google (GOOGL) joining the bandwagon. Google has already started selling a more fashionable variety of its Glass digital headset developed in collaboration with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.
Be it Apple (AAPL), which is launching its smart watch in April or Intel with its MICA — everyone wants to foray into wearables.
How Microsoft’s Band fares in the competitive marketplace remains to be seen. However, Microsoft does have high hopes for it, considering its update.
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