6 ms·

Sony SmartWatch 3

23 points by SoulMan 12y ago

post_break 12y ago
It looks similar to a watch I've seen all over the news. Can't remember the name of it though. (Also IP68 isn't really waterproof. I take it back, I thought it was IP67 whoops)
- orjan 12y ago
  OK, I'll bite. First: this watch was introduced before the Apple Watch. I doubt either Sony or Apple knowingly copied the other. Second: it's tricky to define "waterproof". IP68 specifies continuous immersion beyond 1 meter. If that's not enough for you, well... Keep looking. :)
  - post_break 12y ago
    Yeah I goofed, I thought it was IP67 specs. Got them confused. Also I was just joking about the apple comparison.
- morganvachon 12y ago
  This is Sony's fourth attempt at a smart wristwatch, going back to 2010 with the LiveView. I have the first Sony SmartWatch (second in the whole line, released after the LiveView) and it is crap compared to watches that came after like the Pebble, which I also own and use currently. The SmartWatch 2 was a huge improvement over the previous model, but it didn't impress me enough at the time to buy it so soon after the last one; I ended up getting the Pebble instead. This one though, looks like what I'm really looking for in a smart wristwatch. I'd happily trade my Pebble for one, and probably will once they start selling it in the US. As for the waterproof rating, IP68 would be "no ingress of dust" (the "6" in the rating) and "the equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water (immersion beyond 1m)" (the "8" in the rating). That sounds pretty much waterproof to me. Now, if you mean it's not a diver's watch, well of course it isn't, and never claimed to be. A diver will wear a diver's watch, not a device that connects to a phone she wouldn't dive with anyway.
  - post_break 12y ago
    Yeah I just edited my post, I goofed on the IP68 thinking it was IP67. I had the first sony smart watch and it was amazing for its time. Then I got the pebble and loved it. Now I'm onto the Moto 360 and not looking back.
    - makomk 12y ago
      IP68 is actually more waterproof than IP67 - higher digits mean better levels of protection in IP codes. IP68 is basically the highest rating possible under this standard.
paullth 12y ago
"Demand great"
bhouston 12y ago
Apple is so good with the showmanship that it seems to have sucked the air out of competing watches. Is sony even trying? BTW, this was announced back on September 3 or sooner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDDWubWKaQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDDWubWKaQ
- post_break 12y ago
  Mean while everyone with a Moto 360 is getting asked "Is that the Apple Watch?!?!" myself included. You should see the deflated look on their face when you tell them that the Apple watch is square.
  - umsm 12y ago
    I'm not sure the deflated look is because of the shape. Apple created a lot of hype with their watch.
    - post_break 12y ago
      I don't know about that. I don't just drop the Motorola mic and walk away. They ask about it and almost everyone has said something about why the Apple watch won't be round. These people weren't techies so I can see why they thought it might be made by Apple. But they all said they wanted to get the Apple watch and seemed to be let down when the one on my wrist wasn't the Apple watch.
      - moron4hire 12y ago
        I know exactly the look you mean. It's typical modern "techie" fanaticism. I had people asking me if my first Android phone five years ago was an iPhone, and they exhibited a look that I also would only describe as "let down" or "disappointed". I use the word "techie" in quotes because, while many of those people would have described themselves as techies, I found they were really just consumers of technology. They had no functional knowledge of how anything worked or how to make anything themselves. To them, the only smartphone (or smartwatch) in existence was the Apple product, because to them the entire point was to brag about acquisition. Even within the demographic of programmers, you'll find "techies". They ask you what programming language or framework you used to build your project, then get disappointed when you didn't magically read their minds 6 months in the past and chose their darling flavor. I've got no use for such people.
krisgee 12y ago
Another boring black square. I want someone to innovate on the Moto 360 already.
- arpit 12y ago
  Like LG's R Watch? http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lg-g-watch-r-hands-on/ http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lg-g-watch-r-hands-on/)
  - thoughtpalette 12y ago
    That actually looks pretty good! Reminds me of 007 Goldeneye for the N64.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
RankingMember 12y ago
This torrent of chunky rectangular smart watches are all about as sexy as the Casio calculator watches from way back when. I still think those calculator watches are a cool piece of old tech, but I don't know anyone who would wear one un-ironically.
- hardwaresofton 12y ago
  I've owned a wide range of smart watches (sony smartwatch 1, sony smartwatch 2, galaxy gear 1), and people actually compliment me/notice the watches quite frequently -- considering what they do/contain (essentially being very small computers), they're exceptionally small
  - easytiger 12y ago
    And still less useful than this from the 90s: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAWSAY http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAWSAY
    - rbinv 12y ago
      Is that affiliate tag really necessary?
      - contergan 12y ago
        Is that question really necessary?
      - easytiger 12y ago
        i removed it, didn't know what that was. I copied from amazon on a link clicked directly from google search
  - stronglikedan 12y ago
    How do you like the Smartwatch 2? I have enough points on my Sony card to pick one up, but I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I would actually use it.
Kayou 12y ago
Same specs as Samsung and LG smartwatches, toy-like design, unpractical charging port, 230€, not really interesting.
- cskau 12y ago
  ..except GPS
  - fudged71 12y ago
    I haven't seen NFC on others either
  - Kayou 12y ago
    Sorry, I didn't see the GPS. So if there are apps compatible with this, then it can distinguish itself from other smart-watches. Would be nice to go running without a smartphone and still tracking the speed.
    - mikestew 12y ago
      A Garmin Forerunner might be up your alley, and their GPS watches are down to around a hundred dollars these days. No other "smart" functionality, though. I leave the Pebble and Samsung Gear at home when I run.
    - unfamiliar 12y ago
      I hear this a lot, what exactly is the problem with running with a smart phone? I run with my 5S all the time and I barely notice it is there. Is this just a problem with larger screened phones? Is it really such an inconvenience that it justifies a +$200 watch to solve the problem?
      - Kayou 12y ago
        Yes, I wear my Nexus 4 on my arm and it's not the nicest thing. I previously had a 4" phone which was much better. Also, the smartwatch is nice to see your speed and the time, so you would wear it anyway (I can't really check the phone's screen on my arm, but I have audio feedback). If you can get rid of the smartphone, which is here just for the music and GPS, that's perfect. An update to android wear is going to bring bluetooth offline music, perfect for my bluetooth headset I use. Why take your smartphone with you when you don't need it?
drivingmenuts 12y ago
So, basically it's a watch and a pedometer? Can anyone please come up with something more interesting than counting the number of steps I take during the day?
- TillE 12y ago
  Apple's promised hearbeat sensor is a good step towards making a more advanced fitness/health device, at least. Even though I'd rather have that as a thin Fitbit-style band rather than a chunky touchscreen watch.
  - marincounty 12y ago
    Yea, I think the Fitbit style is the design they should shoot for. They could use the wrist band to hide precious IC space, along with the antenna for the GPS.
  - personZ 12y ago
    Note that a number of available smartwatches already have heartbeat sensors (Gear 2, Moto 360, LG G Watch R, etc). You didn't exclude this possibility, but just wanted to clarify for any who wondered.
  - dozy 12y ago
    It should be noted that the Samsung Gear Live (one of the first two Android Wear devices from last June), as well as the Moto 360 both have a heart sensor, powered by an LED on the back of the device, just as Apple's will.
fla 12y ago
Shameless plug : We sell high-end digital watches ( != smart watch ) at www.slyde.ch Feedback appreciated.
- marincounty 12y ago
  They are just fancy jump hour watches? Or, am I missing something?
- notjustanymike 12y ago
  Well if you insist. You website and products looks like they were happier in the Adobe Flash era of the Internet. The navigation is a disaster; small horizontal bars with lethargic animations make me dread trying to get anywhere on the site. The font selection and logo look like you told a design intern to make something look expensive. Size wise, your website is 1,600 pixels wide. 1,600! This means you'll see horizontal scrollbars on a 15" Macbook Pro. Since it's not even remotely responsive, you've eliminated anyone coming to your site on a mobile device and even the iPad retina in portrait mode. If you can't be bothered to make it responsive (not really challenging considering the limited amount of content) at least make a mobile optimized site. Then there are pages like this: https://www.slyde.ch/en/concept/engine https://www.slyde.ch/en/concept/engine There is no reason the text should scroll on a page like that. It's a drab wall of text with no formatting, links, or really any kind of structure. Why have you made a boring wall of text -harder- to read? Why is there a carousel navigation at the bottom of the page? Circles like this are traditionally used in carousels (which themselves are universally hated), and not for entire pages. I have no idea where those buttons lead and I'm pretty sure lots of people miss them (you could test that with Google Analytics). The confusion here is compounded, since they -do- work as a carousel on the homepage. Regarding the watchfaces: am I correct in seeing you're selling these for $100 per engine?! Do you expect to compete on any meaningful level with the iWatch and Android Wear? Or is this one of those 'premium' experiences that certain people are happy to pay for? So, all in all my feedback is this looks like a site trying to be premium without a clear understanding of what the word means.
  - fla 12y ago
    Thanks for the feedback. I coudn't agree more with the remarks you made about the website. It defenately needs some improvements. > Regarding the watchfaces: am I correct in seeing you're selling these for $100 per engine?! Yes. These watch faces (we call them virtual engines) are created by professional watch designers. > Do you expect to compete on any meaningful level with the iWatch and Android Wear? Or is this one of those 'premium' experiences that certain people are happy to pay for? No, because we are not a smart watch, simply an high-end digital watch. The product is premium by its materials and craftmanship. (For example: The Slyde is water resistant up to 30m). > So, all in all my feedback is this looks like a site trying to be premium without a clear understanding of what the word means. Point taken, there is defenately some things we have to improve with the communication. Thanks for you feedback!
jryle80 12y ago
Sony wearable are powered by Android Wear. Does anyone know if Android Wear supports BLE out of the box? I suppose it does but am not sure about light devices such as Sony SmartBand. There doesn't seem to be any mentions on the page.
- dozy 12y ago
  I could be mistaken here but it seems BLE is not only "supported" but may indeed be a requirement of all Android Wear (aka Android API level 20) devices. AFAIK every Android Wear watch has noted an Android 4.3 requirement for the paired handset, which is also the API level (18) where BLE was introduced to Android.
SchizoDuckie 12y ago
It looks like flava-flav's clock on that little girl's arm http://i.imgur.com/1GJsajR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1GJsajR.jpg
skc 12y ago
Ahh, they missed a trick. Where Apple is going to kill them isn't even on functionality, but customizability. That's especially ironic considering it's iOS vs Android.
- ate356 12y ago
  Like the non-standard band the Apple watch has.
  - skc 12y ago
    Yep. It's a fashion accessory first. Not sure how Sony missed that.
    - ate356 12y ago
      If it was a fashion accessory first Apple wouldn't use a nonstandard strap.
- diydsp 12y ago
  Yeah, i think you mean for instance when it says "colors available" and there are TWO. 1. Black (okay), and 2. crazy weird yellow-green. I have no stake in this game, but srsly, you'd think they would understand that more colors/styles => more customers. And that's the easy part. Getting the electronics right was the hard part... gosh.
twodayslate 12y ago
Only 2 days of battery life. I prefer the form factor of the SmartBand, but that only has 3 days of batter life (with eink display!). I'd rather get the Garmin vivosmart which as 7 days of battery life.
taternuts 12y ago
As a Moto 360 owner, I smile a little bit with each new released smart watch that's just another ugly rectangle
Shad0w59 12y ago
Love the fact that this has a throwback Sony Sports yellow color.

23 points by SoulMan 12y ago

It looks similar to a watch I've seen all over the news. Can't remember the name of it though. (Also IP68 isn't really waterproof. I take it back, I thought it was IP67 whoops)

orjan 12y ago
OK, I'll bite. First: this watch was introduced before the Apple Watch. I doubt either Sony or Apple knowingly copied the other. Second: it's tricky to define "waterproof". IP68 specifies continuous immersion beyond 1 meter. If that's not enough for you, well... Keep looking. :)
- post_break 12y ago
  Yeah I goofed, I thought it was IP67 specs. Got them confused. Also I was just joking about the apple comparison.
morganvachon 12y ago
This is Sony's fourth attempt at a smart wristwatch, going back to 2010 with the LiveView. I have the first Sony SmartWatch (second in the whole line, released after the LiveView) and it is crap compared to watches that came after like the Pebble, which I also own and use currently. The SmartWatch 2 was a huge improvement over the previous model, but it didn't impress me enough at the time to buy it so soon after the last one; I ended up getting the Pebble instead. This one though, looks like what I'm really looking for in a smart wristwatch. I'd happily trade my Pebble for one, and probably will once they start selling it in the US. As for the waterproof rating, IP68 would be "no ingress of dust" (the "6" in the rating) and "the equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water (immersion beyond 1m)" (the "8" in the rating). That sounds pretty much waterproof to me. Now, if you mean it's not a diver's watch, well of course it isn't, and never claimed to be. A diver will wear a diver's watch, not a device that connects to a phone she wouldn't dive with anyway.
- post_break 12y ago
  Yeah I just edited my post, I goofed on the IP68 thinking it was IP67. I had the first sony smart watch and it was amazing for its time. Then I got the pebble and loved it. Now I'm onto the Moto 360 and not looking back.
  - makomk 12y ago
    IP68 is actually more waterproof than IP67 - higher digits mean better levels of protection in IP codes. IP68 is basically the highest rating possible under this standard.

paullth 12y ago

"Demand great"

bhouston 12y ago

Apple is so good with the showmanship that it seems to have sucked the air out of competing watches. Is sony even trying? BTW, this was announced back on September 3 or sooner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDDWubWKaQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDDWubWKaQ

post_break 12y ago
Mean while everyone with a Moto 360 is getting asked "Is that the Apple Watch?!?!" myself included. You should see the deflated look on their face when you tell them that the Apple watch is square.
- umsm 12y ago
  I'm not sure the deflated look is because of the shape. Apple created a lot of hype with their watch.
  - post_break 12y ago
    I don't know about that. I don't just drop the Motorola mic and walk away. They ask about it and almost everyone has said something about why the Apple watch won't be round. These people weren't techies so I can see why they thought it might be made by Apple. But they all said they wanted to get the Apple watch and seemed to be let down when the one on my wrist wasn't the Apple watch.
    - moron4hire 12y ago
      I know exactly the look you mean. It's typical modern "techie" fanaticism. I had people asking me if my first Android phone five years ago was an iPhone, and they exhibited a look that I also would only describe as "let down" or "disappointed". I use the word "techie" in quotes because, while many of those people would have described themselves as techies, I found they were really just consumers of technology. They had no functional knowledge of how anything worked or how to make anything themselves. To them, the only smartphone (or smartwatch) in existence was the Apple product, because to them the entire point was to brag about acquisition. Even within the demographic of programmers, you'll find "techies". They ask you what programming language or framework you used to build your project, then get disappointed when you didn't magically read their minds 6 months in the past and chose their darling flavor. I've got no use for such people.

krisgee 12y ago

Another boring black square. I want someone to innovate on the Moto 360 already.

arpit 12y ago
Like LG's R Watch? http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lg-g-watch-r-hands-on/ http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lg-g-watch-r-hands-on/)
- thoughtpalette 12y ago
  That actually looks pretty good! Reminds me of 007 Goldeneye for the N64.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]

RankingMember 12y ago

This torrent of chunky rectangular smart watches are all about as sexy as the Casio calculator watches from way back when. I still think those calculator watches are a cool piece of old tech, but I don't know anyone who would wear one un-ironically.

hardwaresofton 12y ago
I've owned a wide range of smart watches (sony smartwatch 1, sony smartwatch 2, galaxy gear 1), and people actually compliment me/notice the watches quite frequently -- considering what they do/contain (essentially being very small computers), they're exceptionally small
- easytiger 12y ago
  And still less useful than this from the 90s: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAWSAY http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAWSAY
  - rbinv 12y ago
    Is that affiliate tag really necessary?
    - contergan 12y ago
      Is that question really necessary?
    - easytiger 12y ago
      i removed it, didn't know what that was. I copied from amazon on a link clicked directly from google search
- stronglikedan 12y ago
  How do you like the Smartwatch 2? I have enough points on my Sony card to pick one up, but I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I would actually use it.

Kayou 12y ago

Same specs as Samsung and LG smartwatches, toy-like design, unpractical charging port, 230€, not really interesting.

cskau 12y ago
..except GPS
- fudged71 12y ago
  I haven't seen NFC on others either
- Kayou 12y ago
  Sorry, I didn't see the GPS. So if there are apps compatible with this, then it can distinguish itself from other smart-watches. Would be nice to go running without a smartphone and still tracking the speed.
  - mikestew 12y ago
    A Garmin Forerunner might be up your alley, and their GPS watches are down to around a hundred dollars these days. No other "smart" functionality, though. I leave the Pebble and Samsung Gear at home when I run.
  - unfamiliar 12y ago
    I hear this a lot, what exactly is the problem with running with a smart phone? I run with my 5S all the time and I barely notice it is there. Is this just a problem with larger screened phones? Is it really such an inconvenience that it justifies a +$200 watch to solve the problem?
    - Kayou 12y ago
      Yes, I wear my Nexus 4 on my arm and it's not the nicest thing. I previously had a 4" phone which was much better. Also, the smartwatch is nice to see your speed and the time, so you would wear it anyway (I can't really check the phone's screen on my arm, but I have audio feedback). If you can get rid of the smartphone, which is here just for the music and GPS, that's perfect. An update to android wear is going to bring bluetooth offline music, perfect for my bluetooth headset I use. Why take your smartphone with you when you don't need it?

drivingmenuts 12y ago

So, basically it's a watch and a pedometer? Can anyone please come up with something more interesting than counting the number of steps I take during the day?

TillE 12y ago
Apple's promised hearbeat sensor is a good step towards making a more advanced fitness/health device, at least. Even though I'd rather have that as a thin Fitbit-style band rather than a chunky touchscreen watch.
- marincounty 12y ago
  Yea, I think the Fitbit style is the design they should shoot for. They could use the wrist band to hide precious IC space, along with the antenna for the GPS.
- personZ 12y ago
  Note that a number of available smartwatches already have heartbeat sensors (Gear 2, Moto 360, LG G Watch R, etc). You didn't exclude this possibility, but just wanted to clarify for any who wondered.
- dozy 12y ago
  It should be noted that the Samsung Gear Live (one of the first two Android Wear devices from last June), as well as the Moto 360 both have a heart sensor, powered by an LED on the back of the device, just as Apple's will.

fla 12y ago

Shameless plug : We sell high-end digital watches ( != smart watch ) at www.slyde.ch Feedback appreciated.

marincounty 12y ago
They are just fancy jump hour watches? Or, am I missing something?
notjustanymike 12y ago
Well if you insist. You website and products looks like they were happier in the Adobe Flash era of the Internet. The navigation is a disaster; small horizontal bars with lethargic animations make me dread trying to get anywhere on the site. The font selection and logo look like you told a design intern to make something look expensive. Size wise, your website is 1,600 pixels wide. 1,600! This means you'll see horizontal scrollbars on a 15" Macbook Pro. Since it's not even remotely responsive, you've eliminated anyone coming to your site on a mobile device and even the iPad retina in portrait mode. If you can't be bothered to make it responsive (not really challenging considering the limited amount of content) at least make a mobile optimized site. Then there are pages like this: https://www.slyde.ch/en/concept/engine https://www.slyde.ch/en/concept/engine There is no reason the text should scroll on a page like that. It's a drab wall of text with no formatting, links, or really any kind of structure. Why have you made a boring wall of text -harder- to read? Why is there a carousel navigation at the bottom of the page? Circles like this are traditionally used in carousels (which themselves are universally hated), and not for entire pages. I have no idea where those buttons lead and I'm pretty sure lots of people miss them (you could test that with Google Analytics). The confusion here is compounded, since they -do- work as a carousel on the homepage. Regarding the watchfaces: am I correct in seeing you're selling these for $100 per engine?! Do you expect to compete on any meaningful level with the iWatch and Android Wear? Or is this one of those 'premium' experiences that certain people are happy to pay for? So, all in all my feedback is this looks like a site trying to be premium without a clear understanding of what the word means.
- fla 12y ago
  Thanks for the feedback. I coudn't agree more with the remarks you made about the website. It defenately needs some improvements. > Regarding the watchfaces: am I correct in seeing you're selling these for $100 per engine?! Yes. These watch faces (we call them virtual engines) are created by professional watch designers. > Do you expect to compete on any meaningful level with the iWatch and Android Wear? Or is this one of those 'premium' experiences that certain people are happy to pay for? No, because we are not a smart watch, simply an high-end digital watch. The product is premium by its materials and craftmanship. (For example: The Slyde is water resistant up to 30m). > So, all in all my feedback is this looks like a site trying to be premium without a clear understanding of what the word means. Point taken, there is defenately some things we have to improve with the communication. Thanks for you feedback!

jryle80 12y ago

Sony wearable are powered by Android Wear. Does anyone know if Android Wear supports BLE out of the box? I suppose it does but am not sure about light devices such as Sony SmartBand. There doesn't seem to be any mentions on the page.

dozy 12y ago
I could be mistaken here but it seems BLE is not only "supported" but may indeed be a requirement of all Android Wear (aka Android API level 20) devices. AFAIK every Android Wear watch has noted an Android 4.3 requirement for the paired handset, which is also the API level (18) where BLE was introduced to Android.

SchizoDuckie 12y ago

It looks like flava-flav's clock on that little girl's arm http://i.imgur.com/1GJsajR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1GJsajR.jpg

skc 12y ago

Ahh, they missed a trick. Where Apple is going to kill them isn't even on functionality, but customizability. That's especially ironic considering it's iOS vs Android.

ate356 12y ago
Like the non-standard band the Apple watch has.
- skc 12y ago
  Yep. It's a fashion accessory first. Not sure how Sony missed that.
  - ate356 12y ago
    If it was a fashion accessory first Apple wouldn't use a nonstandard strap.
diydsp 12y ago
Yeah, i think you mean for instance when it says "colors available" and there are TWO. 1. Black (okay), and 2. crazy weird yellow-green. I have no stake in this game, but srsly, you'd think they would understand that more colors/styles => more customers. And that's the easy part. Getting the electronics right was the hard part... gosh.

twodayslate 12y ago

Only 2 days of battery life. I prefer the form factor of the SmartBand, but that only has 3 days of batter life (with eink display!). I'd rather get the Garmin vivosmart which as 7 days of battery life.

taternuts 12y ago

As a Moto 360 owner, I smile a little bit with each new released smart watch that's just another ugly rectangle

Shad0w59 12y ago

Love the fact that this has a throwback Sony Sports yellow color.