Galaxy S6

[epicrayban]

I think it's pretty fine and encouraged to come up with something different and new.

We already have the iPhone. Would it kill Samsung to make something completely new and different? I think their back-and-forth with regards to their own design language ultimately hurts them.

Nothing is iconic "Samsung" - its an amalgamation of a bunch of different designs which ultimately don't come together in an unique way.

I thought Samsung always did try new and different things. In fact, don't they do this so much that it's to a fault? Aren't they blamed for their "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach?

Aren't they first with many things? The Note 4 with is size and stylus. Aren't they the first with different takes on smartwatches, including one with dedicated SIM card so that the smartwatch can truly work with data solo independent of another connected device? Aren't they first to a pro-like tablet with their latest larger tablets? Even on the software side, haven't they done new things like split screen multi-tasking, all that eye-movement extras they taught in TouchWiz?

Yet here, when the market and media demands all call for Samsung to become more "focused" especially with their star product line ups (aka the Galaxy S line) you still have people complaining. How many times have we heard/read from the tech media that they want Samsung to use more premium builds? Here they are addressing this demand, and yet here we have the same group of people with the same complaints.

You can't win. Unless you're Apple, I guess. Apple can follow tech trends and demands and be praised for it, but Samsung cannot.

I say again, if we want to treat Apple as if they are the leader in this industry, let them lead. To be a leader is to pave the way for others to follow. You can't have your cake and eat it too; you can't praise Apple for being the leader, yet chastise others when they follow the industry's leader.

You really just can't win with some people. Oh well.

 

[jrswizzle]

They made larger screens popular more than any other maker.

Or they were successful in pushing out HTC and making everyone forget that it was actually someone else who began the larger-screen smartphone craze and they simply took it and ran with it.....

There was a chart floating around here somewhere that showed the sizes of all the major smartphones released since the iPhone. HTC was the first to inch up until Samsung hit it big with the GS3.

HTC did 4.3" first, then 4.5", then 4.7" and that's when the rails came off for them and Sammy took over.

I don't think people really give HTC the credit it deserves. For the first few years of Android, HTC dominated. They simply couldn't fight the marketing giant Samsung and have been floundering with great products and poor sales ever since.

I, for one, really hope the M9 is a winner. HTC's software is phenomenal, especially compared to Samsung. Their devices are also extremely beautiful.

----------

I thought Samsung always did try new and different things. In fact, don't they do this so much that it's to a fault? Aren't they blamed for their "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" approach?

Aren't they first with many things? The Note 4 with is size and stylus. Aren't they the first with different takes on smartwatches, including one with dedicated SIM card so that the smartwatch can truly work with data solo independent of another connected device? Aren't they first to a pro-like tablet with their latest larger tablets? Even on the software side, haven't they done new things like split screen multi-tasking, all that eye-movement extras they taught in TouchWiz?

Yet here, when the market and media demands all call for Samsung to become more "focused" especially with their star product line ups (aka the Galaxy S line) you still have people complaining. How many times have we heard/read from the tech media that they want Samsung to use more premium builds? Here they are addressing this demand, and yet here we have the same group of people with the same complaints.

You can't win. Unless you're Apple, I guess. Apple can follow tech trends and demands and be praised for it, but Samsung cannot.

I say again, if we want to treat Apple as if they are the leader in this industry, let them lead. To be a leader is to pave the way for others to follow. You can't have your cake and eat it too; you can't praise Apple for being the leader, yet chastise others when they follow the industry's leader.

You really just can't win with some people. Oh well.

Notice I was speaking about designs - hardware designs specifically but we'll got with software too. Samsung tries a lot of stuff feature wise, but with respect to design language, they still are heavily inspired by others.

The S-Pen and AMOLED displays are the only things I'd identify as truly Samsung. And they should get big props for both.

I'm not arguing for Apple here - you brought them up and the poster before me was the one who said he'd love for an iPhone-like design on an Android.

And if you think most of the things you listed were "new" or "firsts" for Samsung, think again. Perhaps they were "new" in a certain context....but that's my point.

You seem to be under the impression that "premium" means something very specific. That a unibody device has to be designed in a very specific way. The fact is, these are very general categories, yet Samsung tends to mirror or stay very close to what Apple has defined as their design language.

HTC doesn't seem to have a problem designing premium devices with a unique design language. Is it really that much to ask for the supposed king of Android to come up with their own design language? Both hardware and software....because TouchWiz still sucks IMO.

 

[epicrayban]

I see your train of thought....but Apple wasn't the first to do unibody phones. They existed before 2007 when Apple got into the mobile phone space.
In your same train of thought...if Apple puts 2 or 3GB of ram in the IP6s...are they following everyone else?

Exactly. I'm sure when that happens, as it is rumored to happen with the 6S, the same people will say Apple added additional RAM only because of demand. Only because Apple is finally ready to add more RAM (like they are now ready to add larger screens to their portoflio).

And that'd be fine to say.

Unfortunately, if others do the same thing, then they are copying.

It's really sad this state of affairs we're in regarding "copying." Who really cares who copies who. The more everybody competes, the better off the consumers will be. Bring on all the copying, I say.

Apple and HTC are constantly praised for their unibody design in the One. Why is it not natural for Samsung, as a competitor, to want to get in on this? Just as it's wise for Apple to want to get into larger phones to steal some of that competition, too. Look how well that's worked for them.

What are people's problems, really? It's comical and really reflects poorly on their character. Shallow and petty might be words used aptly here.

 

[Vegastouch]

I guess they saw how many iPhone 6 & 6+ sold in comparison to the GS5 and decided customers clearly want metal unibody over removable batteries & waterproofing.

And I think personally they are right. Given that this is Samsung and I have no doubt by April we will be hearing of the GS6 Active with a more robust case & waterproofing and a GS6 mini and a GS6 Zoom - I think concentrating / focusing the main device on great design and build quality is a good thing. HTC M9 looks like it may be a stunner, and as one of the last bastions of removable battery - surely it must see that it's not a big selling point as that once were - and neither is waterproofing.

Otherwise the GS5 would have sold better if those things are what make people buy phones.

I dont think that's it. They sold plenty with plastic backs when the iPhone was smaller. Anyone can see it was because of the small size and their updates were marginal.

They could left iOS 7 on it and they would have sold a crap load because they are bigger.

 

[jrswizzle]

Unfortunately, if others do the same thing, then they are copying.
.

You are applying the same set of criteria to two totally different areas of a device.

Under the hood, processors, RAM, battery - those are all things that are simply dictated by what's available and what the OEM wants to do. There's not really a "trend" to follow other than their software demands certain things so they put what they think is necessary into the device.

Whereas design language is extremely subjective and is really a type of branding in a way. The iPhone is an extremely iconic device and even as it's changed over the years, it still has very distinctive design language.

So no, copying design language is not the same as following a trend. They are separate and apply to different areas.

----------

Apple and HTC are constantly praised for their unibody design in the One. Why is it not natural for Samsung, as a competitor, to want to get in on this? Just as it's wise for Apple to want to get into larger phones to steal some of that competition, too. Look how well that's worked for them.

Do you wonder why HTC isn't criticized as copying? It's because they came up with their own unibody design language that is distinctive.

Samsung isn't being bashed for making a unibody device. They are being criticized for making one that looks a lot like an iPhone (the chassis at least at this point).

 

[jamezr]

Exactly. I'm sure when that happens, as it is rumored to happen with the 6S, the same people will say Apple added additional RAM only because of demand. Only because Apple is finally ready to add more RAM (like they are now ready to add larger screens to their portoflio).

And that'd be fine to say.

Unfortunately, if others do the same thing, then they are copying.

It's really sad this state of affairs we're in regarding "copying." Who really cares who copies who. The more everybody competes, the better off the consumers will be. Bring on all the copying, I say.

Apple and HTC are constantly praised for their unibody design in the One. Why is it not natural for Samsung, as a competitor, to want to get in on this? Just as it's wise for Apple to want to get into larger phones to steal some of that competition, too. Look how well that's worked for them.

What are people's problems, really? It's comical and really reflects poorly on their character. Shallow and petty might be words used aptly here.

I think we are on the same page so to speak. I get so tired of hearing how everyone copies Apple.....
EVERYONE COPIES EACHOTHER.......
They all borrow design and software ideas from each other. This goes on in every product space there is......
We as consumers all benefit from this....

 

[Sevanw]

New schematics leak. This seems to be the design that's leaking consistently.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Or they were successful in pushing out HTC and making everyone forget that it was actually someone else who began the larger-screen smartphone craze and they simply took it and ran with it.....

There was a chart floating around here somewhere that showed the sizes of all the major smartphones released since the iPhone. HTC was the first to inch up until Samsung hit it big with the GS3.

HTC did 4.3" first, then 4.5", then 4.7" and that's when the rails came off for them and Sammy took over.

I don't think people really give HTC the credit it deserves. For the first few years of Android, HTC dominated. They simply couldn't fight the marketing giant Samsung and have been floundering with great products and poor sales ever since.

I, for one, really hope the M9 is a winner. HTC's software is phenomenal, especially compared to Samsung. Their devices are also extremely beautiful.

I'm not arguing who's first. But Samsung's S2 really pushed bigger screens into mainstream.

 

[jrswizzle]

I'm not arguing who's first. But Samsung's S2 really pushed bigger screens into mainstream.

And I'm saying the Evo 4G, which had the same display size as the S2 but came out a year earlier, paved the way for the S2 to be successful.

Both had similar success as far as sales numbers go in 2011.

It wasn't until the GS3 that Samsung pushed HTC to the background.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I never really had a major issue with the looks or plastic build of the Galaxy line. To me Touchwiz has been my major gripe. And Galaxy phones IMO need a full root with custom Recovery, to allow ROM's. Now a good ROM can really change a Galaxy phone from an ok device, to a really wicked awesome smartphone, with the tweaks to make it faster, and better battery life, and extra customizations.

My last Galaxy phone, was the S4 on ATT, and I HATED that phone, and Touchwiz felt so heavy and laggy on it. The ATT version I had didn't even have root, let alone Recovery for ROM's so that didn't help one bit. F off ATT + Samsung for locking it down so bad. Actually all Samsung phones on ATT are locked down tight now Thank God for HTC and being developer friendly lately.

But one of my all time fav smartphones, was the Galaxy Note 2 on ATT. Back then you could easily root it and install ROM's, and there were some AWESOME Touchwiz ROM's for the Note 2, even the ATT edition, which made the phone way better to me. Loved that phone, and it had amazing development for it. And the tweaked Touchwiz ROM's were so good.

Back on topic, I hope the S6 has a major revision to Touchwiz. And can i dream, that maybe Samsung and ATT will follow HTC, and allow development and unlocked bootloaders again ?

 

[gotluck]

I never really had a major issue with the looks or plastic build of the Galaxy line. To me Touchwiz has been my major gripe. And Galaxy phones IMO need a full root with custom Recovery, to allow ROM's. Now a good ROM can really change a Galaxy phone from an ok device, to a really wicked awesome smartphone, with the tweaks to make it faster, and better battery life, and extra customizations.

My last Galaxy phone, was the S4 on ATT, and I HATED that phone, and Touchwiz felt so heavy and laggy on it. The ATT version I had didn't even have root, let alone Recovery for ROM's so that didn't help one bit. F off ATT + Samsung for locking it down so bad. Actually all Samsung phones on ATT are locked down tight now Thank God for HTC and being developer friendly lately.

But one of my all time fav smartphones, was the Galaxy Note 2 on ATT. Back then you could easily root it and install ROM's, and there were some AWESOME Touchwiz ROM's for the Note 2, even the ATT edition, which made the phone way better to me. Loved that phone, and it had amazing development for it. And the tweaked Touchwiz ROM's were so good.

Back on topic, I hope the S6 has a major revision to Touchwiz. And can i dream, that maybe Samsung and ATT will follow HTC, and allow development and unlocked bootloaders again ?

I'm in your camp, my major problem with samsung is software, I like their hardware with unique mix of bells and whistles you cant get elsewhere

doubt ATT will ever have unlockable bootloaders w/ samsung ever again. However you can buy tmobile and/or international models ( if bands support, I know tmobile does, know spinedoc runs an unlockable tmobile note4 on ATT )

 

[nviz22]

And I'm saying the Evo 4G, which had the same display size as the S2 but came out a year earlier, paved the way for the S2 to be successful.

Both had similar success as far as sales numbers go in 2011.

It wasn't until the GS3 that Samsung pushed HTC to the background.

But being on Sprint while HTC had so many different carrier exclusive models contributed to that as well.

 

[Klyster]

Or they were successful in pushing out HTC and making everyone forget that it was actually someone else who began the larger-screen smartphone craze and they simply took it and ran with it.....

Didn't Dell go big before HTC?

 

[skratch77]

And I'm saying the Evo 4G, which had the same display size as the S2 but came out a year earlier, paved the way for the S2 to be successful.

Both had similar success as far as sales numbers go in 2011.

It wasn't until the GS3 that Samsung pushed HTC to the background.

The Samsung galaxy nexus was out before the gs3 with a 4.7 in screen

Pretty sure Samsung was the first to beak into the 5 in territory

 

[Technarchy]

The Samsung galaxy nexus was out before the gs3 with a 4.7 in screen

Pretty sure Samsung was the first to beak into the 5 in territory

The 5" barrier was broken by the Dell Streak 5 I believe.

 

[spinedoc77]

I think it's pretty fine and encouraged to come up with something different and new.

We already have the iPhone. Would it kill Samsung to make something completely new and different? I think their back-and-forth with regards to their own design language ultimately hurts them.

Nothing is iconic "Samsung" - its an amalgamation of a bunch of different designs which ultimately don't come together in an unique way.

What can be completely new and different though? Everything is copied to a certain extent. The iPhone was copied from something else, it wasn't completely new or different in the least, it was just put together and marketed masterfully. In the same vein Samsung took large screened phablets and stylus equipped phones and put them together masterfully. Although in thinking about it were there phablets before the Note series? I know there were stylus equipped phones before at least. But I would definitely disagree, the Note series is pretty darn "iconic" and quite unique in Today's smartphone market.

 

[Shanghaichica]

The 5" barrier was broken by the Dell Streak 5 I believe.

Image

There's a difference between being the first to do something and popularsing something.

Samsung popularised the large screen

Apple popularised the touchscreen phone/Smartphone/tablet/mp3 player

Neither Samsung or Apple were the first to bring any of these devices to the market.

 

[skratch77]

The 5" barrier was broken by the Dell Streak 5 I believe.

Image

Dell made a cell phone?

 

[spinedoc77]

The 5" barrier was broken by the Dell Streak 5 I believe.

Image

Wow, I forgot about that phone! Still looks decent all these years later.

 

[epicrayban]

Some of you have got to be kidding right?

Apple is constantly praised for making something popular because they do it right. They're not necessarily first with a lot of things but they make it popular and know how to focus and prepare features for mainstream.

This is often the story. They are often praised for this.

But if Samsung makes larger screens popular they get little to no credit. We have to go into all these tangents about how HTC or dell or whoever did it first. Or how HTC paved the way for Samsung to make bring screens successful. It's utter rubbish.

Apple can revolutionize and influence the industry. No one else can apparently. And if apple does lead as leaders do, others are criticized anyway for following the leader. That's what it means to be a leader.

Some of you, like jrswizzle and mktank, are just plain haters. Like I said, can't win them all.

----------

What can be completely new and different though? Everything is copied to a certain extent. The iPhone was copied from something else, it wasn't completely new or different in the least, it was just put together and marketed masterfully. In the same vein Samsung took large screened phablets and stylus equipped phones and put them together masterfully. Although in thinking about it were there phablets before the Note series? I know there were stylus equipped phones before at least. But I would definitely disagree, the Note series is pretty darn "iconic" and quite unique in Today's smartphone market.

Well said. I think people like jrswizzle and mktank are just haters. You're not going to convince them from their blindness and extreme bias. Apple is the golden child and can do literally no wrong.

Besides, isn't trolling not allowed in these forums?

----------

There's a difference between being the first to do something and popularsing something.

Samsung popularised the large screen

Apple popularised the touchscreen phone/Smartphone/tablet/mp3 player

Neither Samsung or Apple were the first to bring any of these devices to the market.

Exactly. Many companies should be credited for popularizing or influencing the industry. But some people here can only see one company that does that.

And even then when companies follow the industry lewder they still get mad.

Like I said, some people want their cake and to eat it too. Either apple is truly the leader they are or they aren't. If they are, for goodness sake let them proudly lead. Don't be petty and childish when others in the industry follow the industry leader.

 

[Technarchy]

Some of you have got to be kidding right?

We have to go into all these tangents about how HTC or dell or whoever did it first. Or how HTC paved the way for Samsung to make bring screens successful.

No one else can apparently.

Does...Not...Compute.

Go back, read again.

Someone else CAN, it just happens to be HTC, and people ARE giving them credit.

What? Your preferred flavor of android is not getting praise so they must be Apple fanboys...Really?

And the hilarity of the alternative section continues to deliver....

 

[epicrayban]

Does...Not...Compute.

Go back, read again.

Someone else CAN, it just happens to be HTC, and people ARE giving them credit.

What? Your preferred flavor of android is not getting praise so they must be Apple fanboys...Really?

And the hilarity of the alternative section continues to deliver....

I'm discussing the credit for who popularized larger screens. I don't know how anyone can say Samsung didn't popularize larger screen devices.

For the record I don't own a Samsung device so not sure what you mean about my preferred flavor of android. I own a oneplus one and an iPhone 6.

 

[spinedoc77]

Does...Not...Compute.

Go back, read again.

Someone else CAN, it just happens to be HTC, and people ARE giving them credit.

What? Your preferred flavor of android is not getting praise so they must be Apple fanboys...Really?

And the hilarity of the alternative section continues to deliver....

What he's saying is that Samsung deserves just as much credit as Apple does in revolutionizing certain things. They are both copiers, but they've also taken what they've copied and masterfully tuned and marketed all those copied aspects into something greater than the sum of it's copied parts. It's just that often you hear that Apple either invented something or put a new inventive spin to an existing concept. Where with Samsung you hear that they just blatantly copied someone else without any ingenuity at all. It's kind of a weird double standard, although most of us are already familiar with it in the whole Mac vs. PC battle.

 

[Technarchy]

I'm discussing the credit for who popularized larger screens. I don't know how anyone can say Samsung didn't popularize larger screen devices.

For the record I don't own a Samsung device so not sure what you mean about my preferred flavor of android. I own a oneplus one and an iPhone 6.

"Larger screen devices"...

Firstly hat's actually a relative thing.

When then iPhone first launched it was a "Larger screen device" and was massively popular.

In the post iPhone 1 era it was HTC that first went large and successful with the Evo, and it was the single best selling android phone for 2 years. This is on Sprint alone no less, which is a considerable feat.

Samsung wasn't really progressive on screen size till the Note 1. Prior, it was merely competitive on screen size, but the popularity and trend was going larger was in the cards long before, and made prominent first by the HTC Evo.

 

[epicrayban]

"Larger screen devices"...

Firstly hat's actually a relative thing.

When then iPhone first launched it was a "Larger screen device" and was massively popular.

In the post iPhone 1 era it was HTC that first went large and successful with the Evo, and it was the single best selling android phone for 2 years. This is on Sprint alone no less, which is a considerable feat.

Samsung wasn't really progressive on screen size till the Note 1. Prior, it was merely competitive on screen size, but the popularity and trend was going larger was in the cards long before, and made prominent first by the HTC Evo.

So the HTC evo should be credited it for popularizing large smart phones? Just because it sold well for its time hardly makes it popular.

And what about phablets?