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opinioncircle

macrumors 6502
May 17, 2009
493
0
Am I the only one who thinks how crazy it gets?

In 2010, we had to go through 2 years to get the product to be "old gen"
In 2011, we switched to a year to get the same product to be "old gen"
In 2012, it'll only take less than 6 months from one product to another??? :confused:

I'm sorry, but this is way too much for me. Samsung, Apple & Co should get their shiznit together. People cannot drop 400+USD/EUR/xxx for a phone, and then switch on 6 months after with such limited innovation...

(sorry for the bash, but I looked up online and it seems accurate that Samsung will show the next S4)
 

Pjstock42

macrumors regular
Jun 15, 2010
153
18
A 5 inch display on a phone is simply TOO BIG!

I hate the direction that all of these Android phones are headed in. Thank God Apple has some common sense.
 

theluggage

macrumors G3
Jul 29, 2011
8,015
8,450
First, they are going to lose all the people who already think the S3 was a bit too big by making it even larger. Second, they are going to take sales away from the Note 2 since the difference in .5 inches isnt much at all and the S4 would have a much better display and hardware.

the phone will not be any bigger. They will simply shrink the bezel. So will still be the same form factor just a bigger screen with more pixels.

but they won't want a larger form factor to take away sales from the Note II. So, expect edge to edge screen.

Just speculation but both the S3 and the Note currently have physical home, menu and back buttons at the bottom c.f. the Nexuses (Nexi? Nexodes?) and other post-ICS devices which have a semi-permanent onscreen button-bar instead.

If Samsung drops the physical buttons then they could probably fit a 5" screen on the S4 and a 6" screen on the (inevitable) Note 3 with little or no increase in overall size. Of course you'd lose all or part of that to the onscreen buttons.
 

theluggage

macrumors G3
Jul 29, 2011
8,015
8,450
Am I the only one who thinks how crazy it gets?

In 2010, we had to go through 2 years to get the product to be "old gen"
In 2011, we switched to a year to get the same product to be "old gen"
In 2012, it'll only take less than 6 months from one product to another???

If you feel that you have to throw away your old device as soon as the next gen. model is launched, then the answer to your question is they do it to make money out of people like you!



and then switch on 6 months after with such limited innovation...

...so if the innovation is so limited, why would you want to switch?

The more important issues are (a) how long the existing devices will be supported with OS updates and (b) how long App writers will keep supporting older OS versions. We know that Apple tends to support old models for ~3 years, maybe holding back a few headline features as exclusives for the new models. The question is, how long will Samsung keep supporting the S3 and Note2 with Android updates, and will they provide a stable enough API so that App writers start to take advantage of things like the s-pen and split-screen multitasking.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Apple is unusual in only announcing products when they almost ready to ship, if not in the shops on launch day (their problem is leaks and speculation beforehand, that often create unrealistic expectations). Just because Samsung is flashing around the S4 at trade shows doesn't mean it is likely to be in the shops for Christmas.
 

opinioncircle

macrumors 6502
May 17, 2009
493
0
If you feel that you have to throw away your old device as soon as the next gen. model is launched, then the answer to your question is they do it to make money out of people like you!





...so if the innovation is so limited, why would you want to switch?

The more important issues are (a) how long the existing devices will be supported with OS updates and (b) how long App writers will keep supporting older OS versions. We know that Apple tends to support old models for ~3 years, maybe holding back a few headline features as exclusives for the new models. The question is, how long will Samsung keep supporting the S3 and Note2 with Android updates, and will they provide a stable enough API so that App writers start to take advantage of things like the s-pen and split-screen multitasking.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Apple is unusual in only announcing products when they almost ready to ship, if not in the shops on launch day (their problem is leaks and speculation beforehand, that often create unrealistic expectations). Just because Samsung is flashing around the S4 at trade shows doesn't mean it is likely to be in the shops for Christmas.

You're absolutely right on the matter. They do it to meet people's expectation, but thankfully, I'm not the target. I'm just taken away by the speed at which things are going...

There is no need to switch other than the fact that the hardware you buy becomes obsolete rather soon after (see iPad 1 & 2) or you won't get updates (Kayak app on the BB)...

That's a real issue in my mind because people just shouldn't get to switch goods when there are more issues pressing at hands (retirement, education, healthcare)...

What I'm talking about is a cultural change, which seems like it is not to happen anytime soon.

To prove my point, my laptop is a 3 year old Macbook Pro, running with Snow Leopard. My cellphone is a BB bold 9780, and my thinking in terms of cell phone gets to taking back my Nokia E71 from 2008. So much for the "people like me" comment:p:D....But thanks for being judgmental :rolleyes:
 

Beeplance

macrumors 68000
Jul 29, 2012
1,564
500
Do we really need phones with 8 cores? Sometimes I think a properly optimised dual-core phone is already very fast and efficient, I'm contented with that. Maybe the cores are required to power the intensive 1080p HD display?

Hope the battery won't be that bad though. LTE + 1080p display, can only begin to imagine the toll on the battery life.

Oh yes, Samsung, please release a PINK version as well, I really like this color :p
 

theluggage

macrumors G3
Jul 29, 2011
8,015
8,450
Do we really need phones with 8 cores?

At least one of the Samsung 8-core CPUs being talked about isn't 8 identical cores in the traditional sense: it's two quad-core processors linked together in ARM's 'big.LITTLE' configuration: one is an energy efficient quad-A7* CPU that can cope with regular phone stuff, the other is a more powerful quad-A15 that can be started up when running CPU-intensive software.

http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-8-...-2013-but-dont-expect-it-in-the-gs4-21257873/

(* A7, A15 are ARMs core models, not Apple's CPU names).
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
If you feel that you have to throw away your old device as soon as the next gen. model is launched, then the answer to your question is they do it to make money out of people like you!





...so if the innovation is so limited, why would you want to switch?

The more important issues are (a) how long the existing devices will be supported with OS updates and (b) how long App writers will keep supporting older OS versions. We know that Apple tends to support old models for ~3 years, maybe holding back a few headline features as exclusives for the new models. The question is, how long will Samsung keep supporting the S3 and Note2 with Android updates, and will they provide a stable enough API so that App writers start to take advantage of things like the s-pen and split-screen multitasking.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Apple is unusual in only announcing products when they almost ready to ship, if not in the shops on launch day (their problem is leaks and speculation beforehand, that often create unrealistic expectations). Just because Samsung is flashing around the S4 at trade shows doesn't mean it is likely to be in the shops for Christmas.

It wont. I expect it to come out in early summer in the USA. The GS3 in the UK came out i think in May. USA got it, ...well my carrier started selling it on July 1st and is when i got mine.
 
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AppleAlfred

macrumors member
Nov 23, 2012
80
16
Canada
at what point are we going to stop calling them phones?

I was wondering the same thing. I'm sitting beside a computer (albeit one I no longer use) that has similar specs to the S3. If this S4 rumored spec list is true, well... I don't know what then. Let's stop kidding ourselves though, these are no longer phones, more like glorified bricks.
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
They are powerful hand held computers that make phone calls. Who cares if we still call them phones. We still say the phrase cell phone and they havent been cell phones for a while.
 

theluggage

macrumors G3
Jul 29, 2011
8,015
8,450
I don't know what then.

In Germany, its 'das Handy'. Perhaps the English speaking world should reclaim it.

(I guess in the case of the Galaxy Note it has to be 'zwei Handys' :D)

We still say the phrase cell phone and they havent been cell phones for a while.

There's a UK phone store chain called Carphone Warehouse. Remember those?

Then there's the whole issue of 'dialling'.

With the CRT going the way of the dodo I wonder when YouTube are going to re-brand?
 

opinioncircle

macrumors 6502
May 17, 2009
493
0
I was wondering the same thing. I'm sitting beside a computer (albeit one I no longer use) that has similar specs to the S3. If this S4 rumored spec list is true, well... I don't know what then. Let's stop kidding ourselves though, these are no longer phones, more like glorified bricks.

Wholeheartedly agree with you ;)
 

ChrisTX

macrumors 68030
Dec 30, 2009
2,686
54
Texas
If they really do that they are going to do 2 bad things for their business. First, they are going to lose all the people who already think the S3 was a bit too big by making it even larger. Second, they are going to take sales away from the Note 2 since the difference in .5 inches isnt much at all and the S4 would have a much better display and hardware. Stupid move if you ask me.

The S3 is the best selling phone on the planet right now. I'm sure the majority of the people in the market for a new smartphone specifically Android have no problems with the display on the S3. As far as cannibalizing Note II sales, they're 2 different devices really. Without the SPen, the Galaxy S3, and 4 are just high end smartphones really.

EDIT: People are saying that iPhone users only want a 4" screen MAX. But how many people like me upgraded to an S3 from an iPhone because they wanted a bigger screen, and knew Apple wasn't the place to get it? Apples conservative approach was ok when they were on top, but the S3 outselling the iPhone changes things. Maybe that's why the 5S is already believed to be in testing. Apple can't drag their feet. The need perhaps a smaller phone(4") for the people that don't want bigger, and then a larger phone for the rest of us. If Samsung would have released the S3 mini with top of the line specs, I bet more iPhone users would have switched, or at least given it some thought.
 
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Technarchy

macrumors 604
May 21, 2012
6,753
4,927
As an apple fan I hate to say this, but most apple fans don't want bigger than a 4 inch screen because Apple hasn't made one yet (for a phone).

It's been said many times.

iPhone user don't want a bigger screen...they specifically want a bigger screen iPhone.

If Apple made a 4.3" screen iPhone, it would sell. If Apple made a 4.5" iPhone, it would sell.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
It's been said many times.

iPhone user don't want a bigger screen...they specifically want a bigger screen iPhone.

If Apple made a 4.3" screen iPhone, it would sell. If Apple made a 4.5" iPhone, it would sell.

So, they want a bigger screen.

You're splitting hairs here, mate.
 

Tsuchiya

macrumors 68020
Jun 7, 2008
2,310
372
Good thing nobody is asking you, especially Samsung.

LOL burn.

Whatever the hardware, I'm looking forward to the announcement.

Smartphones have blurred the line between what is a phone and a computer. If we are using these devices so much nowadays a bigger, clearer screen can only be a good thing:)
 

blackhand1001

macrumors 68030
Jan 6, 2009
2,600
37
I'd much rather have a rgb non pentile 720p screen in the s4 than a pentile 1080p which the screen likely will be since it amoled. Pentile doesn't bother me but I'd appreciate the extra battery life not having to drive those extra pixels would give. 1080p in a phone is a complete waste. A 720p superamoled+ non pentile screen would be amazing. The note II's screen is a amazing and a smaller version of that would be incredible.
 
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