While we’ve witnessed a great deal of hype surrounding the Android and Apple smartwatches, it seems as though the underdog who no one saw coming is proving to be a real contender. It was only a matter of time before Microsoft joined the inevitably prosperous wearables market, but it was quite uncertain just how successful the company would be, seeing as how only a small niche of the mobile market is made up of Windows phone users.
Source: http://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/60271/microsoft-joins-the-wearable-battle-with-band/
The latest addition to the smartwatch family, the Microsoft Band, has been available in the United States for just a short time and is already sold out nationwide – a big congratulations to Microsoft. But what exactly makes this new wearable device so appealing to audiences? For one thing, not only can people use their new smartwatch with their Windows phone, but the device will also sync to all Android and iOS phones too. This is one incredibly impressive feature that hasn’t yet been seen in the wearables market. With all of the current smartwatches costing upwards of $200, it’s good to see such a useable and flexible device now on the market.
The Microsoft smartwatch is receiving rave reviews in the fitness department too. “Overall, I found the device worked well, the app was easy to navigate, and the constant heart-rate monitoring was a novelty that was hard to ignore,” says The New York Times’ Molly Wood, who’s been testing the band. She continued by saying, “It’s extremely fitness-oriented, but I found that generally inspiring.”
Features such as an onboard GPS and a whopping 10 sensors, including a UV sensor, are providing developers with the opportunity to create apps like nothing we’ve ever seen before. In today’s modern world of technology, longevity of a device is something most of us are concerned with. The latest Microsoft smartwatch offers users a battery life of 2 days, which may not sound too impressive at first glance, but it’s the longest lasting watch on the market to date.
From the reviews we’ve seen so far, Microsoft is well and truly proving itself to be a contender in the wearables market. There’s nothing like a bit of healthy competition to make Apple step up their game!
After 5+ years in development, we're excited ... 
