Written by Jonny Williamson
Sony’s SmartWatch is a smartphone connected wristwatch and acts as a remote display, allowing the wearer to see alerts, such as text messages, emails and social media updates, without the need of having to take out your handset. Alerts are also communicated to the wearer through vibrations, a feature commonly used in mobile phones for many years.
With a 1.3” OLED display, the SmartWatch can also link to tablets and allow the streaming of music, effectively converting the device into an mp3 player. Available in a variety of wrist strap colours, the SmartWatch will retail at around $150, but so far one considerable flaw is holding back current and future sales.
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The device at the moment will only pair with Android devices, a fundamental stumbling block when you consider that Apple iPhones running iOS make up a huge proportion of the smartphone market.
That drawback aside, Paul Hamnett, a Sony spokesman, remained positive at the SmartWatch launch:
“SmartWatch is the first of many Smart Extras that seamlessly connect and expand the smartphones reach and user experience. Designed to break free from the single screen experience, the SmartWatch provides access to live content and entertainment on the go.”
There have been a number of Android app’s specifically released for the SmartWatch to coincide with the devices launch, and developers will be able to create custom applications in the near future which take advantage of the dual screens.
Canadian entrepreneur, Eric Migicovsky, is planning on releasing a similar watch, named Pebble. With a release date slated for the autumn, Sony has beaten the rival product to market, but the Pebble is compatible with both Android and iOS.
Sony’s SmartWatch is also considerably more expensive than the Pebble, with online reviews already complaining of poor battery performance and the display being difficult to read in sunlight.
The Japanese electronics company are desperate for any form of success as they look to offset the much-reported record losses stated in their latest financial report, a factor which led to 6,000 people losing their jobs.
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