4 ms·

Microsoft Band SDK Release and Band Studio Introduction

61 points by numo16 11y ago

rnernento 11y ago
Are there any numbers out there on the user base? How many people are you developing for?
- RobotCaleb 11y ago
  ??
- lostgame 11y ago
  If they gave you that number there would be no developers, silly. They can't give you usage numbers when there is no significant user base, and they don't want to discourage you from writing software for it by providing you with the knowledge you will make no profit from it. :P
getsat 11y ago
Okay, this is NOT what I expected when I clicked on the link. With all the crazy MS news lately, I honestly thought they were putting out a competitor to Logic Studio with a full SDK.
- rasur 11y ago
  You're not the only one, sad to say.
  - umairsiddique 11y ago
    I thought the same.
- aikah 11y ago
  Yeah me too, more like Apple Garage Band...
dickfickling 11y ago
I've had the Microsoft Band for about two months now. For me, it's the perfect combination of pedometer, heart rate monitor, and GPS tracker. It's great for running and removes the need for an uncomfortable chest strap. Although I've found the heart rate monitoring to be inexact to say the least, I'm hopeful that that's something that can be improved via software update. Very exciting to be able to develop my own applications for it now!
- NicoJuicy 11y ago
  Did you notice any difference with your dedicated "heart monitor", if you have one. Please share, i'm quit interested in that
  - bretkoppel 11y ago
    Not OP, but can answer. At its best, the band tracks relatively well to my chest strap. However, it's not 100% consistent - Some days the band seems to bounce around while my chest monitor is steady in the expected range. With that said, the band is close enough that I roll with it alone for my normal short runs(~5k) and only bother with the strap for longer distances. YMMV.
  - kenjackson 11y ago
    I recently had a full heart work up at a place that had me hooked up to an EKG machine while on a treadmill. I had a Band on and compared the data over time and it was consistent the whole time within just a couple of bpm. I was extremely impressed by how accurate it was. It was only one day, but I left pretty confident in the data.
  - thebeefytaco 11y ago
    It's a lot more accurate when you set it to track an exercise. I believe it decreases polling frequency normally to save battery. I have some weird heart issues and it can have trouble with that as well. If it's not set to track an exercise, it's frequently reading 10-15 bpm lower than my actual heart rate.
jbob2000 11y ago
Is anyone using these fitness band things? I feel like they're just a cheap fad with no staying power. Sure they gather lots of biometrics, but what can you actually do with that information?
daj40 11y ago
This is exciting. Hopefully people will start to create apps that extend existing stuff. First thing I'm doing is working on 2fa. Tired of having to get my phone out for that nonsense.

61 points by numo16 11y ago

rnernento 11y ago

Are there any numbers out there on the user base? How many people are you developing for?

RobotCaleb 11y ago
??
lostgame 11y ago
If they gave you that number there would be no developers, silly. They can't give you usage numbers when there is no significant user base, and they don't want to discourage you from writing software for it by providing you with the knowledge you will make no profit from it. :P

getsat 11y ago

Okay, this is NOT what I expected when I clicked on the link. With all the crazy MS news lately, I honestly thought they were putting out a competitor to Logic Studio with a full SDK.

rasur 11y ago
You're not the only one, sad to say.
- umairsiddique 11y ago
  I thought the same.
aikah 11y ago
Yeah me too, more like Apple Garage Band...

dickfickling 11y ago

I've had the Microsoft Band for about two months now. For me, it's the perfect combination of pedometer, heart rate monitor, and GPS tracker. It's great for running and removes the need for an uncomfortable chest strap. Although I've found the heart rate monitoring to be inexact to say the least, I'm hopeful that that's something that can be improved via software update. Very exciting to be able to develop my own applications for it now!

NicoJuicy 11y ago
Did you notice any difference with your dedicated "heart monitor", if you have one. Please share, i'm quit interested in that
- bretkoppel 11y ago
  Not OP, but can answer. At its best, the band tracks relatively well to my chest strap. However, it's not 100% consistent - Some days the band seems to bounce around while my chest monitor is steady in the expected range. With that said, the band is close enough that I roll with it alone for my normal short runs(~5k) and only bother with the strap for longer distances. YMMV.
- kenjackson 11y ago
  I recently had a full heart work up at a place that had me hooked up to an EKG machine while on a treadmill. I had a Band on and compared the data over time and it was consistent the whole time within just a couple of bpm. I was extremely impressed by how accurate it was. It was only one day, but I left pretty confident in the data.
- thebeefytaco 11y ago
  It's a lot more accurate when you set it to track an exercise. I believe it decreases polling frequency normally to save battery. I have some weird heart issues and it can have trouble with that as well. If it's not set to track an exercise, it's frequently reading 10-15 bpm lower than my actual heart rate.

jbob2000 11y ago

Is anyone using these fitness band things? I feel like they're just a cheap fad with no staying power. Sure they gather lots of biometrics, but what can you actually do with that information?

daj40 11y ago

This is exciting. Hopefully people will start to create apps that extend existing stuff. First thing I'm doing is working on 2fa. Tired of having to get my phone out for that nonsense.