Digital watches are coming back into fashion -- but timekeeping isn’t their primary attribute. The latest generation of wristwatch accessories are sleek, connected and intelligent.
Now that we carry our smartphones around with us everywhere we go we no longer have the need for a watch as a timekeeper or a wakeup alarm, but wearable technology promises to keep us connected with our digital lives even when our smartphones are tucked away in a bag.
With this in mind, Sony has introduced an Android-powered wristwatch called the SmartWatch. The Sony SmartWatch features a 1.3” OLED touch display and is dustproof and splashproof.
It syncs with your Android smartphone via Bluetooth enabling you to manage phone calls with a swipe of the finger, control the music that’s playing on your smartphone or snap a photo on your smartphone remotely. The wearable device also displays social updates, text messages, emails and notifications and can download apps from the Google Play app store.
"SmartWatch is the first of many Smart Extras that seamlessly connect and expand the smartphone's reach and user experience," said Paul Hamnett, president and head of Customer Unit, North America, Sony Mobile Communications. "Designed to break free from the single screen experience, SmartWatch provides access to live content and entertainment on the go."
Sony is not the only one that wants to bring smartphone technology to your wrist.
Apple fans have long sought to turn the iPod nano into a smartwatch with a touchscreen and customizable apps, and there are numerous companies that have started selling iPod nano watch bands for this exact purpose.
In October 2011 smartphone maker Motorola took the wraps off a smartwatch it had designed specifically for fitness fanatics. The MotoActiv smartwatch fuses GPS tracking with smartphone syncing into a device that aims to become your personal trainer and on-call DJ.
During this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January an Italian smart watch maker unveiled the i'm Watch, a device it claimed was the world’s “first real smartwatch.”
Pebble Technology is working on a different breed of smart watch -- one that features a sunlight-readable e-ink screen and a waterproof casing. The Pebble e-paper watch for iPhone and Android project is still in development but has already exceeded its funding goal through crowd-sourced funding site Kickstarter.
The Sony Xperia SmartWatch is priced at $149.99 and is available at http://www.sony.com/smartwatch.
