Sony SmartWatch 2 launched in India for Rs. 14,990

Sony has the launched SmartWatch 2, the successor to its SmartWatch, at a price of Rs. 14,990 in the Indian market. The wearable device would be available in October.

The SmartWatch 2 was initially announced in June and Sony had promised that it would be available 'worldwide' in September.

The Sony SmartWatch 2 comes with a bigger 1.6-inch screen with higher resolution 220x176 pixels resolution, compared to the 1.3-inch screen 128x128 display on its predecessor. Sony is positioning the watch as a second-screen for your Android smartphones, letting you receive notifications from the phone as well as control its functionality.

SmartWatch 2 makes it possible to access notifications from your wrist such as messages, calls, email, Facebook or Twitter, Calendar, or use it as a remote for your Walkman or other digital media player. The SmartWatch 2 comes with a bunch of pre-installed apps, with an option to load other apps as well.

Other things you can do with the SmartWatch 2 include:

• Take a photo remotely from your SmartWatch, using a smart camera app.
• Control your presentations remotely using Presentation Pal.
• Taking a run or on the bike? Select a mapping app on SmartWatch to check your route with a quick glance at your wrist.
• Read previously downloaded e-mails when not connected to your phone.
• Use lifestyle apps like Runtastic to map and instantly track your fitness activities on the go.
• Quickly adjust the tracks and volume on your music player.

Sony SmartWatch 2 comes with NFC connectivity and can be charged via a standard Micro-USB cable. It is water-resistant (IP57) and users can customise it by using any standard 24mm strap.

The launch comes just after a day of Samsung releasing its own smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, in India for Rs. 22,990. The Galaxy Gear was announced at IFA 2013 in Berlin.


Sony SmartWatch 2 technical specifications

• Works as an NFC watch with all smartphones using Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and later
• Battery time - Low usage 7 days, Normal usage, 3-4 days (Watch always on)
• Bluetooth 3.0
• Android release: 4.0 and later
• Charging with micro USB
• Transflective LCD 1.6", pixels: 220x176
• Languages: English master, Chinese (Trad), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Portuguese, Czech, Russian, Polish, Spanish & Swedish.
• Apps/plugins ready-to-go: App recommender, Facebook, Twitter, SMS, MMS, Missed call notification, Calendar notification, Email, Google+, New events - aggregator, Missed call, RSS, Gmail, Viewfinder (remote camera shutter), Phonebook, Music player, Find phone, Call log, Weather, Time, date.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3

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Samsung has just this week unveiled the much rumoured follow-up to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. We’re about to see what has changed in the past year, but if you want more then check out our hands on: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review.

If you were watching Samsung’s Unpacked event at IFA in Berlin, holding your Note 2 and wondering whether it will be worth an upgrade to the new model, we’re here to help. We’ve handily compared both devices, to see if the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a worthy investment. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Build The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 features a new design over its predecessor boasting a soft-touch, faux leather back. With dimensions of 151.2x79.2x8.3mm the Note 3 is actually slimmer and thinner than the Galaxy Note 2 despite boasting a larger 5.7-inch display. Not only that, it's only 168 grams - 12 grams lighter than its predecessor. In terms of the Note 2, it comes in at 9.4mm thick; it’s slimmer than the original Note (9.65mm) but not as slender as the Samsung Galaxy S4. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Processor The Galaxy Note 3 has been given a serious hardware boost with the 3G model featuring the much-reported 1.9GHz octa-core processor whilst the 4G/LTE version will come sporting a 2.3GHz Qualcomm quad-core processor. There’s an impressive 3GB RAM and it will come with either 32 or 64GB of storage with microSD support up to 64GB as well. The main additions to the Note 3 stem from its power, and the brand new Air Command function. Hovering over the screen with your S-Pen and pressing a button on the side of the Pen brings up a new menu, with a number of new features – something not available on the previous model. It’ll also come running the latest version of Android, 4.3, something which has not yet made its way over to the Note 2 The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was definitely no slouch, packing a 1.6GHz quad core processor plus 2GB of RAM. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Screen The first thing many people will notice on the Note 3 is the display, bumped up to 5.7 inches the screen is a Full HD Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1920x1080 and a pixel density of 386ppi. The screen on the Note 2 was 5.5-inches and still HD Super AMOLED quality which means you could expect deep blacks and brilliantly vivid colours. Samsung seems to be getting ever closer to that 6-inch size, with the Note 3 improving on its predecessors display. Who knows what size they will hit this time next year.   Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Camera In the Note 2’s camera department, there was a respectable 8-Megapixel rear-facing snapper with auto focus that could be adjusted on the screen and an LED Flash. Interestingly, the front-facing camera capable of HD recording was just 1.9-Megapixels down slightly from the 2-Megapixel one on the original Note. The Note 3 packs a 13MP camera that, as rumoured, will be able to shoot Ultra-HD 4K video at 30fps, FHD at 60fps and even Slow Motion at 120fps. There's a 2MP camera on the front as well for selfies and of course Samsung's Dual Shot, Dual Recording and Dual Video Call features. A definite improvement, specs wise anyway, over the previous model. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Operating System Both devices are based on the Android platform, though it has been heavily customised thanks to the additions of TouchWiz - Samsung’s skin. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 features a whole host of additions including a new magazine feature, improved support for the S-Pen and a redesigned S-Notes application. We’re not sure yet which features may make the jump to the older hardware, though we’ll be sure to update you once we known more. We do know that Samsung’s Smartwatch – the Galaxy Gear will work with the Note 3 and Note 3 10.1 at launch, though an update should enable it to play nice with the Note 2 Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Verdict The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is the brand's most powerful mobile device ever and finally the first Note with a build quality that reflects the price. If you’re in the market for an extra-large device, with a speedy processor and a whole boat load of added features, the Note 3 could be just that. However you’ll have to stay tuned for a full review when we’ve had more time to play with it. Head over to our IFA hub for much more coverage from the Berlin based tech conference

Next-generation iPad mini makes a video appearance along with next-generation iPad

Apple is expected to refresh its iPad and iPad mini tablets this fall and we have already seen some leaked images and videos claiming to feature parts of the next-generation iPads.

A few days back, Unbox Theory posted a video on YouTube comparing the alleged back and front panels of the new iPad with that of the current iPad, clearly showing how the fifth-generation iPad would be much narrower and feature a form factor similar to that of the iPad mini.

The same user has now posted a new video in which he compares the purported back shell of the next-generation iPad mini with that of the alleged casing of the fifth-generation iPad and the current iPad mini.

The next-generation iPad mini looks pretty similar to the current iPad mini except that the Apple logo on the back sports a Silver mirror finish instead of Black just like the alleged next-generation iPad. The alleged next-generation iPad mini has the same dimensions but the video mentions that it's likely to feature a Retina display.

As per the video, the iPad mini 2 is 13.5cm wide and 20cm tall, while the alleged next-generation iPad is 17cm wide and 24cm tall. The thickness of the new iPad mini is almost similar to the fifth-generation iPad, as seen in the video. 

A number of rumours including a report by the credible Wall Street Journal, have suggested that Apple is modelling its next-generation iPad on the iPad mini in terms of design and form factor. The WSJ report suggested that the new iPad will feature the same touch-panel technology that's seen in the iPad mini, making it thin and light, and adds that Apple intends to use the film-based touch panel used in the iPad mini instead of the glass-based one that is sported by the full-sized iPad.

Pictures of alleged back panels of the next-generation iPad and iPad mini had also appeared online on a website. The iPad mini panel looked similar to the rear housing of the current iPad mini in the images, however, the Apple logo on the casing had been carved out and not just printed on the panel. Apart from this, the housing was not much different from that of the current iPad mini. The picture had also revealed that the casing would not have the 'iPad' branding.