Smartwatches have always been a niche at best. Recently spurred into prominence by crowd funded hardware innovators like Pebble, amidst rumours of Apple being interested in a similar device, the smart watch is suddenly cool again, and Sony wants in on the market enthusiasm. While they pioneered a bluetooth watch since 2007, Sony has unveiled its latest iteration of the same – the Sony SmartWatch 2. Made for Android devices running on v4.0 ICS or later, the watch sports NFC one touch pairing and promises several utilitarian functionality to grace your wrist. This has been launched in conjunction with the massive 6.4 inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra, check that out. Watch this official promo to get an idea of what it is –
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoUzM7WYlP0
The official Sony blog has listed quite a number of use cases for this Android enabled SmartWatch –
- Handle your calls by a simple touch of your wrist
- Take a photo remotely from your SmartWatch, using a smart camera app
- Control your presentations remotely using Presentation Pal
- Taking a run or on the bike? Select a mapping app on SmartWatch to check your route with a quick glance at your wrist
- Read previously downloaded e-mails when not connected to your phone
- Use lifestyle apps like Runtastic to map and instantly track your fitness activities on the go
Here is a quick look at the official specs too, we will detail them below –
The Bluetooth 3.0 enabled watch is capable of connecting to >Android 4.0 devices using NFC. The watch sports a 1.6″ full touch screen with a resolution of 220×176. Weighing in at 122.5g and a thickness of 9mm, the watch is slim and light weight. It is also splash proof, but not suitable for any other water activity like its smartphone brethren. All smart watches have a unified problem and that is the battery life, with the watch always on and normal usage with Bluetooth, Sony says that it will last around 3-4 days, which is quite good compared to recent smartwatches like the pebble, but we are usually used to not charging our wrist watches so it might be a different experience.
The SmartWatch will support a lot of Android apps from the Play Store apart from the pre installed companion apps that push a lot of information over to the watch through Bluetooth. With a refreshed take on the smart watch, the Sony SmartWatch 2 wants you to buy in on a ecosystem the company created. Will it happen this time? Time will tell.
via Sony Blogs