I have spent many a time with smartphones from various manufacturers with different form factors and build qualities, and as a result I am coming to one conclusion: there is hardly anything innovative about any of the upcoming models. From the recent iMate 9502 to the upcoming Nokia E71 to the anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia and even to the HTC Diamond, I sense no genuine initiative for form factor innovation that can take the mobile industry by storm. It seems that while software is starting to come out of the box in enabling features on current devices such as online flash for web videos, smartphone hardware is becoming boring and almost downright predictable...or I am getting too picky for my own good! :)
As I take a look at the grand spectrum of devices out in the mainstream society that have been released, there appears to be a constant duplication of standard features in typical form factors. Manufacturers appear to be passing the time away by updating the overall design of a device and not addressing its entire identity. Of course it's easy to add a couple of curves to soften harsh lines or to even add a VGA screen or change some colors or overhaul build materials, but it takes a great deal to really make a good impression in designing a product. Having the talent to create a captivating model that shines from its complex innards to its attractive outer form is indeed a rarity as the industry is saturated with typical model types. Within the confines of these tried-and-true designs such as the everlasting flip, the long-standing qwerty slider and the well-known candy bar and qwerty bar, manufacturers seem to have hit a dead end in regards to drawing major customer interest...or maybe just my own.
As much as I am intrigued by the upcomings devices that are scheduled to debut later on this year and in the far future, a part of me can't help but be dissatisfied...or REALLY satisfied with what I've already got. At the end of the day a certain smartphone model may have a brand new design fresh off the assembly line, but in all actuality it could be nothing more than a copycat of what is already on the store shelves. No mattter how it looks it is only another "smart" device with the standard "smart" features such as bluetooth, wifi, quadband GSM, American and/or Euro 3G, microSD card slot, mini USB port, secondary video conferencing camera, qwerty keypad, onboard mobile office suite, full-fledged PDA functions and maybe even GPS. So what else can be added to this typical mix to really make a Holy Grail of Mobile Technology? This all depends on the companies making these devices, and I am certain they are not in an easy position to be in by any means. Having to face-off with fellow competitors in striving to reach the pinnacle of critical and financial success is a mission that very few businesses can be successful at, so there is definitely much credit due to the major corporations that dominate the market. But at the same time there is some room for improvement.
If there is one thing that I have learned in all of my time spent with these gadgets, it's that there is no such thing as a perfect all-in-one device that can fit everybody, everywhere, all the time. Every product has its faults, limitations and quirks that must be tolerated by the owner, so the best way for me to solve this is to incorporate variety into my daily smartphone usage. Amongst the monotony of the typical features practically available in ALL mobile devices there are only three that currently capture my interest with their unique traits: my Nokia E90, HTC TyTN 2 and Apple iPhone. While all of them can do the basic functions of PIM synchronization, web surfing and qwerty email/text messaging, they all have different features that attract me to using them. The E90 stands out with its stereo speakers, high-resolution widescreen, communicator form factor and reliable PC Suite software. The TyTN 2 offers excellent word prediction, touchscreen and stylus, and the AMAZING Internet Sharing application. The iPhone has its unique multitouch screen, Mac OS X interface and EXCELLENT iTunes/iPod integration.
All three of these phones are certainly different from one another and are perfect altogether for my needs. While I do have the luxury of being able to switch my SIM between them all whenever I wish, a part of me is a bit interested in what the new iPhone is all about. :)
TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90
1 comment:
I am also curious what apple will bring to the table in the new iphone. No doubt it will still be a multitouch interface with a similar size screen and thin profile.
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