Tomorrow [ed. note: today] Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 7, actually the sixth main entry in its popular series of gigantic, stylus-equipped phones. The Note line usually builds on the Galaxy S series, applying Samsung’s latest technologies to a larger canvas; with the S7 and S7 Edge setting an impressive precedent, expectations for this year’s model will be high.
How will Samsung match them? Kim Gae-youn might have an idea. He’s the man who heads up smartphone planning at Samsung, making the calls about what goes into each model and how they’re positioned in the market. I spoke with him at Samsung’s headquarters in Suwon, South Korea just after the release of the S7, and he had a lot to say about exactly how the company goes about making its decisions – from screen size, to software customization, to the amount of bloatware.
And they said Android smart phones would be a commodity soon and vendors can not stand out with their product if they do not control the OS.
That’s not true, hardware quality is still a thing.
Also, a top tip to vendors: if you want to differentiate yourselves, just give us a clean OS with no added bullcrap! No one does this and a lot of people are ready to part with their cash for one of those. And make it dual SIM. 🙂
I especially liked how they were honest about not being able to do everything they wanted (removable storage/battery waterproofing) after making a big design change. It was very nicely explained what kind of choices and resulting compromises they are and aren’t willing to make.
It seems Samsung is doing almost everything right the last couple of years and they are being rewarded for it by the market. They are the absolute leader in SmartPhones at the moment and even seem to be replacing Apple as the cool/premium brand at the moment while also being able to survive the “attack from below” from other 400 dollar flagships
Except for the software. Good god, do they do any QA testing on it at all?