Microsoft Band 2 Update Helps Conserve Power, Track Weight
Microsoft Band 2 Update Helps Conserve Power, Track Weight
In an effort to stand out among the growing fitness tracker crowd, theMicrosoft Band 2 has added a GPS Power Saver mode and weight-tracking functionality.
GPS Power Saver lets the device sample your location at various intervals, instead of continuously following your every move. Microsoft Health will continue to map your route, though, so you can see and share your progress via the mobile app or Web dashboard.
“We want to find more ways for you to continue doing what you love, and more of it,” the Microsoft Devices Team wrote in a blog post. “Run, bike, and exercise longer and meet your overall health goals” with these new features.
The update can extend the wearable’s two-day battery life for up to four hours while running or biking.
“Get to the finish with your full performance summary and observations, even on those long runs or rides,” Redmond said.
As you sweat it out, remember to regularly enter your weight into Microsoft’s mobile app; view changes in one- or three-month charts, or see your complete history to-date for a self-confidence booster. The Health app also provides an approximate Body Mass Index (BMI).
The popular Pebble smartwatch, meanwhile, this week launched software updates for its Pebble Time apps—version 3.6 for iOS and version 3.9 for Android. Firmware 3.9 comes with Health-enabled apps and watchfaces, and promises more accurate readings, as well as the option to show step distance in kilometers. Other new features include sending custom messages to received texts (iOS) and replying to incoming calls with an SMS (Android). Plus, Watch-Only Mode now kicks in when your battery is critically low, giving you more time to find a charger and juice up.
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