Like many Android fans and gadget hounds in general, we have high hopes for the Sony SmartWatch. Not only is the device technically ambitious, its distinctive good looks will attract attention for all the right reasons. It certainly isn't the universally compatible, uber-Android timepiece that many — including us — were expecting. It's also a huge drawback that the device's display isn't legible in direct sunlight, a critical function of any watch. So is keeping track of time, something the product can't do reliably without a phone connection. That's something the upstart Pebble watch can tackle. ...

The Smartwatch is pretty good as a gadget-lover's phone companion. The big problem with it is that it needs a phone to function, along with all those apps that you need to install before it will work. As a watch though, it's quite cool. ...

The Sony SmartWatch is the best "geek watch" so far, but it still doesn't quite break through to the mainstream.