What's the single most frustrating thing about the Microsoft Band for you?

[mkg3]

Lack and slowness of implementation for ALL the sensors already built in Band.

Where is the galvanic skin response and body temperature readings for an example?

Also, not sticking with the published firmware roadmap. Its either really late or abandoned....

 

[gadgetrants]

It would be nice to have a fap counter. You know, for research purposes.

I love forums that have a "best post" or at least "funny/agree" option. Too bad we only have "Thanks" and "Like." Anyway, this one ^^^ takes the cake. :grin:

My personal gripe: it annoys me that once you engage a GPS search with the Action button, you're locked into a run. No way to cancel/back out gracefully, without starting and then killing the run. It then requires precisely 2.4 Kcal of additional metabolic energy to go on your phone, sync the non-run, and then delete. Yeah, first-world problem but it irks me.

I also agree 100% with the poor follow-through on the firmware development plan. Hopefully slow and steady wins the race.

-Matt

 

[Chris Tyas]

If you set an recurring alarm on your phone it vibrates on the band??

 

[gadgetrants]

If you set an recurring alarm on your phone it vibrates on the band??

Nice idea -- not sure how it works on a WinPhone but on an Android it *does* vibrate -- problem is the only option is "dismiss" and I'm the kind of guy who likes to snooze 2 or 3 times. :amaze: If the feature got updated so the Band could communicate a "snooze" back to the phone that would be awesome. That probably requires a stand-alone phone app...looks like there are some baby steps in that direction from Android developers, e.g., https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.champgm.enhancedalarm. Anything more promising in the Windows world?

-Matt

 

[astondg]

If you set an recurring alarm on your phone it vibrates on the band??

I haven't verified this but I think that an alarm set on the phone vibrates once where an alarm set on the Band continues to vibrate until you dismiss it. I've slept through an alarm set on the phone but an alarm set on the Band always seems to wake me up.

 

[gadgetrants]

I haven't verified this but I think that an alarm set on the phone vibrates once where an alarm set on the Band continues to vibrate until you dismiss it. I've slept through an alarm set on the phone but an alarm set on the Band always seems to wake me up.

This is correct -- setting the alarm on the phone creates a 1-time notification/vibration on the Band. :asleep: I'd sleep through that for sure. What's worse, I suspect that if you don't dismiss it, that may prevent any subsequent alarms/snooze notifications from working (at least that's what happens with an Android phone).

-Matt

 

[smatofu]

@Poit57
[[You can enable "watch mode" in the settings. It will show you the time in a low power diplay mode when the screen is toggled off. This works even if you are tracking a run or workout.]]

Thank you for the response, but it doesn't work.

1. The display in the Watch Mode is very dim. Impossible to see anything on a sunny day.
2. GPS + HRM + Watch Mode = quick battery drain

BTW, I am aware there are methods to get day time with 20 or so clicks (stop running/walking, pause, go to the main screen...) .

 

[poit57]

Granted it is difficult to see on a sunny day, but I don't find it much more difficult to see in the watch mode than when actually using the device in bright sunlight. Sunglasses make it even more difficult to see.

As for the battery, I haven't had a problem. I always keep my Band in watch mode. I did an hour and 45 minute run a few weeks ago with GPS on, and apparently forgot to toggle the display off, so it was on the entire run. I still had 30% battery at the end of the run which was plenty to get me through the rest of the day.

 

[erichyde43]

Do either of you use screen protectors? The coating they put on them to make them capacitive is usually the issue. I took off my screen protector and have never had an issue.

 

[adberry81]

I was shocked that when I used a guided workout - couch to 5k that it does not track distance, or map the run.... Whats the point if you cant track progression?!?

Also there is no way to cancel from guided workouts that I have found.... You have to cycle through the whole program.

I want to love the band, ive waited for what seems an age to get it in the UK but there seems to be simple oversights that are dragging it down to mediocrity.

I hope to see the band reach its potential, but with the Apple Watch coming we may see a repeat of WP vs iPhone and we all know which one got neglected by developers there.

 

[smatofu]

Poit57, thank you again.

[[Granted it is difficult to see on a sunny day, but I don't find it much more difficult to see in the watch mode than when actually using the device in bright sunlight.]]
I don't know how you can compare the Active Mode and the Watch Mode outdoor visibility. The Active Mode has Auto-Brightness and gets 100% brightness on a sunny day (medium to great visibility for me). The Watch Mode is 5-10% brightness regardless of the surrounding (weak to none visibility for me).
[[As for the battery, I haven't had a problem.]] I get the following battery life:
Watch Mode On = one run + 1 day of usage, (charging every day)
Watch Mode Off = one run + 2 days of usage, (charging every two days).

 

[gadgetrants]

Do either of you use screen protectors? The coating they put on them to make them capacitive is usually the issue. I took off my screen protector and have never had an issue.

Nope, I'm naked all the way.

Ooops, er wait...were you referring to "damp screens" or "dim screens"? LOL

EDIT: NVM, I see you were talking about visibility issues!

​-Matt

 

[stephen_az]

FWIW, if there is one thing that really seems to distinguish Microsoft product users from Apple, Google, etc., it is the proclivity to complain straight out of the gate. With almost any other major product line you will get the typical bug threads but you will find numerous that simply emphasize what people like about their devices. It never ceases to amaze me though just how many threads are specifically devoted to what people do not like here. Even the phrasing emphasizes the negative. What is the point of "single most frustrating" other than to imply problems? This could be just as easily phased as "what would people like to see" and it would let things be discussed but place the discussion in a positive and productive light. I know forums draw the negative - it is the nature of the platform. In my experience though the Windows forums draw disproportionate angst and negativity. BTW, I personally don't care whether people love or hate the various Microsoft platforms and products. It would just be nice to see things around here not be so perpetually negative and pessimistic....

 

[Steven McConnachie]

Not sure where you are, but I just walked out of the store in Honolulu with one.

I am in Australia and got one sent through MatesFreight. I think they brought it from Best Buy....

 

[Steven McConnachie]

I'm in Australia.
And worse than that, I'm in the west. Which isn't particularly known for it's tech.
Hey-ho. My choice.
I'd rather live here and not have Band, than in any of the places where I can get a Band at retail. Except Honolulu maybe. Always fancied that.

MatesFreight hotphil. I am in the West to mate and got mine delivered a week ago. Paid a premium, about 300 in total... But IMO very cool and worth it!

 

[jandee]

Can I please pick two?

1. HR really needs to be better. I know for a fact my HR does not go up to 189 BPM while doing a Zumba class. The last time my HR was over 190, it was the last 30 sec of a 10k and I almost passed out. I come nowhere close to that level of exertion in a dance fitness class. (I asked the guy at the MS store and he said he normally gets his HR that high, I laughed.)

2. I really wish it looked better. My 12 year old daughter and 19 year old make fun of me for wearing it. They have jawbone up24 and while the functionality is more limited than the Band, they look a heck of a lot better,

 

[astondg]

1. HR really needs to be better.

I know this doesn't apply to everyone but any HR issues that I have had have been related to not having the band tight enough on my wrist.

 

[gadgetrants]

I know this doesn't apply to everyone but any HR issues that I have had have been related to not having the band tight enough on my wrist.

Ditto.

 

[mj0]

Doesn't it bother anyone that the display is rotated by 90?? That was the first thing I thought when I saw the band - how the heck am I supposed to be using this? Do I stretch out my left/right arm in front of me while awkwardly tilting my elbow towards the center of my body as if I was trying to make my elbows touch? Do I tilt my head right (when using the band on the left wrist) or left (when using the band on the right wrist)? I don't have a band and I have absolutely no intentions of getting one but this one still seems quite puzzling to me. Maybe you can shed some light on this issue - doesn't this bother you at all? It seems quite unnatural to me, at least from an outside perspective.

 

[zei20t]

I queried the guy in the shop about the same thing.

as per his instructions, I have it on the inside of my left wrist. seems to work fine for me.

having it on the top of my wrist makes it VERY difficult to operate and use.