Sony has released an Android powered watch that will allow you to control and use some of your phones features from your wrist. This Sony Smartwatch doesn’t actually hold the apps on itself but runs via a bluetooth connection with your Android Phone. Some of the benefits of the Android Smartwatch is the fact that you can see whos calling from your wrist, read text messages, see weather and of course the time without pulling your phone out of your pocket. There are many more features to the watch but here we will focus on syncing the watch with your Android phone.
Whether you have lost the setup instructions or just don’t want to read through them this is here for you. The smartwatch is easily setup and will likely be one of your favorite Android accessories.
How to Setup the Sony Android Smartwatch:
Turn on your Sony Smartwatch, you will notice it trying to sync
On your phone go to your wireless settings and turn on your Bluetooth
On your Phone scan for devices, the smartwatch will show up on your phone
Select it to pair with the device
Verify the connection on both your phone and smartwatch
On your phone go to the Android Market and Download “LiveWare Manager”
Turn off your Smartwatch and Open Liveware on your phone
Turn your Smartwatch back on and you will get a notification on your phone
Say “OK” and it will take you to the Android Market, Download the Watch app
Once the app is downloaded it will start on its own
After a few seconds you will see the current time on your watch
Congrats you are now synced!
Once synced you will see that there are no apps on the watch and it is literaly just a watch at this point. You can download apps by tapping the watch Manager in your notification bar. The video above will explain the steps above in a little more detail along with downloading your first few smartwatch apps. If you have any issues please feel free to drop a line below.
Verizon has released an update to their version of the Xperia Play bringing it to software version 4.02.E.0.57. Before you get too excited this is an Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update and not Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The update will bring some updated bloatware and camera improvements. See below for full feature list from the 4.02.E.0.57 update.
Verizon Xperia Play Android 2.3.4 Update Features:
Verizon Wireless Video on Demand now comes preloaded.
Improved user experience and new delivery method of preloaded games.
When connected via Bluetooth®, the Music Player now supports
Fast Forward and Rewind.
VZ Navigator® has been updated with the latest 3D map improvements.
Upgraded to Gingerbread 2.3.4 operating system.
A long-press of the power button will successfully capture
a screen shot.
Charging issues forcing device to remain in landscape
mode have been resolved.
Recommended contacts now populate correctly when
using the dialpad.
Camera Improvements: Right trigger successfully captures a picture – Record video in 720p with continuous auto-focus.
Device is now enabled with the Wireless Emergency Alerting System.
Mobile Hotspot ID broadcast can be turned off to increase security.
It doesn’t look like Android 4 ICS is in the plans for Verizon to release to the device although you can hold your breath if you’d like. Let us know if you have received the update and what you think of it.
Most of us love our bluetooth headsets but what if you didn’t need one and you could just get in the car and it was all taken care of by a little device on your sun visor? Well Sony Ericsson has created a bluetooth car speakerphone that does just his and is compatible with any smartphone that has bluetooth connectivity (we will go ahead and say if you have a smartphone then your good).
Sony Ericsson HCB-120 Bluetooth Car Speakerphone
A stylish and convenient Bluetooth speakerphone for use in your car, home or office. The HCB-120 discreetly attaches to your sun visor or any other flat surface, enabling total hands-free functionality.
Sony’s flagship phone the Xperia S has been out for only a few weeks now and already has an unofficial port of CyanogenMod 9 and ClockworkMod Recovery available. We say unofficial because the CM9 (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) ROM was not released officially by CyanogenMod but a few devs over at XDA. As long as you know your way around Android and its bootloader you can now get CM9 on your Xperia S.
Both of the mods are available via modified versions of the originals using a process called “changing”. The recovery was created by “DoomLoRD” and has a completely custom and altered user interface. All of your daily needed functions are working on the DooMRecovery and CyanogenMod 9.
A few of the missing features in the CM9 port are the HDMI-out, FM radio and ANT+ for GPS tracking although everything else has been reported as working. If your Xperia S is not already rooted you will need to go through the command line process of flashing a new kernel. Currently the ROM and Recovery are available although you will need better than a novice understanding of Android and Flashing processes. If your interested in the ROM but are worried about your Xperia S bricking I would wait for the next iteration.
DooMLoRD’s ClockworkMod Recovery and Kernel (Site Link)
FXP’s CyanogenMod 9 for the Xperia S (Download Link)
Sony has developed an Android smartwatch that connects to your Android powered device via bluetooth. This device has been availabel in the UK for about a month and is now available ion the US. This watch sells for $150 at Sony’s online store (which is currently sold out) although for now anyway you can get the watch for $117.99 at Expansys (link below).
The Sony Smartwatch allows you to read text messages, emails, status updates, control your music and many other tasks from your wrist. On top of this Google Play will have apps specifically for the smartwatch so that you can make it do a bit more. If you get one please let us know how you like it.
Many Sony Xperia smartphones are getting the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich updates right now. The Xperia devices will be slowly receiving the updates until early summer and at that time should be done rolling out. The first countries that will see the updates that are currently pushing out are Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Norway.
Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich Updates are expected for:
Xperia arc
Xperia Play
Xperia neo
Xperia mini
Xperia mini pro
Xperia pro
Xperia active
Android-power Walkman
While it may take until summer to get the ICS update to your Sony device it is nice to see Sony making the effort to get Android 4.0.3 on all of their devices so quickly. Sony has even offered Beta builds for those that want it before the official rollout. Keep in mind that the Beta builds can void your warranty if installed though.
If you own a Sony Google TV unit then you can finally get root access on it, you will however need 4 usb memory sticks and a basic knowledge of your device. It does require you to flash the device although well worth it if you know what your doing. Kellex at Droid-life says:
“It does involve flashing your system back to a vulnerable software release which then hijacks the upgrade back to a current version to give you a new kernel and root access. That was a mouthful.”
BETA: Enable NTFS Support for Sony Google TV devices (see wiki for instructions on how to add: GTVHacker.com: Sony NTFS)
The process is completely software hacking and does not require any changes to hardware. This will also speed up your Google TV noticeably. Please let us know if you complete the process and how everything went.
Sony announced the Xperia S during its press conference yesterday, the first of the Xperia NXT series phones. This Xperia S is a dual-core 1.5GHz phone that we have previously discussed code named Nozomi.
Sony Xperia S Features:
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Dual-core 1.5GHz processor
4.3 inch HD display
12 MP camera
1 GB RAM
I know we mention that the device runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread in the features above although Sony has promised that the device will get an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in Q2 2012. The release date for the new Xperia S is said to be Q1 of this year.
It looks like Sony now has the Xperia arc S available for order on their website. From what we have found you will be able to get this unlocked version of the arc S this week in the US.
The Sony Xperia arc S is a 4.2 inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread device with a Mobile Bravia Engine display. It sports a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm processor and 8 MP camera coming in 4 different colors. If your interested in the device it will set you back $499 to buy unlocked directly from Sony. If you plan on waiting for a carrier discounted price there is no date right now that we can find.
If you get your hands on one of these Sony Xperia arc S phones let us know what you think. Check out Sony’spress release below for more information:
XPERIA arc S AND XPERIA neo V FROM SONY ERICSSON ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.
The Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V from Sony Ericsson are now available for purchase in the U.S. at the Sony Store. The Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V showcase an enhanced entertainment experience with the latest Sony technology and Android™ operating system, version 2.3.4 (Gingerbread).
The Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V feature Sony’s groundbreaking 3D sweep panorama technology, which enables image capture and viewing in 3D by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output, so you can show off those amazing pictures from your last vacation or that video of the flash mob you saw today to your friends and family.
This version of Android™ Gingerbread includes new functionality and features that allow you to benefit from improvements to Sony Ericsson’s unique Facebook inside Xperia™. Share, see, like and comment on all your favorite stuff – from tracks on your music player to photos from your gallery and even apps and games downloaded on your phone.
Xperia™ arc S Key Features and Pricing:
Android™ 2.3.4 operating system
1.4 GHz processor
8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor
4.2″ Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine® Engine
3D and 2D sweep panorama photography
Available in Pure White, Gloss Black, Midnight Blue, and Misty Silver
MSRP $549.99, unlocked
Xperia™ neo V Key Features and Pricing:
Android™ 2.3.4 operating system
3.7″ capacitive, multi-touch screen
5 megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom
Front-facing camera
Available in Pearl White, Silver, and Blue Gradient
MSRP $349.99, unlocked
Android™ 2.3.4 – At a Glance*
Xperia™ smartphones introducing world’s first 3D sweep panorama functionality powered by Sony
Updated Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities
Gesture input – text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next
New features including Google™ Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras
Availability:
The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V are available unlocked, at Sony Store. Additional availability can be found at other retailers such as Newegg.com starting early December. Check for pricing and availability.
If your on the AT&T network and are waiting for an Android phone with a gamepad your wait is over. On September 18th (as in a week away) AT&T will have the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G. Not only can you now get this device but its going to cost only $49.99 with a 2 year contract. This Playstation phone is a gamers dream with a full slide out gamepad.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G (AT&T version will be Bluish in Color)
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G Features:
1 GHz CPU
Adreno 205 GPU
Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread
4 inch 480×854 display
60 fps graphics for gameplay
5 MP rear camera
Front VGA Camera for video chat
The Xperia Play even though stating that it is a 4G phone will actually be running on AT&T’s HSPA+ network and not a truly 4G network. The device will come with a multimedia dock station that will turn the phone screen into a clock and a MC100 music cable to allow the phone to be connected to external speakers.
On top of the accessories your Xperia Play will have some free really cool games like Dungeon Defenders Second Wave, Asphalt 6 Adrenaline, Star Battalion, Madden NFL 11, The Sims 3, Tower Bloxx, and Crash Bandicoot.
We aren’t sure how well the phone will sell on AT&T although it does hit a demographic that AT&T currently does not support well. Let us know if you get your hands on one and what you think.
How to Setup the Sony Android Smartwatch:
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