Sony Ericsson announces 'LiveView' for Android
The device works like a remote for your Android phone by letting users check incoming calls, control music, view calendar events, and manage social networking clients.
Picture this: You're out to dinner and your spouse is giving you grief because you keep glancing at your cell phone. What's a guy (or gal) to do? Pick up the new Sony Ericsson LiveView, that's what. Now you'll be able to sneak a glance at your RSS feeds and text messages on the sly.
Announced earlier today, the LiveView is a new Bluetooth accessory for Android handsets running OS 2.0 and higher. The device features a 1.3-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 128x128 pixels. Acting like an extension of the phone, it lets users check incoming calls, control music, view calendar events, and manage social-networking clients. The LiveView, which is part of Sony Ericsson's Extras portfolio, can be attached to keychains or watch straps, or clipped to a laptop or book.
Sony Ericsson wants to make it easy for LiveView-enabled apps, so the company has created LiveWare Manager. Whether preloaded on upcoming handsets or downloaded separately, the application will filter the Android Market to yield results for users to download. Although pricing and availability were not announced, we can at least look forward to the LiveView later this year when it goes on sale.
Is it just me or do you find it ironic that Sony Ericsson is releasing Android 2.0 devices while its handsets languish in 1.6 obscurity?