The tiles provide a lot of the same alerts and notifications as other smartwatches plus some added features which I love. If you swipe left you can scroll through the rest of the active tiles. By pressing the action button you can toggle through how many steps that you have taken, floors that you have climbed, overall distance traveled, calories burned and heart rate. When you press the power button the default tile (home screen) is called the ‘Me Tile’. The Microsoft Band 2 uses what they call ’tiles’ which are basically different options / apps which can be turned on and off via the Microsoft Health app. To change the theme and wallpaper you need to open the Microsoft Health app, select the menu, and then select Personalize Band. It took me less than 5 minutes to be all set up.īelow is a screen shot of the Microsoft Health app main menu options available for use on the Band 2.Īfter setting up the Microsoft Band 2 you can personalize it by selecting a theme color and wallpaper for the Band’s touchscreen. All I had to do was download the Microsoft Health app, sign into the app with my Microsoft account info and then pair my phone with the Band 2 and follow the instructions. It is compatible with Windows Phone 8.1 Update, with Bluetooth 4.0, iOS iOS ® 8.1.2 or later: iPhone ®: 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, and Many Android™ 4.3 – 5.0 phones with Bluetooth. I am currently using my Band 2 with the Samsung S7 Edge without any issues. Set up was easy with the Microsoft Band 2. Maybe future models will be water proof as I could see the Band brand being good for tracking water activities too at some point. I should point out that the Microsoft Band 2 is not water proof but it is splash and dust resistant. Some other smartwatches and fitness trackers are made for larger wrists and don’t feel as comfortable when wearing them. I have small wrists and I wear the size small in the Band 2. I also wear it while sleeping (for sleep monitoring) and I have had no issues with it. I have tried wearing it on both my left and right wrist and have no issues using it while typing or working all day long. This is a hack so if you dabble with the program there are no guarantees it will work.I have found the Microsoft Band 2 to be quite comfortable. But at least you have a usable wearable!Ī word of warning. Also, it takes an eternity to find an accurate GPS location. Of course, there’s no longer any smartphone connection and internet services are no longer available. It essentially puts Microsoft Band 2 into the demo mode which was used when it was exhibited in retail.Īnyone who still owns the wearable can now continue to use it with basic functionality. The little program is designed to bypass the OOBE Setup of the Microsoft Band 2. This allows it to be used without a server connection. A user on Reddit called Rabiet_l ( via win future), published his own setup program for Microsoft Band 2 which puts the fitness tracker into a special mode. Thanks to a small hack, existing devices can now continue to be used. Perhaps it just didn’t see enough profit amidst modest sales and growing competition. The sensors in the Band 2 keep track of your heart rate and movement to measure. The Redmond company never revealed why it decided to scrap the whole concept. You call up the sleep tile when youre in bed and press the small button to tell the Band 2 youre going to sleep. Ever since then Microsoft Band 2 users didn’t have a proper way to sync their bands, and had no way of going through the setup when the band was reset. Backend services were shut down and the apps removed from the Microsoft Store, Google Play, and Apple’s App Store. This includes optical heart rate, a 3-axis accelerometer, a gyrometer, built-in GPS, microphone, an ambient light sensor, galvanic skin sensor, UV sensor, capacitive sensor, barometer and a skin temperature sensor – a very impressive list even for 2020!īut the wearable was discontinued as Microsoft has pulled the plug on its health dashboard, app and services in May 31st 2019. It was packed with a decent color touchscreen display and a plethora of sensors. The Microsoft Band 2 was one of the most feature packed fitness bands when it launched back in 2015. It allows the activity tracker to be used in demo mode with basic functionality.Įssential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets A small life-extending hack can still keep your Microsoft Band 2 alive.
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