WIMM Wants to Make the Android Wrist Computer a Functional Tool
The Android wrist computer/wristwatch isn’t a new concept — the Sony Ericsson LiveView comes to mind, but its dependency on an connecting to an Android handset to realize its true functionality eliminated a large part of its usefulness. What good is running with the LiveView strapped to your body if you still need to carry your phone to track the vitals? Not so with the WIMM Wearable Platform. The device is designed with the same form fact but is capable of so much more. At 1-inch-by-1-inch, the WIMM can stand alone, dock into a wrist strap, a belt clip, or a bike mount. The possibilities are myriad. Sure, the WIMM can sync to your Android handset just like the LiveView, but thanks to a 667MHz CPU, WiFi, BlueTooth, accelerometer, magnometer, vibrator, speaker, and microSD support, the tiny computer running Android acts as its own device, independently capable of running apps that take advantage of its many sensors.
We haven’t seen the smartwatch catch on just yet, but perhaps that is because it hasn’t been done right. Cramming what amounts to the innards of your average mid-range handset into a tiny package with its own set of “micro apps” seems like a good start. As with all things, its adoption will depend on factors such as pricing, developer support, and third-party accessories. No word on when it might reach consumer’s hands, but the hardware and SDK will be made available to interested developers this quarter.
[via BetaNews]