By The Mobile Asia Expo is going down this week, and it looks like one company repping Japan — that being Sony — will be on hand to show off some new wares. The company has confirmed that it will be on-hand with a press event for the region this week with some new announcements. Thankfully, we have a bit of an idea regarding what those announcements will bring ahead of time.
For starters, Sony looks to be bringing us a new smart watch. This new model will look familiar to owners of Sony’s first model, though we imagine there’s only so much you can do to a smart watch. According to a source of Cnet’s, the watch will include NFC technology, a bit of a first for the form factor.
If true, it would make for one of the most perfect marriages between smartphones and tablets. Just imagine being able to sync information, apps, and data by tapping your smartphone to your wrist — it would be a lot better than having to pair the watch up with your smartphone using standard, convoluted Bluetooth pairing methods.
The smart watch will reportedly have a slightly bigger display, will be a tad bit weather resistant, and will run Android with customizations to make it easier to use on a tiny display. That this is coming this week isn’t a huge secret — Sony itself tipped us off to that much with a teaser post on its Twitter account — but it’s nice to have a bit of an idea of what to expect.
Sony is also said to be launching a new 5-inch mid-range smartphone this week. Dubbed the “Sony Xperia C,” this device will reportedly sport qHD resolution and will have a 1.2GHz quad-core processor by MediaTek. We’re also told to expect 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage (with expansion via a microSD card slot), an 8 megapixel Exmor R sensor, and will run Android 4.2.2 to start.
The device is said to be targeted toward the Chinese market, which makes sense considering the venue at which it will be unveiled. Its dual-SIM aspirations also fit this region quite well. Sony’s happenings kick off tomorrow (or late tonight / very early morning for those of us in the western world) so be sure to circle back for all the latest that comes out of the event.
[via XperiaBlog]
The “tad bit weather resistant” part kills me. It isn’t of much use if it can’t be waterproof. That is why I enjoy my Pebble.
So the Pebble can actually be submerged underwater? I’m expecting this watch to be able to survive being rained on, but from what you’re saying, the Pebble can stay on your wrist while swimming or bathing. (For those times your watch get’s so comfortable you forget it’s there then you’re glad that it’s water proof. LoL!!)
Yes. I have swam in both chlorinated pools and the ocean with the Pebble on and I shower with it on daily because I do not like to remove my watch. It has a 5M water resistance rating.
Ah!! That’s lovely to hear. I NEED a water proof watch. As you may have noticed, I forget watches are on my wrist and just jump into the pool. LoL!!
sexy watch
Bring out the Xperia ZU!
I hope its a bit thinner than the old sony smart watch.
If the watch is $100.00 or less it’s an insta-buy for me.
Lets hope the batter lasts at least 7 days to be useful.