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The Scariest Company in Tech

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Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#2
I would find this more plausible if my Samsung Android devices were

a) regularly updated with Android tech as opposed to seemingly lagging the rest of the industry

b) supported worth a hill of beans instead of getting a "uhhhh we don't support that in the US market" when asking about AT&T

c) a good demonstration of Android capabilities in the first place.

Samsung makes decent phones. Nothing spectacular. The GPS in the Galaxy class phones draws endless complaints about bugginess. The builds deployed on AT&T are mediocre. Their Kies desktop software is bloated, slow, and unreliable - it's frequently the case that disconnecting and reconnecting the phone/tablet fails to recognize it (and in turn it doesn't work with a number of US SKUs, thanks to AT&T).

Sorry gang. There's the potential there to be great. But it's quite a leap from there to dominance. Nokia has had plenty of potential and in the past a pretty dominant position too, but I think the shellacking they took the last few days here on HN is entirely deserved and demonstrative of "you have to nail all facets of the user experience."

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#3
post #2

I would find this more plausible if my Samsung Android devices were a) regularly updated with Android tech as opposed to seemingly lagging the rest of the industry b) supported worth a hill of beans instead of getting a "uhhhh we don't support that in the US market" when asking about AT&T c) a good demonstration of Android capabilities in the first place. Samsung makes decent phones. Nothing spectacular. The GPS in t…

This position assumes that dominance requires a base of greatness/nailing all the facets of user experience. While I wish it were true, I haven't really seen that play out.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#4
Just as in Mike Elgan's analysis of Nokia, it doesn't look like Samsung have any idea how to create a sensible range of products. There are 18 touch screen phones available in the UK (out of 75 phones in total):

http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/mobile-pho...

If I were King of Samsung, this would be cut down to around three models. The model names would be consistent, recognisable, and the names would not be discarded when the phones are updated. This way, when my Samsung Galaxy Pro is due for a replacement, I can go and ask for the latest generation Samsung Galaxy Pro. No need to spend ages trying to figure out which of the vast selection is supposed to be the flagship, or which is the budget model. The laptop situation is even worse. What's scary is how nobody but Apple seem to have figured this out.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#5
This is a first post, on a dead-stock Wordpress.com installation.

Why should I bother to read about your views on Samsung when:

1. you show neither data nor other facts on which to base your opinion

2. you don't disclose anything about yourself?

For all I know you could be a Samsung employee trying to increase the value of his stock benefits.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#6

This is a first post, on a dead-stock Wordpress.com installation. Why should I bother to read about your views on Samsung when: 1. you show neither data nor other facts on which to base your opinion 2. you don't disclose anything about yourself? For all I know you could be a Samsung employee trying to increase the value of his stock benefits.

The great thing about the internet is that people can express their point of views. If the idea is a good and interesting one it will be discussed. Think of it as an anonymous letter to the editor if you need.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#7
post #4

Just as in Mike Elgan's analysis of Nokia, it doesn't look like Samsung have any idea how to create a sensible range of products. There are 18 touch screen phones available in the UK (out of 75 phones in total): http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/mobile-pho... If I were King of Samsung, this would be cut down to around three models. The model names would be consistent, recognisable, and the names would…

When your aim is ubiquity, 18 models of the same basic product is a positive, not a negative. Apple and Samsung are playing entirely different games. Apple is built on brand and large profit margins, Samsung on controlling the components and being everywhere. They are equally valid plans, but Apple's way is more likely to win fans.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#8

This is a first post, on a dead-stock Wordpress.com installation. Why should I bother to read about your views on Samsung when: 1. you show neither data nor other facts on which to base your opinion 2. you don't disclose anything about yourself? For all I know you could be a Samsung employee trying to increase the value of his stock benefits.

The great thing about the internet is that people can express their point of views. If the idea is a good and interesting one it will be discussed. Think of it as an anonymous letter to the editor if you need.

The linkbait title doesn't help their case.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#9
One interesting competitor to Samsung is Vizio. While they only really have a presence in Home theater equipment, I find them to be very interesting. They are a completely new player. In a lot of ways they are similar to Hyundai. Hyundai essentially had no name brand or history to sell it's products. So they built the best car they could and sold it at a great price. The Hyundai Genesis was born. Now Hyundai is becoming more and more popular and is getting the credit they deserve. Vizio is similar. As a new player, it seems they just decided to make great products at affordable prices. In doing so, they have managed to keep up with huge companies like Sony and Samsung.

I would like to see a company like that enter the mobile market. Someone who makes a product that speaks for itself.

Re: The Scariest Company in Tech

#10
If samsung operates their business units independently, and don't play favorites, then Apple can easily have the purchasing power with Samsung Displays the Samsung Phones has. However, if samsung plays a slightly dirtier game, then they risk losing Apple as a customer and can't sustain a competitive advantage in displays. Nobody buys an Apple phone for the Samsung memory or display. Likewise, no one will stop buying those items if Apple switches to a different vendor.
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