Microsoft Band

ablelocks · 27-07-2016 05:53PM

LIGHTNING wrote: »

^ Yeah its a full refund but I got mine on a flash sale on Amazon so I didn't pay the full price. As much as I want another one I am not going to get one. Problem is its probably the only smart watch/fitness band that works on Windows phone. So I have no idea what to replace it with

i read somewhere that MS had changed the polymer that was used in the strap to stop the tear issue - newer bands shouldn't have this problem if that is true. can't rem where i read it tho'....

also, keep an eye on the amazon warehouse, particularly if they have another 20% off sale. I think I saw the band going for about £118 sterling in the last warehouse sale.

Yggr of Asgard · 30-07-2016 09:02AM

Has anybody on Fast Ring seen an improvement in battery life of the band since the last update?

I'm still on my Apple Device but would like to go back if it's fixed or improved.

Thanks

Yggr of Asgard · 10-08-2016 08:41PM

So with the latest windows for phone insider build supposed to have fixed Bluetooth battery issues I bit the bullet and synced my band 2 again to my windows phone.

Result is that my phone after 10 hours of usage is now down to 44% and my band claims it's down to 31% from a full charge.

I only had medium activity (some run and explore) and an average amount of notifications, so by the looks it still is draining both phone and band battery.

Synced the band back to my Apple device and suddenly the band claims it has 48% charge left (no I did not charge it in the meantime).

So clearly there is an issue with the insider build, health app and the band together reporting wrong battery level's and draining more than it should.

Synced to my Apple device I'm getting solid 40 hours of usage out of a battery charge.

I really like my windows phone but not even a day usage for the band is just not good enough.

MJohnston · 10-08-2016 08:48PM

Just a question - did you ever charge your band using one of those portable power bricks?

Yggr of Asgard · 10-08-2016 11:04PM

MJohnston wrote: »

Just a question - did you ever charge your band using one of those portable power bricks?

Nope, wall socket or Laptop USB port only.

ablelocks · 12-08-2016 12:27PM

MJohnston wrote: »

Just a question - did you ever charge your band using one of those portable power bricks?

can this cause issues? I haven't used portable charger, but do charge my band from an Anker multi-charger unit.

MJohnston · 12-08-2016 12:47PM

I don't know but I suspect it might. My Band's battery metre went all wonky after using one, and I can't spot any other potential cause.

Yggr of Asgard · 12-08-2016 12:56PM

My wonky battery life is only with my windows phone, have you tried it together with another device (apple/android) just to test it?

MJohnston · 12-08-2016 02:04PM

Sorry I was referring to the old Band v1 there, my v2 is still working fine, though I charge mine every morning anyway, so I don't know if I'd notice shorter battery life.

Yggr of Asgard · 20-08-2016 10:12AM

Well my band's battery has become useless even when connected to an Apple device now after I connected it for a while to my Windows Phone.

I got it at argos and they told me that they can't replace it as it's no longer stocked in my size and they won't get any new ones in. Now I have to go into an argos store and see if they will give me my money back.

Funny enough Microsoft told me that the band is not available in Ireland and hence they can not replace it for me either. If Argos is not giving me my money back I see if I can try Microsoft via Parcelwizard or Parcelmotel.

But what will I get as replacement? Another band via Amazon or a Fitbit Blaze (even if it does not have GPS and does not do that many notifications on windows).

MJohnston · 20-08-2016 03:24PM

We're probably about 3 months away from Band 3 tbh, so factor that in! I was absolutely able to get a replacement Band 2 direct from Microsoft, as was my wife, both delivered to Ireland. Ignore that one support rep and get it escalates, because they're wrong.

Yggr of Asgard · 20-08-2016 03:29PM

Thanks MJohnston, I will get onto the support again.

Otherwise I think I will look at a Garmin, they have loads of functionality and seam to work with Windows Phones too.

Yggr of Asgard · 21-08-2016 09:44AM

I seam to have found something to increase my battery life on both band and phone following the "if it don't work, reinstall routine".

Pair the band to the windows phone via the app
Sync
De-install Health App on the phone
Re-install Health App on the phone
Reconfigure the band via "Manage tiles" only (while claimed to be active in the sliders, in the details they were not)
Do a manual sync when needed

A drawback of this is that while notifications work as normal the band is no longer syncing automatically, it has to be done manually in the app.

However my battery life is excellent so far, I last did a full charge yesterday at 11:12 and used it for loads of notifications, 40 minutes of GPS run and loads of walk and now it's just down to 67%. So over the last 22 hours it only lost 23% which is in line what I had before the insider builds.

I give it a couple of days to see if this fixes it until they finally bring out a new Health version, but otherwise I have to exchange it.

Looks like the issue is that the app sync constantly with the band draining power like mad. Which also would explain why on an Apple Device (where it's only syncing in intervals) the battery usually last way longer.

Yggr of Asgard · 12-09-2016 07:08PM

Well after weeks of trying and everybody else having success with the latest updates, I still suffer, so I'm brining the band back to Argos for a refund (they say they can't replace it because there is no more stock).

A nice Microsoft support person told me to than buy the band in the Microsoft store where it's on for 149.99£.

They also say, that there are 2 major reasons that could lead to my issue.

That I charged via a wall socket adapter and that this might have lead to battery issues, recommendation is to use a USB port.

Or that due to the band not fitting correctly (it fits me fine but I lost some weight in part due to band making me work out so I'm now using it nearer to the clasp) some leads in the band have become broken and hence the battery is not longer working correctly. My symptom of having mysterious power gains (i.e. I charged to 50% but 2 hours later it reports 80%) might be down to the leads being bend depending on how and where on my arm the band is.

So new band will be ordered one size down and only charged on a USB port.

Davy · 13-09-2016 08:38PM

MJohnston wrote: »

We're probably about 3 months away from Band 3 tbh, so factor that in! I was absolutely able to get a replacement Band 2 direct from Microsoft, as was my wife, both delivered to Ireland. Ignore that one support rep and get it escalates, because they're wrong.

Some reports now saying that the Band 3 wont be released

BraveDonut · 14-09-2016 11:47AM

Band 3’s future in doubt as Microsoft disbands its Windows 10 team

https://mspoweruser.com/band-3s-future-doubt-microsoft-disbands-windows-10-team/

Yggr of Asgard · 14-09-2016 12:00PM

It's a shame because I found that the band (when it works correctly) is a superior device.

I found the GPS more accurate than other devices and it's just so easy to use, not to mention the fun I can have making sure that all my windows devices have the same background.

There was recently a test on TV about the accuracy of fitness trackers and the band came out on top for steps/calories burned etc.

I purchased a new one yesterday to replace my broken one instead of going with someone else more modern because I like the simple but effective band.

MJohnston · 14-09-2016 12:07PM

Yeah, really disappointing news, I'm hoping it's just that they're keeping leaks tight and they are actually working on something, but that may be wishful thinking.

I mean, the Fitbits look nice, but the one killer thing Microsoft had was the Band's software - they were constantly adding new features and making it better. Most of the Android watches look rubbish (and I don't use an Android phone so they probably wouldn't work well anyway), and the Apple Watch isn't even on my radar.

Oh well, my Band 2 hardware warranty runs until 2018 or something like that, so I'll keep getting replacements until then if a new one doesn't come along!

BraveDonut · 14-09-2016 03:35PM

The main thing for me is the golf app.
I already had a golf GPS watch, but the band made it redundant as it covers my golf requirements and gives so much more

Yggr of Asgard · 14-09-2016 04:32PM

I just came back from my afternoon walk/exercise and my new band synced immediately to my windows phone and showed me how crazy I was on the web while telling me that it still has 20% power left after 24 hours since the last charge. Plus because Microsoft Health is linked to myfitnesspal and healthvault I know know I can effort that extra slice of pizza I was hoping for. I'm going to miss this if this hardware dies.

Someone opened a petition to keep the band alive: https://www.change.org/p/microsoft-do-not-cancel-the-microsoft-band

Yggr of Asgard · 15-09-2016 10:57PM

Looks like the end is near, Microsoft Health App just updated to Microsoft Band App (but still Live Tile bug is not fixed). Giving that 3rd party devices now work with Microsoft Health app, I think it's clear that there is not going to be anything new in future.

Yggr of Asgard · 27-09-2016 12:02AM

Some still cares about Band, the latest update for Microsoft Band App on Windows 10 restores the live tile functionality including live tile.

Works for me on both laptop and mobile with insider builds (fast on laptop and slow on mobile).

Yggr of Asgard · 03-10-2016 08:19PM

And there is the end, all devices have been pulled from the online stores.

MJohnston · 03-10-2016 08:22PM

Yep, only glimmer of hope is that they've mentioned other wearables, and said no Band 3 "this year". Still, I'll be looking more closely at Fitbits

Yggr of Asgard · 03-10-2016 08:24PM

I'm debating if I should send my band back as I'm still in the 30 days for this one and take a Fitbit Charge 2 instead (even if it does not have GPS).

Yggr of Asgard · 04-10-2016 02:49PM

And now the SDK has been taken offline, so no more 3rd party developments.

To bad, it was a superior product (if you got one that did not have the band breakage).

Fitbit is a step back for me, so I might need to have a look at Garmin even if they are more expensive.

MJohnston · 04-10-2016 02:57PM

Daniel Rubino of WinCentral has been talking on Twitter about MS shifting to using a third-party hardware partner for the Band 3 (or whatever you want to call it) instead of building it themselves, and that we should have info this month. Fingers crossed he's working off some insider info there!

Yggr of Asgard · 06-10-2016 11:01AM

I spend the last 4 days with different fitness trackers I consider as replacement and am so disappointed.

Microsoft really had a nice piece of hardware with the band 2. The functionality is just so superior to similar price ranges and devices.

Beside possible the Samsung Gear 2 (which would require me to swap to Android) there is not a single tracker out there, that does the same as the band 2, while most are great for walk/run/exercise the band just has it all including great workout guidance.

I think I will just keep the band despite it possible not getting any updates in future to it's software (giving that they disbanded the team) and the risk that there is no replacement once the band develops a fault.

I'm really torn, send it back (as I still can) or keep it. Very difficult decision.

MJohnston · 06-10-2016 12:00PM

Hold out until this likely October hardware event happens, I'd say, as if we don't see any third-party hardware announcement there, or any news at all, safe to say the software will be dead too.

themacdaddy · 07-10-2016 11:36AM

Any idea what would happen if the band 2 breaks down under warranty, and they had no replacements?

Microsoft Band

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