Along with the Xperia X series smartphones, Sony introduced several "smart" accessories, which include a Bluetooth earpiece called Xperia Ear, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. What is special about this new hardware, which Sony touts as a next generation wireless earpiece, is that it is similar to the A.I. personal assistant in the film "Her."
Once worn, the device can start reading your notifications such as missed calls and emails as well as other information you might be interested in, such as the weather, your schedule and the latest news stories. It can also respond to voice commands through Sony's proprietary voice technology so that the user can make a call, search the Internet, dictate a message and go to an unfamiliar location, Sony said in an official statement. In short, it is a convenient and interactive way to find information without the need to look at devices such as smartphones and even wearables like smartwatches or a conventional watch. The user need only ask the time, for example, and the A.I. will whisper it in the user's ear. Each task will be done hands-free.
The actual hardware is an interesting affair. It is very light and is made of a soft silicon earbud designed to withstand stress and daily abuse. It is also IPX2 certified, which means you can wear it in a pool or in the rain, Sony told the Daily Mail. In addition, the device boasts of an all-day battery life.
Along with other smart products such as Xperia Agent and Xperia Project, Sony says that Xperia Ear is part of the company's bid to extend the Xperia brand beyond tablets and phones, BBC News reported. The accessory can seamlessly connect with any Android handset with Bluetooth capability.
The Xperia Ear will hit the market in the summer of 2016.
