Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Band Gets First Major Update

The Microsoft Band, the fitness-focused wearable device Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) launched last year, has received its first major update.

According to a report from Geekwire, the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) wearable was updated with new Guided Workouts which lets its users get feedback direct from their smartwatch via workouts loaded through the Microsoft Health application.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) launched the Microsoft Band last October and sold the device for $199 apiece. The device has a heart rate sensor, pedometer, sun exposure meter, stress level sensor, calories burned meter and sleep quality sensor.

The Microsoft Band is linked to the Microsoft Health service which consequently relays information and analysis to companion applications for Windows Phone, Android and iOS smartphones.

According to Geekwire, the update which was initially rolled out last week by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) brings with it 12 new strength training workouts catering to various skill levels of its users.

Mark Rippetoe, the well-known fitness guru and author of “Starting Strength,” developed some of the workouts in the new update to the Microsoft Band.

According to the Redmond, Washington-based software giant, this is just the first in many more updates to come for the fitness wearable. The company also revealed that it intends to release more workouts for the device and its users in the future.

Aside from guided workouts, the wearable device which has up to 48 hours of battery life also features running route maps through GPS, email display and calendar event notifications. The Microsoft Band also features Cortana, Microsoft’s voice assistant so its users can use voice command to control the device.

Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Management reported owning about 1.19 million Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares by the end of 3Q2014. This is a sharp decline of 79% in Citadel’s stake in the software giant compared to its stake in the preceding quarter. The stake which was then worth about $55.05 million made up 0.06% of Citadel’s whole portfolio.