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Thursday, September 4, 2014

New flagship smartphones and a new Android watch from Sony

Sony has announced a collection of new devices at the IFA consumer electronics show.

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The Sony Xperia Z3 has a 5.2-inch (1920 x 1080 pixel) display and a 20.7 megapixel camera. It runs Android on a Qualcomm 2.5GHz quad-core processor and, like its predecessor, is waterproof and dust-tight. There’s also a smaller version, the Z3 Compact, with slightly lower specs.

Multimedia features on the Xperia Z3 include 4K video recording, video stabilisation, HDR for photos and videos, object focus tracking, high-resolution audio and front-facing stereo speakers.

Two new wearable devices were revealed: the Sony Smartwatch 3 and the Sony SmartBand Talk.

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Sony’s Smartwatch 3 (which has a model number of SWR50) uses the Android Wear platform. Equipped with a 1.6-inch colour screen, it works with an Android-powered smartphone to relay messages, appointments, weather updates and other useful information.

SmartBand Talk is a fitness tracker with a built-in microphone and speaker, which means users can use it to make and receive phone calls. It uses a 1.4-inch ‘always on’ monochrome e-paper display.

Both watch-type devices respond to voice control and can connect with Sony’s Lifelog app to record fitness achievements and other memorable moments.

Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications, said “Life is a journey, and journeys are made up of stories and experiences that define you – this is the underlying principle for Lifelog, the Android app at the heart of our SmartWear Experience. We’re going beyond mere fitness tracking and number crunching, to help you log and preserve those emotional moments that matter. As a pioneer of smart and wearable technology, SmartBand Talk, SmartWatch 3 and Lifelog don’t merely affirm Sony’s leadership in the space, but as the innovators who dare to be different – bringing the world choice; products and services no else can, or will.”

SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3 are expected to be available from the autumn.

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