Years ago, their phones were known as Crackberry because people were so addicted to the devices. Now, you can barely see one. Today, the company formerly known as RIM (Research in Motion) has given up on the hardware end of things.
Is this surprising? No. The people at RIM and Nokia both laughed at Apple's iPhone, considering it less than even minimal competition.
While both companies made some attempt at fighting Apple, it didn't work. Nokia had already had the Symbian operating system, which was supposedly so much more but obviously, wasn't enough. (It always looked to me as though Nokia had young children creating their icons. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out my Nokia flip phone before looking at the manual.)
RIM bought QNX, a real-time operating system from the early days of the IBM PC. They shaped it into a mobile operating system but as their hardware sales dwindled, it didn't make enough of a reputation to get important applications written for it. Microsoft is still struggling with this problem, even though it's quite well known.
In any case, that famous BlackBerry keyboard may be no more.
Showing posts with label Nokia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nokia. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Friday, December 27, 2013
Map this, Nokia
I just saw where Nokia has pulled their Here maps app from the iOS app store.
I tried it as an alternative to Telenav's GPS app that I was using, and it was missing a lot of information related to...maps, plus it didn't seem to work with my contacts. It was requiring me to pull off the road each time, copy and paste the address, and wait and wait, and that just didn't work for me.
The app came at a time when Apple was replacing Google's backend with Tom Tom's data and their own data-economical interface. Everyone knows how smoothly that transition went. After years of Google holding back, waiting for Apple to use every Google mobile service, Apple said "No more!" and went their own way.
Tom Tom's data is still flawed, but with so much input, it's become better, although it's still confused in dense city driving, and my iPhone's compass sometimes calls "interference". I was using Telenav's GPS app (Telenav switched from Navteq data to Tom Tom) in Fort Lee, NJ a bit off course, and it immediately told me to turn around. That was its favorite command to anywhere I was going, even with the feature phone versions. After two years of premium upgrades, I let it go. I downloaded their Scout app recently, even though I never understood the difference between the applications. They seemed to give you everything for free with Scout, whereas they wanted you to pay for voice-guided navigation with the GPS app. After so many years of having their products with success, I'm not completely giving up, even though it's of minimal use.
Thanks to Yelp, I use Apple's Maps application much more and it's generally good, although it has been confused at times, like all the rest--the worst of the mess is far behind us.
I use Waze quite a lot, especially on long trips. Going to California, it was my companion. It still asks if I'm seeing a slowdown when I'm sitting at a red light, so I type "red light" in the comment and tap Send. Whether they take note or not, I don't know. Nothing seems to change, even after months. I don't have access to add stoplights through their map editor at this point. It's good to see where accidents are and when there are hazards on the road. Scout apparently has the ability to report such problems also.
I'm less enamored of Google's Maps application--or maybe of their maps. While they're mostly fine, they can be off a bit for whatever reason. Again, a good reason to carry more than one app. I didn't use their maps on the road except for the year that I had an Android-based phone. I don't remember Telenav having an app for Android. That was a very difficult year with a lot of misdirection. I saw my review of Google's app the other day and it wasn't complimentary. However, I've used the app on iOS a few times recently and it seems okay.
Update 2014.02.18: I tried to use Telenav's Scout the way I have used Waze--driving and reporting. It doesn't seem to work that way. I could report while navigation was engaged but not otherwise. It's probably a new user problem, but knowing Telenav, I wonder. I did a search for a business and it couldn't find it. When I checked on arrival, it knew that it was there, and that I was there.
When approached for a comment, a Nokia spokesperson sent The Indian Express an official statement. It read, "We have made the decision to remove our HERE Maps app from the Apple App Store because recent changes to iOS 7 harm the user experience. iPhone users can continue to use the mobile web version of HERE Maps under m.here.com., offering them core location needs, such as search, routing, orientation, transit information and more, all completely free of charge.
I tried it as an alternative to Telenav's GPS app that I was using, and it was missing a lot of information related to...maps, plus it didn't seem to work with my contacts. It was requiring me to pull off the road each time, copy and paste the address, and wait and wait, and that just didn't work for me.
The app came at a time when Apple was replacing Google's backend with Tom Tom's data and their own data-economical interface. Everyone knows how smoothly that transition went. After years of Google holding back, waiting for Apple to use every Google mobile service, Apple said "No more!" and went their own way.
Tom Tom's data is still flawed, but with so much input, it's become better, although it's still confused in dense city driving, and my iPhone's compass sometimes calls "interference". I was using Telenav's GPS app (Telenav switched from Navteq data to Tom Tom) in Fort Lee, NJ a bit off course, and it immediately told me to turn around. That was its favorite command to anywhere I was going, even with the feature phone versions. After two years of premium upgrades, I let it go. I downloaded their Scout app recently, even though I never understood the difference between the applications. They seemed to give you everything for free with Scout, whereas they wanted you to pay for voice-guided navigation with the GPS app. After so many years of having their products with success, I'm not completely giving up, even though it's of minimal use.
Thanks to Yelp, I use Apple's Maps application much more and it's generally good, although it has been confused at times, like all the rest--the worst of the mess is far behind us.
I use Waze quite a lot, especially on long trips. Going to California, it was my companion. It still asks if I'm seeing a slowdown when I'm sitting at a red light, so I type "red light" in the comment and tap Send. Whether they take note or not, I don't know. Nothing seems to change, even after months. I don't have access to add stoplights through their map editor at this point. It's good to see where accidents are and when there are hazards on the road. Scout apparently has the ability to report such problems also.
I'm less enamored of Google's Maps application--or maybe of their maps. While they're mostly fine, they can be off a bit for whatever reason. Again, a good reason to carry more than one app. I didn't use their maps on the road except for the year that I had an Android-based phone. I don't remember Telenav having an app for Android. That was a very difficult year with a lot of misdirection. I saw my review of Google's app the other day and it wasn't complimentary. However, I've used the app on iOS a few times recently and it seems okay.
Update 2014.02.18: I tried to use Telenav's Scout the way I have used Waze--driving and reporting. It doesn't seem to work that way. I could report while navigation was engaged but not otherwise. It's probably a new user problem, but knowing Telenav, I wonder. I did a search for a business and it couldn't find it. When I checked on arrival, it knew that it was there, and that I was there.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Pandora going the way of Nokia--into Microsoft?
Pandora's new CEO is a former Microsoft executive. Does Microsoft need an internet radio service to compete? Does this sound like Nokia's situation all over again?
Microsoft is using Pandora is an advertising-free internet radio service on Windows Phone, at the moment. I'm just wondering if two or three years down the road, especially if Apple succeeds with their service, if Pandora will be on the ropes, and willing to be acquired by Microsoft.
Maybe, they've already made such plans. It's just a thought.
Update 2014.03.03: I'm thinking about this more since Pandora was excluded from the services in Apple's CarPlay announcement.
Pandora said "At this time, Pandora is not integrated with Apple CarPlay. As a first mover in the auto space, we continue to broaden our relationships with OEMs while also exploring other opportunities to expand our presence in the car. Apple has been and continues to be a valued partner."
Does this have to do with their OEM deals or is it something to do with their deal to put Pandora on Windows Phone?
Microsoft is using Pandora is an advertising-free internet radio service on Windows Phone, at the moment. I'm just wondering if two or three years down the road, especially if Apple succeeds with their service, if Pandora will be on the ropes, and willing to be acquired by Microsoft.
Maybe, they've already made such plans. It's just a thought.
Update 2014.03.03: I'm thinking about this more since Pandora was excluded from the services in Apple's CarPlay announcement.
Pandora said "At this time, Pandora is not integrated with Apple CarPlay. As a first mover in the auto space, we continue to broaden our relationships with OEMs while also exploring other opportunities to expand our presence in the car. Apple has been and continues to be a valued partner."
Does this have to do with their OEM deals or is it something to do with their deal to put Pandora on Windows Phone?
Monday, September 2, 2013
The other Microsoft/Nokia shoe has been dropped
Microsoft has completed a deal to acquire Nokia.
Who wasn't expecting this since ex-Microsoft employee Steven Elop took the reins at Nokia?
It all dates back to 2007 when people at Nokia and Research in Motion/BlackBerry laughed at Apple entering the mobile phone space, and not being prepared for something different.
Sure, Nokia had phones like the N95, but they didn't have a clue to making a smooth user experience. All the internal elegance is lost on non-technical users. RIM practically made the smart phone work for the business user and virtually made addicts of its users. When services were down, CrackBerry users were lost.
Apple changed the game, putting Windows Mobile, Symbian, and BlackBerry to minimal market share. Of course, time has passed, Windows Mobile was trashed and poor, little Zune became the base for Windows Phone. RIM/BlackBerry has been re-invented with the injection of the QNX operating system that ran on the IBM PC in the early 1980s. Symbian has been pushed from the high end devices to some middle ground, and Windows Phone took over at Nokia.
After the Android operating system arrived, Nokia and BlackBerry were pushed down further.
Do I feel bad for Nokia? I suppose so. They were a great success story, even more than Japanese companies' success. Given that Finland is probably the least understood European nation, it makes me smile that success came from a country with a most interesting language. Finnish, like Estonian and Hungarian are in a different world. Finland has a Swedish population but it's not big enough to change everyone from Finnish.
Will Nokia die?
Given the odd life of Windows Mobile (Pocket PC, etc.) and what Microsoft did to Danger and its Sidekick devices and how they approached and discarded Kin devices, I have my doubts about success for Windows Phone and Nokia devices.
They have the opportunity to really integrate legally (not that they weren't doing that already with their earlier deal--it will be above boards now) and show the world how good Windows Phone can be. However, this deal should kill any remaining devices from HTC et al. They weren't too happy to do them anyway, but at this point, the lack of sales will translate to Microsoft/Nokia devices only.
The good thing about this is that Nokia employees will be more secure. Microsoft has deep pockets and can lose money and not care.
I recently noticed that Microsoft has an interest in Pandora, as well. A "former" Microsoft executive is taking the CEO position at Pandora now. Microsoft has a deal to provide radio services to Windows Phone, but I wonder if they're being groomed for integration with Microsoft.
Update 2013.12.06: It looks as though the authorities in the U.S.A. are okay with Nokia becoming part of Microsoft.
Update 2014.10.28: The other day I saw a photo of a Nokia phone with Microsoft branding, instead of Nokia. I'm sure the people in Finland (half-)expected this but it is tough pill to swallow.
I'm still wondering if Pandora, the music service, is going this way since they signed a big deal with Microsoft a while back. It seems to me that a Microsoft executive hired on there, as similarly as Steven Elop did at Nokia, to bring them into the fold.
Who wasn't expecting this since ex-Microsoft employee Steven Elop took the reins at Nokia?
It all dates back to 2007 when people at Nokia and Research in Motion/BlackBerry laughed at Apple entering the mobile phone space, and not being prepared for something different.
Sure, Nokia had phones like the N95, but they didn't have a clue to making a smooth user experience. All the internal elegance is lost on non-technical users. RIM practically made the smart phone work for the business user and virtually made addicts of its users. When services were down, CrackBerry users were lost.
Apple changed the game, putting Windows Mobile, Symbian, and BlackBerry to minimal market share. Of course, time has passed, Windows Mobile was trashed and poor, little Zune became the base for Windows Phone. RIM/BlackBerry has been re-invented with the injection of the QNX operating system that ran on the IBM PC in the early 1980s. Symbian has been pushed from the high end devices to some middle ground, and Windows Phone took over at Nokia.
After the Android operating system arrived, Nokia and BlackBerry were pushed down further.
Do I feel bad for Nokia? I suppose so. They were a great success story, even more than Japanese companies' success. Given that Finland is probably the least understood European nation, it makes me smile that success came from a country with a most interesting language. Finnish, like Estonian and Hungarian are in a different world. Finland has a Swedish population but it's not big enough to change everyone from Finnish.
Will Nokia die?
Given the odd life of Windows Mobile (Pocket PC, etc.) and what Microsoft did to Danger and its Sidekick devices and how they approached and discarded Kin devices, I have my doubts about success for Windows Phone and Nokia devices.
They have the opportunity to really integrate legally (not that they weren't doing that already with their earlier deal--it will be above boards now) and show the world how good Windows Phone can be. However, this deal should kill any remaining devices from HTC et al. They weren't too happy to do them anyway, but at this point, the lack of sales will translate to Microsoft/Nokia devices only.
The good thing about this is that Nokia employees will be more secure. Microsoft has deep pockets and can lose money and not care.
I recently noticed that Microsoft has an interest in Pandora, as well. A "former" Microsoft executive is taking the CEO position at Pandora now. Microsoft has a deal to provide radio services to Windows Phone, but I wonder if they're being groomed for integration with Microsoft.
Update 2013.12.06: It looks as though the authorities in the U.S.A. are okay with Nokia becoming part of Microsoft.
Update 2014.10.28: The other day I saw a photo of a Nokia phone with Microsoft branding, instead of Nokia. I'm sure the people in Finland (half-)expected this but it is tough pill to swallow.
I'm still wondering if Pandora, the music service, is going this way since they signed a big deal with Microsoft a while back. It seems to me that a Microsoft executive hired on there, as similarly as Steven Elop did at Nokia, to bring them into the fold.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Waze is cutesy mapping and navigation
Crowdsourcing is something fairly new. It requires everyday people to help supply information. Waze, the maps and navigation utility app, uses crowdsourcing to get the job done.
Since I've been on a trip from Eastern Indiana to the Orlando, Florida area, I thought I'd try the app on iOS. A lot of people raved about it before Apple brought their new maps to iOS, and since then, the suggestions have become a call to arms, virtually.
So, here I was on a trip I estimated at about 1000 miles one way. I've driven it probably 12 times and lived in the Orlando area for 11 years, so there was hardly a chance of being truly lost, and that's a good time to try something new.
I was somewhat amused by the marshmallow like character with the teething device to show a newbie. There are many different levels of users.
As I drove from my town to Hamilton, OH a couple of times, and then, to Cincinnati, it was somewhat helpful. Of course, the maps will allow you to see the roads ahead, so you can make wiser decisions about lane changes before you try to cross 3 lanes full of traffic to make your turn on time.
I noticed a couple of problems:
Driving from Cincinnati, OH on the trip to Chattanooga, TN, I didn't notice much of a problem. You can warn of objects on the road, on the side of the road, and also warn of police. Considering shredded tires and cars slightly off to the side, this can be advantageous, especially in pouring rain and darkness. I've noticed that the police are sometime not where it says that they are, so maybe the police are using the app too?
Most of my experience from Chattanooga to Orlando, FL was similar until I left I-75. I had not lived in the area for four years, and I wasn't sure that the tolls hadn't increased a great deal. Remembering that they didn't take bills over $20, I decided to go toll free, even at a longer ride.
When I tried the navigation, just outside Orlando near Ocoee, it gave me two options: use Florida's Turnpike or use Florida's Turnpike. I didn't investigate further for the same reason. It never gave me an option to take a local road, and I couldn't just tap "No tolls" or "Local roads only" because there was no such option. You can go into settings and choose to not use toll roads. That will work fine in Florida but getting across Pennsylvania is tough without the PA Turnpike.
I asked a question in the forums, especially after I ended up taking the toll road partway and it was directing me toward an exit that was marked electronic tolls only. The first answer I got was rude, like "It's not an auto pilot. You need to use your brain." That's a great first impression. (My second impression of him was worse.) I've been using navigation apps for 6 years and someone (who was an area Waze manager), tells me I'm an idiot for expecting an app not to give me ridiculous information. I guess because it's free, I should give it more latitude? Telenav gave me bad advice and I had to ignore it also, since I was going in the correct direction. (Why does Telenav always start by telling me to "turn around"?) In any case, had I no clue about Florida's Turnpike, I might have trusted the app. Instead, I took an exit I knew to be safe.
If this is all about the people, and there are so many smartasses using the app, I think there isn't much reason to expect real help.
I was interested but now, seeing that it's cute and amateur-ish, I'm inclined to just use Telenav again, regardless of their issues. There are other alternatives also like Garmin, TomTom (suppliers of maps/map components to Telenav and Apple), and since yesterday, Nokia's Navteq mapping solution Here. Eventually, Apple's data-conscious maps will work just fine. Google's maps are still available through a browser, if I want to be at the wrong block on the wrong side of the road, wondering why the road name doesn't match.
I've tried Nokia's Here and it's not here yet. I can't access my contacts and that makes it more difficult. Obviously, nothing is great.
Update 2014.12.05: I've used Waze from coast to coast and it is good enough, especially after it was acquired by Google. It has become better in searching for businesses, for navigation. Reporting problems has become more useful. I'm amused that it asks me if there is a slowdown when I'm at a stop light that is red.
Since I've been on a trip from Eastern Indiana to the Orlando, Florida area, I thought I'd try the app on iOS. A lot of people raved about it before Apple brought their new maps to iOS, and since then, the suggestions have become a call to arms, virtually.
So, here I was on a trip I estimated at about 1000 miles one way. I've driven it probably 12 times and lived in the Orlando area for 11 years, so there was hardly a chance of being truly lost, and that's a good time to try something new.
I was somewhat amused by the marshmallow like character with the teething device to show a newbie. There are many different levels of users.
As I drove from my town to Hamilton, OH a couple of times, and then, to Cincinnati, it was somewhat helpful. Of course, the maps will allow you to see the roads ahead, so you can make wiser decisions about lane changes before you try to cross 3 lanes full of traffic to make your turn on time.
I noticed a couple of problems:
- At an intersection, it will sometime ask you if you're in traffic, when you're stopped at a red light "We detected a slowdown. Are you in traffic?" They need a red light button to tap.
- It often changes the orientation 90 degrees and then, to 180 degrees from your actual orientation, showing you headed from whence you came. Of course, it flips you back when you start to move. It's rather dis-orienting.
Driving from Cincinnati, OH on the trip to Chattanooga, TN, I didn't notice much of a problem. You can warn of objects on the road, on the side of the road, and also warn of police. Considering shredded tires and cars slightly off to the side, this can be advantageous, especially in pouring rain and darkness. I've noticed that the police are sometime not where it says that they are, so maybe the police are using the app too?
Most of my experience from Chattanooga to Orlando, FL was similar until I left I-75. I had not lived in the area for four years, and I wasn't sure that the tolls hadn't increased a great deal. Remembering that they didn't take bills over $20, I decided to go toll free, even at a longer ride.
When I tried the navigation, just outside Orlando near Ocoee, it gave me two options: use Florida's Turnpike or use Florida's Turnpike. I didn't investigate further for the same reason. It never gave me an option to take a local road, and I couldn't just tap "No tolls" or "Local roads only" because there was no such option. You can go into settings and choose to not use toll roads. That will work fine in Florida but getting across Pennsylvania is tough without the PA Turnpike.
I asked a question in the forums, especially after I ended up taking the toll road partway and it was directing me toward an exit that was marked electronic tolls only. The first answer I got was rude, like "It's not an auto pilot. You need to use your brain." That's a great first impression. (My second impression of him was worse.) I've been using navigation apps for 6 years and someone (who was an area Waze manager), tells me I'm an idiot for expecting an app not to give me ridiculous information. I guess because it's free, I should give it more latitude? Telenav gave me bad advice and I had to ignore it also, since I was going in the correct direction. (Why does Telenav always start by telling me to "turn around"?) In any case, had I no clue about Florida's Turnpike, I might have trusted the app. Instead, I took an exit I knew to be safe.
If this is all about the people, and there are so many smartasses using the app, I think there isn't much reason to expect real help.
I was interested but now, seeing that it's cute and amateur-ish, I'm inclined to just use Telenav again, regardless of their issues. There are other alternatives also like Garmin, TomTom (suppliers of maps/map components to Telenav and Apple), and since yesterday, Nokia's Navteq mapping solution Here. Eventually, Apple's data-conscious maps will work just fine. Google's maps are still available through a browser, if I want to be at the wrong block on the wrong side of the road, wondering why the road name doesn't match.
I've tried Nokia's Here and it's not here yet. I can't access my contacts and that makes it more difficult. Obviously, nothing is great.
Update 2014.12.05: I've used Waze from coast to coast and it is good enough, especially after it was acquired by Google. It has become better in searching for businesses, for navigation. Reporting problems has become more useful. I'm amused that it asks me if there is a slowdown when I'm at a stop light that is red.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Samsung lost to Apple in various ways but...
I don't agree with lawsuits, in general. I think there are better ways to resolve situations, unless the two sides just can't meet in the middle. What's happened here should have been clear: Samsung copied Apple user interface elements and animation to replicate Apple's device experience.
Does it matter? I'm just not certain. I think it's annoying that they would copy. My Samsung SPH-A900/Blade was a copy of a Motorola RAZR, and the name was obviously a rip-off. If Motorola had patented the design, would they have been in court to stop Samsung? Probably.
In fact, HandSpring/Palm, Nokia, and Motorola all had designs and design elements lifted by Samsung and added to Samsung's devices. For that alone, Samsung should be sitting alone in the corner thinking about what they had done, just as school children who copy are set aside.
This is where I differ from the jury. I don't see $1.05 billion in damages. They should each pay their court-related costs and shut up.
As much as I don't like Samsung and I like Apple equipment (but not their legal department), both companies act like spoiled children and should be punished accordingly. We need a global government to address these situations.
Does it matter? I'm just not certain. I think it's annoying that they would copy. My Samsung SPH-A900/Blade was a copy of a Motorola RAZR, and the name was obviously a rip-off. If Motorola had patented the design, would they have been in court to stop Samsung? Probably.
In fact, HandSpring/Palm, Nokia, and Motorola all had designs and design elements lifted by Samsung and added to Samsung's devices. For that alone, Samsung should be sitting alone in the corner thinking about what they had done, just as school children who copy are set aside.
This is where I differ from the jury. I don't see $1.05 billion in damages. They should each pay their court-related costs and shut up.
As much as I don't like Samsung and I like Apple equipment (but not their legal department), both companies act like spoiled children and should be punished accordingly. We need a global government to address these situations.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Samsung, the copier
Years ago, I bought a Samsung phone, the SPH-A900 otherwise known as Blade. That name may make you think that it had something to do with the Motorola RAZR. It was in many aspects, a copy.
The phone was rather broken, software-wise. It didn't work well as a phone, but became my first 3G data modem, where the power-hungry display didn't kill the extended life battery I bought at extra cost. Where I couldn't get 3 hours in typical phone/internet use, I would get around 6 hours of modem use.
I'd always hoped that Samsung would come to their senses and provide good software updates, but what they provided made the phone worse and the people at the Sprint store, weren't able to take the phone back to an earlier level of firmware, though they charged me for it.
At that time, multiple people I knew were angry about their !@#$ Samsung phones, each one a bit more vehement, it seemed.
I'd see the phones at the store, wondering why they looked like other phones in the store made by other companies. If Samsung was a big player, why did they copy?
I thought back to Mazda's 1974 RX-3, which looked like AMC's Hornet hatchback or the 1975 Toyota Corolla SR 5 hatchback that looked like a 1970 Ford Mustang. Pontiac made a habit of driving excitement by copying BMW.
I look at Apple's Macintosh and Digital Research's GEM from the mid-1980s. They both used elements that had been presented in the Xerox Alto machine. Of course, Apple hired Bill Atkinson and Susan Kare to do some of this work. Many people from Xerox' Palo Alto Research Center went elsewhere to market their ideas when Xerox would not.
In art, taking inspiration from the greats is a given. You learn from those who did something wonderful, and you create something of your own that is also quite wonderful, hopefully. If you copy it, they call you a forger.
I'm unclear as to how Samsung has copied HandSpring/Palm, Nokia, and Motorola designs and no one noticed all this time. Had those four companies filed design patents, would Samsung be in the business now?
I'm not saying that you should patent a rectangle, a simple button, or other unremarkable details; however, there is a point where the imitation is no longer flattering.
What saved HandSpring/Palm, Nokia, and Motorola in the old days was the Samsung was so terribly bad at software. They couldn't care less about the software because they would have new phones to sell in the next 6 months. Now that Android is their main base software, they care even less, but Google help a lot to keep customers able to use their phones.
It was sadly amusing this week when Susan Kare admitted to the court that she had inadvertently picked up a Samsung product, thinking that it was an iPhone. The Samsung attorneys wanted her to describe in detail the differences, but the point was made. Most people would never notice the differences.
I look at what HTC, LG, Nokia, Motorola and others are doing and their designs are unique. Why can't Samsung do their own designs? Mind you, I don't agree with Apple filing lawsuits but Samsung should do their own work, not copy others.
The phone was rather broken, software-wise. It didn't work well as a phone, but became my first 3G data modem, where the power-hungry display didn't kill the extended life battery I bought at extra cost. Where I couldn't get 3 hours in typical phone/internet use, I would get around 6 hours of modem use.
I'd always hoped that Samsung would come to their senses and provide good software updates, but what they provided made the phone worse and the people at the Sprint store, weren't able to take the phone back to an earlier level of firmware, though they charged me for it.
At that time, multiple people I knew were angry about their !@#$ Samsung phones, each one a bit more vehement, it seemed.
I'd see the phones at the store, wondering why they looked like other phones in the store made by other companies. If Samsung was a big player, why did they copy?
I thought back to Mazda's 1974 RX-3, which looked like AMC's Hornet hatchback or the 1975 Toyota Corolla SR 5 hatchback that looked like a 1970 Ford Mustang. Pontiac made a habit of driving excitement by copying BMW.
I look at Apple's Macintosh and Digital Research's GEM from the mid-1980s. They both used elements that had been presented in the Xerox Alto machine. Of course, Apple hired Bill Atkinson and Susan Kare to do some of this work. Many people from Xerox' Palo Alto Research Center went elsewhere to market their ideas when Xerox would not.
In art, taking inspiration from the greats is a given. You learn from those who did something wonderful, and you create something of your own that is also quite wonderful, hopefully. If you copy it, they call you a forger.
I'm unclear as to how Samsung has copied HandSpring/Palm, Nokia, and Motorola designs and no one noticed all this time. Had those four companies filed design patents, would Samsung be in the business now?
I'm not saying that you should patent a rectangle, a simple button, or other unremarkable details; however, there is a point where the imitation is no longer flattering.
What saved HandSpring/Palm, Nokia, and Motorola in the old days was the Samsung was so terribly bad at software. They couldn't care less about the software because they would have new phones to sell in the next 6 months. Now that Android is their main base software, they care even less, but Google help a lot to keep customers able to use their phones.
It was sadly amusing this week when Susan Kare admitted to the court that she had inadvertently picked up a Samsung product, thinking that it was an iPhone. The Samsung attorneys wanted her to describe in detail the differences, but the point was made. Most people would never notice the differences.
I look at what HTC, LG, Nokia, Motorola and others are doing and their designs are unique. Why can't Samsung do their own designs? Mind you, I don't agree with Apple filing lawsuits but Samsung should do their own work, not copy others.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
!@#$ Patents and Copying
How many times are consumers hurt by copying?
There was an episode of All in the Family where Archie Bunker was gloating about his new watch. He was going on and on about this Omega brand watch he bought for almost nothing. Then, it's revealed "Oh, no, that's not an Omega. It's an Onega."
Are consumers always fooled so easily?
A co-worker more than 10 years ago was shocked to learn that her new Lexus E300 was a Toyota Windom. "Toyota?" As though the Lexus dealer randomly appeared by the Toyota dealership out of convenience and nothing else. Then again, people were shocked that the Cadillac Seville started as a Chevrolet Nova. Would those driving an Escalade be driving the Chevrolet version?
I was reading that the HTC One series phones due to be sold this week are held up in U.S. customs, due to the patent issues between HTC and Apple. While I understands Apple's frustration, the consumer is losing some great phones, especially those who have pre-paid for those phones. HTC really haven't done anything to Apple but because they were the vanguard of Android, starting with the T-Mobile G1, they were selected, which is a horrible strategy. They have made some admirable designs without copying Apple.
The patent war between Samsung and Apple is more realistic. Samsung copies practically everything Apple have done in the mobile space. Supposedly, they're planning queues/lines to make it appear their phones are more lust-worthy than they might be otherwise. However, they made advertising about such lines, and made fun of people standing in line for products. It looks as though Samsung is Samsung-ing itself.
I read elsewhere that the company is all but stopping production of their point-and-shoot cameras, in order to boost production of their mirror-less system cameras. I doubt that the few thousand who buy the mirror-less models are going to suddenly want new versions, or that throwing more money at them will make them popular.
Their struggle to overtake Sony may be working but it's going to take a long time. It's more likely that Panasonic will be there first. It's amazing to me that Panasonic have gone from household items like rice cookers to high end televisions, phones, and computers in the last 30+ years, and that Sony have diminished.
One last thing about patents and copying: why is it that IBM's laptop computer line never had to look like anyone else's (save my sad L40SX), and they've been such a hit, even now that they're coming from Lenovo? When most of the Ultrabooks look a lot like Apple's MacBook Air, Lenovo's products don't. They're stylish in an industrial way and get respect from just about anyone.
Update: In the U.K., a judge has decided that Samsung didn't copy iPad to create their own tablet and has ordered Apple to tell everyone this. When I was in primary school (as it feels this punishment resembles), the copier was punished, not the person being copied.
If I look at practically every mobile device that Samsung has done in the last 2 years, they look remarkably like Apple devices, so much that I noticed one and wondered what Apple had done to their hardware. Add to this the rather obvious software tweaks to Android to make it look more like iOS, I can't imagine what the judge is thinking. The only reasonable explanation I can find is that he was annoyed and decided to fix it since they were acting like school children.
Besides, if Nokia and HTC and Motorola can design devices that don't look much like Apple's, why can't Samsung?
Update 2014.01.10: Apple and Samsung have agreed to another round of arbitration, in order to agree on something, anything. I don't really understand why the FRAND patents weren't settled already since every other FRAND patent gets very little, unlike what Samsung wants.
There was an episode of All in the Family where Archie Bunker was gloating about his new watch. He was going on and on about this Omega brand watch he bought for almost nothing. Then, it's revealed "Oh, no, that's not an Omega. It's an Onega."
Are consumers always fooled so easily?
A co-worker more than 10 years ago was shocked to learn that her new Lexus E300 was a Toyota Windom. "Toyota?" As though the Lexus dealer randomly appeared by the Toyota dealership out of convenience and nothing else. Then again, people were shocked that the Cadillac Seville started as a Chevrolet Nova. Would those driving an Escalade be driving the Chevrolet version?
I was reading that the HTC One series phones due to be sold this week are held up in U.S. customs, due to the patent issues between HTC and Apple. While I understands Apple's frustration, the consumer is losing some great phones, especially those who have pre-paid for those phones. HTC really haven't done anything to Apple but because they were the vanguard of Android, starting with the T-Mobile G1, they were selected, which is a horrible strategy. They have made some admirable designs without copying Apple.
The patent war between Samsung and Apple is more realistic. Samsung copies practically everything Apple have done in the mobile space. Supposedly, they're planning queues/lines to make it appear their phones are more lust-worthy than they might be otherwise. However, they made advertising about such lines, and made fun of people standing in line for products. It looks as though Samsung is Samsung-ing itself.
I read elsewhere that the company is all but stopping production of their point-and-shoot cameras, in order to boost production of their mirror-less system cameras. I doubt that the few thousand who buy the mirror-less models are going to suddenly want new versions, or that throwing more money at them will make them popular.
Their struggle to overtake Sony may be working but it's going to take a long time. It's more likely that Panasonic will be there first. It's amazing to me that Panasonic have gone from household items like rice cookers to high end televisions, phones, and computers in the last 30+ years, and that Sony have diminished.
One last thing about patents and copying: why is it that IBM's laptop computer line never had to look like anyone else's (save my sad L40SX), and they've been such a hit, even now that they're coming from Lenovo? When most of the Ultrabooks look a lot like Apple's MacBook Air, Lenovo's products don't. They're stylish in an industrial way and get respect from just about anyone.
Update: In the U.K., a judge has decided that Samsung didn't copy iPad to create their own tablet and has ordered Apple to tell everyone this. When I was in primary school (as it feels this punishment resembles), the copier was punished, not the person being copied.
If I look at practically every mobile device that Samsung has done in the last 2 years, they look remarkably like Apple devices, so much that I noticed one and wondered what Apple had done to their hardware. Add to this the rather obvious software tweaks to Android to make it look more like iOS, I can't imagine what the judge is thinking. The only reasonable explanation I can find is that he was annoyed and decided to fix it since they were acting like school children.
Besides, if Nokia and HTC and Motorola can design devices that don't look much like Apple's, why can't Samsung?
Update 2014.01.10: Apple and Samsung have agreed to another round of arbitration, in order to agree on something, anything. I don't really understand why the FRAND patents weren't settled already since every other FRAND patent gets very little, unlike what Samsung wants.
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