Not convinced by the smartwatch hype? Fear not. Sony today unveiled the SmartBand Talk, a Bluetooth-enabled wearable that builds upon its ‘Core’ and SmartBand products.
The biggest change is a 1.4-inch, curved e-ink display. Sony’s original ‘Core’ and SmartBand SWR10 fitness tracker, unveiled in January and released in the US only a few months ago, didn’t and required an Android smartphone in order to review physical activity. The low-fidelity display alleviates that problem, while offering up to three days of charge with its 70mAh battery.
As the name implies, Sony’s SmartBand Talk also comes with a built-in microphone and speaker. This can be used for basic voice commands or taking calls from your smartphone; it’s not clear exactly how many people want to talk to their wrist Dick Tracy-style, but the option is there nonetheless.
The device is centered around Lifelog, a service Sony offers for tracking not just fitness, but also the entertainment you consume and other important life moments. It’ll be available this autumn for roughly €159 ($209). When exact pricing and release dates are confirmed, we’ll be sure to let you know.
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