Smartwatches are like any other high tech device, complicated, contradicting, always changing and instantly obsolete. We’ve gathered a list of commonly asked questions to help you get to the answer as quickly as possible. If we haven’t covered your question, please feel free to submit the question using the form at the bottom of this page. As always, if there are ways to improve this page, please leave a comment or submit a comment using our Contact form.
Image by GetPebble.comThe Basics
What makes a SmartWatch smart?
What does a Smartwatch do that my Smartphone doesn’t?
What are the benefits of using a Smartwatch?
What are some practical uses of a Smartwatch?
Buying a Smartwatch
Should I buy a Smartwatch now?
Should I wait to buy a Smartwatch?
How many Smartwatches are on the market?
What do I need to know before making a purchase?
Technical
How do I take care of my Smartwatch?
Is my Smartwatch compatible with my Smartphone?
User Submitted
Jasbir asks…
We are planning to purchase Smartwatch and have finally shortlisted two: Sony SmartWatch and Qualcomm Toq. Can you please provide the comparision with respect to their app development capabiliities? We want to know which one is more flexible considering the app development. Also what type of apps can be devloped on each one of them?
Our answer…
Hi Jasbir,
Qualcomm issued an SDK kit to developers so that they can create “applets” for the watch and customize notifications. With the Sony Smartwatch and Smartwatch 2 they are called extensions.
Both smartwatches have no official marketplace. Instead you must use the manufacturer issued application to install apps to the device. In order to do this you must also have a connected smartphone.
As for what kind of apps you can develop, it’s about the same for each device. You can control hardware sensors, develop notifier apps, and communicate with the device or connected smartphone. Don’t expect anything too advanced, as both devices themselves have limitations in terms of hardware.
The two are pretty much on an even keel when it comes to development, but the Sony is likely more beneficial simply because you have the Smartwatch and Smartwatch 2 – two devices instead of just one. Keep in mind that both devices are using proprietary software, which means when Android Wear launches later this year you’ll need to develop for that platform separately if you decide to do so.
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