Having been in the R&D Mgmt. section of various computer companies (most now defunct), I can tell you that the same holds true for computers (and s-phones) as it does for anything else we build. Form, Fit & Function. In my experiences in companies like HP, DEC (thats Digital Equipment Corp - for those who don;t remember), Apollo Computer, Prime Computer and the like, I can tell you that any computing device has power and software, topping the list of "next technologies". Frankly, I have seen software being the driving force in every case, from large mainframe super-computers to laptops. Yes, Form/Fit also play a huge roles as well, that's why it is ALWAYS a battle to juggle those three (form, fit & function) to satisfy the end-user. One technology that was said to live forever is Moore's Law, (altho most on this forum know this). If not, see here. That is not possible today due to manufacturing limitations. Until THOSE limitations are solved (organic transistors anyone?), then any major development will be also limited to power and size, glass technologies, and the other "sundry" technologies surrounding the main technology, packaging hardware with more transistors, etc. IMHO.
Have Smart Phones Matured to the Point where there is no next big thing?
- Thread starter paradroid
- Start date
On the hardware side, I think definitely battery improvement and screen/phone durability/waterproofing are the next big things. After that, flexible, bendable, foldable phones will be a big deal. Another important area will be sensors. More and better.
I'd also love to see modular phones - LEGO-like modular phones mean you never have to throw away an obsolete phone again | Grist . Being able to replace broken parts, upgrade just the battery or memory or screen, change out a flat simple camera component with a bulky but zoom-lens camera component, add different sensor modules, etc.
On the software side, I hope there will be huge improvements in the app ecosystem. I don't know if Android or iOS will go in this direction, but I think it will be the next step. Instead of apps that are isolated from each other, I'd like to see much more modular components (like the hardware) where functionality can be swapped in and out. Right now, any app that takes pictures has to have that functionality built into it. Instead, I'd like to have a "photo taking app module". I would choose my favorite photo taking app module, install in on my phone and the Facebook module, the Instagram module, the Pinterest module would then use that one "best in my opinion" camera module. In the same way, there are a bunch of great GPS tracking/mapping apps, but they all duplicate a lot of functionality and then add their own special features on top. I'd like those broken down such that the gps tracking, mapping, cloud uploading, track sharing, etc. are all separate modules. Additional features would be separate modules that use data from the other modules, etc.
I'd also love to see modular phones - LEGO-like modular phones mean you never have to throw away an obsolete phone again | Grist . Being able to replace broken parts, upgrade just the battery or memory or screen, change out a flat simple camera component with a bulky but zoom-lens camera component, add different sensor modules, etc.
On the software side, I hope there will be huge improvements in the app ecosystem. I don't know if Android or iOS will go in this direction, but I think it will be the next step. Instead of apps that are isolated from each other, I'd like to see much more modular components (like the hardware) where functionality can be swapped in and out. Right now, any app that takes pictures has to have that functionality built into it. Instead, I'd like to have a "photo taking app module". I would choose my favorite photo taking app module, install in on my phone and the Facebook module, the Instagram module, the Pinterest module would then use that one "best in my opinion" camera module. In the same way, there are a bunch of great GPS tracking/mapping apps, but they all duplicate a lot of functionality and then add their own special features on top. I'd like those broken down such that the gps tracking, mapping, cloud uploading, track sharing, etc. are all separate modules. Additional features would be separate modules that use data from the other modules, etc.
I think the Note 3 proves there's still a Next Big Thing...and the One Max is right behind it...and there's the Nexus 5 too.
Nexuscillin. The cure for iOS.
Nexuscillin. The cure for iOS.
Give me foldable bendable flexible phones and a chipset that thinks like a human (Qualcomm
) and ill call it a day..
- Aug 26, 2010
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There is always something down the road:
Fans of science fiction writer William Gibson will also be impressed; in his 1986 novel Count Zero, Gibson wrote about an amazing cell phone with a screen that unfolded like a butterfly's wings:
He took an elegant modular unit from the bag and placed it in front of her. A paper thin polycarbon screen unfurled silently from the top of the unit and immediately grew rigid. She had once watched a butterfly emerge into the world, and seen the transformation of its drying wings. 'How is that done?' she asked, tentatively touching the screen."
from: Readius Cell Phone 5-Inch Fold Out Display: Science Fiction in the News
In reality:
cameras will get better and do away with point and shoots and the idea of focus will change
it will be 99% software. Your apps will slowly start costing more and more but will do more and more.
battery life will need a moon shot (tesla will figure it out I hope)
OLED will be the standard and work like on the Moto X.
and perhaps the most important: the wireless carriers will get more coverage and more bandwidth and I hope provide more competition for the "last mile" issue.
Fans of science fiction writer William Gibson will also be impressed; in his 1986 novel Count Zero, Gibson wrote about an amazing cell phone with a screen that unfolded like a butterfly's wings:
He took an elegant modular unit from the bag and placed it in front of her. A paper thin polycarbon screen unfurled silently from the top of the unit and immediately grew rigid. She had once watched a butterfly emerge into the world, and seen the transformation of its drying wings. 'How is that done?' she asked, tentatively touching the screen."
from: Readius Cell Phone 5-Inch Fold Out Display: Science Fiction in the News
In reality:
cameras will get better and do away with point and shoots and the idea of focus will change
it will be 99% software. Your apps will slowly start costing more and more but will do more and more.
battery life will need a moon shot (tesla will figure it out I hope)
OLED will be the standard and work like on the Moto X.
and perhaps the most important: the wireless carriers will get more coverage and more bandwidth and I hope provide more competition for the "last mile" issue.
Hopefully no and that LG G2 with step design battery means next year mean larger batteries in smaller phones.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using AC Forums mobile app
Sent from my SGH-T999 using AC Forums mobile app
- Aug 26, 2010
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Most of the best ideas here are 5 or 10+ years off. (foldable screens that go rigid are 20+ years away if we don't blow ourselves up first) Is there really a burning reason to get the latest and greatest anymore? If your GS3 is working fine a year from now, will the GS5 or GS4 be that much better to rush out and buy it? I am thinking in a year I can buy a fresh battery for it and be good to go for a few more years.
As an example, the desktop I am working on now I built with top of the line parts. It is 3 plus years old and does anything a new computer can do - at least that I would ever want to do. So I plan I keeping it until it wears out. However the computer I built in 2000 was obsolete in 3 years and had to be upgraded.
As an example, the desktop I am working on now I built with top of the line parts. It is 3 plus years old and does anything a new computer can do - at least that I would ever want to do. So I plan I keeping it until it wears out. However the computer I built in 2000 was obsolete in 3 years and had to be upgraded.
NoYankees44
Well-known member
- Dec 20, 2011
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I honestly think that the one x and gs3 generation was the first generation good fluid devices that will age well. Everything before them was laggy and compromised in multiple areas.
I think foldable screens that become rigid are definitely less than 10 years off though. Micro and nano tech is advancing at incredible speeds. It wont be long until reasonably rigid frames that can be folded and controlled with electrical current will be possible. The only question in my mind is whether or not some sort of projection of holographic interface might surface first and beat it out.
- Aug 26, 2010
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So you weren't being sarcastic... What makes the Note 3 the next big thing in your opinion? I know with the bigger screen it is able to do some tablet type stuff, but screen size and a pointer pen are more feature choices than leaps in current technology.
Some other things it offers are more incremental improvements rather then "must have" tech making my phone out of date:
It's size allows a bigger battery and a bit more battery life.
It has a faster processor, but I have never noticed a need for a faster process on my GS3
The camera is bit better than most phones
I am not dissing the phone, it is a fine option for someone that wants tablet/phone functionality.
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