Sony Opens Its Android SmartWatch, Lets Developers Create Their Own Firmware

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Posted June 13, 2013 at 7:02pm by Shalom Levytam

Sony has opened its Android SmartWatch letting developers create and flash alternative firmware.

Developers have been able to create apps for the SmartWatch using the Sony Add-on SDK for quite some time already, however, with the Open SmartWatch project, we’re opening up the device even more. If you’re an advanced developer, you can now take control of SmartWatch as a hardware peripheral in new ways by creating and flashing your own alternative firmware.

Currently, there are no alternative firmware versions for SmartWatch, but we hope that that the Open SmartWatch project will inspire and make it possible for you to create new innovations.

Sony is holding a SmartWatch Arduino Hackathon in Malmo, Sweden together with Arduino who will offer a tool chain enabling Arduino firmware to run on the SmartWatch.

The company has also posted a "Hacker guide" with technical information and instructions on how to flash the SmartWatch. It contains information about the display, Bluetooth, I2C peripherals, touch sensor protocols and more.

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Sony Opens Its Android SmartWatch, Lets Developers Create Their Own Firmware

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gamerscul9870 - June 15, 2013 at 4:10pm

Sue*

gamerscul9870 - June 14, 2013 at 6:18pm

OMFG apple just came up with that! Sure spamdroid apple! I would pay you guys a ton if I could if you sue hem!

cciev - June 14, 2013 at 5:21am

these will be a big FAIL. Its stupid charging a watch

FL - June 13, 2013 at 8:03pm

So, they are OK with hacking the watch, but it is illegal to hack the PS platform? I guess it is only OK if the stuff is not selling much...

Jack Black - June 13, 2013 at 8:11pm

So right fuc Sony

csns - June 13, 2013 at 10:43pm

Well, if you do not see the difference between a standalone gaming system like PS and a mere interface like the SmartWatch then it will be hard for you to understand. This move on the Sony side in nothing really ground-breaking but more of a marketing flick. Nonetheless the watch itself is a quite useful piece of hardware. I've been using one for a year and I must say the software available can do some nice magic ;) It could be prettier though :)

sachax - June 15, 2013 at 7:49am

You perfectly right. Something has not reached popularity, let's "open" it to developers.

matrixmaniac - June 13, 2013 at 8:03pm

WOW! Sony, after many years of total boycott I start loving you again! Maybe I will even buy a PS4 and start gaming again as this seems to be the fairest platform for games now... WOW, Sony!