Create smart connections to accessories using Sony’s new Smart Connect app [video]

Yesterday, Sony announced the Smart Connect app, which improves the way your smartphone connects and controls accessories or other devices. Smart Connect (which replaces LiveWare™ Manager) will be available on Google Play starting in mid September, but we thought we would give you developers an introduction to the user experience in advance.  Just like the LiveWare™ manager, Smart Connect lets you set up actions to perform when your Android™ smartphone connects to an accessory or another device. In addition, Smart Connect also lets you condition Events depending on what time it is, which opens possibilities for a new, smooth experience. Read on for more details!
Compared to the LiveWare™ Manager, there are also several new actions to choose from when you as a user define your Events. For example, you can now choose to post a message to your Facebook Timeline, have incoming text messages read to you or turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot functionality.

Screenshot showing an example of the dialogue that will appear first time a device or accessory is connected after installing Smart Connect. In the image, a charger has been connected at night time.
Customise your experience depending on device and time
You can define your own experiences by creating Events in Smart Connect. This means you can set up your smartphone to trigger an Event when connecting a special accessory (or another device) at a special time, with up to 10 actions per Event. So, for example, if you create a new Event called “Music & Office” in Smart Connect, you can set the WALKMAN™ player to start between 7:00 – 9:00 together with your headset while you are commuting to work. Then between office hours, connecting the same headset can trigger the conference call app to start.
There are a great variety of actions to choose from when you define your experiences. For example, you could start an application, adjust the sound volume, post to your Facebook timeline, and turn the wireless connectivity on or off.

Screenshot showing examples of actions in Smart Connect.
Besides creating your own Events, as a user you can also choose to use predefined Events, enabling smooth user experiences in everyday life. Smart Connect comes with a number of predefined Events for accessories such as Xperia™ SmartTags, headphones, chargers, and headsets.

Screenshot showing examples of Events in Smart Connect.
App developers, use Smart Connect to increase the visibility of your app
From Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), Smart Connect will also be the app to configure settings and extensions for Sony Smart Accessories™ like the SmartWatch and Smart Wireless Headset pro. In addition, Smart Connect will help users find new apps for their Smart Accessories™. This means that as an app developer, you can gain visibility for your app by making an extension for one of our Smart Accessories™. Check out the Smart Extension SDK page for more information. Smart Connect replaces the LiveWare manager from Android 4.0 and onwards.
Download Smart Connect from Google Play from mid September
Our coming smartphones starting with the Xperia V will have Smart Connect pre-installed. But we also support earlier Xperia™ smartphones, as well as Android smartphones of other brands. The devices need to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwhich) or above. In those cases, you simply download the app from Google Play. Note that some services and features are market dependent.
So would you like to try Smart Connect? What actions would you use it for? Drop us a comment below and let us know. Smart Connect will be available on Google Play starting mid September, so remember to check it out!