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Daily Roundup: Microsoft predicts (most) Oscar winners, Google Wallet and more!
From Oscar winners to gadget leaks and a robot that feeds you tomatoes while you run, we've got plenty of stories to get you talking in today's Daily Roundup. Won't you join us past the break?
Here's what our readers think of the Microsoft Band
When we originally reviewed the Microsoft Band, we felt it was more a proof of concept than an actual consumer product. We liked the potential of Microsoft Health as a cross-platform service that went beyond fitness to track your lifestyle for a more comprehensive picture of overall wellness. But we found the hardware to be lacking in one key area: comfort. In particular, we described it as "an ergonomic nightmare," and we weren't alone in our assessment. PC Mag called it "wildly uncomfortable" while CNET compared it to a shackle or handcuff.
Tell us how you really feel about the Microsoft Band
When we published our list of Engadget's lowest-scored gadgets last month, quite a few readers took issue with the inclusion of the Microsoft Band on that list. In our original review, we dinged it for its poor battery life and for being incredibly uncomfortable, knocking the Band down to a score of 65 and placing it near the bottom of products we evaluated in 2014. But in the end, our review is really just one experience with Microsoft's new fitness tracker. Now we'd like to hear what you, our readers, thought of the Microsoft Band. Was it comfortable on your wrist? Do you love the plethora of sensors offered in the device? How do you feel about the Microsoft Health service? Leave your thoughts in a review on the product page for the Microsoft Band, and we'll feature the most interesting and insightful comments in a future post.
The year in reviews: a look back at the worst gadgets of 2014
We've reviewed a lot of great products this year, and we can only hope that our observations helped you pick the device that best suits your needs. However, not every gadget we look at is going to be a winner. We've seen our fair share of disappointments and mediocrity -- as well as a few you should completely avoid. While we've been lucky enough not to see any product this year that could be considered an outright disaster, there are still a few whose bad points were enough to take their score down to the very bottom of the pile. So, without further ado, here are our five lowest-scored products of 2014.
Microsoft Band review: A tale of pitfalls and promise
There are generally two schools of thought on how to build a wrist-borne wearable. Either make a fancy pedometer that's supposed to stay out of the way, or go the smartwatch route and cram in as many features as possible. Then there's this weird no-man's-land occupied by devices like the Samsung Gear Fit and Garmin Vivosmart. Microsoft's $200 Band falls squarely in that latter category. It's not quite a smartwatch, but it's not purely a fitness tracker like the Fitbit Flex. The Band can pull in emails, text messages and other notifications from your phone. If you're using a Windows Phone, it can control Cortana and put the power of Microsoft's virtual assistant on your wrist. But it is, to hear Microsoft tell it, a fitness device first. And to that end Microsoft has packed the Band full of sensors, ranging from heart rate, to GPS and the prerequisite accelerometer. And, most importantly, it's the first device to tie into the new Microsoft Health platform, which seeks to outgun offerings like Apple Health and Google Fit. But, as we all know, there are inherent dangers in trying to carve out a third path. The question ultimately is whether Microsoft has built something (both physically and figuratively) that combines all of the most compelling parts of the existing wearable scene. Or, if it's created a sort of Frankenstein's monster that suffers all of their weaknesses.
Microsoft unveils new iOS-compatible fitness tracker, Microsoft Band
Microsoft today entered the fitness tracker market with its new Microsoft Band wearable device to compete with new offerings from Fitbit and Apple's upcoming Watch device. The Band's biggest feature is its cross-compatibility, supporting iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It also moves beyond a fitness tracker and inches into the smartwatch category with support for notifications and other smartphone-connected features. The Microsoft Band includes a variety of different sensors to measure heart rate, sleep, UV exposure and physical activity. The device also connects to a compatible smartphone, allowing users to receive text messages, incoming call alerts and other notifications without having to look at their phone. Cortana voice assistant control is built into the device, but that feature is available only to Windows Phone owners. To accompany the Band, Microsoft is enabling Microsoft Health, an online repository for your fitness data. The service syncs data from your Band and allows for the import of information from third-party apps such as MyFitnessPal, RunKeeper and MapMyFitness. The new Microsoft Band costs $199 and will go on sale at Microsoft's online and retail stores starting October 31.
