Spanning all platforms and all usage types, at the start of 2010 I compiled recommendations for seven types of smartphone user (i.e. for seven use cases) for The Phones Show, in video form. Six months later, I revisit the same stereotypes in textual form, with updated choices, recommendations and predictions. Do you agree with my assessments? Whether yes or no, your comments are welcome!
Read on in the full article.
I agree with most choices, but I would add the N900 to "4. Media Consumer". Especially for watching Videos. I can simply drag and drop my .avi tv series on my N900 and watch them out of the box. Don't know of many other phones capable of doing that which have 48GB of memory (32+16).
The champ phone of no. 7. shouldn't be the HTC - It's either the N900 or the Milestone, and I feel that the N900 is superior - no other phone HAS emulated the mouse yet, unlike the N900! Hover works, click works, AND unlike the Desire, I can actually play, *gasp* games!
what about sport loving user? I actually choose a smartphone if there is a good sports app for the system..
I would say that your choice of device can also influence what type of user you are too.
I never considered myself much of a games player nor was it that important to me. However since using an iPhone 3GS gaming probably accounts for 50% using the device - purely through the breadth, quality and value of games available.
Why you are against BB 9700. I was just thinking to buy such phone to exchange with my Nokia E71 and found your remark. Please explain.
Why HTC HD2 is not in the list?
Thanks,
Isaac
i would have included the E52 in the categories where you suggested the E72. I dont think typing on the E55 is any faster than E52.
Unregistered wrote:i would have included the E52 in the categories where you suggested the E72. I dont think typing on the E55 is any faster than E52.
I haven't done a direct comparison of the E55 vs E52, but I have compared E55 vs E51. For predictive text, typing isn't any faster on the E55, but once you've adjusted to the layout I find that you can type at the same speed with far less effort (i.e. it's much more comfortable to type with). However, the E55 is faster to type with in multitap mode, according to my tests.
Great choices. As far as the N900 being a media device goes, one could argue that it is a phone that basically can do anything - and due to its powerful hardware and flexible software can take its user as far as the ambition and skills permits. It would even be conceivable to run an IPhone emulator on it, if anybody would write one. However out of the box it is not especially targeted at the media consumer.
1. If it's debatable whether i8910 video and stills are better then n86 8mp, it is better to discuss it. So i can't imagine how 720p video with prefocus and 24 stable frames per sec is worse then 480p.
2.5. I continue to insist, that WM devices are much better in communications/office world thanks to "still" existing suprb software and unbeatable hardware keyboards.
6. It is better to remind, that for long time it is possible to port on wide range of WM devices latests builds of Android, Ubuntu, which are almost fully functional - you can call from Touch pro Ubuntu and after that use Open office or desktop build Firefox. Moreover, there are tries to port even Maemo.
Thank you for the article. I, myself, am firmly planted in the N900 camp. For me this phone/computer excels in almost all categories.
Now that the iphone 4G has been announced, I am afraid its looking very grim for Nokia (including self admitting fanboying like moi).
It will easily fit under category 1 (Media creation) - especially with the 720p/30fps video recording (but the photos and flash is only average)
Category 2 (communications) has improved with multitasking capabilities (finally)
Category 3 (gaming) is already on top and will put an even further gap between it and the competition with the HD gaming
Category 4 (Media User) - will stay about the same until they remove itunes restrictions (which is never)
Category 5 (Work) - will stay the same but more execs will want it now to improve market share
Category 6 (Tech Enthusiast) - Will improve a little with the extra capabilities of the phone - but is not obviously as customised as the N900
Category 7 (Workaholic) - well.. the resolution is the best there is on the market and the web pages will render much better than before and will displace the HTC's crown in this area.
Ouch.. makes every Nokia fanboy cringe..
The N8 will only be comparable in Category 1 (better still shots and xenon that everyone worships), 2 (about the same), 4 (little restrictions), possibly 7 (but has a substantially weaker processor which is very important for web page rendering).
I dont know bchliu - personally I was a bit under-whelmed by the new IPhone. It seems to have improved gaming features (screen and accelerometres) but the rest of the so called "new" features have been present in other phones for a long time. Obviously the new model should replace the 3Gs as the #1 gaming phone, but the rest of Steves choices still stands I think.
Hardly an iphone fanboy, but I think bchliu has a point, the iphone 4G makes a very compelling case for itself. Even if it is not the best phone, one could argue that it is in the top 2-3 phones for virtually every single use case, except maybe the hacker.
What would you rather have, a phone that is the best for a single use case or one that does everything well and leaves everyone else far behind in some of them?
I know where I stand on this, I've dropped my plans to get a n8 and am going with the iphone 4 when its released (Aug/Sep in India)
Jagan (India)
Hell you all know what i'll be going for.
*Day dreams about June 24th*
Nokia as been superb on cameras an Music players on its mobile except for the X6,but would have like to have seen the Nokias reaction to the release of the new iPhone 4,an now they know they have to make the N8 succede, or people will turn there backs on Nokia an start buying the iPhone 4 instead,why didn"t Nokia have the software ready for the N8 to be released on the same time as the iPhone,then would see how the public will stay loyal to Nokia or looks elsewere,a very stupid ideas at Nokia nowdays an just shows theres trouble at Nokia an they better change there strategy or there sales will decline more
BlackBerry cleans house on any other phone in these two categories. E7x is ok, but BlackBerrys are even better, with bigger screens, better keyboards, and RIM's push infrastructure. Nobody does email like RIM. It is not perfect, but it is by far the best at what matters in email, like getting your emails instantly, keeping your battery full because of economical push. With RIM's secure point-to-point BlackBerry messenger, you have a great way to IM, send files, text messages, etc. all with guaranteed delivery and confirmations. BlackBerry connectivity is always on and "just works" as opposed to Nokia's endless, nagging selection menus and popups for Wifi, WAP, 3G, etc. selection for every app.
If you don't agree, it means you either haven't used a BlackBerry or you're not smart enough to use one!
If you're going to complain about the 9700's UI (admittedly it is dated but perfectly functional) then you have to admit Nokia's 3rd Edition UI, as quirky and painful as it is, is much worse than the competition. Old does not equal bad. BB's UI is not fancy, but it gets the job done and doesn't get in your way. You can not say the same about Symbian 3rd.
Thought this was somewhat relevant to the debate !
http://dailymobile.se/2010/06/08/specs-comparison-iphone-4-vs-htc-evo-4g-nokia-n8-palm-pre-plus-and-htc-hd2/screenshot00691/
I'm slightly surprised the n900 didn't rate a mention in the comms junky category, given the quality of IM integration and built in Skype. Granted it doesn't have a Twitter app as slick as Gravity, but Witter is coming on a pace. Ditto the media consumer category: granted there's not iPlayer download capability (getting iPlayer video at all's a bit of a pain, but doable), but it has codecs up the ying-yang, a decent screen, an adequate podcatcher in gPodder, the FM transmitter and TV-out...
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