Galaxy Note 3 to come with better build quality, as HTC One “worries” Samsung

[maxosx]

I think you may have been hiding under a cave for the past few coupe of months. Just go to Youtube and search for a comparison between HTC One and SGS4. The majority of the comments on those videos are praising the HTC One and mockig the SGS4. The tide may have actually turned.

I really like what HTC was doing when they first entered the smartphone business. They sold very nicely designed units through Verizon. Over the last 18 months their decline as a company just proves how competitive this market is.

It's good to see they are producing a new higher quality model, yet there's no way that it trumps all that Samsung has done. No matter what one thinks of Samsungs choice of plastic, they are in a very strong position.

 

[0dev]

Only 900 million people seemingly If only 10% are willing to try and give facebook home a spin that's 90 million users. As many as Samsung hopes to sell an S4 to.

You are assuming all of Facebook's open accounts are:

a) Representative of active, real users

b) Owners of Android devices

c) Users of Facebook on those devices

d) Care enough about Facebook to install it all over their homescreen

Let's put it this way. I have an account on MacRumours. I like MacRumours. But would I install a MacRumours launcher on my phone? Hell no.

Same goes for any other social network and I'm sure many others agree. Just because Facebook has a lot of accounts registered, it doesn't mean there's a lot of real users who will let Facebook take over their phones.

To use a more apt comparison, Apple has a lot of customers, but they still sold very few first gen Apple TVs. It doesn't matter if it's from a big company with a lot of popularity, if it's a crap product there's no market demand for, people won't use it (although for the record I personally liked the first Apple TV far better than the current ones).

 

[Dontazemebro]

One thing I do give credit to samsung for is that they listen to their consumer base. Now if HTC could follow suite and give us better battery performance and the option between sense and non-sense enabled devices, the android world would be a much better place.

 

[Dontazemebro]

I really like what HTC was doing when they first entered the smartphone business. They sold very nicely designed units through Verizon. Over the last 18 months their decline as a company just proves how competitive this market is.

It's good to see they are producing a new higher quality model, yet there's no way that it trumps all that Samsung has done. No matter what one thinks of Samsungs choice of plastic, they are in a very strong position.

My dude, you do know HTC made the Palm Treo (way before the debut of the iPhone), they were the first to introduce touch screen devices, created the pocket PC, PDAs, and even the slide out keyboard before anyone even started using the word, smartphone.

Honestly they're one of the oldest players in the game.

 

[maxosx]

My dude, you do know HTC made the Palm Treo (way before the debut of the iPhone), they were the first to introduce touch screen devices, created the pocket PC, PDAs, and even the slide out keyboard before anyone even started using the word, smartphone.

Honestly they're one of the oldest players in the game.

Yeah dude I knew that. The Palm Treo was a good product, I had a few.

Fast forward to today, we're talking top of the line smartphones. Yesterday is history, it's the present that matters.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Yeah dude I knew that. The Palm Treo was a good product, I had a few.

Fast forward to today, we're talking top of the line smartphones. Yesterday is history, it's the present that matters.

OK, from your post it looked like you said they just started making phones when they came out with the Verizon 'DROID' branded line, but yes I agree with you.

 

[Saturn1217]

No one is arguing that Samsung needs to use aluminum in their next phone.

What they do need to do is get a bit more creative with their design and materials.

I mean the $25 calculator I bought 5 years ago at staples uses higher grade plastic than the GS1, 2 ,3 & 4 (all of which used the same flimsy very glossy plastic regardless of the poly-carbonate moniker that samsung began to use with the GS3).

I really like the GS4 btw and if the reviews pan out it is definitely on my list. But that doesn't mean I can't see areas where samsung clearly has room for improvement.

I'm sure they want to respond to this criticism BEFORE it starts impacting sales rather than after.

 

[maxosx]

No one is arguing that Samsung needs to use aluminum in their next phone.

What they do need to do is get a bit more creative with their design and materials.

I mean the $25 calculator I bought 5 years ago at staples uses higher grade plastic than the GS1, 2 ,3 & 4 (all of which used the same flimsy very glossy plastic regardless of the poly-carbonate moniker that samsung began to use with the GS3).

I really like the GS4 btw and if the reviews pan out it is definitely on my list. But that doesn't mean I can't see areas where samsung clearly has room for improvement.

I'm sure they want to respond to this criticism BEFORE it starts impacting sales rather than after.

I've been using "plastic" phones of all types, from various manufacturers for years. Not once has the material the phones made out of caused me a problem. Functionality & usefulness are what matters. Hence Apple's worn out slogan "it just works".

Only snob appeal and Apples high profile headline grabbing marketing pitches are what influence others. An entire industry of accessories such as diamond encrusted iPhone cases & other such nonsense, only exists in AppleLand.

To the big ego vanity driven, good for them.

To those who care less what they're "seen with" plastic vs. glass or aluminum or whatever... the choice of materials is not a deal breaker. It's just a talking point that's quickly dismissed.

 

[bmac4]

No one is arguing that Samsung needs to use aluminum in their next phone.

What they do need to do is get a bit more creative with their design and materials.

I mean the $25 calculator I bought 5 years ago at staples uses higher grade plastic than the GS1, 2 ,3 & 4 (all of which used the same flimsy very glossy plastic regardless of the poly-carbonate moniker that samsung began to use with the GS3).

I really like the GS4 btw and if the reviews pan out it is definitely on my list. But that doesn't mean I can't see areas where samsung clearly has room for improvement.

I'm sure they want to respond to this criticism BEFORE it starts impacting sales rather than after.

The plastics you speak of seem to be working just fine. I have never once has a problem with Samsung made smart phones. I am not sure their sales will ever be affected by them using plastic. If it has worked thus far why cant it keep working? Each year their sales on the galaxy line of phones have gone up. I think the only people complaining are Apple fans. Samsung is not selling phoned to them, and most likely never will.

 

[Irishman]

Implying anyone gives a crap about Facebook Home

Besides, it's on the Play Store for most popular smartphones to download already and there's patched APKs that run on any Android phone.

Only a billion people, sir. (To be fair, I am not one of them).

 

[Irishman]

IHence Apple's worn out slogan "it just works".

Apple would agree with you, that's why they stopped using it.

 

[bmac4]

Apple would agree with you, that's why they stopped using it.

Well and the fact that it is not true for everyone.

 

[Irishman]

Well and the fact that it is not true for everyone.

You are incorrect.

 

[bmac4]

You are incorrect.

So the iPhone works for everyone? You are crazy if you think that. It does not fit my needs, so in turn it does not work for me. How can you tell me that it works for me?

 

[jamojamo]

Never been a consideration of mine when buying a phone, I look to see if it has the features I want

I always have a case on them, so the material is irrelevant

I feel the same way, although I don't have an aversion to any material but I am a little gun-shy about a glass back.

 

[Vegastouch]

True or not, it wouldn't hurt Samsung the least bit to start making more premium feeling devices.

Imagine if the S4 metal bands around the device were actually metal. Why not?

I actually dont care for aluminum backs. They are just so slippery and dent easy. I am completely fine with a plastic removable back. I can easily find multiple other backs to replace it or just change it and they are cheap, or it has a case on it anyways.
Havent had a case n my GS3 though for a 3-4 months because the battery cover has leather on it.

 

[roxxette]

Glad OP is finally banned.

 

[Irishman]

So the iPhone works for everyone? You are crazy if you think that. It does not fit my needs, so in turn it does not work for me. How can you tell me that it works for me?

Strawman. Apple never once used the "It just works" slogan for the iPhone in ads. Further, they didn't stop using that ad campaign because all of a sudden, whoops, Apple gear isn't simple to use anymore! They stopped using it because they moved on to another ad campaign.

Do I really have to explain such simple things to you??

 

[bmac4]

Strawman. Apple never once used the "It just works" slogan for the iPhone in ads. Further, they didn't stop using that ad campaign because all of a sudden, whoops, Apple gear isn't simple to use anymore! They stopped using it because they moved on to another ad campaign.

Do I really have to explain such simple things to you??

I was not the one who said they stopped or why. I was simply pointing out the fact that slogan is not true for everyone. I could careless or started it or why it was stopped. So no you don't need to explain anything to me.

 

[Zwhaler]

I guess their pre-order numbers for the SGS4 are far below their expectations?

I'm not sure what their expectations were but the pre orders were 4x higher than the S3 http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/120115-samsung-galaxy-s4-pre-orders

 

[tjl3]

I'm not sure what their expectations were but the pre orders were 4x higher than the S3 http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/120115-samsung-galaxy-s4-pre-orders

-_- a little bit more research will show that pre-registration ~= pre-order. I pre-registered on carphone warehouse and all that meant was that they send me a message when it becomes available for pre-order. You could pre-order one too with a down payment.

 

[Kashsystems]

Build quality matters up to a point, as long as the phone does not fall apart easily plastic versus metal doesn't matter as much. To be features are more important.

For example I believe this is a really big selling point. I see a lot of complaints about the lack of better integration with Evernote and the Note2.

If Samsung and Evernote would collaborate together for an Evernote user like myself, this would lead to one thing.

 

[Zwhaler]

-_- a little bit more research will show that pre-registration ~= pre-order. I pre-registered on carphone warehouse and all that meant was that they send me a message when it becomes available for pre-order. You could pre-order one too with a down payment.

True, headline was misleading.

 

[spinedoc77]

I've been using "plastic" phones of all types, from various manufacturers for years. Not once has the material the phones made out of caused me a problem. Functionality & usefulness are what matters. Hence Apple's worn out slogan "it just works".

Only snob appeal and Apples high profile headline grabbing marketing pitches are what influence others. An entire industry of accessories such as diamond encrusted iPhone cases & other such nonsense, only exists in AppleLand.

To the big ego vanity driven, good for them.

To those who care less what they're "seen with" plastic vs. glass or aluminum or whatever... the choice of materials is not a deal breaker. It's just a talking point that's quickly dismissed.

See this is going too far in the other direction and saying that aesthetics have no value at all except to be a "snob" and feel better than the guy next to you. Personally while I don't value aesthetics as number 1 on my list for a smartphone, I do value it for myself and not for others. It's not a question of ego, it's just something intangible about having something that feels like it's quality, like having a fine watch for the sake of how it was made and functions.

I went from an iphone 5 to a Note 2 and sometimes I miss the feel of the iphone 5, it doesn't mean I want one to be a "snob", it just has that intangible heft and solidness that the note 2 does not have, completely aside from the software portion of it.

I think it's very misguided to just label some consumers love of aesthetics as them being "snobs".

 

[maxosx]

I think it's very misguided to just label some consumers love of aesthetics as them being "snobs".

It's all a matter of perception. In my case functionality is of greater importance than the material a phone is made of.

Here's the opposing view that others have. There's lots more where these came from.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1447957/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1443603/