SmartWatch 2 and Xperia Z Ultra Release Date, Specs: Sony Mobile Announces New Pair of Android-Based Devices
BySony mobile announced Tuesday a pair of new Android-based devices: a smartwatch and a smartphone, Computerworld reported.
The SmartWatch 2 will have a 1.6-inch, 220x176-pixel LCD color display and the Xperia Ultra Z will have a 6.44-inch, 1,920x1080-pixel HD display. Both were announced at the Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai and neither have a set release date or price in the U.S.
SW2 is expected to be available worldwide by September and the Ultra is due out in the third quarter.
When standing on its own, SW2 is a digital watch on which the use can also read previously received notifications. When paired with Bluetooth 3.0, it acts as a compliment to the smartphone and pairs easily with one touch. The watch can snap photos, take calls, control apps remotely, monitor mapping apps and it can act as a second screen.
Stefan Persson, Sony's head of companion products, said the company introduced its first Bluetooth watch in 2007.
"Competitors are only now launching first-generation devices, while we are already launching a 3d generation devices with the insight gained from over half a million customers, combined with Sony's wealth of technology expertise to create the best ever smartphone experience," he said.
He also said there are already 200 unique apps for the SmartWatch with one million downloads and counting. He also said he believes, based on analytics, that 41 million smart watches will be sold by 2016.
Apple, Microsoft and Samsung are also reportedly developing a smart watch for release within the next year.
The Xperia Z Ultra will run Android's 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system and will come in purple, as well as black and white. Sony used its Triluminos display technology also used for the company's Bravia HD TV. The display has 16.7 million colors and reproduces missing pixels to optimize an image.
It weighs 0.46 pounds and is just 0.25 inches thick; Sony said it is the world's slimmest full HD smartphone. Full specs were not released, but Sony boasted another feature, that it is the first waterproof full HD smartphone.