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First Looks with Sony's SmartWatch 2, a Waterproof Smart Companion for Android

By Alvin Soon - 5 Sep 2013

First Looks with Sony's SmartWatch 2, a Waterproof Smart Companion for Android

Think of the Sony SmartWatch 2 as a remote control for your Android device. 

First Looks with Sony's SmartWatch 2, a Waterproof Smart Companion for Android

Samsung's not the only one with a new smartwatch. First announced in June, Sony's SmartWatch 2 is a complement for your Android smartphone with a touch-screen interface and the ability to pair via NFC as well as Bluetooth 3.0.

The SmartWatch 2 is waterproof, made of an aluminium body with a 1.6" display and a resolution of 220 x 176 pixels. You can change the straps around; there's a stainless steel band as well as multi-colored silicone bands. You don't have to worry about getting the watch in the rain, as it has a IP57 rating for water resistance, and you can submerge it to 3 feet for up to 30 minutes.

The SmartWatch 2 responds quite well to touch.

Think of the SmartWatch 2 as a remote control for your Android phone. You can search through your contact list and tap to start a call on your phone, and look through your new notifications for messages, email, Facebook and Twitter (but not respond to them). You can control music playback, and even control the phone's camera remotely.

The SmartWatch responds quite swiftly to touch, but the screen, while adequate, feels a little blocky in the age of pixel-dense displays. Sony says that you can get up to 3 to 4 days of battery life, and the SmartWatch 2 will charge via micro-USB. Buffing up the SmartWatch 2's capabilities will depend on more developers making apps for the Android-based device.

You can view a live feed from the smartphone's camera and even snap a shot using the SmartWatch 2.

The SmartWatch 2 will cost 179 euros (approx. S$301) with the black silicone strap, 199 euros (approx. S$334) with the stainless steel strap and each colored strap is an additional 19 euros (approx. S$32).

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