Sony Mobile unveiled two new wearable devices at the IFA show in Berlin, Germany — a smart band and smart watch — part of their SmartWear Experience range. The new Sony SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3 both provide activity tracking and are compatible with Sony’s Lifelog app which is designed to help users “understand more about the way they live and move.”
“As a pioneer of smart and wearable technology, SmartBand Talk, SmartWatch 3 and Lifelog don’t merely affirm Sony’s leadership in the space, but as the innovators who dare to be different – bringing the world choice; products and services no else can, or will,” said Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO, Sony Mobile Communications.
SmartBand Talk
SmartBand Talk has its own microphone and speaker, which allows owners to use it as a Bluetooth headset.What makes the SmartBand Talk unique is its battery-friendly 1.4-inch e-paper display. The device has built-in accelerometer and altimeter sensors to “feel how you move” – and how much – to provide an accurate overview of your daily physical activity. Moreover, it has its own microphone and speaker, which allows owners to use it as a Bluetooth headset. Plus, through Sony’s Voice Control technology, users can also assign their own sounds to life bookmarks and use voice to carry out specific smartphone operations.
The SmartBand Talk is water-proof (IP68 rated); launch styles will include Black and White, with extra vibrant colors available later in the year.
SmartWatch 3
Unlike its previous smart watch products, this one doesn’t run Sony’s proprietary version of Android. Rather, it relies on Android Wear and is a result of “close collaboration with Google.”
SmartWatch 3 packs a 1.6-inch 320×320 TFT LCD Transflective display for visibility in bright sunlight, and is set within a stainless steel back panel.Even without a smartphone, SmartWatch 3 is useful accessory, rocking a built-in microphone, accelerometer, compass, gyro and GPS sensors to, again, provide more powerful lifelogging. It packs a 1.6-inch 320×320 TFT LCD Transflective display for visibility in bright sunlight, and is set within a stainless steel back panel, “for a premium look and feel.” There’s also 4GB of internal memory that can be used to, let’s say, store songs for the morning jogging.
Just like the SmartBand Talk, the SmartWatch 3 is also IP68-certified device that can withstand a lot of water. It will be available in Classic (Black) and Sport (Lime) editions, with extra color straps available in Pink and White after launch.
Both the SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3 will launch later in Autumn 2014. It remains to be seen how these two will compete with product made fitness tracker makers and major smartphone vendors like Samsung, LG, Motorola and soon – Apple.