The device, which doesn’t work on a standalone basis but rather must be paired with any phone running Android 2.0 or higher, doesn’t offer anything you can’t get from the phone itself, but instead aims to save time on retrieving the handset from a pocket or bag.
Although the wrist-strap will likely be the main use, the device also clips to a keychain or the edge of a laptop.
By default the LiveView allows the user to control the media player, read text messages and show caller ID for incoming calls. It also includes some built-in apps such as Facebook, Twitter and an RSS feed. There’s also a built-in link to scan the Android Market for compatible apps.
The display itself isn’t a touchscreen, but the border is touch-sensitive. There are also two physical buttons that resemble those found on a wristwatch. The screen is a 128 pixel square, so
Pricing won’t be announced until the device is released some time between now and the end of the year. That delay is partly to make sure Sony’s own X10 series of phones is running Android 2.0 and thus capable of pairing with the LiveView upon its release.
Assuming the production costs are relatively low, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it as a free extra either with particular handsets or from particular retailers. It will also be available in different packages: for example, the package used for the product demonstration contains the LiveView, a sports-style wrist-strap and SportyPal Pro, an app designed for keeping track of workouts and calculated the calories burned among other stats.
