The world on your wrist

What is it? Apple's got the iPod Nano, Motorola's got the Motoactv. And now Sony has launched its own wrist-tech gadget, the SmartWatch. Wait, didn't Sony Ericsson have a similar gadget recently? That's correct. In 2010 Sony Ericsson launched a Bluetooth accessory for Android handsets called LiveView. The tiny 1.3-inch device was an extension of the smartphone where one could check incoming calls, control music and manage social networking apps. Attachable to watch straps and keychains, the LiveView was a nice addition (some might say unnecessary — What? You're too lazy to pull your smartphone out of your pocket?) to our wireless world. So what's special about the SmartWatch? Showcased at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the SmartWatch takes the LiveView to the next level. Featuring a sleeker design and powered by Android Honeycomb, this one lets users download apps directly via the device from the Android Market. It is a watch, yes, but not just any watch. Once hooked up to your Android phone, the 1.3-inch full-touch OLED-screen device will vibrate with incoming calls that you can reject or accept without having to pull out your phone. You can also read SMS, e-mails, Facebook and Twitter updates, and check the weather. No, you won't be able to input text, but you wouldn't want to do that on such a tiny screen anyway. To customise, you can also download various apps that have already been developed specifically for this device and turn your SmartWatch into something more fun. The company has announced that the wristbands will be available in pink, mint, blue, white, grey and black. If you don't like to wear it on your wrist, remove the strap and clip it on to anything. The SmartWatch is also water and dust proof and so it is hopefully built for rough terrain. When is it available and for how much? The Sony SmartWatch is expected to be available in the US in March for Dh550. No word yet on the Middle East market.