I read that the Band can deliver driving/walking directions (vibrate at turns?). But I can't figure out the way to do this. Do you start it from the phone? Is this a feature that will be unlocked later?
You are thinking Apple watch. The Band does not currently do this.
I don't see anything like that in the first link.
The second link indicates some added functions are available for "Windows 8.1 users will also get access the company’s Cortana personal digital assistant".
Microsoft phone users who link their smartphones to their Band can use Microsoft's Cortana electronic personal assistant to take notes or set reminders using voice or to get driving directions and updates on traffic, sports, stocks, weather and more. - See more at: Microsoft Launches 'Band,' Its First Fitness Wearable
Windows 8.1 users will also get access the company’s Cortana personal digital assistant right on their wrist, providing information on driving directions, stocks and more.
You'll also get access to Cortana if paired to a Windows Phone 8.1 - meaning you can take notes or set reminders with your voice. She can also give driving directions and more just like she would from a mobile device.
Windows Phone 8.1 users can ask Cortana to take notes or set reminders with their voice from the Band. Using built-in GPS on Microsoft Band, Cortana will also be able to provide driving directions, traffic information, sports, stocks, weather, and more.
Through Microsoft Band, Cortana can take notes, set reminders, give driving directions, and provide traffic, sports, stocks, and weather updates.
Cortana
Use your voice to take notes and set reminders with Cortana.3 Or ask her to give driving directions and keep you on top of news, stocks, weather, and more. She’s ready to help whenever you need it.
It's all done by Cortana on the phone. You're just using the Band to feed the request to Cortana. So it's really "use the band to trigger Cortana features". As a test case, long-press the Action button and say "I need directions home".
Maybe not "exactly" the same thing but when I navigate on an Android phone, it apparently sends turn notifications, which show up automagically on the Band.
Maybe not "exactly" the same thing but when I navigate on an Android phone, it apparently sends turn notifications, which show up automagically on the Band.
-Matt
I think it is how Google Navigator and Android passes information to Bluetooth devices. When I had my Galaxy Note II and my Pebble watch, Google Navigator sent updates (to include directions) to my Pebble AND would give me a voice prompt via the Bluetooth built into my car.
However, Here+ Drive and Windows Phone handle it differently. I get voice prompts through my car, but I get all of my notifications on my Band. The exception is texts will go both to my car AND my Band.
This may change with Denim. I'm not sure on that though.
What WP8(.1) phone do you have?
I have an Icon and I'm in the preview program (so I should have the most up-to-date version of WP8.1, right?). I've tried using Here+ Drive with my band paired to my phone and it is not sending directions notifications to my band. Is there some setting I need to enable for this to occur? I have Cortana working on my band for other stuff (and I checked in the MS Health App, I do have Cortana selected to send notifications to the Band)
Would appreciate it if you could give a detailed description of how you get navigation started and what you have to do (if anything) to make the Band grab the notifications.
Google Navigator is baked into the OS and therefore has tighter integration when it comes to sending out notifications. That was why I got directions on my Pebble when I had an Android phone.
It's pretty much the case that the Band reports EVERYTHING and anything that shows up on my notification bar. My favorite example (being sarcastic here) is "Ooh, ooh, ooh! There's wifi nearby!!!" Unfortunately on some HTC Verizon phones, that notification is locked on regardless of whether the setting is toggled off on the phone. Pretty annoying.I was wondering if the navigation app was sending notifications and it was just a happy accident that the band reported them (just like it can report any notification).
Tl;dr the Band does not provide direction alerts
Well that's a frustrating conclusion. I wish they wouldn't advertise this capability.
They advertise it because it I true. It will depend upon the OS and/or the navigation app being used. Like I said previously. Here+ Drive is NOT a Microsoft app, it is owned my Nokia (the part that Microsoft didn't buy). It doesn't use Windows Phone notification system, therefore, Here+ Drive won't send turn by turn notifications to the Band. However, Google Navigator is part of Android and is tied to Android's notification system so it can send turn by turn to the Band or Pebble. I can't speak for other navigation apps or smart watches, because I have never used them.
What they should do is put a caveat in the advertisement saying something along the lines of turn by turn notifications will depend on OS and navigation app use.
The smartwatch’s other features include call notifications, calendar alerts, a timer and alarm, and — if users have Windows 8.1 on their smartphone — access to Microsoft’s intelligent assistant, Cortana. Through Microsoft Band, Cortana can take notes, set reminders, give driving directions, and provide traffic, sports, stocks, and weather updates.
Cortana
Use your voice to take notes and set reminders with Cortana.3 Or ask her to give driving directions and keep you on top of news, stocks, weather, and more. She’s ready to help whenever you need it.
And here is an official MS site that mentions this feature:
Buy Microsoft Band - Microsoft Store
Interesting, because here is the Official Microsoft Band site, and no where does it say ANYTHING about driving directions.
Microsoft Band | Official Site