Sign up for the ITPro Today newsletter
Stay on top of the IT universe with commentary, news analysis, how-to's, and tips delivered to your inbox daily.
Microsoft Band Apps by Platform
The Microsoft Band has the capability to provide cross-platform app support. Here's the current listing of what's available across Windows Phone, iOS, and Android.
Rod Trent
April 16, 2015
19 Min Read
Microsoft Band has a cross-platform problem. The SDK for the Microsoft Band released only a short while ago, so there's some solace to be obtained from that. However, after investigation it's clear that there's quite a bit more third party developer activity for Windows Phone than iOS and Android.
And, that presents a two-fold problem worth investigating.
First, Microsoft is intent to be shown as a friendly, cross-platform architect, delivering its apps across the major mobile platforms, iOS and Android. As shown in the table below, so far the Microsoft Band is not living up to the company's new strategy.
Secondly, could a disparity of third party apps and integration for the Microsoft Band actually show that Microsoft's fitness device is not as popular as the hype? The band is constantly reported to sell out everywhere, yet we don't really know the numbers yet. Rich uncovered recently that Microsoft only delivered 30,000 units to start. In the larger scope of things, that's a pretty small number. But, as we know from the original Surface RT debacle, Microsoft is still learning retail strategy and distribution. However, if there's more Microsoft Band developer activity for Windows Phone than the other platforms, you have to consider it’s a pretty small market. And, unless new apps pick up for iOS and Android, the market for the Microsoft Band would remain a Windows Phone-only device, capturing a very small piece of the fitness wearable industry.
Things should improve. It's really just early days. The band just became available in the UK and from what I've heard the SDK is lacking and should be improved soon with an updated release. In my opinion, the Microsoft Band is fantastic. I've been covering it quite a bit from many different angles.
Still, I think it's interesting to see what apps are actually available for the various, supported platforms. Below you'll find a cross-reference for available apps (with links) that we intend to keep updated as new apps are released. The list contains apps that work directly on the Microsoft Band, work through a smartphone/band partnership, and those that just integrate with Microsoft Health.
Health
App | Brief Description | Windows Phone | Windows | iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Health | Required, primary band app | |||
iBand | Monitor exercise power expenditure | |||
RiseUp | Exercise To-Do List | |||
Drink O'Band | Water reminder | |||
Heart Rate for Microsoft Band | Watch your heart rate in real-time on your phone | |||
BandMT-Fever Watch | Detect the probability of certain medical conditions | |||
Banditate | Mediation management | |||
UV | Better UV detection | |||
Tabata+ | Custom exercise routines | |||
Tabata Training Assistant | Uses haptic sensor to record Tabata routines | |||
Get Steppin! For Band | Get alerts when you need to move more to reach steps goal | |||
Band Heartbeat | Show graphical display of your heartbeat on your phone | |||
Band TileMe Calories | Show calories in a Live Tile on your phone | |||
Band Break | Lets you know when you've been idle too long | |||
Breaking Band | Alert when you've been working to long | |||
Band TileMe Skin Temperature | Live tile shows skin temperature | |||
Skin Temp for Microsoft Band | Shows skin temperature on smartphone | |||
Band TileMe Steps | Live Tile shows band's steps | |||
Band Weight Monitor | Withings scale integration | |||
Body health monitor | Skin temp and pluse rate | |||
ThinkScopes Safe 4 Vampires | Check strenght of UV light | |||
Enhanced Alarm for MS Band | Interval timers | |||
Walk Reminder | Reminders to move! | |||
StepBand | Notifications to get up and move around | |||
RunKeeper | GPS tracking | |||
Caledos Runner | Runkeeper integration | |||
Catchme | Runkeeper/Strava integration | |||
Trainr | Fitness workouts and challenges | |||
Band Calorie Pace | Help achieve calorie burn goals | |||
Speed-o-Meter | Uses GPS to measure speed for Driving, Cycling and Running | |||
Strava | Run and Bike | |||
One Tap Record for Strava | Strava Integration | |||
Striver | Strava Integration | |||
Cycle Tracks GPS | Strava Integration | |||
Cyclers | Strava Integration | |||
Baika | Strava Integration | |||
Tracks for Strava | Strava Integration | |||
Straza Mate | Strava Integration | |||
Guava | Strava Integration | |||
Cycle Log | Strava Integration | |||
TrackStar Running | Strava Importer | |||
Kliva | Strava Integration | |||
Extrava | Strava Integration | |||
CrewNerd | On-the-Water Exercises (ex. Rowing, kayaking) | |||
MapMyRun | MapMyFitness integration (Run) | |||
MapMyRide | MapMyFitness integration (Bike) | |||
MapMyHike | MapMyFitness integration (Hiking) | |||
MapMyWalk | MapMyFitness integration (Walking) | |||
MapMyFitness | MapMyFitness integration (Workout) | |||
MyFitnessPal | Track calories |
Customization
App | Brief Description | Windows Phone |
|---|---|---|
Band Me Tiles | Customize the Me Tile | |
Band Buddy | Customize the tile theme, Me Tile, header text and secondary text | |
Band Pro | Design, create themes | |
Awesome Band Backgrounds | Search/replace backgrounds | |
Band Companion | Customize wallpaper, theme, take photos, display battery status | |
Pimp my Band | Customize wallpaper, theme, battery level tile | |
MS Band Personalizer | Set wallpaper image and theme colors | |
ReBand | Customize meTile | |
Me Tiles | Customize, share the ME tiles | |
Band Social | Create/share themes | |
Fanband | Sports, topic-based theme updates | |
GamerBand | Add Xbox Live Avatar and Gamertag Me Tile. | |
Live Lock & Band | Rich Band theme, wallpaper, and color customizer | |
Band To-Go | Cycle Band Me Tile images from photos and Bing |
Utilities
App | Brief Description | Windows Phone |
|---|---|---|
Band Notes by tsjDEV | Send and store notes to band | |
Band Notes by Maksii | Send any message to your Microsoft Band | |
Smart Cart | See your shopping list on your wrist | |
Show My Band | Displays the sensor data | |
ThinkScopes Band Notes | Manage notes and resend to band | |
MS Band Sensor | View band sensor data | |
Buoy Band | NOAA buoy observation data sent to your Microsoft Band | |
Ring my Band | Different tones and alarms to push to your band | |
Send2Band | Send/save notes to band | |
iBand | Monitor exercise power expenditure | |
Anti Theft Band Alarm | Get a Band alert when someone picks up your phone | |
Backup My Band | Backup wallpaper and theme colours, and then restore them later. | |
Purge Band | Clean-up built in tiles | |
BandNote | Send text messages (notes) to your Band | |
Torch for Band | Turn band screen into flashlight | |
Enhanced Alarm for MS Band | Alarms for Interval timers | |
Recurring Microsoft Band Alarm | Set recurring alarms by shaking your hand | |
Find my Band | Band locator | |
Clear my Band | Clears all notifications | |
Band Notifier | Receive notifications from WhatsApp, Viber and Hangouts | |
Band Sensor Monitor | Expose, share more sensor info | |
Band Barcodes | Scan barcodes with your smartphone, store on your band | |
Band-Aid | Show battery percentage | |
Microsoft Band Barcode Maker | Place a tile with up to 8 barcodes on your Microsoft Band | |
UV | Better UV detection | |
Band Calendar MeTile | Show upcoming appointments on the MeTile | |
Band TileMe Distance | Show distance in a Live Tile on your phone | |
SunMoon Band | Sun and Moon data from US Naval Observatory | |
ThinkScopes Safe 4 Vampires | Check strength of UV light | |
Where's my Phone | Use band to find lost phone | |
Find my Phone + | Cortana and Band to locate lost phone | |
Band Translate | Translate using band and Cortana | |
Band Wallet | Scan and store barcodes | |
MS Band Light | Flashlight for band | |
Enhanced Alarm for MS Band | Interval timers | |
Note@Band | Send notes to band |
Camera
App | Brief Description | Windows Phone |
|---|---|---|
Band Camera Control | Voice controlled (Cortana) photo taking | |
Band Camera | Use band like a remote shutter for your smarphone | |
Band Shutter | Take photos on your camera from your Microsoft Band | |
PhotoAlert Band & Phone | Uses Geolocation to notify a location you took pictures last | |
Shake Shot | Take photos by shaking your wrist |
Fun
App | Brief Description | Windows Phone |
|---|---|---|
Inspire Band | Send inspiring quotes to your Microsoft Band | |
Bible Band | Send Bible verses to your Microsoft Band throughout the day | |
Audiobook Player | Get notifications from your audiobook | |
Smart Cart | See your shopping list on your wrist | |
Rubik's Band Timer | Timer for Rubik's cube solving | |
Music Band | Control smarphone music, choose albums, artists, library. | |
Ring my Band | Different tones and alarms to push to your band | |
Bounce for Band | Pong-type game | |
Jam Band | Play air guitar | |
Paddle for Band | Pong game for smartphone controlled by band | |
Sbux Band | Store and pay with up to 8 Starbucks cards | |
MS Band Media Controller | Media tile to control your phone's music player | |
MediaPlayer for Microsoft Band | Play, pause, skip, and go back on the currently playing song | |
GamerBand | Add Xbox Live Avatar and Gamertag Me Tile. | |
Band Tic-Tac-Toe | Play tic-tac-toe on your phone and band | |
Sound Band | Motion sound effects | |
Band Whoopie Cushion | Send fart noises to your smartphone |
Read more about:
MicrosoftAbout the Author
You May Also Like
