Microsoft announced the company's next iteration on its wearable, the Microsoft Band 2, at its Windows 10 devices event in New York City on Tuesday. Although the device looks fairly similar to last year's Microsoft Band, the company promises that what's inside offers a whole lot more.
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Presented by Microsoft Band team member Lindsey Matese, the Microsoft Band 2 was redesigned to be more flexible and curved, a marked improvement over the first version, which some found to be well-designed, but a bit rigid.
Part of the new curvy design is the screen, which uses durable Gorilla Glass 3. The choice of Gorilla Glass might be welcome on a smartphone, but on a wearable device that you use for fitness and various activities, it seems like plastic might have been a better choice. Nevertheless, Microsoft says the new screen will be more responsive to touch.
In addition to a refreshed design, the Microsoft Band 2 also has Cortana integration, which puts the wearable in the same voice interface territory of wearables like the Apple Watch (Siri).
Matese also showed off the device's sleep and calorie tracking abilities, specifically with regard to how those functions operate with Microsoft Health. She described the dynamic as "Constant and immediate access to Big Data -- my own Big Data."
Another big addition to the Microsoft Band 2 is an eleventh sensor, a barometer. Now the device will allow users to track elevation. So whether you're hiking a mountain or climbing stairs, the device will properly track your exactly what kind of exercise you're engaged in.
Finally, in what may be a death blow to many companies offering Golf training wearables (like Garmin), Microsoft added a Golf training app that uses the device's gyroscope and accelerometer to track your golf swings. And the mechanism is smart enough to determine the difference between real and practice swings.
The Microsoft Band 2 also offers functionality across iOS, Android and Windows platforms.
You'll be able to pick it up on Oct. 30 for $249.
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