Microsoft launches Band 2 fitness tracker

Microsoft unveiled the latest version of the Microsoft Band wearable at its 6 October launch event in New York.

The activity tracker - the Microsoft Band 2 - is a smoother, more curved update to the device, with a touch-sensitive OLED Gorilla Glass 3 display, GPS, heart rate monitor, calorie and sleep tracker, guided workouts and smart notifications.

The bigger news, however, is that the Band 2 will also have Cortana integration, meaning the device will remind you to stop being lazy and work out, as well as a barometer to measure elevation.

The new Band works across iOS, Android and Windows Phone, and will benefit from Windows 10 universal apps.

Prices start at $249, with the Microsoft Band 2 available to pre-order now ahead of the release on 30 October.

It was rumoured ahead of the event that Microsoft's debut wearable could geta successor in the form of the Microsoft Band 2.

The device, reportedly codenamed Envoy', was shown in leaked images obtained by Spanish site Microsoft Insider (pictured below)

The new look may help Microsoft boost the Band's initially lacklustre adoption among wearable enthusiasts.

Adam Shepherd

Adam Shepherd has been a technology journalist since 2015, covering everything from cloud storage and security, to smartphones and servers. Over the course of his career, he’s seen the spread of 5G, the growing ubiquity of wireless devices, and the start of the connected revolution. He’s also been to more trade shows and technology conferences than he cares to count.

Adam is an avid follower of the latest hardware innovations, and he is never happier than when tinkering with complex network configurations, or exploring a new Linux distro. He was also previously a co-host on the ITPro Podcast, where he was often found ranting about his love of strange gadgets, his disdain for Windows Mobile, and everything in between.

You can find Adam tweeting about enterprise technology (or more often bad jokes) @AdamShepherUK.