Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

[Ry]

https://youtu.be/HhJ8fOegIcQ

 

[methodman89]

Re: Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

If people would stop buying new devices for a 10 millisecond improvement, they'll make less models, less phones, and some will go out of business.
Sent from my 2 year old S8 Active

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

If people would stop buying new devices for a 10 millisecond improvement, they'll make less models, less phones, and some will go out of business.
Sent from my 2 year old S8 Active

I hate to say it, but perhaps one of the silver linings of this terrible pandemic is that people will finally stop and ask themselves if they really need that shiny new $1200 phone that is about 5% improved over their current phone. As phone shipments go down, that will really force manufacturers to rethink their strategy. We're already seeing them focusing a little more on midrange phones.

 

[Mike Dee]

Re: Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

I hate to say it, but perhaps one of the silver linings of this terrible pandemic is that people will finally stop and ask themselves if they really need that shiny new $1200 phone that is about 5% improved over their current phone. As phone shipments go down, that will really force manufacturers to rethink their strategy. We're already seeing them focusing a little more on midrange phones.

I don't disagree but they were already focusing more on mid-range phones prior to the pandemic and high end phones sales have been going down for several years. What's also unclear is who is actually impacted financially by this. The people without jobs probably won't buy any phones unless absolutely necessary. It could actually stagnate mid-range sales as well. It's fun to speculate but we don't know how this will all pan out until it does.

 

[Ry]

Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

I'd love to see a new Moto X with either the first gen or third gen (Pure Edition) body.

(It would need a fingerprint scanner in-display or in the power button though)

 

[me just saying]

I remember a few years ago several phone makers decided to cut back on the number of models they made because the market was satuated with them. They did for a while but now it is back to the satuated point again. IMO, android is running into the same problem as microsoft. you have all kinds of various model with thousands of different hardware and software combination that the os must work with. That is one of the reasons why apple has been so successful. they have very few phone models though the last couple of years they are getting away from that.

 

[the_boon]

I wonder if a global slowdown like this will mean more "outside-the-box" thinking from the manufacturers in terms of form factors, or on the contrary, zero risk strategies by bringing very predictable device iterations.

 

[Mooncatt]

Re: Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

This is kind of a dumb request. Let's replace phones with cars, tv's, headsets, air conditioners, tools, or literally any other manufactured good in existence. Every manufacturer (with perhaps an exception for some highly specialized devices) is constantly updating their product line. It's unreasonable to even ask phone manufacturers to cripple their own business just to protect third party vendors that have no affiliation with the manufacturer. That just smacks of protectionism and will hurt innovation.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

Just keep things as is and Corporate Darwinism will take care of things in typical capitalistic fashion.

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

I'd love to see a new Moto X

One could argue that the Pixel 3a and 4a are the 2nd coming of the original Moto X -- somewhat lean specs, but with software optimized such that the performance feels like a more powerful device.

 

[Ry]

Re: Please Stop Making "NEW" Smartphones: An Open Letter to Android Manufacturers

One could argue that the Pixel 3a and 4a are the 2nd coming of the original Moto X -- somewhat lean specs, but with software optimized such that the performance feels like a more powerful device.

Outside of the Pixel camera, I've always seen the Pixel and it's "a" series as the spiritual successors to the Moto X and Moto G. Even the software strategy sort of fits - Pixel and Moto are basically "stock+".

But then people look at me like I'm the crazy one.

 

[anon(50597)]

I remember a few years ago several phone makers decided to cut back on the number of models they made because the market was satuated with them. They did for a while but now it is back to the satuated point again. IMO, android is running into the same problem as microsoft. you have all kinds of various model with thousands of different hardware and software combination that the os must work with. That is one of the reasons why apple has been so successful. they have very few phone models though the last couple of years they are getting away from that.

I tend to agree. Android to me is very fragmented. Too many different devices running too many different OS versions.

 

[cbreze]

Some people are addicted to the latest phone. Years ago I used to have this burning desire to get the latest Nokia phone. The E90 was released in 2007 and I paid a premium for it at $1059. My phone addiction was fierce. But also 15 years ago innovation was huge. Every release and there were many all year long always topped the last one and in a big way. But now to have a slight bump in camera or speed Just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. Plus I’ve grown wiser lol.
But some haven’t and still have that latest and greatest addiction. Just take a stroll thru the macrumors forum. Now those ifolks are addicted and delusional as well. Disclaimer: I also use an iphone

 

[Mike Dee]

Some people are addicted to the latest phone. Years ago I used to have this burning desire to get the latest Nokia phone. The E90 was released in 2007 and I paid a premium for it at $1059. My phone addiction was fierce. But also 15 years ago innovation was huge. Every release and there were many all year long always topped the last one and in a big way. But now to have a slight bump in camera or speed Just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. Plus I’ve grown wiser lol.
But some haven’t and still have that latest and greatest addiction. Just take a stroll thru the macrumors forum. Now those ifolks are addicted and delusional as well. Disclaimer: I also use an iphone

Everyone has their vices as to what they buy and how they spend. As long as they can afford it, shouldn't be a issue for anyone.

 

[cbreze]

Everyone has their vices as to what they buy and how they spend. As long as they can afford it, shouldn't be a issue for anyone.

Lots of people with phone addictions have plenty of money. The problem is when they obsess over it it interferes with other things in their lives. The compulsion to always buy the latest phone no matter what can interfere with other aspects of their lives. That’s the point I’m trying to make. Anything can become an addiction. When an addiction interferes with your day to day life is when it becomes a problem. We all see people staring down at their phones constantly. There’s another addiction that is causing that person to miss out on other healthy things in life. The amount of money they have is irrelevant.

 

[Mike Dee]

Lots of people with phone addictions have plenty of money. The problem is when they obsess over it it interferes with other things in their lives. The compulsion to always buy the latest phone no matter what can interfere with other aspects of their lives. That’s the point I’m trying to make. Anything can become an addiction. When an addiction interferes with your day to day life is when it becomes a problem. We all see people staring down at their phones constantly. There’s another addiction that is causing that person to miss out on other healthy things in life. The amount of money they have is irrelevant.

We all make choices....I don't judge.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

Everyone has their vices as to what they buy and how they spend. As long as they can afford it, shouldn't be a issue for anyone.

I rationalize my phone vice by pointing out to wife that it’s cheaper and healthier than sex and drugs in my younger days. She points out that divorce attorneys have gone up in price too....