Sony has backed a small Italian company to produce a wristwatch that is not only rather elegant to look at, but serves up Internet content via Bluetooth wireless technology. Called the I’m Watch, the watch also displays the time of day of course.
The watch displays the time in big black lettering and underneath has space for three icons representing apps for Phone, Mail and Contacts. TheNextWeb describes it as a cross between an iPod and an expensive wristwatch, which is in essence, what it is. The phone can serve as a Bluetooth communications device, as well as a means of checking mail, stock quotes etc. Also, when tethered to a Smartphone or digital player, it can be used to listen to music. It also comes in a variety of colors.
The I’m Watch uses the Android operating system from Google to do its magic, which means it’s compatible with all other such devices, which might also soon include Microsoft devices as well. It’s also very comfortable to wear, according to TheNextWeb, who got to try some out samples first hand. Overall they seemed pleased with the watch though they did note that data speeds weren’t anywhere in the range of current Smartphones.
The folks at TheBlaze also managed to get their hands on one of the cool little gadgets and noted that it could be used as a phone of course, but also to make updates to social media sites such as Facebook, which seems really convenient, especially for someone that doesn’t like carrying around a cell phone. One drawback they note is that the battery life for the new device is only about five hours tops, if it’s used for talking a lot, which means it won’t last a normal work day, something that might cause some to pause before buying, especially considering the I’m Watch is expected to run about $300 once it goes on sale here, which should be over the next few months. Initially, all sales will be through Amazon, but that too could expand if there appears to be a demand for it.
Editors at TheBlaze also noted that the new watch doesn’t have the capability to download from regular music stores which means customers are limited to music choices made available from the manufacturer, unless of course, they are willing to tether their phones to another device. But that would seem to defeat the whole point of wearing such a watch in the first place.