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Yesterday Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Band, a lifestyle and fitness tracker that brings the company into the wearables market full-tilt.  The $199 unit not only measures your activity but includes 10 sensors that measure things like heart rate, sleep, stress levels and integrates with Cortana on your Windows Phone.  Initially available only in the United States, the Band on the surface looks pretty interesting and is at a great price point when you compare other devices on the market.

Even the most seasoned Windows Phone user from time-to-time needs a little bit of help.  An app is not behaving or there is a strange WiFi issue with the latest update or simply to get a suggestion on how to do something with your phone.  There are plenty of blogs and sites out there to help but sometimes reaching a broader audience – a global audience – is what you need.  That is where Windows Phone Community can be a huge help and frustration saver.

The Windows Phone Community is part of the Community pages from Microsoft.  These self-help site cover virtually every Microsoft product and are monitored by both enthusiasts, MVPs and Microsoft staff to help you with your Windows Phone needs.  The best part is that all of this is free.  All you need to do is sign in with your Microsoft account to post your questions and helpfully some answers to help your fellow Windows Phone user.

Microsoft’s announcement yesterday of offering unlimited OneDrive storage for Office 365 users is, as it should be, a very big deal.  In effect, they have gone to the market and told everyone that not only can they offer a cloud storage solution, they can do it at a cost that nobody can compete with the possible exception of Apple or Google.  I say this not as a fanboy but as a realist.  Only a company with the experience and shear size of Microsoft could put into play such an audacious plan.  And if you are an executive at Dropbox or Box, I would be waking up this morning worried.

The challenge all cloud storage solutions have had to this point is that it is, effectively, a one-trick pony.  It does what it says on the tin in that it stores your files and photos in some way or another to the cloud.  But that is fundamentally the problem.  You are paying a monthly or yearly premium to simply store your content online so you can access it from anywhere.  Functional, yes.  Great value, no.

It has been a busy 24 hours for the OneDrive team at Microsoft.  After announcing unlimited OneDrive storage for Office 365 users yesterday, they also updated the OneDrive app for Windows Phone.  The update, version 4.4 for those keeping score, brings several new user experience improvements along with support for OneDrive for Business.  Now, like on other platforms, you can sign into both your personal and business OneDrive accounts from the app at the same time.

OneDrive for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now