From a design point of view the watch is pretty smart (see what we did there?), measuring 36mm square, and coming in at just 8mm thick. The SmartWatch unit weighs in at a meagre 15.5 grams, but despite this, it’s still quite sturdy. The white plastic backing which houses a clip for attaching either to the watch strap or onto your clothes (in a similar way you would an iPod Shuffle) helps here. On the front of the watch is a 1.3-inch multi-touch OLED black glass display from which you control the device, and a metallic frame around the clock face gives the device a modern and sleek look.

With only one silver tactile key positioned down the right side for powering on and off and waking up out of sleep mode, the design is kept minimalist and chic. As the clip can attached to any band, you could even use a designer watch strap to give an extra bit of class to this already fashionable timepiece.

Software and Multimedia

Compatible with any Android mobile running 2.0 or above, the SmartWatch isn’t just a gadget for those carrying Sony (or Sony Ericsson) kit. Open to a wide multitude of Android phones, Sony doesn’t discriminate against your blower brand of choice.

You may be asking “Just how does this little piece of gadgetry work?”, and the simple answer is via Bluetooth technology. To get things up and running, you first have to pair the watch to your handset via Bluetooth. Providing you have Sony’s LiveWare manager software on your phone (this can be downloaded from the Android Market for free) your SmartWatch will connect to your phone, allowing you to use it as a sort of remote control, and also to keep yourself updated with what’s happening on your mobile.

One of the handy functions is call commands, allowing you to see at a glance who is ringing you, then choose to mute, reject or answer the call, offering loads more control than the LiveView watch that came before this one. Hooking up to your mobile via a hands free kit or Bluetooth headset means you’ll be able to answer a call without touching your phone at all, making it ideal for keeping your hands free when exercising (or if you’re in a dodgy area and really don’t want to produce your device from your pocket).

Texts and emails are also accessible from the SmartWatch meaning business bods can keep updated with all their channels of communication, even in situations where it’s not appropriate to whip out your phone such as meetings. With loads of widgets available to download you can customise the watch with the specific functions to suit your needs (which makes it accessible for everyone to adapt to their particular lifestyle).

Facebook and Twitter accounts can be loaded too, creating a quick and easy way for social butterflies to get their feed fix. If you’re also a lover of snapshots but often have no one on hand to take a photo, you can also use the watch as a camera remote. By viewing the shot on the watch face to line it up correctly, you then give it a tap to take the picture. Ace! Say goodbye to those dodgy timer photos you sometimes get where everyone’s heads are cut off.

Fitness fanatics are also catered for, with widgets such as Endomondo which plans outdoor workouts using GPS to track your progress and offers directions on which way to go. The inclusion of music controls are ideal for people who like to exercise, enabling users to skip through tracks and pause when needed while keeping hands free to do other stuff. The SmartMaps function offers directions for when for when you’re out and about either on foot or in your car, and setting up the location on your phone means you can even check the weather before starting your workout.

Another cool little addition is the ‘Find Phone’ function that when activated gets your lost phone to omit a loud ringtone, allowing you to find it down the back of the sofa or wherever else the little rogue has scampered off to. Funnily enough, the watch actually tells you the time too (did you think we’d forgot to mention that?), with a digital 24-hour clock appearing as you wake the device up from sleep mode.

Performance Verdict

One of the really impressive features of the Sony SmartWatch is the battery life. Usually dejected by silly smartphone batteries with the same the life expectancy of a lemming, we were mega impressed when the watch lasted not only a day, but four! This was with moderate use, and as a rough guide Sony says heavy usage will give you a day’s power, but last up to seven days with light usage.

All in all, the Sony SmartWatch is definitely a Jack of all trades, offering many features that if used for a specific purpose (such as helping with workouts), can be really useful. If you’re a techy kind of person who’s into your gadgets then this bit of kit will suit you down to the ground. There are limitations however, as with any Bluetooth device, and the fact you have to be within 10 metres of your phone is a little restricting, but the good points by far outweigh the bad.

At a fraction of the cost of similar devices offering lesser functionality, the Sony SmartWatch is a great choice if you’re looking to invest in a gadget of this kind. With its dashing good looks, feature-packed nature and navigation chops, this is certainly one to watch out for.

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