14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Band is not a smartwatch per se but more of a smart fitness band that can help you track your exercises and monitor burned calories, distance, and duration of your workout.
But thanks to an update released by Microsoft, the Band has quickly become more than just a regular smartband that helps you stay in tip-top shape, as the device now boasts a built-in keyboard to quickly type and send messages to your contacts.
First of all, the basics. The keyboard is displayed on the screen and the message you input is sent to your contacts through your Windows Phone, so yes, the Band needs to be paired to your phone to be able to send messages. Right now, the feature is limited to Windows Phone, but support for other mobile platforms could be added soon.
Typing made easier
Typing on a 1.4-inch display must be a nightmare, some would think. While typing on the Band might really be difficult for those who are not yet used to the small screen, Microsoft has tried to make this easier by adding support for Word Flow, the same technology available on Windows Phone.
This particular feature automatically detects the words you type and provides accurate suggestions, thus improving the experience on such a small display. And yet, there's no doubt that it's really tricky to type with one hand on such a small screen, but Microsoft says that it's all just a matter of time until you get used to it.
And obviously, the Band shouldn't be used as your daily driver to stay in touch with friends, but the new keyboard should be enough to send short messages without the need for a phone.
At the same time, Microsoft is also working to add pre-defined messages that would make this faster for users who want to send a short text message to a contact. These messages will be fully configurable and users will also be allowed to add and edit each entry.
In addition to this new keyboard, Microsoft is also working to make more features available to users, including a special mode that would track bike exercises and monitor heart rate when wearing the Band.
Other features could be added in the coming months, as Redmond has already promised to make it possible for users to install apps created by third-parties that could be able to read information collected from the Band's sensors.
The company is expected to share more info on this in the coming months and detail all changes at the BUILD 2015 developer conference in April.
