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The smartwatch market is a bit tricky. Despite the fact that it has great potential, manufacturers have not quite hit the target with such devices. Motorola is one of the most notable players in the smartwatch market, with its MOTOACTV. And Motorola has just updated this bad boy, making it a bit more efficient.
After connecting the MOTOACTV, users will be prompted to an update. New features include longer battery life, a battery status bar, the ability to lock the screen, enhanced auto-pause and auto-run and the ability to repeat a planned workout (even if previously started).
It seems like Motorola will have to do much more to make this product more desirable, though. Even though it is one of the most popular smart watches out there, it lacks much functionality. Developers have even resorted to hacking it and installing a Honeycomb launcher on it.
Granted, Honeycomb does not work or look great on a 1.6-inch screen. But this just displays how badly users want a better experience with it. With competitors like the Sony Smart Watch and the WIMM One, among others, it is time Motorola gets to work. Especially if they plan to keep their price, which is not necessarily the most affordable, starting at $250 (Price has recently gone down to about $206 on Amazon).
Check out the press release for more details and let us know what you think. Are you a MOTOACTV user? Let us know how the update is treating you! Also, what do you guys think would make this device more enticing?
[Via Droid-Life]
What functionality does it lack that the WImm and Sony watch have? First and foremost it’s a fitness device not just a watch for you to get your notifications on, which is all the Wimm and Sony watch is. The only thing I see that Sony can do that the Motoactv can’t is install apps. The Motoactv is more of a complete device.
One of my friends had this thing. I simply cant understand why it costs so much. You cant really do anything useful on it. If you can handle reaching down in your pocket for your phone… you have no reason to buy this watch.
It’s geared for people who run and workout. It has GPS, something the Sony smart watch doesn’t have. It has notifications just like the other two. It can also carry 16GB worth of music and other files..
The Motoactv is not a smart watch or just a mp3 player….it’s a fitness gps device, which puts it in the same category as the Garmin devices.
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=dp_brlad_entry?ie=UTF8&node=617647011
A lot of people complain about the price, but when you compare it to the Garmin devices, the Motoactv is actually priced very competitively for that market segment.
Exactly what I said, don’t understand the comparison.
I just won one via online contest. Haven’t received in mail yet. Will let you know. Probably gonna try flashing honeycomb or ICS for the hell of it.
It’s been said before, if you have never charted your run route then this device is not for you.
This is a HUGE step up from the Garmin devices.
So is there:
8-16 gig of mem on the Sony Smart Watch?
can the sony smartwatch be used independentely without an android phone to use as an mp3 player?
Can the sony Smart watch Track your outdoor/indoor workouts and connect to heart rate monitors without the use of a phone?
Does the Sony Smart Watch have wifi, gps and bluetooth 4?
Read about a device before you bash it! Ill be the first to buy a sony smart watch, i got the motoactv for my workouts and long battery life for my workouts, the Motoactv is the cheapest device for what it does.