Sony rolls out updates to SmartWatch 2 platform

April 22, 2014

2766d3d9eb5f3ac1155fd863c138eba2.png.3cc1cfc9599d0001badb4b32b2db09c1.png

Last month we learned Sony was working on rolling out an update that would include improvements first seen at MWC 2014. Sony has announced that they have started to roll out the update. The Sony SmartWatch 2 device which is currently supported by about 400 apps is also being updated with a couple new editions for buyers to choose. Sony has partnered to get the SmartWatch 2 to be the official accessory of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and in recognition of that has released a special “Brazil” edition of the smartwatch. Sony has also launched a “Business” edition.

One of the biggest new features Sony incorporated into their new update is customizable watch faces. These can be configured on the device itself or via a users smartphone. Users can drag and drop a variety of widgets onto the face of the smartwatch to get the information they are interested in. Some of the existing widgets include items like the date, weather info, notifications, a battery indicator, and an alarm. Sony has opened up the platform to third-party developers, so new widgets can continue to hit the market. Along with the widgets, Sony has also introduced six new wallpapers for the SmartWatch 2.

Sony includes a new calculator as a native app on the SmartWatch 2 in this latest update. This means users can access the calculator even when their smartphone is not handy. Sony has also tweaked a couple apps like Facebook and Gmail to improve how the user interacts and the level of synchronization. The notification drawer has been updated to let users mark calendar appointments as “read” from the watch. In a small change, users can now set the vibration on or off to indicate when Bluetooth is connected or not connected.

The update is available through the Google Play store.