A feature update for the Microsoft Band 2 brings on-screen music controls and activity reminders. It did not take long to get first bug reports about that update.
The addition of music controls is Microsoft answer to one of the most requested features. While the touchscreen displays the song title, you can now pause and play, skip forward and back, and turn the volume up and down.
However, according to Rod Trent on WinSuperSite.com, “if you use a Bluetooth headset to connect to your smartphone the Band will not connect”, adding that it’s not just affecting headphones but “any second Bluetooth device you want to connect to your smartphone.” Usually this should just work out fine as the Bluetooth 4.0 specification allows multiple, shared Bluetooth instances.
Trent also reports that the new feature of “custom “names” or categories” for Exercise activities has syncing problems with the Dashboard.
“When I kicked off my morning weight workout I chose the new “weightlifting” category, but when the Band synched with the Dashboard the activity is registered just as “My exercise”.”
Other feature upgrades
Apart from the above minor problems, there are more feature improvements which seem to work just fine.
Activity reminders will remind you to get up and move when you’ve been still for too long. You can choose time intervals and days you want to be reminded and also set a period of time when you don’t want to receive reminders, like when you’re sleeping or driving.
According to Microsoft the exercise tile also has been improved and makes it “easier to track your duration, calorie burn, and heart rate for your favorite exercises.” You can select custom or popular options, like yoga or weightlifting. “Exercise sessions can be reviewed in the Microsoft Health app or Web Dashboard. Summaries and observations will be grouped by exercise type for better insights into your performance”, Microsoft adds in the release description.
A new ‘What’s New’ Tile will automatically appear on your band when new updates are available.
Source: Microsoft Blog, WinSuperSite
