Microsoft has probably killed its fitness tracker, the Microsoft Band. The company has pulled the Band 2 from its online store with no new hardware poised to replace it. This is, therefore, another hardware failure from the bods at Redmond, who should probably know better by now.
As first discovered by ZDNet, the Microsoft Band is probably dead, and unlikely to resurface anytime soon. The evidence is pretty overwhelming:
- All references to the Band have been exorcised from the Microsoft Store.
- The Microsoft Band SDK (Software Development Kit) is no longer available.
- The team bringing Windows 10 to the Band has reportedly been disbanded.
When pressed for a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said:
"We have sold through our existing Band 2 inventory and have no plans to release another Band device this year."
"We remain committed to supporting our Microsoft Band 2 customers through Microsoft Stores and our customer support channels and will continue to invest in the Microsoft Health platform, which is open to all hardware and apps partners across Windows, iOS, and Android devices."
So, existing Microsoft Band users are going to be OK, but anyone else in the market for a fitness tracker should look elsewhere. Thankfully, there are plenty of other great fitness trackers on the market. Which is one of the many reasons the Microsoft Band has failed.
The Problem With the Microsoft Band
The Microsoft Band is, by all accounts, not a bad little fitness tracker. Some users complained it's uncomfortable to wear for long periods, and there's definite room for improvement. However, the Microsoft Band also has plenty of sensors, and solid software helping users analyze the data.
The big problem with the Microsoft Band is the middle ground it inhabits. It's much more expensive than a simple fitness tracker like the Fitbit, but nowhere near as useful as a smartwatch such as the Apple Watch. Which means consumers have generally been choosing to buy anything but the Microsoft Band.
Do you own a Microsoft Band? If so, has it helped you improve your fitness? Is it a flawed piece of hardware? Or does it just need minor improvements to make it a world-beater? Please let us know in the comments below!