Microsoft Band 2 is now official

Next to the new Lumia smartphones and Surface portables, Microsoft also unveiled the second iteration of its Band smart wearable earlier this week. Simply dubbed Microsoft Band 2, this smart band has been created "to enable you to live healthier and achieve more." In addition to its fitness tracking capabilities, this new wearable can also provide notifications about emails and texts, as well as calendar alerts.

Microsoft Band 2 has the following highlights:

• Display: curved AMOLED with 320X128 pixels
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS
• Battery/Autonomy: lithium-polymer; 48 hours, with less than 90 minutes required for a full charge
• Sensors: heart rate (optical), 3-axis accelerometer, gyrometer, ambient light, skin temperature, UV, capacitive, galvanic skin response, microphone, barometer
• Compatibility: Windows Phone 8.1 or later, iOs 8.1.2 or later, Android 4.4 KitKat or later

The Band 2 uses a haptic vibration motor for notifications, while its case is made of thermal plastic elastomer silicone vulcanate (TPSiV). It has an estimated retail price of $249 USD and will be available for purchase in the United States on October 30. Additional markets will follow later this year.