El Sony SmartWatch It is one of those devices that, despite being less known, They are doing more for AndroidYes, it's a watch, with an innovative design, but it's something more. It's a kind of link to your mobile phone with which you can access many of its functions from your wrist And without having to take your device out of your pocket. Now Sony has released the source code for two of its extensions. We'll soon see how developers get the most out of them.
With the SmartWatch You can link and synchronize all Sony Xperia phones, but it is also understood with a good part of the HTC, Motorola or Samsung models. Via Bluetooth, establishes a connection with the terminal and we will be able to view most of the notifications that the phone receivesThis includes text messages, emails, Facebook wall updates, or tweets on Twitter. Even with a wireless headset, we can answer calls from the watch's touchscreen.
And that's just the beginning. In Google play there are dozens of specific applications to get the most out of this smartwatch. But Sony wants more. Although the SmartWatch arrives on the market for a very short time, the Japanese company is determined to make the most of its possibilities and the strategy it has taken has been to release parts of its source code so that developers can do the rest with their imagination.
The latest was announced today: two of the extensions for the SmartWatch are already open source. The first is an extension for the android music player, which will make it possible control your execution on your mobile from the watch of the wrist. The second extension is called the 8 Game, a puzzle game which can be played on the smartwatch.
Open project and tools to create new experiences
In addition to the classic Sony Add-on SDK, the Open SmartWatch Project of the brand facilitates alternative firmware and documentation for system-level experimentation. There is a guide to flash the watch, technical information on the hardware and recommendations for use, along with initiatives such as hackathons in collaboration with maker communities (e.g. Arduino) to accelerate the creation of real ideas. The goal is clear: that anyone with knowledge can take control of the SmartWatch and extend it with its own peripherals and services.
Best practices for SmartWatch 2 extensions
- Optimize traffic: : In wearables, energy matters. Avoid sending large images or constant updates that drain the battery or saturate the data queue.
- Custom design: The SmartWatch 2 screen is X; draws at exactly that resolution and uses icons from 48 x 48 for the input screen. Avoid placing buttons too close to the edges.
- Native gestures: take advantage of taps and swipes of the Control API to navigate naturally and reduce unnecessary touches.
- Discoverability on Google Play: adds the string to the description Smart Connect extension for SmartWatch 2 so that your app appear in searches leaked by the Sony ecosystem.
- Useful technical details: the clock can store up to 30 events by extension; the maximum number of simultaneous views in a layout is 50; and the vibrator has minimum times of 250 ms and an approximate continuous maximum before shutting off to save battery.
Open Source Alternatives: AsteroidOS for Android Watches
For watches that are left without official support, the community maintains asteroids, a Linux distribution open source focused on the essentials: Notifications, alarm, calendar, timer, weather forecast, music remote control, flashlight, heart rate monitor and even a game. It allows customize spheres and connect to the phone via Low consumption Bluetooth, with advanced features such as Always-on and gestures (e.g. shake to turn on).
Its limits: does not support third-party Wear OS apps and list of compatible models It is not yet universal, although it already includes OPPO Watch, Huawei Watch 2, Fossil Gen, Asus ZenWatch (several generations), L y Sony SmartWatch 3, among others. Autonomy is usually situated between 1 and 4 days depending on hardware and battery status. Installation requires following guidelines per model: activate ADB debugging, install drivers, run commands and, on certain watches, access internal connectorsThe project offers detailed documentation and, in some cases, dual boot to maintain the original system.
Install APK on SmartWatch 2 and verify security
If you download the clock app outside of Google Play, enable the option to install from unknown sources only during the process. On recent Android phones, it's granted to each app you install; on older versions, it's a global setting. Typical steps: 1) download the Smartwatch SW2 APK on your phone; 2) open Downloads and tap the file; 3) confirm the installation. Then, disable unknown sources.
For added confidence, you can check the package signature: Package: com.sonymobile.smartconnect.smartwatch2. MD5: 62C3521253D5D9E6588B76DEC6A380C9. SHA1: 330DF1D4F77968C397FF53D444089BB46DC330F1. SHA256: BC01A8CD9E5D87854F6DC4C84AED49EDC34AC196C00B89623CEA6CCBBDEA627B.
Real-life apps and uses on the SmartWatch 2
In a scenario where some manufacturers limit compatibility, Sony's approach shines by opening up to third-party applications. Useful examples: Checkout to quick settings (WiFi, sound, battery) without taking out your phone; Find It to locate the phone with light, sound or vibration depending on the situation; GPS Maps to see your position from the wrist during sports or travel; or WebBrowser to specific queries in a specific place.
In security, extensions of self-locking activate a PIN when the connection with the watch is lost and deactivate it when it is recovered; others trigger a distance alarm to avoid oversights. In notifications, there are approaches and conditions y specific: solutions such as WatchNotifier (automatic deletion of events when turning on the screen), WatchIt (wide app support) or Wristn (smart blacklist from the watch itself) helps filter and prioritize what really matters.
The idea is to open the watch to new uses. The device currently uses Android and can perform many of the tasks we cover with a smartphone. Apple, Samsung, and Google are some of the companies developing smartwatches. However, several models of this type of device have already been created, some of which are currently on the market. One such device is the Sony SmartWatchIn what could be a very interesting move, Sony has decided to give developers the option to install alternative software. on the watch. The company has even created a guide for hacking the phone. It's currently possible to create apps for the smartwatch, but the Open SmartWatch Project would bring those options to the firmware level. Consumers are advised to keep the original system. Sony's idea is that developers can find new ways to use the clock.
The Sony SmartWatch has a screen 1,3 inches with a resolution of 128 × 128 pixelsThis is enough to read emails, text messages, and calendars. The watch is integrated with social networks like Facebook and Twitter. It works with touchscreen technology. It's not a discreet watch, It is 12,8 millimeters thickAnother area for improvement is performance, since it needs to be recharged daily. According to the specifications, with little use the battery should last 7 days. At present, The price of the phone reaches 129 euros. The SmartWatch It is compatible with most devices with AndroidThere are different time dials and, to increase battery life, the display does not show the time permanently. application system is similar to that of a smartphone: downloads from Google Play, configurable home screen and predefined responses to messages given the keyboard limitations.
Combining Sony open sourcea whirlpool bath, active community that proposes alternative systems and an ecosystem of well-designed extensions makes this watch a great foundation for curious users and developers who want to take Android on their wrist to the next level.
