As the race for wearable tech heats up, Sony has announced that its SmartWatch device will now be unlocked, opening up opportunities for developers to create and flash alternative firmware onto the device. The unlocking of the device is yet another step from Sony in its bid to encourage greater developer participation in its products, after announcing its support in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and allowing the bootloader to be unlocked in most of its smartphones and tablets.
To help out those who are interested to tinker with the SmartWatch, Sony has also unveiled the Open SmartWatch Project website, which includes a SmartWatch Hacker Guide with useful information on flashing the SmartWatch. On top of unlocking the SmartWatch – one of the earliest attempts at a watch that pairs with a smart device – Sony has also co-arranged the SmartWatch Arduino Hackathon, where Arduino will put together a tool chain enabling Arduino firmware to run on the SmartWatch.
For more information, head on to the Open SmartWatch Project website here.
(Source: Sony Mobile Developer)
