Google really has a good opportunity to bring the industry to its knees at I/O. I have been insanely underwhelmed by practically every presser or 'big announcement' this year, and I am crossing my fingers that Google won't disappoint.
I know it is relatively popular to say that innovation in the smartphone market is becoming increasingly scant, but someone has to save the smartphone from turning into the microwave. Just because smartphones are becoming a necessity in big markets, doesn't mean it's time for the industry to slow down. But here you have some of the biggest innovators and names in tech conceding that nothing right now is big enough to entice smartphone buyers.
I was struck by the underwhelming nature of Samsung and HTC's press conferences earlier this year, and to a degree LG (although I have to say - to my surprise, LG far and wide exceeded expectations with the G3 rollout). While I understood them from a business perspective - specifically, Samsung's controversial rollout of the Galaxy S5 - they did not innovate or choose to move Android in the right direction. Neither did HTC's. Sure, they excelled on the design front - that talking point has been played out - but they did not do anything to better theirs or Android's fortunes this year.
And while Apple's iPhone unveilings are probably still months away, it's clear they are playing catch up - on the size front, on the multitasking front, et cetera, et cetera. Apple is emphasizing design as innovation has dried up. Forget Microsoft, who is lost in translation trying to fix the Windows 8 fiasco (never mind the mess that was the Nokia X unveiling) and forget Amazon, who went from player to non-player in a matter of a press conference (as I said in another thread, the Fire Phone's features are so gimmicky that they make Samsung's gimmicks look tame).
Google is really in a position to knock one out of the park. I was impressed by Android Wear, but I truly think the innovation has to come in the smartphone department. The trusted rumor mill (AKA EVLeaks) says that the Nexus is dead and Android Silver is on the way, albeit not for 2014, but hopefully Google can bring some innovation on the software front. Google Now is ridiculously underrated and already offers an array of contextual awareness features that has changed how I use my phone - on the way to work, I check commute times via Google Now; I get a lot of information out of Google Now, so much that I almost wish it was front and center on my home page. Lowering the hardware requirements with KitKat means that Google can bring a more unified experience to more phones. They really have an opportunity to take Android to the next level.
Maybe Google Now will be the centerpiece. Maybe Google will find a way to bring fragmentation down to its knees once and for all. Maybe Google will overhaul the look of Android and bring Google Now front and center. Whatever they do, I think - given the way the industry is right now - they are really poised to wake up the smartphone industry at I/O. Crossing my fingers they won't disappoint.
What do you think?
I know it is relatively popular to say that innovation in the smartphone market is becoming increasingly scant, but someone has to save the smartphone from turning into the microwave. Just because smartphones are becoming a necessity in big markets, doesn't mean it's time for the industry to slow down. But here you have some of the biggest innovators and names in tech conceding that nothing right now is big enough to entice smartphone buyers.
I was struck by the underwhelming nature of Samsung and HTC's press conferences earlier this year, and to a degree LG (although I have to say - to my surprise, LG far and wide exceeded expectations with the G3 rollout). While I understood them from a business perspective - specifically, Samsung's controversial rollout of the Galaxy S5 - they did not innovate or choose to move Android in the right direction. Neither did HTC's. Sure, they excelled on the design front - that talking point has been played out - but they did not do anything to better theirs or Android's fortunes this year.
And while Apple's iPhone unveilings are probably still months away, it's clear they are playing catch up - on the size front, on the multitasking front, et cetera, et cetera. Apple is emphasizing design as innovation has dried up. Forget Microsoft, who is lost in translation trying to fix the Windows 8 fiasco (never mind the mess that was the Nokia X unveiling) and forget Amazon, who went from player to non-player in a matter of a press conference (as I said in another thread, the Fire Phone's features are so gimmicky that they make Samsung's gimmicks look tame).
Google is really in a position to knock one out of the park. I was impressed by Android Wear, but I truly think the innovation has to come in the smartphone department. The trusted rumor mill (AKA EVLeaks) says that the Nexus is dead and Android Silver is on the way, albeit not for 2014, but hopefully Google can bring some innovation on the software front. Google Now is ridiculously underrated and already offers an array of contextual awareness features that has changed how I use my phone - on the way to work, I check commute times via Google Now; I get a lot of information out of Google Now, so much that I almost wish it was front and center on my home page. Lowering the hardware requirements with KitKat means that Google can bring a more unified experience to more phones. They really have an opportunity to take Android to the next level.
Maybe Google Now will be the centerpiece. Maybe Google will find a way to bring fragmentation down to its knees once and for all. Maybe Google will overhaul the look of Android and bring Google Now front and center. Whatever they do, I think - given the way the industry is right now - they are really poised to wake up the smartphone industry at I/O. Crossing my fingers they won't disappoint.
What do you think?
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