HTC release phones to quick?

[MatthewHinton]

Is it me or do HTC tend to release Android phones to quick. The Desire is their "flagship" model at the moment but there is already rumours about a new HTC model with a 1.5ghz processor.

 

[nx1977]

To stay on top you need to be ready for your competitors.

Others are already lining up their 1.5 snapdragon powered Desire killers....

 

[beyond]

looking at the new iphone, the issue of htc and updates (froyo) and now this is making my slightly sad about my currently now awesome desire.

 

[lekky]

why lol?

 

[Ghâshûl]

You should either be prepared to buy a new phone every three months, or just be prepared to ignore advances in technology for as long as it takes for you to be ready to buy a new one.

I have my Desire, and I love it. Yes, many new and better phones will be released before I'm ready to buy a new one, but as long as the Desire does what I need I'm happy, and the advances only mean I'll be getting an even more awesome phone once I'm ready to update to a new one.

 

[beyond]

^
what he said.

why lol?

just slightly nervous at my 18month contract and seeing all these new phones (and os') come out especially since this year and next will be probably be another 'golden' (?) mobile-era. i.e the last cycle was probably 2-3 years ago with sony ericsson (the k series), nokia (n95) and of course apple.

anyways it was just an off the cuff comment.

 

[JohnnyBravo1000]

Technology is always improving, constantly leaving older technology in the shade.

However, I do understand where the original poster is coming from. Android phones are being knocked out at an alarming rate and HTC are behind a lot of them - Eg. Desire, Nexus One, Hero, Wildfire etc.

We all know that a better, more improved piece of tecnology will come along eventually, no matter what the product is - mobile phone, PC, games console, television etc. However, Android and HTC seem to be knocking out phones like there is no tomorrow, at a considerably faster rate than the likes of Apple, Samsung, Nokia etc.

 

[jauhari]

Choose phone that nice on you and you done

Sent from my HTC Desire

 

[partridge]

I've spent the last couple of months obesessing over which new phone to upgrade to and I settled on the Desire; now I've got it I won't be looking at any of the sites I used for research; there's no point.

I'll come here occassionally but I won't worry about tracking new phones and to be honest, I really think we're approaching the limit of what can be done with a handset.

Seriously, what else can you do with them other than minor tweaks here and there? Ultimately my Desire allows me to do everything I want to do on the move, a better screen, faster processor, etc, aren't going to change that.

 

[mpw]

I think there's two sides (at least) to the issue.

First the idea that each new release from hTC is a good thing because they can been seen to be striving forward, and staying 'on-top' of the competition.

The other side (and the side I probably take) is that from a market POV too many phones from hTC become their own competition; particularly when uber handset X is announced long before it's actually available, and then just as stores are getting stock, uberer handset Y is announced(but not available)

I think hTC (and Android) would be better off with fewer releases, more timely updates to the latest OS version, and a less confused market place. Go into most stores and the sales people clearly can't keep up with what handset does what, which is newer etc. so consumers don't stand a chance.

 

[mikebell]

Seriously, what else can you do with them other than minor tweaks here and there? Ultimately my Desire allows me to do everything I want to do on the move, a better screen, faster processor, etc, aren't going to change that.

You forgot about the nanoWatt holographic display/keyboard and the direct neural input audi surround.

Or maybe the world's just gonna stand still for the next 50 years?

 

[DaddyCee]

I agree that fewer handsets would make it easier for people to choose the right one for them. Steve Jobs seems to have that attitude for his brand of phone, so perhaps Android and the hardware developers should be looking to take a leaf out of his book and not to try and squeeze as much money out of punters by releasing a new handset or two each month.

Ultimately it will just confuse the marketplace and leave Android OS as second class to the Apple incarnation.

 

[MatthewHinton]

I'm not saying I dont like my Desire I'm typing this post with it now. I don't mind watching my phone be surpassed I had a LG viewty and watched all the smartphones emerge. In my opinion I think all companies now release phones to fast. How do they expect to make significant profits if we buy their flagships and then they release a better model.

 

[delinear]

I agree that fewer handsets would make it easier for people to choose the right one for them. Steve Jobs seems to have that attitude for his brand of phone, so perhaps Android and the hardware developers should be looking to take a leaf out of his book and not to try and squeeze as much money out of punters by releasing a new handset or two each month.

Ultimately it will just confuse the marketplace and leave Android OS as second class to the Apple incarnation.

The problem with the iPhone is that it's always a compromise. Some people want a phone that can do everything, others want a phone that's cheap and rugged and doesn't need top end features, some might care more about music, others about photography.

As someone who does a lot of research before buying new tech, I love that there's plenty of choice and I can find a phone that's the right fit for my needs (especially if I have to live with it for 18 months). Imagine if every manufacturer released only one phone per year, like Apple - not only would it slow development because it would take 12 months before they could test new features on the public, but each one would probably end up massively overpriced and over-engineered because it's their one shot at catering to everyone.

I'd hate living in Apple's walled garden where you can only use the technology how they say, when they say. I guess for some people lack of choice takes away the confusion, and that's fine too, so long as I can still pick and choose the right solution. Where I think there is too much choice and confusion is with tariffs - a total, deliberate confusopoly. Plenty of handset choices with clearer tariffs explaining exactly what we get and standardised across all the providers so we can do straight, easy comparisons would make me happy.

 

[bonerp]

I llke the fact that there are plenty of phones around. Give good choice, offers differences in form and function, and if its the best phone today it will hardly be rubbish tomorrow!

I changed from N900 to this and only had N900 for 3 months! I don't get phones on contract as the latest phone is always easy to sell on, the tariff pricing is usually more attractive sim free and I can buy what I like when I like.

 

[mpw]

...Imagine if every manufacturer released only one phone per year, like Apple...

I think that wouldn't be the answer either, but somewhere in the middle.

I agree there's a market for phones aimed at different market sectors, but I think the Magic > Hero > Legend model wasn't great, especially as the Hero and Legend are (to a consumer) very, very similar handsets. The Legend should've replaced the Hero, and the Hero been deleted rather than share the market place confusing the consumer. The N1 and Desire are too similar to share the market when coming from one company IMO.

 

[lekky]

I love there are so many iterations of phones, each with exciting new features.

The phone I have right now is awesome, and it will still be awesome in a years time and longer, regardless of what else comes out. It IS BRILLIANT.

So knowing the phone i have is awesome anyway, i am very happy for fast development.

This means if i have the money, i can spash out and get the latest and greatest, if i don't i know that tech is being push forward so fast that by the time i can afford one it will be EVEN MORE AWESOME!

I do not prefer 1 year updates, i want new features as soon as i can get them.

 

[willis]

I agree that fewer handsets would make it easier for people to choose the right one for them. Steve Jobs seems to have that attitude for his brand of phone, so perhaps Android and the hardware developers should be looking to take a leaf out of his book and not to try and squeeze as much money out of punters by releasing a new handset or two each month.

Ultimately it will just confuse the marketplace and leave Android OS as second class to the Apple incarnation.

Not entirely sure if the manufacturers would be happy with that.
Apple are Apple. They have their own ways of making money no doubt.

I'm not saying I dont like my Desire I'm typing this post with it now. I don't mind watching my phone be surpassed I had a LG viewty and watched all the smartphones emerge. In my opinion I think all companies now release phones to fast. How do they expect to make significant profits if we buy their flagships and then they release a better model.

Unfortunately for us thats pretty much how their significant profit is generated. Theres only one phone that can afford to constantly support their device throughout the year.

 

[klister]

Well thats probably the only thing I like about iphone, they (atleast it appears that way) take the time to develope one really good product wich they then continously update instead of spitting out new ones.

 

[MatthewHinton]

Well thats probably the only thing I like about iphone, they (atleast it appears that way) take the time to develope one really good product wich they then continously update instead of spitting out new ones.

However Apple will release the iPhone saying all these "new features" *cough*Facetime/Video Calling*cough* are revolutionary and then announce a new phone with the smallest upgrades. The thing I find sad is that people will still buy them. I admit the iPhone is a great device I previously had a 3G but I dislike how locked down the system is and (before iOS4) have to jailbreak the phone to change the background.

 

[willis]

However Apple will release the iPhone saying all these "new features" *cough*Facetime/Video Calling*cough* are revolutionary and then announce a new phone with the smallest upgrades. The thing I find sad is that people will still buy them. I admit the iPhone is a great device I previously had a 3G but I dislike how locked down the system is and (before iOS4) have to jailbreak the phone to change the background.

I don't like apple's control but if i had the money for a sim free or wasn't fussed being a network's biatch for 18-24months i wouldnt hesitate.

Sure theres nothing really revolutionary there apart from screen and antennae but really.. everything just works. Plus you know you'll get official support as long as you aren't naughty.
I've behaved myself with the Desire so where the fu(k is my FROYO!!

 

[mpw]

...I've behaved myself with the Desire so where the fu(k is my FROYO!!

It's almost funny hearing somebody with a desire bitch about poor support becasue they haven't been upgraded to 2.1>2.2 within a month of release, when hTC haven't upgraded those on 1.5 with Heros in about 9months, you can grow a person in the time it's taken hTC to upgrade the Hero!

 

[FelixofMars]

I guess from the point of view they release a budget version and a standard version of their current tech almost every 6 months and Google are now promising yearly OS updates it may seem like we are getting left behind but most people are going to have 24month upgrade contracts. So what I might be 3-4 phones behind by the time I get a new one.

That said the upgrades seem so minor for some of them it seems completely worthless upgrading. I think I said before its a bit like PC's they update so fast but often its minor and you just have to upgrade when you can.

 

[brykins]

I think the argument shouldn't even be about new PHONES. Most smartphone buyers are buying them for the apps, not the hardware. I don't think I know anyone with a smartphone who even knows what their screen resolution or processor speed is, or whether they have a gyroscope, microscope or stethascope inside.

Thing is, Apple keep supporting older phones so devs know they have a huge market for their apps so users know that apps will continue to be supported and new ones released.

Contrast this to a recent example of mine. I was so excited about WordWise coming out. At last, an alternative to Words With Friends (which I *know* people who have bought into iPhone simply for this app) but it's just not working out. For a start they have settled on OS 2.x only, leaving out over half the Android using population. Then they decided to go with high res screens only (not sure if that's been corrected yet) leaving out a lot of older devices even if they did manage an upgrade to 2.x

Finally, it seems to not work on the HTC Desire (at least not on mine) and the dev has no idea why. This sort of thing doesn't happen with iPhone and I think it's because Apple are invested in both the hardware AND the software. HTC (and others) have NO investment in the software, so they can only make money by selling new handsets. There's nothing in it for them to continue to support or develop a handset after it's release.

THAT is a problem with Android. The only way I can see to sort it is for Google to take over the software update side. They MUST lay down standards that mean the hardware makers build and sell, but all software updates come direct from Google.

 

[Velnica]

THAT is a problem with Android. The only way I can see to sort it is for Google to take over the software update side. They MUST lay down standards that mean the hardware makers build and sell, but all software updates come direct from Google.

Quoted for truth.

Of course with Android you always have the option of rooting and flashing the newest ROM but it's done at the cost of your warranty. It would be great if they can remove that middle layer of manufacturer's customization. Also it better be sooner than later, because if left too long the open source nature of the OS will make people more defiant to change if they are standardised.