Skip to main content

Microsoft Band’s first major update adds cycling app, virtual keyboard, and more

Microsoft Fitness Band review display 3
Image used with permission by copyright holder
DT’s review of Microsoft’s Band device revealed there was a lot to like about the company’s very first fitness tracker, though its bulky design made it hard to love.

Until a sleeker version emerges from Microsoft’s workshop, improvements come solely in the form of software updates, the first of which was rolled out on Monday. And it’s a pretty major one.

Recommended Videos

First up is a new Web-based dashboard linked to the device’s companion Health app, allowing users to view even more detailed information on their general daily activities, workouts, and sleep patterns.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

There’s also a new dedicated Bike tile, which works whether you’re hurtling about your neighborhood or stuck on a stationary bicycle in the gym going nowhere fast. The software has apparently been optimized for your two-wheeled adventures, so stats for heart rate, calorie burn and distance should be right on the mark. Five bike-based indoor workouts have also been added.

The update means you can now auto-scroll through your messages in an easy-to-read font (ie. massive) thanks to the new Quick Read feature. And if you want to bash out a quick response, you can do so using its new (somewhat small) on-screen keyboard, which Microsoft says is finely tuned to minimize typos.

Developers have also expanded the gadget’s voice recognition capabilities, so besides being able to ask Cortana questions, set reminders, and receive alerts for incoming emails and texts, you can now dictate responses to messages – handy if things don’t work out with that tiny keyboard.

The Redmond-based company is also releasing the preview version of a Band developer kit, a move that should see a slew of third-party apps come its way over time, an exciting prospect for owners of Microsoft’s first fitness tracker.

The $200 Band features a a 1.4-inch color touchscreen with a 320 x 106 pixel resolution. Besides the usual sensors, it also includes a UV sensor and a GPS chip to enable location tracking when you don’t have your smartphone with you. The device connects using Bluetooth 4.0, and operates with Windows Phone 8.1 devices, recent iPhone models, and Android devices running version 4.3 or later.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Fitbit Luxe gets major updates with SpO2 measurement and always-on display
The Fitbit Luxe tracker has received major updates Credits: Fitbit official.

 The Fitbit Luxe launched in July 2021 and was reviewed by our smart home editor, John Velasco, as a beautifully designed and modestly sized fitness tracker. It has now received two major updates bringing new features to the table. 
Version 1.151.16 has added SpO2 measurements that allow users to track their blood oxygen saturation levels when asleep. SpO2 tracking is currently available in devices such as the Fitbit Charge 4, Charge 5, Fitbit Versa 2, and the Fitbit Versa 3, so it's nice to see it roll out to other devices in Fitbit's lineup.  To use the function, check the SpO2 tile on the watch face or the Health metrics tab on the mobile app. Additionally, Fitbit has published a detailed manual on tracking Sp02 levels with this model.
The second major update enables always-on-display functionality. As the name suggests, users no longer need to wake up their Luxe trackers to check the time or their workout tracking data. To use the feature, it's essential to enable the updated display functionality in Settings. You'll be warned that the feature can increase battery drain, so keep that in mind if runtime is important to you. 
The new Fitbit Luxe Fitbit
Apart from these two updates, there are several smaller ones. A bigger font size has been added to the trackers' screen, along with a series of bug fixes and patches. These updates are being rolled out on an incremental basis and may take some time to reach particular regions. To check if an update is available for the device, you should be able to see a pink banner when you log into the Fitbit App, and you'll be notified of further updates once they're available.
 

Read more
Microsoft releases the first major Windows 11 preview build
White Windows 11 Logo in front of blue background.

As promised, Microsoft has released the first major Windows 11 preview build to the Windows Insider Dev channel for beta testing. This preview version of Microsoft's next-generation operating system comes with many of the new features showcased last week at the company's June 24 event, as well as some new ones.

Along with the big redesign of the Start Menu and Action Center, the other major change in this first preview is the new notification center. It now has more fluently designed quick toggles for Wi-Fi and brightness.

Read more
The next major Windows 10 update is about to launch. Here’s how to get it now
microsoft surface go pro 7 deals amazon best buy fathers day sale 2020 review feature 768x479 c

Microsoft is getting the next update for Windows 10 ready for release. One of the final Windows 10 May 2021 Update test builds is now out for Windows Insider beta testers, meaning the general public could get the release on their PCs in a little as a few weeks.

Although the overall experience could still be improved between now and a final public release, Windows Insiders in the Release Preview channel can choose to install this update now by downloading Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.928. This build can also be downloaded as an ISO file for a clean installation on any new PC, with the caveat that the computer will be enrolled in the Insider Program.

Read more