Originally Posted by Gadgety

It depends on your needs.

I find the MotoACTV impressive on almost all counts, but it lacks one crucial feature. The MotoACTV doesn't have vibration alert, which just about all the other BT watches sport. According to the Moto engineers I asked on the MotoACTV forum they decided to exclude it from the hardware because it would drain the battery. What a shame! If there is ONE thing a watch like this needs, it's the vibration alert. At least that's my experience after 6 years of life with the MBW-150. The vibration combined with visual notification is the #1 feature for me.

The new updated Sony Smartwatch (finally!) keeps time without a continuous connection to the phone/tablet, it does have a vibration function, but the screen does not offer the transflective mode of the MotoACTV, the WIMM and the Meta Watch, which means a) two hands to check time b) less battery life. And Sony's LiveView performance has been rather poor. I also think the redesigned clip on it looks ugly.

The i'm Watch has way higher screen resolution than the others at 220 ppi (just like the iPod Nano), compared to the MotoACTV's 176, WIMM's 162, the Smartwatch/LiveView's 139 (also seen 130 somewhere) the inPulse's 123. It also sports a microphone and a tiny speaker. Although the hw has both BT and WIFI, the i'm Watch will not be released with WIFI enabled however, according to a mail answer from their staff.

The WIMM is still in development. As is the Meta Watch. None of them are aiming at consumers other than through partners, which so far are nowhere to be seen.

Do you think that the i'm Watch using Android 1.6 works against it compared to the WIMM?

If you had to choose between the various watches which do you think would most likely have the biggest and best app ecosystem?

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do the watches get good support? or just sold and forgotten?

would a watch have ICS?

Originally Posted by y2grae

do the watches get good support? or just sold and forgotten?

would a watch have ICS?

I wouldn't trust Sony-Ericsson to support anything. There is a thread on this site about our problems with their non-support of the faded LCD displays on our MBW-150s.

Originally Posted by JimSmith94

I wouldn't trust Sony-Ericsson to support anything. There is a thread on this site about our problems with their non-support of the faded LCD displays on our MBW-150s.

Unfortunately I agree. Sony (aka SE) does have an appalling track record. Although I believe none of the "larger" companies really provide support in the mobile space.

I have heard of people getting new MBW-150s on warranty, but both my watches failed after warranty was up. Shame really as I really liked it.

The LiveView promised a lot but the updates were few (1 or 2?) and it never really got working with non-Sony devices. I understand that this due to non-standard bluetooth implementation in the other devices.

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 PM ----------

Originally Posted by mjsztainbok

Do you think that the i'm Watch using Android 1.6 works against it compared to the WIMM?

If you had to choose between the various watches which do you think would most likely have the biggest and best app ecosystem?

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I haven't tried either the WIMM or the i'm Watch so I'm not really qualified to say anything. I imagine it all depends on the implementation.

Regarding support, well what kind of support? User support here on XDA? Manufacturer support?

The Sony and the MotoACTV are big names and you can find threads for both (well the old LiveView, but once the Smartwatch is out, I'd be surprised if there wasn't a thread or two) here on XDA. The MotoACTV already has been rooted, and there are custom ROMs and stuff being created as I type. As I said I would have gone MotoACTV but without a vibrating alert it's a non starter for me.

i'm Watch hasn't really been delivered to customers so we'll have to sit that one out. WIMM claims to have 2500 developers linked up. You have to sign up as a "developer" to buy the device, so I don't know how many of those 2500 are active developers. BTW that means 2500 devices sold... Not much. MetaWatch is available in the Texas Instruments online store, and has its own dedicated website for developers. It's open to anyone who wants to chime in.

As for the biggest app system - that'd be the Android Market, then. The MotoACTV is already there, as it has been rooted.

As for best app system, only time will tell, but usually this is a function of uptake - the more devices sold, the more interest from developers.

I'd like to review this old thread. Now, 4 months down the line, is there any clearer inform about the "best" smartwatch?

I just recently got an Android device. I got my hands on a pretty cheap LiveView, and it sucks... big time. Went back to my MBW-150, even though the display is starting to die. At least it works... sorta.

After reading this thread and looking at the options, I think the front runners are:

WIMM
MotoACTV
I'm Watch
MetaWatch

I really want to like the MotoACTV, but the lack of vibration alerts stinks. Further, it doesn't seem like it's designed as a Smart Phone accessory... more like a stand alone devices. My primary need in a SmartWatch is Caller ID, notifications on alerts, and maybe weather. Can the Moto do that?

MetaWatch and WIMM still appear to be in development stages.

I'm Watch looks interesting too... but $349? Wow!

Originally Posted by RedRamage

I'd like to review this old thread. Now, 4 months down the line, is there any clearer inform about the "best" smartwatch?

I just recently got an Android device. I got my hands on a pretty cheap LiveView, and it sucks... big time. Went back to my MBW-150, even though the display is starting to die. At least it works... sorta.

After reading this thread and looking at the options, I think the front runners are:

WIMM
MotoACTV
I'm Watch
MetaWatch

I really want to like the MotoACTV, but the lack of vibration alerts stinks. Further, it doesn't seem like it's designed as a Smart Phone accessory... more like a stand alone devices. My primary need in a SmartWatch is Caller ID, notifications on alerts, and maybe weather. Can the Moto do that?

MetaWatch and WIMM still appear to be in development stages.

I'm Watch looks interesting too... but $349? Wow!

I've been using my MBW-150 Music Edition for almost a year now and the display is fine. Got it from $60 from Amazon at the time. The Pebble watch and cookoo look good: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/insert-coin-cookoo/

Yeah, the Pebble looks impressive too. But again, doesn't appear to be shipping yet.

I really want a Sony Liveview! They clearly are not the best on the market, but they are down to about $30 on ebay which puts it into impulse purchase range. It would be great just for the car to attach to the steering wheel to change songs.

Ive been on a bigkick to find one that i like, Im torn between either the Wimm One or The MetaWatch... Im leaning toward the Metawatch just for simplicity.

Originally Posted by eikiel

I really want a Sony Liveview! They clearly are not the best on the market, but they are down to about $30 on ebay which puts it into impulse purchase range. It would be great just for the car to attach to the steering wheel to change songs.

I strongly advise not to buy the Liveview. It will not work most of the time, it will simply disconnect randomly and don't connect back for minutes, even if you will press at the button. Then I lost mine, it was really a good day And yes, the watch band is really terrible, you will have to disconnect the watch every 2 days to charge it, and in 2-3 months the plastic lock will break, so you'll lose it for sure.