Nobody’s ever really cracked the smart watch concept, but Sony’s new offering pairs with either the Arc S or Xperia S to let you check email and messages on the move without getting out your phone — and it actually looks pretty good.
While the concept isn’t startling, Sony’s offering looks like it could turn out to be useful. It stores up to 255 widgets, most of which will interact with your Android 2.1+ Sony smartphone, though some do work independently, reports The Verge from CES.
The concept obviously aims to reduce the number of times you have to take your phone out of your pocket, letting you check email, Facebook posts and the like from your wrist. Caller ID and battery status are also shown on the Smart Watch screen, and presumably other display items are customisable.
The watch weighs 15.5g without a wristband and measures 36mm x 36mm x 8mm in size. It uses Bluetooth 3.0, packs an OLED display and can go roughly one week between charges with low usage. That last point is pretty impressive — and means that this thing could actually be useful. No launch date as yet, but it should set you back $US149. [The Verge and Pocket Lint]
Husky
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 7:16 AMAt least the price is getting there, I’ve seen some smart watches crack the $300 amount, which is way to much for a novelty. I’d like to see one for the iPhone at this price point, though preferably 3rd party to avoid apple tax.
lazyboytony
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 9:13 AMCould this be the ultimate nerd watch? I think all it needs now is infrared and we’ll be all set.
cayal
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 9:37 AMNeeds a laser though.
Kent
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:39 AMCayal is right.
+ Some magnets.. How the fuck do they work anyway?
AnthonyP
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 9:13 AMIsn’t this just the next generation of a Sony-Ericsson Liveview?
TSH
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:14 AMYeah, exactly what I was thinking. I remembered the product, but not the name, when I was watch (window)shopping just the other day. Thanks man!
Nick
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 9:15 AMThe only reason a person would need this watch is if their pants are too tight. It doesn’t take much effort to get your phone out.
macdave
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 9:21 AMThis will be perfect for keeping up to date with twitter in the dunny.
TSH
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:21 AMIt’s good to see Sony’s not giving up on this concept. I don’t wear a watch, but would wear this if it meant I could avoid checking my actual phone a dozen times a day. Social updates; messaging notifications; music playback control; agenda view; and hell even telling the time.
Stuff like this is why Android is so dang good. *sigh* if WP7 didn’t fit me like a glove I’d be seriously tempted…
Deb
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 12:32 PMhmm metawatch.org or http://www.imwatch-one.it/us-en/?
Much better and works with any phone. I have the metawatch and it’s pretty cool, a bit beta at the moment, but the i’m watch looks to be the best out there for the moment. Sorry Sony! A bit late on the uptake there!
DJ
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 1:07 AMi don’t like the meta design.. the imwatch and sony are both nice.. i need to test which one works better
Michael Huang
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 7:23 PMThe world’s first,newest,coolest & innovative smart watch : Android Watch Z1,Smart Watch Z1,Android 2.2 Watch. Have already launched into market.
use Android 2.2 OS, you can use it as smartphone, 2.75G high speed download WIFI,Bluetooth 2.0,GPS Navigation,Email.
Contact person : Michael Huang,
michael (at) neuwatch.com,
of Neufashion Digital Technology Co.,Ltd(http://www.neuwatch.com)
Specifications as follows :
1.Frequency: Quad-band GSM850/900,DCS1800,PCS1900, GSM Muti-media Smartphone watch;
2.OS:Android OS 2.2;
3.Memory: ROM:4GB,RAM: 2GB,can be up to 32GB ;
4.Screen: 2″ TFT-LCD Touch screen with LED back light,QVGA resolution 240×320;
5.Keyboard: 4 side key;
6.GPS: internal GPS antenna;
7.G-sensor: ADXL345
8.Connectivity:Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/gUSB2.0(USB wrist strap)
9.Camera :2.0 megapixel,can be up to 5.0M;
10.Audio supported: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, AWB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI;
11.Video supported: WMV, ASF, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, M4V, AVI;
12.Battery: rechargeable Lithium-ion battery with standby time 200 hours,Talk time 300 minutes.