What you need to know
- Liquid Daffodil today officially retired its Microsoft Band apps.
- Fanband, Bandsider, and parts of Cortanium are all affected due to certain SDK features ceasing to work.
- Microsoft Band hasn't been a focus for Microsoft for some time, and the company dropped support for its own Band apps and services at the end of May.
Liquid Daffodil, one of the most prominent developers to support the Microsoft Band in its heyday, has officially retired its Band apps. The move comes following Microsoft's cessation of support for its own Band apps and services on May 31.
All told, Liquid Daffodil's move will see Fanband, Bandsider, and parts of its Cortanium app discontinued. The apps will no longer be available starting today.
Band hasn't been a focus for Microsoft for some time, and the retirement of Microsoft's own apps and services seemed like the final nail in the coffin. That seems to be what influenced Liquid Daffodil to end support for its slate of Band apps. "There have been changes on the Microsoft side that are preventing some critical SDK features from functioning, which has required us to disable services," the company told us.
"We'd love to thank all our fans for the great feedback and reviews over the years for our Microsoft Band apps, and if (for some reason) fans do not feel they've gotten their $1.99 worth out of the app over the years, to contact us (via in-app support) and we will send out a full refund," Liquid Daffodil says.
While Microsoft may have bowed out of the fitness wearable space, others like Fitbit have filled the void with a range of options. If you're looking for a replacement for your Microsoft Band, you can check out a roundup of the best fitness trackers put together by our sister site iMore.
Fitbit's best-looking fitness tracker
The Fitbit Versa strikes a solid balance between form and function. Not only does it look sleek and stylish, but it packs Fitbit's vast array of activity tracking features while borrowing a little bit from more traditional smart watches.
Affordable accessories that'll pair perfectly with your PC
Every one of these awesome PC accessories will enhance your everyday experience — and none cost more than $30.
KLIM Aim RGB gaming mouse ($30 at Amazon)
Whether you're a gamer or not, this is an absurdly good mouse for the price. It's ambidextrous, has a responsive sensor, a braided cable, tank-like build quality, and, yes, it has RGB lighting, though you can turn it off if that's not your thing.
AmazonBasics USB speakers ($16 at Amazon)
These neat little speakers may only pack 2.4W of total power, but don't let that fool you. For something so small you get a well-rounded sound and a stylish design. And they only cost $16.
Razer mouse bungee ($20 at Amazon)
Use a wired mouse? You need a mouse bungee to keep your cable tidy and free of snags. You get no drag on the cable, and this one has subtle styling, a rust-resistant spring and a weighted base, all for $20.
