The Phone wars are over...Samsung just won

[anon(767240)]

Cheap plastic phone that now has less features than the carrier version? No... I'll stick with my N4 till the next nexus.., this phone feels like an attempt to remind people that the Galaxy line runs ANDROID, made by Google not Samsung....

Cheap plastic? Why is the s4 off contract more expensive than a n4?

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[mamutarka]

because its samsung?

 

[TheLibertarian]

Cheap plastic? Why is the s4 off contract more expensive than a n4?

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Because the price isn't subsidized by Google...

 

[monsieurms]

Therein lies the problem.

Not to mention, Samsung has some pretty great features.

BUT I do like a much plainer version of Android, with options. it was so much easier setting up my Asus tablet than it was my Samsung phone.

 

[mcpricex]

Samsung traditionally takes the p out of iphone users for being blinkered, narrow minded fan boys, but it seems that they have managed to create a breed all of their own. Their global marketing budget is bigger than the national economy of some small countries and you can bet that a very small part of that is paying for these handsets.

I have no doubt that there will be a huge demand for this phone, but as huge as that demand may be, it is still only a ridiculously small percentage of how many normal production S4 units they will sell worldwide. Any custom production run that small and that specialised cannot possibly be profitable for them. Stock Android on a top line handset might be of some interest to you or me, but what about the other 99.9% of the population that don't spend their time tinkering with custom roms or hanging out on tech boards like this one. Joe public is not an Android purist or a software developer, they want their gadgets and advanced features and they want the software that the manufacturers build to make that hardware do those things. They don't care that it takes up an extra bit of their storage space, they don't care that it slows down their cpu performance by 0.howevermuch%, they just want their phone to work out of the box without them having to know or understand why or how it works.

Anyone who disagrees with that should take a look at Apple's sales figures and anyone who thinks that 'the phone wars are over, Samsung just won' should try and get out into the real world once in a while.

 

[benhmadison]

Samsung traditionally takes the p out of iphone users for being blinkered, narrow minded fan boys, but it seems that they have managed to create a breed all of their own. Their global marketing budget is bigger than the national economy of some small countries and you can bet that a very small part of that is paying for these handsets.

I have no doubt that there will be a huge demand for this phone, but as huge as that demand may be, it is still only a ridiculously small percentage of how many normal production S4 units they will sell worldwide. Any custom production run that small and that specialised cannot possibly be profitable for them. Stock Android on a top line handset might be of some interest to you or me, but what about the other 99.9% of the population that don't spend their time tinkering with custom roms or hanging out on tech boards like this one. Joe public is not an Android purist or a software developer, they want their gadgets and advanced features and they want the software that the manufacturers build to make that hardware do those things. They don't care that it takes up an extra bit of their storage space, they don't care that it slows down their cpu performance by 0.howevermuch%, they just want their phone to work out of the box without them having to know or understand why or how it works.

Anyone who disagrees with that should take a look at Apple's sales figures and anyone who thinks that 'the phone wars are over, Samsung just won' should try and get out into the real world once in a while.

You are absolutely right. Consumers want it to work out of the box and they want to be able to "touch their phones together" or "waive their hands over it to answer" like they do in the commercials. They barely know what a processor is let alone a ROM. Many people who get a device with expandable memory never even put a card in it. If Google/Samsung could somehow get multi window/gestures working while still keeping the device free of touchwiz that would be cool but from what I'm gathering that's not the plan. I'm sure our talented devs will find ways to get these features working on custom Roms eventually. At 649 they won't sell a ton of units but I'm sure a few hardcore Sammy fans who are tech savvy will enjoy it. I think a Google edition HTC One would have been a better move but either way it's a new toy to talk about

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[mcpricex]

You are absolutely right. Consumers want it to work out of the box and they want to be able to "touch their phones together" or "waive their hands over it to answer" like they do in the commercials. They barely know what a processor is let alone a ROM. Many people who get a device with expandable memory never even put a card in it. If Google/Samsung could somehow get multi window/gestures working while still keeping the device free of touchwiz that would be cool but from what I'm gathering that's not the plan. I'm sure our talented devs will find ways to get these features working on custom Roms eventually. At 649 they won't sell a ton of units but I'm sure a few hardcore Sammy fans who are tech savvy will enjoy it. I think a Google edition HTC One would have been a better move but either way it's a new toy to talk about

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Totally agree, for the fan boys it's going to be a wet dream come true while still allowing Uncle Sammy to claim to have addressed the problem of limited storage.

I still think they will be making a loss on each and every unit, but the difference is that Samsung can afford to take the hit whereas HTC can't. No vanilla One's I'm afraid, plus the One is very dependant on it's custom software for most if it's more unique features, like the camera for example.

 

[TheLibertarian]

Totally agree, for the fan boys it's going to be a wet dream come true while still allowing Uncle Sammy to claim to have addressed the problem of limited storage.

I still think they will be making a loss on each and every unit, but the difference is that Samsung can afford to take the hit whereas HTC can't. No vanilla One's I'm afraid, plus the One is very dependant on it's custom software for most if it's more unique features, like the camera for example.

Completely agree with everything you've said in the past two posts, however, at $650 I'm quite sure Samsung isn't selling these for a loss.

 

[JeffDenver]

1) Compare the iPhone's market against any other one specific device. Of course Android dominates the market as a whole

Yeah "of course" now...in hindsight. There was a time when you would have been laughed at to even suggest that. And the best selling Android phones in the world are NOT low end phones.

In 6 months we'll be hearing new excuses as to why the S4 is outselling the iPhone 5.

Read the article he linked. It stated the GS3 outsold the 4S during one specific month (or quarter) haha. Doesn't even acknowledge the fact that the GS3 was aimed more towards competing with the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5 was not the top selling device by Apple at that time...the 4S was.

2) Hahahah. So the GS3 outsold the iPhone 4S, an older model, in one month.

An Android phone outsold the best iPhone available. That was a quarter, not a month. I cannot wait to see where the goalpost will move to this time. The S4 has already sold 10 million and is not even out yet. I have not seen a single commercial or ad for it yet. - Samsung's Galaxy S 4 to hit 10 million in sales next week, says CEO JK Shin

Apple still does quite well. Finally there are Android phones that can do battle with the iPhone, but the iPhone was and still remains a premium device.

Apple is doing less-quite-well with each passing year. It's stock is in a downward spiral. You can only coast on past successes for so long. They had a huge head start on Android, and Android still clawed it's way past them.

It is a premium device by iOS standards...on Android, that hardware would be considered mid range. No SD, No removable battery...no 720p display even. This is in 2013. They are not ranking in customer satisfaction over Android even. iPhone 5 ranks 5th in user satisfaction, behind 4 Android phones | Digital Trends

Won't succeed without carriers' subsidies. And the public dont give a crap about it. You'll lose features like the IR blaster and so on.

It'll probably be subsidized on T-Mobile just like the Nexus 4 was.

IR Blaster is cool the way NFC is cool (no sarcasm...they are cool and I'd like to have them). But the general public will not care about it or use it yet. There are not enough things that take advantage of it and most people do not even know what those things are. That might change eventually, but right now those "features" are not things that will sway the non-nerd population.

 

[JeffDenver]

Cheap plastic phone that now has less features than the carrier version? No... I'll stick with my N4 till the next nexus.., this phone feels like an attempt to remind people that the Galaxy line runs ANDROID, made by Google not Samsung....

It'll have vanilla Android...which means it will be faster, smoother, and get updates quickly.

And unlike the N4, it will have expandable memory (even it's internal memory already equals the best N4) and an upgradable battery that can last more than a day. Not to mention a better camera and faster CPU and higher res display.

 

[TheLibertarian]

Yeah "of course" now...in hindsight. There was a time when you would have been laughed at to even suggest that. And the best selling Android phones in the world are NOT low end phones.

In 6 months we'll be hearing new excuses as to why the S4 is outselling the iPhone 5.


The iPhone 5 was not the top selling device by Apple at that time...the 4S was.


An Android phone outsold the best iPhone available. That was a quarter, not a month. I cannot wait to see where the goalpost will move to this time. The S4 has already sold 10 million and is not even out yet. I have not seen a single commercial or ad for it yet. - Samsung's Galaxy S 4 to hit 10 million in sales next week, says CEO JK Shin


Apple is doing less-quite-well with each passing year. It's stock is in a downward spiral. You can only coast on past successes for so long. They had a huge head start on Android, and Android still clawed it's way past them.

It is a premium device by iOS standards...on Android, that hardware would be considered mid range. No SD, No removable battery...no 720p display even. This is in 2013. They are not ranking in customer satisfaction over Android even. iPhone 5 ranks 5th in user satisfaction, behind 4 Android phones | Digital Trends


It'll probably be subsidized on T-Mobile just like the Nexus 4 was.

IR Blaster is cool the way NFC is cool (no sarcasm...they are cool and I'd like to have them). But the general public will not care about it or use it yet. There are not enough things that take advantage of it and most people do not even know what those things are. That might change eventually, but right now those "features" are not things that will sway the non-nerd population.

1) The entry level phones far outsell any one, single Android flagship. Yes, that's the reality. Android owns the market from budget entries. That's not an excuse, that's a reality.

2) Why are you obsessing with monthly or quarterly sales? I say to you, again, that no one Android phone has ever outsold an iPhone model. Do your research.

3) The GS4 is projected to hit 10 million... You realize that means it hasn't sold that amount, right? And, by the way, the GS4 is to compete with the upcoming iPhone model, but something tells me you'll be posting the second the GS4 outsells any iPhone model, and even if it's just for an hour.

4) If you haven't seen a commercial for the GS4 yet, I'll take that to mean you don't own a TV.

5) iPhone's will likely never compete with Android devices in terms of raw hardware. And they don't need to.

For the last time, features, marketing, and the experience of using a device are what drives sales. Are you reading this? Walk into any carrier store. Ask 5 customers what they think of the Snapdragon 600. Ask whether they prefer IPS displays or AMOLED displays. You're only kidding yourself if you think the general consumer knows, or cares, about what specific hardware is part of the device.

I don't think you're comprehending the difference between hardware specifications and actual features.

Hardware specifications don't matter, iPhone's are premium devices. Please wake up and understand this.

 

[JeffDenver]

1) The entry level phones far outsell any one, single Android flagship.

Give me an example of any entry level phone that has outsold the Galaxy S3.

Yes, that's the reality. Android owns the market from budget entries. That's not an excuse, that's a reality.

Because there are no budget iPhones, right? LOL

"Geek deals: AT&T Penny Sale on iPhone 4" - Geek deals: AT&T Penny Sale on iPhone 4, Lumia 900, others | Deals | Geek.com

I say to you, again, that no one Android phone has ever outsold an iPhone model.

You've already been proven wrong. "Samsung Galaxy S3 outsells iPhone for first time" - Samsung Galaxy S3 outsells iPhone for first time | CNET UK

And, by the way, the GS4 is to compete with the upcoming iPhone model

I assume when the iPhone 5S (or whatever) comes out it will be competing with the not-yet-released Galaxy S5 then? Pull your pants up...you bias is showing.

iPhone's will likely never compete with Android devices in terms of raw hardware.

Gee, you don't say. You do know it wasn't always like that, right? There was a time when the top iPhone always had the best CPU and best display and best camera.

For the last time, features, marketing, and the experience of using a device are what drives sales. Are you reading this?

You do not seem to take disagreement well. No need to get so worked up over an opinion.

Hardware specifications don't matter

If they did not matter, Apple would not bother upgrading it's specs every version. Apple does not appear to agree with you that specs don't matter.

 

[Ry]

Sigh.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Guess you couldn't leave it alone.

 

[natehoy]

Samsung is actually pretty good about updating their phones, but it will still be a few months after the initial announcement of a new version of the OS.

Keep in mind that this is not necessarily a bad thing for us non-developer types. When my Nexus 7 comes out with an update, it's usually at least a couple of weeks before all of my apps get upgraded to recognize the new Android build number and/or have their incompatibilities with the packages included in the new build resolved (though to be fair most of them get upgraded pretty much right away or have no problems at all).

Waiting a month or two until the ecosystem settles into the new Android version is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[TheLibertarian]

Give me an example of any entry level phone that has outsold the Galaxy S3.


Because there are no budget iPhones, right? LOL

"Geek deals: AT&T Penny Sale on iPhone 4" - Geek deals: AT&T Penny Sale on iPhone 4, Lumia 900, others | Deals | Geek.com


You've already been proven wrong. "Samsung Galaxy S3 outsells iPhone for first time" - Samsung Galaxy S3 outsells iPhone for first time | CNET UK


I assume when the iPhone 5S (or whatever) comes out it will be competing with the not-yet-released Galaxy S5 then? Pull your pants up...you bias is showing.


Gee, you don't say. You do know it wasn't always like that, right? There was a time when the top iPhone always had the best CPU and best display and best camera.


You do not seem to take disagreement well. No need to get so worked up over an opinion.


If they did not matter, Apple would not bother upgrading it's specs every version. Apple does not appear to agree with you that specs don't matter.

1) Did I say an Android phone outsold the GS3? Hm, I didn't think so. I said entry level phones, which is the plural form of the word, meaning many different models and brands. Those are the devices the command the vast marketshare.

2) Uh, quoting a promotional special doesn't mean the iPhone is a budget device hahaha.

3) Do you honestly not ever read a link you post? The S3 outsold the iPhone... FOR ONE QUARTER. Buddy, wake up! Look at the total sales of the devices. I suppose ignorance really is bliss.

4) No, like I said, the GS4 would compete with the upcoming iPhone model, you know, the one released within the same time frame and year of the GS4? This isn't rocket science.

5) Gee, you know, it kind of always has been that way. You're under the misconception that Apple is trying to create a device to match Android in the spec race. Read: it is not, and it does not need to. P.S. You know iPhone's have always been had the best cameras, right?

6) Hahahaha my bias is showing? Guy, I don't like Apple products, and I've never owned an iPhone. That said, you've shown throughout pages of this thread that you certainly don't have one clue what you're posting, and I like ignorant people as much as I like iPhone's.

7) I say specs don't matter to the general consumer. Specs don't matter in the way you wrongly think they do. Of course Apple will continue to update their products, but there is not need for Apple to build an iPhone that matches Android superphones spec-for-spec. As I've stated, and you've not understood, devices are about the experience and features.

I don't know if you've made a valid post this entire thread lol. And I enjoy you conveniently not quoting specific areas of other posts for which you cannot formulate a logical argument. Keep your head up, happens the best (read: misinformed) all the time.

 

[Ry]

How much the phone should cost to whom? Based on our current model of subsidized phones, I believe the phone should cost a carrier 150% of suggested retail, the consumer buying it outright 75% of suggested retail and the consumer buying it subsidized, 40% of suggested retail. Suggested retail I would say prices are not that far off from what they should be, however I think costs could come down if they'd focus on fewer, better devices, rather than 2-20 different devices per year. So if a phone costs $200 in parts, $200 in sunk costs per unit and they charge $500, I have no issues with that. I think they should cost Verizon (as an example) $750, a consumer buying it outright $375 and a subsidized purchaser $200. This creates an environment where the incentive for consumers is to buy directly from the manufacturer and not support the contract model, but if they choose to support contracts, they can still save money and Verizon will have to make up the difference to the manufacturer, as their part of the bargain.

But the contract model seems to work for carriers (except for the iPhone, maybe). If it continues to work, I don't see carriers incentivizing consumers into buying phones for full price.

 

[byeblackberry]

Not quite over! Not everyone likes vanilla android.

Those people prefer non-removable batteries, no SD cards, smaller screens and older versions of Android. Oh, almost forgot...... Metal.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Guess you couldn't leave it alone.

Neither could you I guess.

The bickering needs to stop.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ry]

It'll have vanilla Android...which means it will be faster, smoother, and get updates quickly.

And unlike the N4, it will have expandable memory (even it's internal memory already equals the best N4) and an upgradable battery that can last more than a day. Not to mention a better camera and faster CPU and higher res display.

But still. It loses a lot of "out-of-the-box" functionality over the regular S4.

 

[JeffDenver]

1) Did I say an Android phone outsold the GS3?

Oh good, then we agree that low end phones do not outsell high end phones.

Uh, quoting a promotional special doesn't mean the iPhone is a budget device

It does if it is on permanent promotion. There are always iPhones being sold cheaply.

Buddy, wake up!

So angry.

You know iPhone's have always been had the best cameras, right?

Uh huh... Best camera phones - CNET Reviews .. The Galaxy S4 and HTC One both spank the iPhone 5.

I say specs don't matter to the general consumer.

If Apple agreed with you, they would not bother bumping their specs at all. Just sayin.