Microsoft’s fitness tracker runs out of puff.
Microsoft has quietly shelved its fitness wearable, the Microsoft Band. The software behemoth removed the device from its online store.
According to reports from keen Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley, a source showed her cached versions of the Microsoft Store on 2 and 3 October, the latter showing no Band on sale.
The report also said that Microsoft has removed the Band software development kit (SDK) as well as disbanding the project tasked with bringing Windows 10 to the fitness tracker.
According to a statement released by Microsoft to the reporter, the firm signalled that it has “no plans to release another Band device this year.” However, it did reiterate its commitment to support Microsoft Band 2 and invest in the Microsoft Health Platform and its health apps, which it has renamed as “Microsoft Band”.
The decline of the Microsoft Band
Perhaps the decline and fall of the Band and other trackers could be down to people not using them to their full capacity.
According to an IDC study, less than a third of households are taking advantage of all the features of connected devices. And in 32 percent of households the survey found that most of the capabilities of digital assets were being used, but could be using more.
Around 16 percent of users do not know how to fully set up their devices, and nearly a quarter (24 percent) feel that their digital assets had capabilities that would be useful, but were unsure of what they were.
Sleep tracker
Regardless of people’s apparent lack of nous when it comes to using Internet of Things (IoT) devices, some experts believe investments in devices, especially those concerned with sleep tracking, are on the up.
According to a report by Mobihealthnews, a panel of experts said that innovations on sleep trackers were behind those of other health apps but this is now increasing.
“The power of the sleep message has been blunted for years, because we haven’t really had a metric,” said David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation told the publication.
“To the extent that we can measure sleep, we can drive behavior change, and with that, unlock the true power of sleep and its connection to health.”
Until now, sleep trackers haven’t been reliable but now new devices that place sensors on beds will give more accurate results. Harry Wang of Parks Associates told the publication that sleep trackers had a significant growth potential.
“The new growth opportunity is with smart sleep furniture,” he said.