Sony have been building Android-compatible smartwatches for some time now, but the SmartWatch 3 is their first generation Android Wear device. In terms of specification, it’s far ahead of the previous generation model but compared with its Android Wear peers, the SmartWatch 3 is very similar: it comes with a quad-core, 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, a 1.6-inch, 320 by 320 resolution display and a 420 mAh battery powering the show that should give users between one and two days of use. Sony added Wi-Fi to the SmartWatch 3, although this isn’t supported by Android Wear yet, plus the device is fully waterproof too. As with the competition, you’ll need an Android device running 4.3 Jelly Bean or later to work with your Android Wear device, but you’ll have access to the Google Now service on your wrist plus notification handling and similar.
It’s difficult for manufacturers to differentiate their smartwatch beyond the design of the device as some hardware features – such as onboard Wi-Fi – are not supported by the operating system. Here, however, Sony have included the Lifelogger application with the device, which is designed to collect fitness and lifestyle information from a number of connected devices. It can help capture and record key moments and provide wears with an overall picture of his or her life. It includes features such as major activities, milestones and fitness goals. Sony have been working on the Lifelogger application for some time and it works with all of their fitness bands; recent generations of the software have been improved immeasurably compared with earlier versions.
We’ve reported that Android 5.0 Lollipop has started arriving for various Android Wear devices across the world and we’ve now seen reports that it’s arriving for the Sony SmartWatch 3. This brings a number of improvements to the device, including new brightness and sound modes, and it makes it much easier to switch watch face using the companion application for your Android smartphone or tablet. Revised and simplified shortcut menu is now available along with the ability to undo a dismissed card, should you inadvertently swipe one away. The update is being pushed direct from Google and should arrive any day now, if not already. If you have a Sony SmartWatch 3 and have received the update to Android Lollipop, let us know in the comments below.