Microsoft has announced the availability of a substantial update to its wearable device, the first since the launch of the Band and the Health service first introduced about four months ago. The other likely contender for the developer mind share is Apple Watch SDK (WatchKit), which is expected to give a strong competitor to the Microsoft Band.

Let’s take a glance at what are the opportunities Microsoft Band developers have to gain as compared to Apple’s Watch SDK.

Universal SDK for Band as compared to Native Apple SDK

The Microsoft Band SDK preview is now available, giving developers a chance to build apps for Microsoft’s wearable watch. Much of the focus of the SDK is on user interaction, for example allowing the creation of apps that can send UI content to the band, to keep users engaged when they’re in motion. The app can also receive data directly from the band sensors, giving users more reasons to interact.

The SDK is available for the Windows Phone and Android platform; as for iOS, Microsoft says that is still in progress. The SDK also enables developers to create universal third party apps that will run the same across all available platforms. Microsoft is offering a series of documents to help developers get started with their Band apps and provides sample code for both Windows and Android.

Watchkit from Apple is specifically designed to work with iPhones. The kit has two main components: the phone app and the Watch extension. The Watch extension runs on the iPhone, and executes code in response to interactions on the watch itself. There are also some guidelines that Apple has set for the third party apps.

Being a closed ecosystem, the feeling among developers is extremely diversified. A lot of iOS developers are disappointed by many limitations imposed by the Apple Watch SDK and its features. As per Apple, developers need to follow a standard black background color for all apps, a new font termed as ‘San Francisco,’ user interface and a standardized navigation through an app.

Others, however, are excited since Watch Apps build upon existing iOS and iPhone frameworks, developers can have new apps up and running in no time. As well, in-Watch advertising could earn lots of money for the right apps in terms of monetization.

Simplest of customized features

The Microsoft Band is limited to a digital time readout due to its rectangular screen shape. Those who are looking for an analog style readout may feel disappointed. Microsoft’s Band features a bright and easy to read display that can showcase times in either a 12 hour or 24 hour format. As of now, the SDK has an extremely limited level of customizability.

With Apple SDK, developers can customize their watch faces with a number of themes and customized designs. Developers can change the colors for titles, status, notifications and much more. They have complete freedom to use custom fonts, but it requires a little effort and text should be preferentially aligned to left. Developers can also choose interface either hierarchical or page-based to swipe horizontally and can also add gestures like vertical or horizontal swipes to improve navigation experience through Apple watch.

Apps ecosystem

The integration of Microsoft HealthVault in the Band SDK lets developers organize and share health information with health care providers. This data is automatically loaded to Microsoft HealthVault account. With the new Microsoft Health portal users can examine in detail all the data collected by the device. To access the dashboard, simply open a browser page at https://dashboard.microsofthealth.com.

Microsoft Band comes preloaded with a number of apps to help new users get going. It allows users to track heart rate, log day’s steps, measure distance walked, calculate calories, track sleep, measure the UV index, follow workouts, and much more. With the SDK, developers can build apps that access all of these features, but also hook into more traditional wearable features such as calls, calendar appointments, e-mail, notifications, Facebook messages, weather, and finances.

Although Microsoft added HealthVault to the Band SDK, it still cannot inter-operate with Apple’s HealthKit tools–introduced with iOS 8–which also works on the Apple Watch.

The disadvantage of using Microsoft Band is the lack of an ecosystem. With Android and Apple wearables, the customer already has a number of apps and games on their wrist thanks to the dedicated store.

Apple’s WatchKit SDK already gives developers the tools needed to build apps for the Apple Watch. With other SDKs such as HealthKit and HomeKit, developers have an increased number of options that cover health and controlling devices in a user’s home. It is predicted that Apple will release 100,000 apps with the release of the Apple Watch in April. On the other hand, Microsoft Band has no app store, so users can’t throw their favorite apps onto their wrist.

Apple may have the advantage in community

As for reach, Apple may also be the winner as the company’s share in the smartphone market shines having captured 41% of the market, according to comScore in late 2014, whereas Microsoft held only 3.6%. A combination of greater app availability and larger audience, Apple would have an out of the gate advantage.

When it comes to SDK and developer ecosystem, Apple’s iPhone developer experience is described as “smooth [and] easy-to-use” by PCMag that allowed 3rd parties to quickly develop excellent applications. This culture is likely to follow through to the Apple Watch.

WatchKit also has a link directly to Apple’s developer forums directly from the SDK’s download page at Apple’s website.

Microsoft has always provided a community for developers from a position of power from the dominance of Windows as an OS. Thus the Microsoft Band and HealthVault, of course, have the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), which provides developer forums (HealthVault) and a vast array of support options.

However, Microsoft Band’s SDK download page seems to forget that developers like a place to congregate–and finding a forum means digging into the MSDN or floating across the web to StackOverflow or some other forums.

Image credit: Apple Watch, courtesy Apple Inc.; and Jason A. Howie via photopin cc