Disclaimer: This post is written purely from the perspective of a self-professed nerd that follows technology rather closely.
There are just too many smartphones hitting the market — specifically Android devices.
My problem is not so much that there are so-called “entry level” or “mid-range” smartphones. (Though this range of devices does create an issue of overall improvement/advancement of the Android operating system.) My issue is that there are so many of these devices that they nearly indiscernable. This issue, however, is not limited to affordable smartphones. A good deal of annoyance with the glut of Android devices comes in the high-end segment of the smartphone market. As someone who follows tech pretty closely, I can tell you that a high-end smartphone seems to be released just about every two or three weeks. Given that iPhones are only released on an annual basis, I’m clearly talking about Android devices. Each new iteration is only slightly different than the latest and greatest released just weeks prior.
As I thought about this situation, I was reminded of a funny scene from one of my favorite movies, Amadeus.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for innovation and pushing the envelope. In some respects, it’s interesting to see what new features and capabilities can be added to smartphone. I think the drive to “out tech” each other is driving this frenetic release schedule; but let’s not fool ourselves, the release schedule of the iPhone has a lot to do with this as well. With the anticipated launch of the iPhone5 just a couple of weeks away, manufacturers of Android smartphones, as well as Google itself (steaming ahead toward release of the “Ice Cream” operating system update), are racing to bring compelling products to market to counter the iPhone lust. Microsoft is also in the mix with the Mango update to it’s Windows Phone 7 operating system.
Raising Microsoft’s name is relevant here. Not because the market is flooded with Windows Phone 7 devices. To the contrary. What’s interesting is that Android has seemingly taken the place of the older ubiquitous Windows Phone. Before the current operating system updated, Windows Phones featured a decent operating system, but did not drive innovation. Google’s Android is innovating, for sure, but the saturation of basic devices with older versions of the operating system have, in my opinion, led to the issues of fragmentation and ambivalence by some developers from creating applications for the platform.
Ok. Instead of just posting a rant, here are a couple ideas on how to change, or improve, this issue of smartphone saturation.
- Google/Android need to set minimum requirements for processor speeds and internal memory. My son’s Ti-89 calculator has more computing power than a lot of the crappy smartphones on the market. Microsoft took this approach with Windows Phone 7. This doesn’t mean that every phone will be great, but at least even the cheapest varient on the platform is capable of performing the same tasks as a more expensive device with more bells and whistles.
- Carriers should realize that more is not always more. Having a store stocked with a plethora of marginally-performing smartphones doesn’t make you the nation’s best wireless company. It just means you have a bunch of shitty phones. The pay-as-you go carriers, many owned by the large carriers, need to get with the program, too.
Consumers have a role to play, too. In my opinion, having a smartphone is a luxury. If people are willing to drop $25+ for a data package, on top of the underlying minutes plan, they should at least be willing to drop more than 40 bucks for the phone. Stop being cheap! I hear a lot of “Well, that’s more phone phone that I need.” Why even get a smartphone, then? Just get a feature phone with messaging. Additionally, far too many of us have come to accept the terrible battery life associated with these phones. I have yet to meet anyone with a smartphone, other than a BlackBerry … and I won’t even get into that … that can get more than a day from their phone. With the introduction of 4G phones, battery life is taken an even greater hit.
Note: I have been sitting on this post for a while – Sept. 26. In the time since my draft, Motorola introduced the Bionic, only to outdo itself by introducing the Razr, which is, essentially, the same device — just thinner. Meanwhile, Apple lifted the veil on the iPhone 4S. Though many were disappointed, including me, that there was not a new form factor; Apple focused on making an industry-leading device better. The final nudge to hit publish on this post was seeing an article last night on the tech site Phone Dog.
What do you think? Are there too many phones available, or do you like having a lot of choices?
