Microsoft outs upcoming fitness ‘Band’ with premature Android and Mac app releases

Microsoft hasn’t officially announced its wearable device, but it seems the company has accidentally published its desktop syncing client to the Mac App Store early. Whoops. The device is called the Microsoft Band (possibly Lumia Band, according to some currently non-functional support URLs).

The Microsoft privacy policy for the app lists some of the Band’s features: “Microsoft Band sensors help you keep track of things like your heart rate, steps, calories burned, and sleep.” Links in the document claiming to lead to a page with additional data, such as a list of sensors, currently lead to a 404 page.

Other key feature include the ability to get phone notifications on the Band, create reminders using Cortana, and more:

When you enable notifications on your phone, the notifications you select through the Microsoft Health service will display on the Band. Microsoft Health service provides a channel for other apps on your phone to send notifications to the Band. Microsoft Health service does not collect information about the content contained within the notifications. Microsoft may collect usage information, such as, which tiles you’ve enabled for the Band and the number of notifications received.
Examples of the types of notifications you can choose to receive on the Band are email messages, calendar reminders, phone calls received, text messages, social updates (such as Facebook and Twitter), weather and finance. To find a more detailed list, click here.
The Band allows you to take notes and set reminders with your voice if Cortana is enabled on your phone. To learn more about how Cortana manages your information click here.
When you set the Band to notify you about the weather, to determine where you are, the Band uses the location service provided by your phone.
There is a finite number of messages the Band will display for each notification. When more messages appear older messages are removed from the Band.

You can choose which notifications show up on the Band by visiting Manage Tiles in your Microsoft Health app. To clear current notification from your Band, turn the Band off.

The free app allows you to “Sync faster than with your phone while your device is charging over USB” and update or restore the operating system on the fitness-focused Band. More images of the app and the Band are below.

Mobile Apps

Similar Android and iPhone apps have also been released, presumably by accident. The Microsoft Health app description, as it’s called, can track health and fitness data like steps taken, heart rate, and sleep quality, likely by leveraging the Band hardware.

Live healthier and be more productive with the Microsoft Health app for iPhone®. Achieve wellness goals by tracking your heart rate, steps, calorie burn, and sleep quality. Maximize your fitness with Guided Workouts, 24-hour heart rate monitoring and automatic activity counting. Be more productive with email previews and calendar alerts at a glance. Personalize your Microsoft Band and get new features as they roll out.

Microsoft declined to comment on the release.