Intro
As the smart phone has developed over the years, there have been two juggernauts that have emerged: Apple and, a bit later, Samsung. HTC also has made up a lot of ground, starting to gain more market share from the other two. What is true about all three of these companies, along with the many others that make smart phones, is that innovation is a must in order to stay competitive. The next phones for each of the three companies are releasing within the next three months, and unsurprisingly, they are pushing innovation in the hopes of convincing smartphone veterans looking for an upgrade or for soon-to-be new smartphone owners to invest in their device.
Apple
iPhone 5S
"Apple may shake up the next version of iOS with the introduction of a true mobile wallet," forecasts Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.
Dubbed a "killer app" by the analyst, the mobile wallet feature would surface as part of iOS 7, which Apple is expected to preview at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Huberty's prediction echoes that of fellow Apple analyst Gene Munster, who also thinks a digital wallet is in Apple's future. However, Munster believes the technology won't surface on iOS devices for another year or two.
Apple got its feet wet in this area last year with the introduction of Passbook. But Passbook is not a true digital wallet that would enable you to pay for items directly through your phone. Instead, Passbook allows you to store digital coupons, which you can sync with a membership card at retailers such as Starbucks to pay for items.
...Consumers have been promised that digital wallets would put an end to their reliance on cash and credit cards, enabling them to buy items with just a tap of their smartphone. But mobile payments have yet to fulfill that promise."
"Apple may shake up the next version of iOS with the introduction of a true mobile wallet," forecasts Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.
Dubbed a "killer app" by the analyst, the mobile wallet feature would surface as part of iOS 7, which Apple is expected to preview at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Huberty's prediction echoes that of fellow Apple analyst Gene Munster, who also thinks a digital wallet is in Apple's future. However, Munster believes the technology won't surface on iOS devices for another year or two.
Apple got its feet wet in this area last year with the introduction of Passbook. But Passbook is not a true digital wallet that would enable you to pay for items directly through your phone. Instead, Passbook allows you to store digital coupons, which you can sync with a membership card at retailers such as Starbucks to pay for items.
...Consumers have been promised that digital wallets would put an end to their reliance on cash and credit cards, enabling them to buy items with just a tap of their smartphone. But mobile payments have yet to fulfill that promise."
Samsung
Galaxy SIV
"Now, when Samsung spots a trend, it pounces. Thus the birth of S Health, a calorie-counter/pedometer in one that uses phone sensors like the accelerometer and barometer to track your steps, jogs, hops, jolts, snacks, and perspiration. Combined with one of its new Samsung-branded fitness wrist bands, Samsung is attempting to replace specialized third-party apps that do these functions already.
Samsung also announced a new feature for the S4 called Galaxy S Voice Drive. Designed for in-car use, the voice command feature will let drivers use the handset's built-in navigation system as well as make calls, send messages, and check the weather. I didn't have the opportunity to test the feature in a Manhattan hotel conference room, but Samsung says that Voice Drive will start when you get into your car.
Smart Pause and Smart Scroll are two features that build off the Galaxy S3's optional Smart Stay feature, which kept the screen from dimming when you looked at it. In the GS4, tilting the screen up or down while looking at it scrolls you up or down, say if you're reading a CNET story, of course. As a daily commuter with one hand on the phone and one on a hand strap, this could be a more convenient way to catch up with news while on the train or bus."
"Now, when Samsung spots a trend, it pounces. Thus the birth of S Health, a calorie-counter/pedometer in one that uses phone sensors like the accelerometer and barometer to track your steps, jogs, hops, jolts, snacks, and perspiration. Combined with one of its new Samsung-branded fitness wrist bands, Samsung is attempting to replace specialized third-party apps that do these functions already.
Samsung also announced a new feature for the S4 called Galaxy S Voice Drive. Designed for in-car use, the voice command feature will let drivers use the handset's built-in navigation system as well as make calls, send messages, and check the weather. I didn't have the opportunity to test the feature in a Manhattan hotel conference room, but Samsung says that Voice Drive will start when you get into your car.
Smart Pause and Smart Scroll are two features that build off the Galaxy S3's optional Smart Stay feature, which kept the screen from dimming when you looked at it. In the GS4, tilting the screen up or down while looking at it scrolls you up or down, say if you're reading a CNET story, of course. As a daily commuter with one hand on the phone and one on a hand strap, this could be a more convenient way to catch up with news while on the train or bus."
HTC
HTC One
"The first is something HTC calls the BlinkFeed, a main home screen consisting of dynamic tiles that display content from a wide variety of news outlets, blogs, and Web sites (including CNET). If you're familiar with popular news aggregators such as Flipboard and Pulse, then you get the idea.
Confirming that the line between tablets and smartphones is blurring more every day, the HTC One also features an IR blaster on its top edge. When used with the HTC Sense TV app and HTC remote software, users can control their TVs with the phone while keeping tabs on local programs."
"The first is something HTC calls the BlinkFeed, a main home screen consisting of dynamic tiles that display content from a wide variety of news outlets, blogs, and Web sites (including CNET). If you're familiar with popular news aggregators such as Flipboard and Pulse, then you get the idea.
Confirming that the line between tablets and smartphones is blurring more every day, the HTC One also features an IR blaster on its top edge. When used with the HTC Sense TV app and HTC remote software, users can control their TVs with the phone while keeping tabs on local programs."
A Blessing or a Curse?
These phones are just three of many phones that will be releasing for the remainder of the year. In general, most people seem to be in favor of innovation. In his State of the Union Addresses, Obama has previously mentioned the need to get our railways up to par with the innovative magnet trains that the Chinese have, as well as the need to find other technological developments. America seems to be relatively pro-technology. In light of this, innovation is regarded with awe and spectacle. Phone companies generation a large amount of press coverage and buzz each year when they hold developers conferences to announce new phones, even though the phones are not necessarily very different from the previous year's models.
However, companies do their homework, and are able to add just enough new features to phones each year to make them stand out. This, in some ways, is a great thing. There have been very useful innovations in smartphones - like multi-tasking and voice commands. At the same time, the new features (as well as improved performance) that are added with each iteration force consumers to be at the whim of smart phone companies - particularly once they have become established smart phone users. Eventually the old isn't good enough, and thus every year there is a rush to buy new versions of phones.
However, companies do their homework, and are able to add just enough new features to phones each year to make them stand out. This, in some ways, is a great thing. There have been very useful innovations in smartphones - like multi-tasking and voice commands. At the same time, the new features (as well as improved performance) that are added with each iteration force consumers to be at the whim of smart phone companies - particularly once they have become established smart phone users. Eventually the old isn't good enough, and thus every year there is a rush to buy new versions of phones.