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LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

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Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#41

Post by martinald »

enos_feedler wrote: post #11
dmitrygr wrote: post #6

This is actually very very bad. Google's lack of focus/vision w.r.t Pixel all but guarantees that Samsung can eat up the whole high end android phone market. Samsung's desire to stuff so much garbage unto their phones that they are molasses-slow even with the fastest mobile SoCs available to them all but guarantees that for most users, android will remain a huge mess. As an android user, this saddens me.

I think it’s more likely we will see Microsoft and Google taking substantial share of the US Android market over the next 5+ years

Yes, I think a Microsoft Android phone could do extremely well. The Surface hardware is good.

As someone else pointed out, the real problem with the Android ecosystem isn't so much the hardware imo it is the absolutely appalling software everyone but Google seems to ship (I definitely include Samsung in this). Microsoft could do a good job of this and has the $$$ to throw at marketing (plus could leverage the cloud streaming Xbox stuff).

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#42

Post by enos_feedler »

posguy wrote: post #16
enos_feedler wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it’s more likely we will see Microsoft and Google taking substantial share of the US Android market over the next 5+ years

Isn't OnePlus starting to eat the share that LG, HTC & Motorola once served? They seem to be the only ones that reliably update their software, don't have horrendous hardware issues and consistently have good LineageOS support.

I am sure they will. I just mean over time MS and Google will cut deep into this as well. Portable gaming and TV over 5g will be a bit part of their hardware lineup. This is longer term 5+ years thinking though

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#43

Post by bmitc »

selimthegrim wrote: post #20
dmitrygr wrote: post #6

This is actually very very bad. Google's lack of focus/vision w.r.t Pixel all but guarantees that Samsung can eat up the whole high end android phone market. Samsung's desire to stuff so much garbage unto their phones that they are molasses-slow even with the fastest mobile SoCs available to them all but guarantees that for most users, android will remain a huge mess. As an android user, this saddens me.

What is Sony doing these days?

Making excellent phones that are ignored, like LG was doing.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#44

Post by benatkin »

klondike_ wrote: post #5

What happened to the Android phone ecosystem? Android phones used to offer unique and useful features like removable batteries, headphone jacks, IR blasters, SD cards, etc. Now it seems that Samsung and Google are obsessed with copying whatever Apple does, even their controversial decisions like removing the headphone jack, even after making fun of Apple for doing it. No thanks, why would I buy a shittier iPhone with…

Samsung hasn't copied Apple any more than Apple has copied Samsung. The most notable thing recently is that Samsung phones kept supporting Fingerprint ID. It was a tremendous PITA having to enter my passcode at night because of the move to Face ID without continuing to support Touch ID.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#45

Post by DenseComet »

villgax wrote: post #29

Can manufacturers do a wedge like design with a thicker top & tapered bottom edge? That way there is no camera bump & the device sits flat on a desk & a bit raised towards you as well. Bonus camera points coz the lenses are along the same axis horizontally & closer to the centre of the device than in one corner, likewise for the front facing camera too, which could just be shoved into one corner without leaving a hol…

The original Pixel had that exact design, although the later designs went in the opposite direction.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#46

Post by bogwog »

pookieinc wrote: post #22

Can someone enlighten me on why manufacturers who have experience with software, such as Microsoft, don’t create their own OS for their mobile phones? I recognize that it’s easier and faster to iterate to just use Android with some sprinkles on top, but even if it meant spending 4-5 years developing it, the potential market share is absolutely massive. I can see the first year or two would not be great since app deve…

Not sure how you missed the whole Windows Phone era (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Phone), but they tried doing their own operating system and it didn't work out.

Blackberry too.

And Samsung (Tizen)

And there was also WebOS which I know was used in atleast one tablet, maybe some phones too, and which is currently owned by LG.

Just think about how manufacturers are struggling to find success with their own smartphones. Imagine trying to do that with the added burden of developing a custom operating system.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#47

Post by galangalalgol »

Judgmentality wrote: post #39
unreal6 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then why wasn't there massive commercial success for the phones that kept these features, like a headphone jack an SD card? Samsung tried to market it for a few years, but eventually surrendered to the same trends like the rest of the market. If this was really so bad for consumers, they would've chosen the alternatives that were available at the time.

The only reason I bought a Pixel 4a instead of a Pixel 5 is because I wanted a headphone jack.

Battery life is better too. Love my 4a.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#48

Post by enos_feedler »

martinald wrote: post #41
enos_feedler wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it’s more likely we will see Microsoft and Google taking substantial share of the US Android market over the next 5+ years

Yes, I think a Microsoft Android phone could do extremely well. The Surface hardware is good. As someone else pointed out, the real problem with the Android ecosystem isn't so much the hardware imo it is the absolutely appalling software everyone but Google seems to ship (I definitely include Samsung in this). Microsoft could do a good job of this and has the $$$ to throw at marketing (plus could leverage the cloud s…

Agreed. I think leveraging Xbox brand as a gaming service with some kind of gaming enhanced hardware could get them in the door. Partnering with other big US names might be required. Comcast TV over 5g live package is what I am thinking. I just don’t think MS or Google can sit back and watch Apple build out a full ecosystem that pretty much rocks in most measurable ways. Too much on the line for these guys in the US market

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#49

Post by throwbacktictac »

pookieinc wrote: post #22

Can someone enlighten me on why manufacturers who have experience with software, such as Microsoft, don’t create their own OS for their mobile phones? I recognize that it’s easier and faster to iterate to just use Android with some sprinkles on top, but even if it meant spending 4-5 years developing it, the potential market share is absolutely massive. I can see the first year or two would not be great since app deve…

I believe Hauwei is being forced to develop their own OS due to the threat of US sanctions. However, I think it'd be a losing battle to try to steal enough market share of IOS/Android. They'd simply copy (or one up) your competitive advantage leaving you little room to compete.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#50

Post by klondike_ »

TruthSHIFT wrote: post #33
zozin wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're obsessed with making money. No 3.5mm means you're more likely to buy bluetooth earbuds. No SD? Cloud services. Battery? You'll get a new phone after 18-24 months. No charger? Wireless charging pad. Apple can "get away" with it because to a lot of people it's a luxury/lifestyle brand. Android vendors copy them because they want to create new revenue streams by removing features/out of nothing too!

A lot of those design decisions can be explained by Apple’s push towards smaller, more waterproof and more durable devices. Like you mention, these choices do make Apple money. But, they also lead to a superior product.

>more durable I disagree. Lithium cells wear out over time, they're a component that needs to be regularly replaced to maintain peak performance much like the tires on a car. A lot of iPhone users put up with this for some reason, lugging around external batteries as their phone ages which defeat the point of the space savings anyways. With my LG V20, I just buy a replacement battery every year and never have anxiety over finding a charger since it lasts all day even with heavy use.

As for waterproofing, the Samsung Galaxy S5 proved that you can have both a removable battery/SD card and maintain waterproofing. Plenty of action cameras have removable batteries too that don't compromise waterproofing.

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