Microsoft Band and Taylor Made -

[i*windows]

Microsoft have teamed up with Taylor Made to integrate golf scores, GPS etc etc into their MS Band. Regardless of what it looks like the band is THE most comprehensive fitness, health, GPS tracker available.

 

http://lumiaconversations.microsoft.com/2015/06/18/microsoft-and-taylormade-the-greatest-golf-tech/

[jffuller]

[quote name='i*windows' timestamp='1434634217' post='11775436']
Microsoft have teamed up with Taylor Made to integrate golf scores, GPS etc etc into their MS Band. Regardless of what it looks like the band is THE most comprehensive fitness, health, GPS tracker available.

[url="http://lumiaconversations.microsoft.com/2015/06/18/microsoft-and-taylormade-the-greatest-golf-tech/"]http://lumiaconversa...test-golf-tech/[/url]
[/quote]

This looks awesome! I've always been between fitness trackers and GPS watches, this looks like a nice combination of both. Add statistical analysis and heart rate analysis and this is an awesome integrative approach to golf performance. $200 for the band is a really competitive price too.

[ilovenewtech]

Great in theory! Not sure how it will deduce practice shots from real shots.

Will this be non conforming due to showing how far you've walked and calories burned etc??

Anyone know whether the Taylor Made platform will have a monthly/annual fee? I tried to log in and see but obviously it doesn't show anything apart from a landing page.

[Ping Panther]

This is really interesting and exactly what I was hoping would come out... Can't wait to hear more

[naedward812]

It is Microsoft. Someone has probably found the vulnerability in it.

But I was intrigued. Too bad it'll only work with MS phones.

[ParHunter]

[quote name='naedward812' timestamp='1434714715' post='11783748']
It is Microsoft. Someone has probably found the vulnerability in it.

But I was intrigued. Too bad it'll only work with MS phones.
[/quote]
Only on MS phones? What a sensible decision if you don't really want to sell any devices. MS phones have a 2.7% market share. FAIL!!!

[slade037]

[quote name='ParHunter' timestamp='1434716229' post='11783892']
[quote name='naedward812' timestamp='1434714715' post='11783748']
It is Microsoft. Someone has probably found the vulnerability in it.

But I was intrigued. Too bad it'll only work with MS phones.
[/quote]
Only on MS phones? What a sensible decision if you don't really want to sell any devices. MS phones have a 2.7% market share. FAIL!!!
[/quote]

The MS Band works with IOS and Android devices.

[legorc]

Does anyone knows if it will work with Courses in South America?

[ilovenewtech]

No, they said initially it will be for USA and UK.

Has anyone tried the device yet?

[edittman1]

I just bought the MS Band from Target. Will let you know how it works out. .

[grant_the_tank]

Finally a good reason to dust off my Microsoft Band that's sitting in my desk drawer. Can't imagine it will be better than Game Golf or Arccos with no club sensors to give club level stats.

[sethdavidsdad]

Microsoft Band will work with Apple IOS and Android. The golf tile is not available yet. Hoping the update will come soon. I bought a band last night to try and see if I like it. My main reason for choosing this over apple watch is the built in gps and golf app. Other watches and trackers without gps don't work well for golf in my experience, unless you keep your phone in your pocket.

[sethdavidsdad]

Just talked to Microsoft support they are supposed to launch the golf app sometime soon maybe by the end of the week.

[grant_the_tank]

[quote name='sethdavidsdad' timestamp='1435764698' post='11869158']
Just talked to Microsoft support they are supposed to launch the golf app sometime soon maybe by the end of the week.
[/quote]

Before the US 4th of July weekend hopefully if they're smart. Lot-o-golf to be played!

[i*windows]

[quote name='sethdavidsdad' timestamp='1435763257' post='11868974']
Microsoft Band will work with Apple IOS and Android. The golf tile is not available yet. Hoping the update will come soon. I bought a band last night to try and see if I like it. My main reason for choosing this over apple watch is the built in gps and golf app. Other watches and trackers without gps don't work well for golf in my experience, unless you keep your phone in your pocket.
[/quote]

how do you like it, how does it look? I am pretty small and to me its a touch too big; hopefully this year will be a v2 which will be a bit smaller. The sensors that it has loaded are amazing

[sethdavidsdad]

[quote name='i*windows' timestamp='1435820154' post='11874566'][quote name='sethdavidsdad' timestamp='1435763257' post='11868974']
Microsoft Band will work with Apple IOS and Android. The golf tile is not available yet. Hoping the update will come soon. I bought a band last night to try and see if I like it. My main reason for choosing this over apple watch is the built in gps and golf app. Other watches and trackers without gps don't work well for golf in my experience, unless you keep your phone in your pocket.
[/quote]

how do you like it, how does it look? I am pretty small and to me its a touch too big; hopefully this year will be a v2 which will be a bit smaller. The sensors that it has loaded are amazing[/quote]

So far so good. It is a little big wish it looked more like Samsung band. The apple watch is large though also but it is bigger than the Fitbit and other fitness bands. I was going to wait for version 2 but the golf app made me decide to go ahead. I used the yardage apps with pebble and apple watch. All I can say is not good unless you just want within 10 yards it's a waste. I don't carry my phone in my pocket when golfing.

Yesterday the golf tile or app became available for windows phone users. Hopefully soon for the rest of us.

[Cwing]

How does this work for golf?

[sethdavidsdad]

[quote name='Cwing' timestamp='1435838560' post='11875024']
How does this work for golf?
[/quote]
I'm still waiting on the update that includes golf. Some windows phone users recived it yesterday. I have a iPhone that I use with the band. No golf tile(or app) yet. Hopefully this week

[grant_the_tank]

Interestingly enough you can connect to Taylormade under Connected apps from the Health app, but their MyRoundPro app is not yet available. I signed up to be notified and I guess at that point it creates an account. I get making the golf tile available fist to Windows Phone users (loyalty and to iron out issues with a smaller population), but hopefully IOS and Android apps soon follow. I really like the idea of using this since it has built-in GPS and you don't need a phone in your pocket. Wonder if they'll come out shot tracking by club like Game Golf and Arccos.

[cliff1675]

Based on my reading of the product literature, there will be shot tracking, sort of. Once the Taylormade system is up and running, you will be able to see a map of all of your shots with distances. You will need to remember which club was used for each shot. The Band will automatically track the distance of each shot; it determines where each cluster of swings (practice and actual shot) are taken during a certain time period and determines the shot was taken from each cluster. You will then be able to see your shots mapped on the Taylormade system's course map.

[ilovenewtech]

Remembering what club you hit each shot with won't be easy. I wonder whether you will be able to enter that information into the website

[sethdavidsdad]

Just got the update that includes the golf app. Hope to try it out tomorrow or this weekend. I will report back with a review

[grant_the_tank]

[quote name='sethdavidsdad' timestamp='1435891177' post='11879942']Just got the update that includes the golf app. Hope to try it out tomorrow or this weekend. I will report back with a review[/quote]

Cool, I wonder how the battery life is when using the GPS through full round. I know the battery is pretty good under normal usage.

[sethdavidsdad]

Got a chance to play golf with the new Microsoft band tile(or app) today. Once you find and load your course to the band you no longer need your phone. I loaded my course the night before. When I got in my cart today all I had to do was start the golf app on my Band.
Yardage: The band only tells you yardage if you push the action button but was pretty quick to load and give yardage. In fact I began pushing the button when I stopped the cart and when I got out and by my clubs would look and the yardage was there. This keeps the battery from running down by constantly displaying yardage. The yardage seems spot on. In fact it rained and was very cloudy but the yardage seemed to still be very accurate. In fact it seemed better than yardage I get from golf shot on my iPhone.
[attachment=2836198:ImageUploadedByGolfWRX Mobile1435975939.930415.jpg]
Shot tracking:
The Band keeps track of every shot you take. For full shots, chips, and long putts it seems to do a great job. Where it lacks of course is short putts and tap ins. Part of this might be my fault I will put tap ins with my right hand only and I wear my band on the left. It is very easy to correct by swiping left or right to correct the score. Very impressed with this feature didn't seem to count any practice strokes as shots. Only problem I saw was one or twice I was practicing my stroke away from the hole and it seemed to record a stroke for those times. Once you step on the next tee box you will get a vibration and the hole info will pull up as well as score for last hole.
[attachment=2836296:ImageUploadedByGolfWRX Mobile1435978235.632974.jpg]
Analytics:
[attachment=2836222:ImageUploadedByGolfWRX Mobile1435976872.207554.jpg]
More will be done with this once Taylor made gets the myround pro up and running. Right now it tracks pace per hole and round. Heart rate per hole and average for round. Steps and calories are also tracked. Once my round pro is up and running you will be able to track shot distance as well as location of each shot.

Overall:
Very impressed excited to see what is added once the my round pro from Taylor made is added. I was able to play 16 holes and it did not seem to overwhelm the battery. I have tried golfshot and golf card with pebble(Apple watch). With the pebble(Apple watch) you have to have your phone with you at all times for yardage to be correct. Also at the end of the round my iPhone battery would be dead. I would constantly have to refresh my iPhone to get good yardages. With the band just a touch of the action button and a few seconds later I received very accurate yardage front, back and middle. No phone required. Overall it's very easy to use and quite impressive for a first attempt from a new product.
Pros:
Easy to use
Shot tracking
Heart rate tracking
Don't have to use your phone
Analytics (we will have to wait to see how good this is)
Good yardages
Cons:
You have to push button to get yardage.
Not all putts counted accurately
Not all courses available. But you can request courses.
Only US And UK courses

[jffuller]

Excellent review, looks like a great product! If the analytics are as good as the video showed this could be awesome.

[grant_the_tank]

Boo! My local course isn't yet mapped. Submitted a request, so we'll see.

[YoungJedi]

[quote name='grant_the_tank' timestamp='1435733206' post='11867518']
Finally a good reason to dust off my Microsoft Band that's sitting in my desk drawer. Can't imagine it will be better than Game Golf or Arccos with no club sensors to give club level stats.
[/quote]

You don't need to know what club you hit do do analysis of strokes gained. That's the whole idea behind it...strokes gained.

[sheppy335]

What app do you need to make it work?

[Jamboy72]

I'm guessing the Band2 that's coming out will be even more functional?

[redlabel]

[quote name='Jamboy72' timestamp='1445456744' post='12488362']
I'm guessing the Band2 that's coming out will be even more functional?
[/quote]

Probably, but then that's just a guess.