Comments on: Smart device specs are over, long live the ecosystem

By: Krzysztof Jozwik

Krzysztof Jozwik — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:31:00 +0000

The N4 was at the top of the charts regarding specs when it came out, 1.5ghz quad core, 2GB ram, only thing it lacks is storage.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:29:00 +0000

I’m not suggesting that Microsoft should have continued to go with the name Metro because as you said they would have had to deal with an embarrassing lawsuit. But rather I am saying copyrighting the name “Metro” doesn’t seem right of the company that did it in the first place. And also, even if MS didn’t go with “Metro”, I still think they could have come up with a better alternative name. Subject: [slashgeardotcom] Re: Smart device specs are over, long live the ecosystem

By: Krzysztof Jozwik

Krzysztof Jozwik — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:27:00 +0000

Didn’t Samsung get smacked with $1 billion suit over BS patents? Metro could have cost them a lot more than they wanted to pay.

By: Krzysztof Jozwik

Krzysztof Jozwik — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:25:00 +0000

Corporate greed?

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:29:00 +0000

Are you absolutely certain that Microsoft had nothing at all to do with that HTC name? Because HTC’s other names include DNA, One X, Desire, Titan, sensation, etc…. Why in the world would this phone all of a sudden be the name Windows 8 Phone X? Other than the “X” it is a completely different (and of course crappier) naming convention than anything else they have done, including Windows 7.x phones. Windows Store apps is a joke name. 1 its too long, 2 its not catchy, and 3, what are we supposed to call the environment it runs on? Windows Store verses desktop? Thats why Metro worked. You had metro apps that ran in metro. TBH I don’t think they should have gotten rid of the name. I know they were about to be sued for it but come on. Copywriting the name “Metro” is like getting a design patent for rounded corners. Its technically means railroad, train, or subway. Are they going to sue NYC next? And how about iOS? Why was that name allowed? iOS was the name for Cisco’s router opertaing system long before the iPhone ever came out. Windows Rt is a joke name too. Again its just not catchy. Android is catchy. iOS is short and is the “i” from Apple plus the fact that it IS an OS. I think it should have been called Windows Metro. Subject: [slashgeardotcom] Re: Smart device specs are over, long live the ecosystem

By: pepee63

pepee63 — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:19:00 +0000

Yeah,,,, fair enough. Forgot about that. Still, they should of waited 10 months before bringing it out. Don’t think many people would upgrade after only 6 months.

By: Chris Burns

Chris Burns — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:17:00 +0000

Microsoft doesn’t name HTC’s devices – “Windows Store Apps” is a ridiculous name – Windows RT was a mistake.

By: Chris Burns

Chris Burns — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Because of the lighting port.

By: Louis B

Louis B — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Oh dear, the Android fanatics will not leave this article alone. Their bullying kind will just flood this article with spiteful comments which truly reflect their nature: bullying scums.

By: Benjamin Gibson

Benjamin Gibson — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:47:00 +0000

I’m starting to hate these apple fanboyish opinion columns on slashgear. At least I finally know this websites true colors when it comes ot being pro apple. Specs are equally as important as ecosystem if you ask me.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Well I think its both. Apple started the spec race with retina displays and packing as many pixels in there as possible but android has always come out with the absolute latest tech in CPUs, 3g/4g chips, larger screens, etc… Subject: [slashgeardotcom] Re: Smart device specs are over, long live the ecosystem

By: babarj

babarj — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:50:00 +0000

I disagree. Besides the screen, Apple has bragged about little hardware wise.
In my opinion, it was Android that started the spec race. Unlike Apple, multiple manufactures make phones with Android, and so give their product an edge, they would include better specs. As one manufacture tried to “one up” the other, so began the spec race.

By: babarj

babarj — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:42:00 +0000

That never happened, the web being the only exception.

Windows software never worked on osX or Linux and vice versa.

It sucks I know, but its always been this way

By: didibus

didibus — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:57:00 +0000

Am I the only one that dislike ecosystems? No ecosystem offers me everything that I want and offer it the way I want it. What happened to the open web, having services and apps all inter-working together flawlessly even if they came from different vendors of developers?

By: didibus

didibus — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:48:00 +0000

How can you miss Internet Explorer? It’s like saying you miss dial up!

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Oh ok. my bad.
Subject: [slashgeardotcom] Re: Smart device specs are over, long live the ecosystem

By: Good ol' JS

Good ol' JS — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:59:00 +0000

I can do it with Android. That’s what I was talking about.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Agreed. they are getting much better with their commercials but their branding is just shit. “Windows RT”? huh? “Windows store apps”? The “HTC Windows 8 Phone X” or whatever it is? WTF is that?

EDIT: I do like the Surface branding though

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:10:00 +0000

I agree that Windows’ heft required much higher end hardware but Microsoft certainly did not start the spec race. Apple is mostly responsbile for that by bringing newer hardware specs such as retina displays etc.. that are standard nowadays.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:10:00 +0000

what is it you want to do with your phone that you can not today with Android? Just curious

By: Chris Burns

Chris Burns — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:19:00 +0000

You don’t have to choose. It’s the way the market is swinging.

By: lightstorm66

lightstorm66 — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:29:00 +0000

Seems Chris Burns strength isn’t math as he wrote “iphone 5 selling 5 million units opening weekend, this half as much as the Galaxy S III sold in 100 days” and this is wrong, as the S3 sold 20 million in 100 days, therefore not half but a quarter, tststs.

By: Mark Pomponi

Mark Pomponi — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 14:17:00 +0000

RIM has been saying this for months. I guess people are starting to listen. Now…when will we hear that 600k apps is also a ridiculous measure for devices?

By: JRDemaskus

JRDemaskus — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 01:59:00 +0000

Maybe somebody forgot Windows Mobile started the spec race. The OS was too much for the hardware, always.
I buy based on hardware and specs. The OS is 3rd on my list.
I am considering trying Windows Phone only because I miss Internet Explorer.
But it may not be enough on it’s own to make me switch back after these 2 years with Android.
Peace

By: jhdale

jhdale — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 23:05:00 +0000

“Microsoft, a group that’s more than just a little aware of the power of branding,”

The inanely named Window RT proves that Microsoft still does not understand branding.

By: JustaTester

JustaTester — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:58:00 +0000

And to add to that, the developer/hacker/enthusiasts are also not the most profitable segment.

By: Allen Byrd

Allen Byrd — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:42:00 +0000

Exactly. I don’t care too much about specs. I want a device good enough to operate heavy tasks and games well, a good screen, a smooth operating system, a ridiculous amount of freedom, and an awesome ecosystem. Android offers all of that for me with the gigantic screens on certain phones, Jelly Bean, and all of the Google stuff.

By: pepee63

pepee63 — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:38:00 +0000

If the spec race is over, please explain the iPad 4 which was released only 6 months after the last.

By: Steeve

Steeve — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:57:00 +0000

Not really. I find “Fandroids” are more about freedom to choose – to have a selection of phones at different prices with different features.. not to be told which apps they can install.. to be able to share files over bluetooth.. (I once had a iPhone 3G) to have soundboard apps which aren’t forced to load sound clips from iTunes.. to be able to customise their phone with a new launcher, clock etc..

/cue the woman from the 80s Apple advert throwing the hammer at the big “1984″ screen/

These basic freedoms seem to be glossed over by iDevice acolytes.

“Fandroids” don’t care so much about specs – if they did there wouldn’t be a market for such a large variety of handsets – each manufacturer would only have a flagship handset.
I think the Nexus 4 follows this philosophy a little – it isn’t about being the best spec (although they are pretty good) – Google could easily design an overkill spec phone – instead, they designed the handset to be affordable to the average consumer rather than the elitist pricing of the iPhone that is supposed to make the purchaser feel special.

Personally, in the new year, I may get a Nexus 4 once I’ve seen there aren’t any major reported problems – I can easily afford an 64GB iPhone 5, but I don’t want it. I like choice. I don’t need LTE – I’d have HSPA which is plenty fast enough already. Although, I might go S3 because I think I like the idea of removable battery and SD card. Those are the only specs I *might* care about.

By: Lani Destacamento

Lani Destacamento — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:23:00 +0000

I don’t understand. Why do I have to choose? I want both the hardware and the ecosystem to be good. Whoever can give me the best mix of the two gets my business. This article is kind of moot.

By: Chris Burns

Chris Burns — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:09:00 +0000

The type of person you’re speaking about is not a common person – there’s certainly a STRONG following of developers, hackers, and Android addicts out there, but they do not make up the largest bulk of consumers working with Android, not by a long shot.

By: Chris Burns

Chris Burns — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:08:00 +0000

You’re in the minority though, you’re not an average consumer.

By: korbermeister

korbermeister — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:41:00 +0000

‘write my own apps’? Better yet make your own phone

By: n900mixalot

n900mixalot — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:35:00 +0000

Nope. It is about the entire experience. Anyway, isn’t OS a spec in the end?

By: Mark_Anderson

Mark_Anderson — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:22:00 +0000

It is, as long as people understand that ecosystem is about services as much as apps.

By: Good ol' JS

Good ol' JS — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:13:00 +0000

Uh, I just want to be able to treat my phone like my PC and do what I want with it, screw the ecosystem give me specs. I’ll write my own apps.

By: scxfan

scxfan — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Wrong.

For Fandroids, it’s all about specs.