Tag: Smartwatch 2

Hands On : Sony Rs. 14990 SmartWatch 2 is lesson Samsung could use
In a massive blow to competition, Sony has launched the new SmartWatch 2 in India for a price of Rs. 14990. The Smart Watch 2 is an upgrade to Sony’s last generation of watch, aka the SmartWatch and adds a series of fixes and upgrades to the previous version.

SmartWatch 2 comes with a bigger 1.6-inch screen with higher resolution 220×176 pixels resolution, compared to the 1.3-inch screen 128×128 display on its predecessor. Sony has left out frills of the Samsung Gear out of the SmartWatch making it a companion device, allowing you to interact with your smartphone to the extent of notifications and data exchange. Although the SmartWatch 2 does not take phone calls and does not click images, it is considerably cheaper than Samsung’s pitch.

SmartWatch 2 just like the original SmartWatch lets you get updates from networks, Notifications, calls, email, Facebook or Twitter, Calendar, or use it as a remote for your Walkman app. The SmartWatch 2 comes pre loaded with a set of applications but more can be downloaded from the Sony store.

Apps allow several new features for the Sony SmartWatch2:
- Take a photo remotely with the smart camera app.
- Control your presentations remotely using Presentation Pal.
- Runtastic app allows to map and instantly track your fitness.
- Read previously downloaded e-mails when not connected to your phone.
- Control your music player.
Sony has continued their IP57 certification tradition with the SmartWatch 2 making it water and dust proof and a highly usable accessory. Sony has also one upped Samsung in making the watch face visible even when the display is off and allowing a battery life of upto a week on the SmartWatch 2.

The SmartWatch 2 as an accessory will work with any mobile phone with Bluetooth 4.0 or above and will work across mobile platforms on Android and iOS, another feature that the Galaxy Gear lacked.

Although two major elements (Phone call capability and image capture) are missing from the SmartWatch 2, it offers a more practical solution with a usable setup, the SmartWatch 2 is more flexible, compatible across platforms and durable.

So which one will you pick? The Galaxy Gear for Rs. 22990 or the SmartWatch 2 for Rs. 14990?

Stay tuned for our hands on video.

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September 18, 2013
Sony SmartWatch 2 Announced

Smartwatches today haven’t yet reached the must-have status among consumers—not yet. But companies, big and small, are banking on the market fully blowing up in 2013; the year wearable technology will be the next big mobile revolution. To get ahead of the trend, Sony has announced its brand new touch Sony SmartWatch 2 at the Mobile Asia Expo, a device the company claims is “the most advanced smartwatch available.”

The Sony SmartWatch 2 features a 1.6-inch 220×176 touchscreen, which is larger than the 1.3-inch display on the previous SmartWatch. Sony also promises that the display on the SmartWatch 2 is easier to read in sunlight. Along with its larger display, the SmartWatch 2 packs Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, a micro-USB port and the ability to be used with any standard 24mm wrist strap. Finally, the SmartWatch 2 is IP57 rated, meaning that it can withstand splashed water and rain.

“We have over 200 unique apps dedicated for Sony SmartWatch with over one million downloads to date and we are continuing to work with our strong developer network to deliver even more compelling smartwatch experiences,” said Stefan K. Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications.

On the software side of things, the Sony SmartWatch 2 is powered by Android and features a UI similar to Google’s mobile OS, which Sony says helps to make the SmartWatch 2 a more intuitive experience. The new wrist gear can also display a user’s missed notifications (including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, calls and messages) and can be used as a remote for a Sony Walkman or other media players. Sony says that the SmartWatch 2 is compatible with “most Android phones.” The device is expected to begin shipping worldwide in September 2013.

June 25, 2013
Sony Teases New SmartWatch On Twitter

It’s been almost two years since Sony announced its Smartwatch, the intelligent timepiece that was supposed to change the way we tracked our lives — and used our phones.

Hindsight is 20/20, and the product was more vision than substance. While the Smartwatch looked nice enough, it was plagued with bugs, poor battery life and a paucity of substantive software features. That, and it only worked with Android.

While Sony has since improved the experience for users, and recently open-sourced the platform entirely, it wasn’t enough to get people buying. The product has been surpassed in mindshare and popularity by the cross platform-friendly Pebble, and that’s that.

Sony has been teasing a new smartwatch announcement on its @SonyXperia Twitter account, saying that “one-third of smartphone users want smart wrist wear,” and that we should stay tuned to the Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai next Tuesday.

While it would be great to see Sony back in the smartwatch game, we wonder whether they have it in them to fashion a hit.

A source at CNET claims that the updated model will feature a larger screen, run Android, and feature a three-button layout like its smartphone counterparts. It will also use NFC to quickly pair with devices, and use Bluetooth to communicate.

We’ll bring you more next week when Sony makes the announcement.

June 24, 2013