Sony takes fitness technology to scary new levels with Core
"Could be the tiniest thing Sony has ever made"
Sony's finally getting on board with the wave of fitness technology – but taking it to an all new level.
The Core is a small chip, able to be worn in a variety of ways, that is tiny enough to slip into the Smartband that Sony is launching to carry it around initially.
Update: Sony has confirmed to TechRadar that the Core won't be available to iOS users at launch, and that it's 'focused' on Android for the time being.
Instead of just tracking your daily steps, this new technology will be able to tell you how long you were walking, running, sleeping and travelling.
But on top of that, the new LifeLog application will give information on when you took pictures, where you took them, what music you were listening to and all the other entertainment you consume, meaning you can "watch your lifestyle played back to you on screen," according to Sony Mobile CEO Kuni Suzuki.
This is your future
If you think that's awesome / creepy, get ready for more: the app will use this information to "help inspire your future with ideas and recommendations". This could be as simple as 'listen to this artist that's like that one you listen to all the time', but could get as freaky as 'hey, it's Tuesday at 4PM. I've detected multiple felines in the area – you like taking pictures of them right?'
Sony is working with developers to create 'new innovation' for an open partnership to spread out the data, as well as launching new hardware that will complement the SmartBand.
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Sony clearly has some development to do on this little device, but wants to get it out in the open to show it's active in the area, with Suzuki claiming the brand will give more information in the near future – it probably already knows where you will be.
Gareth has been part of the consumer technology world in a career spanning three decades. He started life as a staff writer on the fledgling TechRadar, and has grown with the site (primarily as phones, tablets and wearables editor) until becoming Global Editor in Chief in 2018. Gareth has written over 4,000 articles for TechRadar, has contributed expert insight to a number of other publications, chaired panels on zeitgeist technologies, presented at the Gadget Show Live as well as representing the brand on TV and radio for multiple channels including Sky, BBC, ITV and Al-Jazeera. Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV.