Fitbit (and other!) activity monitor track-all

Bleh. Canceled my Peak preorder; going to wait until it's out and see the comparative reviews, since so many new trackers are hitting the market at once.

farley3k wrote:

For some reason the MS one has gotten me interested. If you didn't have any data/investment with any of them is it worth paying double for the MS one over the Fitbit? It seems like it tacks a couple more things (like heart rate) but the other features (like seeing if you get an email, or a text) is not really important to me.

So GPS and heart rate at this price point are absolutely killer.

My wife has a dedicated Garmin unit for Triathlon training that this would replace. The Garmin is huge (designed not to be worn all the time), has a chest heart rate monitor, and is more expensive. MS just instantly killed off a whole class of products.

Assuming it doesn't suck due to some implementation issue, the MS Band is now far and away the best value in this segment.

IF all you want is a pedometer the Fitbit is still going to be fine, but they now look overpriced to me. The MS product is "only" $50 more than the newly announced Fitbit Charge HR, but it's so much better that the new Fitbit wrist bands make no sense at all.

Now the only Fitbits that represent a decent value IMO are the sub-$100 One and Flex. The One is unique due to the fact that it doesn't need to be on a wrist, so it can be totally hidden to remove any dork factor.

The Fitbit software ecosystem is also, while adequate, unimpressive. I don't know how much I expect from MS's offering initially, but they've already talked about opening it up to third party developers, so hopefully it will hook up to Apple and Google's fitness solutions eventually as well.

TheGameguru wrote:

I just got my Microsoft Band (holy fast shipping since I ordered it yesterday afternoon) and it's pretty slick.. I already purchased something from Starbucks using it and impressed the Starbucks folks lol. App integration is really well done as well with my iPhone 6 and outside of Cortana supports everything else you would expect.

This is very cool! Are you wearing it on your right or left hand? From some of the PR I wasn't sure if it was ambidextrous. Also what kind of data is visible in the app (or web UI)? Have you noticed whether it supports data synchronization with any other fitness platforms, like MyFitnessPal?

gore wrote:

IF all you want is a pedometer the Fitbit is still going to be fine, but they now look overpriced to me. The MS product is "only" $50 more than the newly announced Fitbit Charge HR, but it's so much better that the new Fitbit wrist bands make no sense at all.

Now the only Fitbits that represent a decent value IMO are the sub-$100 One and Flex. The One is unique due to the fact that it doesn't need to be on a wrist, so it can be totally hidden to remove any dork factor.

The Fitbit software ecosystem is also, while adequate, unimpressive. I don't know how much I expect from MS's offering initially, but they've already talked about opening it up to third party developers, so hopefully it will hook up to Apple and Google's fitness solutions eventually as well.

I'm looking at the Surge, which is HR and GPS for $250, but has a much more watch-like form factor.

IMAGE(http://uncrate.com/assets_c/2014/10/fitbit-surge-cropped-thumb-768x512-45993.jpg)

gore wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I just got my Microsoft Band (holy fast shipping since I ordered it yesterday afternoon) and it's pretty slick.. I already purchased something from Starbucks using it and impressed the Starbucks folks lol. App integration is really well done as well with my iPhone 6 and outside of Cortana supports everything else you would expect.

This is very cool! Are you wearing it on your right or left hand? From some of the PR I wasn't sure if it was ambidextrous. Also what kind of data is visible in the app (or web UI)? Have you noticed whether it supports data synchronization with any other fitness platforms, like MyFitnessPal?

Right hand (since I wear a watch on my left) but there is no reason it couldn't go on your left.

Under Connected Apps right now I see RunKeeper and myfitnesspal as apps you can "push" your data into. I don't think there is a web interface at all..just what is on the app and I see the basic info like Calories and Steps.. You can log activities (which I haven't yet done) as well as sleep.

Hemidal wrote:
gore wrote:

IF all you want is a pedometer the Fitbit is still going to be fine, but they now look overpriced to me. The MS product is "only" $50 more than the newly announced Fitbit Charge HR, but it's so much better that the new Fitbit wrist bands make no sense at all.

Now the only Fitbits that represent a decent value IMO are the sub-$100 One and Flex. The One is unique due to the fact that it doesn't need to be on a wrist, so it can be totally hidden to remove any dork factor.

The Fitbit software ecosystem is also, while adequate, unimpressive. I don't know how much I expect from MS's offering initially, but they've already talked about opening it up to third party developers, so hopefully it will hook up to Apple and Google's fitness solutions eventually as well.

I'm looking at the Surge, which is HR and GPS for $250, but has a much more watch-like form factor.

IMAGE(http://uncrate.com/assets_c/2014/10/fitbit-surge-cropped-thumb-768x512-45993.jpg)

I was interested in the Surge when it was announced but I just don't see it as being worth more than the MS Band. The Band is cheaper, seems to have more capabilities, and I like the narrower form factor.

Surge also doesn't come out until 2015 IIRC which is a problem. I think it'll be a really tough sell to explain why it's worth $50 more at that point (barring some real problems with the Band or MS's services for it), but maybe there's something I'm not accounting for.

http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-b...

More info on their site.

The MS Band actually looks pretty cool. I'm interested in any real world impressions anyone has. Does it do the sleep quality/sleep cycle tracking that a lot of them do?

LeapingGnome wrote:

The MS Band actually looks pretty cool. I'm interested in any real world impressions anyone has. Does it do the sleep quality/sleep cycle tracking that a lot of them do?

Yes, but you do need to tell it when you're going to bed and waking up. I expect that's easier if you also use it as a silent/haptic alarm, which so far looks like it needs to be set each time. It breaks down the sleeping quality over time, just like how active you are and how quickly you're stepping--it's not just counting steps.

The battery life's been good with plenty left after the first 24 hours, but I haven't gone running (that's supposedly the only time the GPS sensor really burns battery, and another mode you need to activate from a tile). You can set it to keep the screen on and showing the time and date, so for now I'm doing that rather than wearing both a Pebble and Fitbit Flex. It is a noticeably bulkier and stiffer band than most watches would have, so getting the height of the intended wrist measured correctly is very important. The optical HR sensor is on the inside of the clasp and needs to rest on skin to work properly. For what it's worth, the optical heart rate sensor's readings seemed to match up with the optical sensor in a Moto 360 I briefly had access to. This may be a common complaint you'll hear, but the face scuffs rather easily.

As the docs GameGuru linked to point out, you have control over which tiles are present in the device's UI and in what order they show up. I'm not liking that notifications from the phone are split up (hidden) behind different tiles: Messaging, Twitter, Facebook Messenger, and also a generic "Notification Center", all taking up room and requiring more scrolling. So far I'm just finding that a needless complication, and despite having cleared entries from the phone's notification center, old content remains on the Band.

I already had Fitbit's data automatically being sent to Endomondo, since that's where my friends are. So far, the iOS app doesn't plug in to Apple Health directly, but maybe I can get it talking to MyFitnessPal, and MFP to Endomondo...

TheGameguru wrote:

I just got my Microsoft Band (holy fast shipping since I ordered it yesterday afternoon) and it's pretty slick.. I already purchased something from Starbucks using it and impressed the Starbucks folks lol. App integration is really well done as well with my iPhone 6 and outside of Cortana supports everything else you would expect.

Bit of a derail, but if you really want to impress the Baristas, get one of the limited edition cards Gilt sells every year. My mother has one of the rose metal cards from last year; watching the folks working freak out when they take it to swipe is pretty hilarious.

On topic, is it safe to assume that none of these are waterproof enough to swim with or dunk? I'd be interested if that's the case, but I don't know that it's really feasible to do that at the $200 price point.

I read that you can swim with the Jambox Up.

Thank you Kurrelgyre for the Band impressions, good to know about the stiffness. And the non-repeatable alarm is a downer. Sounds like a pretty good product with some polishing to do.

AnimeJ wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

I just got my Microsoft Band (holy fast shipping since I ordered it yesterday afternoon) and it's pretty slick.. I already purchased something from Starbucks using it and impressed the Starbucks folks lol. App integration is really well done as well with my iPhone 6 and outside of Cortana supports everything else you would expect.

Bit of a derail, but if you really want to impress the Baristas, get one of the limited edition cards Gilt sells every year. My mother has one of the rose metal cards from last year; watching the folks working freak out when they take it to swipe is pretty hilarious.

On topic, is it safe to assume that none of these are waterproof enough to swim with or dunk? I'd be interested if that's the case, but I don't know that it's really feasible to do that at the $200 price point.

The Fitbit Flex can be worn in the water, but it doesn't collect any useful data when swimming, so it's of marginal utility.

The MS Band looks like it has a number of great features. I like the long, thin display look - it gives it more of a band feel rather than a watch. I had heard, however, in a discussion about it that it wasn't waterproof. As in need to wipe it down after a really sweaty workout not waterproof. Were there any warnings or recommendations about that in the documentation? If that is the case, it seems to be a bit of an oversight. For me, ideally a product like this wouldn't require me to take it off when showering and other similar activities.

My Fitbit One went through both the washer and dryer, and has survived to keep counting my steps. (It's also not meant to be submerged.)

turbocopland wrote:

I had heard, however, in a discussion about it that it wasn't waterproof. As in need to wipe it down after a really sweaty workout not waterproof. Were there any warnings or recommendations about that in the documentation?.

Hm yeah, that would be bad. I knew it wasn't supposed to be submerged, but if sweat is capable of killing it that makes it a no-go for me. I'm really good at making sweat.

Keep the real world reviews coming, this looks like exactly what I've been looking for. Have already told the wife this is what I want for Xmas!

Docjoe wrote:

Keep the real world reviews coming, this looks like exactly what I've been looking for. Have already told the wife this is what I want for Xmas!

Same:)

Am I missing something? Does the MS band require that I carry a phone with me on a run for it to record my data?

Cod wrote:

Am I missing something? Does the MS band require that I carry a phone with me on a run for it to record my data?

No, it'll sync later.

Edwin wrote:
Cod wrote:

Am I missing something? Does the MS band require that I carry a phone with me on a run for it to record my data?

No, it'll sync later.

Thanks - that makes it much more appealing.

Ugh I walked right by a Microsoft store and didn't check this out. Idiot!

I've been enjoying my Fitbit flex but wish it did more. This may be my Christmas gift.

Ended up going back to the Microsoft store and check the band out. It's heavier and bulkier than I thought it would be. It's the weight of about 3 Fitbit flexes. It some in small medium and large sizes as well.

That being said it looks really great and does a ton more than any of those bands out there. I am interested when it goes on sale.

Still waiting for some comprehensive reviews. I know it was a stealth release but I'm surprised there weren't any reviewers ready to go.

Rar. Seeing a couple of less than glowing reviews of the Band on reddit now; back to neutrality (enforced by the lack of availability, but still..)

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone made a subreddit for it.

gore wrote:
turbocopland wrote:

I had heard, however, in a discussion about it that it wasn't waterproof. As in need to wipe it down after a really sweaty workout not waterproof. Were there any warnings or recommendations about that in the documentation?.

Hm yeah, that would be bad. I knew it wasn't supposed to be submerged, but if sweat is capable of killing it that makes it a no-go for me. I'm really good at making sweat.

I havent read that sweat was able to kill it.. that would be surprising.. its not supposed to be submerged in water but that's very different than sweat killing it.

screen scratches very easily that much I can confirm.. make sure you get a screen protector (not the crappy one they include in the order)

Hmm. Now the Basis Peak is out on Wednesday at Best Buy, instead of the 20th on Amazon; I might be back to plan A.

TheGameguru wrote:

make sure you get a screen protector (not the crappy one they include in the order)

The Invisible Shield HD seems to be holding up pretty well, even after being applied by someone as graceless as I. Are there others?

Huh. I wonder how that would fare on an obstacle course.

It figures that as soon as I finally buy a Up24 that Jawbone would go and announce the Up3

The $179 Up3 is the most advanced tracker Jawbone has ever made, and yet it's smaller and lighter and more comfortable than even the Up24. In addition to the accelerometer for measuring movement, the Up3 has skin and ambient temperature sensors, plus a series of sensors to measure what's known as "bioimpedence." Jawbone can use microcurrents to measure bioimpedance, which lets it determine everything from heart rate to your hydration levels. It gives Jawbone an unprecedented amount of information about your body, and helps the company give you far more detailed insights about how to eat and sleep and live a little better tomorrow.

IMAGE(http://cl.ly/YO1R/UP3_GroupShot_01.R2.1_RGB_FULL_JPG.0.jpg)