A new Sony SmartWatch could possibly be announced at the Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai next week according to tweets hinting as such from the official Sony Xperia Twitter account. The tweets hinting at the release of an updated product started two days ago when they referenced wearable tech, citing the Walkman as an example of them being at the forefront of wearable tech.
https://twitter.com/sonyxperia/status/347632677836451840
The next tweet referenced their launch of the first ‘smart’ watch in 2007 – the Sony-Ericsson MBW-150 – and they seem keen to establish their credentials in the smart watch/wearable computing space.
https://twitter.com/sonyxperia/status/347707928389754881
Referring to the over 200 apps available on Google Play for the Sony Live View watch that was launched last year, show that they do have an established history in this space :
https://twitter.com/sonyxperia/status/347760836225421312
A graphic shows that according to BI Intelligence, 1 in 3 Smartphone users want a smart watch
https://twitter.com/sonyxperia/status/348006135313338368
Is this the Live View watch Mark II?
https://twitter.com/sonyxperia/status/348071064879919104
The latest tweet on the subject shows that they are moving forwards to a smart watch, seemingly admitting that the Live View watch wasn’t exactly a ‘smart’ watch.
https://twitter.com/sonyxperia/status/348125167039430656
With Samsung, LG, Apple, Google and even Microsoft, reportedly working on smart watches, this space is about to get very interesting. The encumbent at the moment is obviously the Pebble smart watch which captured many customers and indeed imaginations when they launched one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns to date. It will be very interesting to see exactly what a big name manufacturer can do in this space, but with many people not wearing a watch these days, is it something that customers truly want?
Are you interested in smart watches at all?
I have been following developments closely online. I wouldn’t mind having one. But the price and functionality have to be right. Otherwise, this will be Sony Betamax all over again.
Sound like a good concept, well better than the Google glasses idea anyway. I’ll be watching this space with interest.
id buy one in a heart beat!
Depending on the price, features, screen res, and battery life. If it were $100 I’d get it.
I’d buy one but I’m not sure how useful or necessary it will be.
For me I’m looking for :
Sleek, thin and elegant design
Always on watch face
More than enough power for 24-hours use
This will be a device I invent uses for. Between my phone 8″ and 10″ tablets, laptops, pc and universal remote I think I’ll be duplicating functions