Never mind the specs, let's remember why smartphones are 'smart'
Looking at LG's latest 'Secret', Steve Litchfield ponders on the mighty spec list, matching just about every smartphone blow for blow. But it's not all about specs - let's also remember why a smartphone is 'smart' in the first place - the native software which you can add to take it from being just a super-phone to being a true 'multimedia computer'.
Having recently completed a 'feature phone vs smartphone' feature for PDA Essentials magazine, I was well aware of how far 'feature' phones have come, at least in terms of raw specifications. Mind you, I was still rather impressed by the quoted specs of LG's latest, the 'Secret KF750'.
Not only does it have a full-face touchscreen, it's also a slider, with a full keypad, AND it's only 12mm thick. But look at these selected bullet points from its spec list and keep in my mind the spec of your own smartphone (I've omitted spec items that are standard across most phones, such as frequency support, QVGA screen and internal flash memory):
- Constructed of carbon fibre and tempered glass
- Accelerometer for Auto Screen Rotation, plus an assortment of m-toy (motion sensing) games
- 5 megapixel camera, with up to 30 fps VGA and 120fps (for super slo-mo playback) QVGA video recording
- Media player with native DivX (640×480) playback
- Integrated Mobile Office Viewer
- Photo and Video editor suites
- TV-out functions
- Multitasking for built-in applications
Quite a list for a humble 'feature' phone, matching market leading smartphones like the Nokia N95. And, as my magazine article will explain, it begs the question: what's so smart about a smartphone?
In real life, having played with LG's very similar Viewty (shown below with the N95), I can testify 'quite a bit', but it's worth clarifying and exploring the differences in more detail, since this is a question (and answer) that's going to become more and more relevant as the year wears on.
- The Viewty (and presumably the Secret) have a very locked down interface, in terms of what goes where. If you're anything like me, you like fiddling with things to get them how you want them, in terms of application grouping and order of presentation. S60's particularly good at this, of course.
- S60's tagline has been 'Open to new features' for a while. I have to be honest, I thought this was a little underwhelming at first, but as we roll through 2008, I can see that being able to add extra native applications (i.e. ones which run efficiently, multitasking happily and which use all a device's hardware with ease) is perhaps the defining factor for what makes a smartphone 'smart'.
For example, being able to add in smooth Internet Radio, GPS-tagging of photos, a native full-resolution YouTube client, a desktop-synced password/PIN manager, a business-grade database system, a very fast 3D pool game, and so on. You'll have your own S60/smartphone favourites, no doubt.
Discovering and adding applications used to be fairly hard to do for new users, but with Download! improving and with N-Gage now coming on-stream, this is thankfully starting to change.
- Support for Wi-Fi. Now, doubtless this will start to creep into the feature phone world as well, in due course, but for now Wi-Fi is the province of the smartphone. And it's phenomenally useful. Whether streaming music or video, or perhaps browsing full desktop-grade web sites, or downloading and trying N-Gage games, having a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection is something I've come to rely on. Yes, 3G/HSDPA data is improving, but it's still nowhere near as fast as my Wi-Fi and few people have genuinely unlimited data tariffs.
- Upgradeability. I'm sure feature phones can be firmware upgraded, but it's harder and they're far less likely to be. Users tend to stick to the firmware they get given at purchase time, bugs and all, and for some makes of phone the upgrade process is far from trivial. In contrast, the moment you plug your S60 (or UIQ) smartphone into your PC, there's at least some awareness of a 'check for updates' function that's available to you. For most devices, the process is still not trivial (although User Data Preservation - as seen on the N82 - is a big step forwards), but seeing your smartphone increase in performance and functionality over the course of your ownership is one of the joys of ownership.
Numbers 1 and 3 above can of course be added to feature phones in time, and possibly number 4, but number 2 really is the big one. Being open to new, native, fully-capable applications is what having a smartphone is all about. For example, it's why the Apple iPhone is about to make the transition from feature phone to smartphone, with native third party apps due to appear in a month or so's time.
And, in the meantime, it's why smartphones like the Nokia N95 (pictured) knock spots off the likes of LG's Viewty and Secret every single time.
Steve Litchfield, AllAboutSymbian, 27 April 2008
Published by Steve Litchfield at 6:26 UTC, April 26th 2008
Categories: Comment, Software, Hardware
Platforms: General, S60 3rd Edition
Feature Discussion
malerocks
Comment: Great article Steve!
I personally also feel that the smartphones need to start offering more advanced functionality than is currently available out of the box. They should by default have some of the features in calendar, messaging and other areas for which we now opt to install 3rd party sotware. Because of the flexibility offered by S60, I do not think it is difficult to enhance these native apps. And it will also be faster as compared to a feature phone.
As you have mentioned earlier, many people buying symbian phones really never add any apps to their phone and just stick to what has been provided by the manufacturer. With feature phones come coming closer to the "on phone" features of symbian, many people (apart from geeks like us) may not see reason to pay more money that the hardware of a symbian phone demands.
I personally also feel that the smartphones need to start offering more advanced functionality than is currently available out of the box. They should by default have some of the features in calendar, messaging and other areas for which we now opt to install 3rd party sotware. Because of the flexibility offered by S60, I do not think it is difficult to enhance these native apps. And it will also be faster as compared to a feature phone.
As you have mentioned earlier, many people buying symbian phones really never add any apps to their phone and just stick to what has been provided by the manufacturer. With feature phones come coming closer to the "on phone" features of symbian, many people (apart from geeks like us) may not see reason to pay more money that the hardware of a symbian phone demands.
cirrus
Comment: Nice article.
One point I would perhaps add though is multi-tasking. Sure, it's something that starting to creep into some feature phones but from what I've seen and heard it's still quite limited compared to what S60 or UIQ users are used to.
I think it'll be some time before we see feature phones where you can be listening to internet radio, while composing a message containing some text you just copy-pasted from a web-page in the browser which is downloading some files in the background. ;-)
One point I would perhaps add though is multi-tasking. Sure, it's something that starting to creep into some feature phones but from what I've seen and heard it's still quite limited compared to what S60 or UIQ users are used to.
I think it'll be some time before we see feature phones where you can be listening to internet radio, while composing a message containing some text you just copy-pasted from a web-page in the browser which is downloading some files in the background. ;-)
Richard Ross
Comment: Your point - in which the dividing line could be characterised as 'device' vs 'computer' in which the latter is an open, mutable, platform is well made. Most standard 'device' users (c.90% of the market) don't want to play with their phone, they just want it to do what it says it will easily and simply, every time, without fail.
The rest of us want flexible platforms that we can tailor to our changing needs and we accept a degree of complexity and fallibility to get that.
BUT, 'feature phones' are changing fast and the ability to add and remove functionality via easy to navigate mobile interfaces like the N-Gage and Music Shop services is already here, in nascent form.
I suspect if you revist in a year or two, you'll find most high-end 'feature phones' come with a big button that takes users to stores that let them add software functionality at will - at which point most current differences (multi-tasking for feature phones being just round the corner) will simply disappear.
If I do a bit of crystal-ball gazing (and I'm in no way qualified but this is the internet so I'll just blather on):
1) 'Smartphones' will become small computers based on infinitely mutable (probably predominantly Linux/Unix-based) operating systems. New functionality/software etc will be available from a huge range of sources.
2) 'Feature phones' will be delineated by being limited to one source of additional software/functionality (i.e. multiple authors but one 'shop' to buy at). they will also be specifically tailored ('this phone takes pics/this phone plays games etc). This looks to me to be exactly what the N-series is up to.
3) The only remaining point of differentiation between feature phones will be hardware form factor. We'll have 'business' feature phones with QWERTY thumpads and - substantially identical - feature phones with just keypads or touchscreens. You could argue that this is where we are now and that we don't really have ANY smartphones, just feature phones with a bit more hardware.
In other words, I reckon the future of treu 'smartphones' is something like an N810 with a SIM card.
The rest of us want flexible platforms that we can tailor to our changing needs and we accept a degree of complexity and fallibility to get that.
BUT, 'feature phones' are changing fast and the ability to add and remove functionality via easy to navigate mobile interfaces like the N-Gage and Music Shop services is already here, in nascent form.
I suspect if you revist in a year or two, you'll find most high-end 'feature phones' come with a big button that takes users to stores that let them add software functionality at will - at which point most current differences (multi-tasking for feature phones being just round the corner) will simply disappear.
If I do a bit of crystal-ball gazing (and I'm in no way qualified but this is the internet so I'll just blather on):
1) 'Smartphones' will become small computers based on infinitely mutable (probably predominantly Linux/Unix-based) operating systems. New functionality/software etc will be available from a huge range of sources.
2) 'Feature phones' will be delineated by being limited to one source of additional software/functionality (i.e. multiple authors but one 'shop' to buy at). they will also be specifically tailored ('this phone takes pics/this phone plays games etc). This looks to me to be exactly what the N-series is up to.
3) The only remaining point of differentiation between feature phones will be hardware form factor. We'll have 'business' feature phones with QWERTY thumpads and - substantially identical - feature phones with just keypads or touchscreens. You could argue that this is where we are now and that we don't really have ANY smartphones, just feature phones with a bit more hardware.
In other words, I reckon the future of treu 'smartphones' is something like an N810 with a SIM card.
ajck
Comment: I think actually we all know, really, what makes a "smartphone". But first, what is it *not* about?
* It's not about hardware features (clearly)
* It's not about software features (i.e. software to do this, that or the other, on the phone)
* It's not about specification
* It's not even about multitasking (I think Series 40 5th edition has java multitasking?)
What's it's about - solely - is the native OS and whether you can install/remove/upgrade (and by implication, program) software for *the native OS* on the device (not a sandbox - e.g. Java), and also by implication whether that software can really access all the hardware features of the device. I would say in practice that multitasking was basically a requirement for a smartphone OS (even if the multitasking is not available to 3rd party developers) - however, as above - presence of multitasking is not an indicator that the device is definitely a smartphone.
What's more, I think the whole notion of "smartphone" is about to become fully redundant. We can see "non smartphone" and "smartphone" OSes merging into one - the distinction is artificial and will come to an end soon. Especially with the release of Android (and any serious competitors) where a smartphone level OS can be had for nothing and implemented on a basic-level handset's chipset (e.g. ARM7 or equivalent). This does *not* mean the consumer will be presented with a "smartphone" - as many people rightly say, they just want a handset that makes calls - hopefully we are now entering an era (led by iPhone) where handsets and extra features on them, are simplicity itself and those that just want to make calls in a simple manner can do so.
The market has also shown that sophisticated OSes can be very successfully marketed to the masses provided they do not scare off the bulk of consumers with stupid "smartphone" tags, techy marketing, and a daft (high) price tag - the 6120 Classic is a good pointer to the road ahead, at least in Symbian. For those that see an iPhone style interface (usability and simplicity) as the road ahead, hopefully Nokia/Symbian will have enough sense to make that available too.
The LG Secret and Viewty are nothing more than featurephones if they do not run a "smartphone" OS and as such, regardless of hardware spec, cannot even be considered in the same ballpark as any device running a "smartphone" OS (again regardless of the "smartphone's" hardware spec)
Alex
phonething.com
* It's not about hardware features (clearly)
* It's not about software features (i.e. software to do this, that or the other, on the phone)
* It's not about specification
* It's not even about multitasking (I think Series 40 5th edition has java multitasking?)
What's it's about - solely - is the native OS and whether you can install/remove/upgrade (and by implication, program) software for *the native OS* on the device (not a sandbox - e.g. Java), and also by implication whether that software can really access all the hardware features of the device. I would say in practice that multitasking was basically a requirement for a smartphone OS (even if the multitasking is not available to 3rd party developers) - however, as above - presence of multitasking is not an indicator that the device is definitely a smartphone.
What's more, I think the whole notion of "smartphone" is about to become fully redundant. We can see "non smartphone" and "smartphone" OSes merging into one - the distinction is artificial and will come to an end soon. Especially with the release of Android (and any serious competitors) where a smartphone level OS can be had for nothing and implemented on a basic-level handset's chipset (e.g. ARM7 or equivalent). This does *not* mean the consumer will be presented with a "smartphone" - as many people rightly say, they just want a handset that makes calls - hopefully we are now entering an era (led by iPhone) where handsets and extra features on them, are simplicity itself and those that just want to make calls in a simple manner can do so.
The market has also shown that sophisticated OSes can be very successfully marketed to the masses provided they do not scare off the bulk of consumers with stupid "smartphone" tags, techy marketing, and a daft (high) price tag - the 6120 Classic is a good pointer to the road ahead, at least in Symbian. For those that see an iPhone style interface (usability and simplicity) as the road ahead, hopefully Nokia/Symbian will have enough sense to make that available too.
The LG Secret and Viewty are nothing more than featurephones if they do not run a "smartphone" OS and as such, regardless of hardware spec, cannot even be considered in the same ballpark as any device running a "smartphone" OS (again regardless of the "smartphone's" hardware spec)
Alex
phonething.com
argh
Comment: 1) Yes, rearranging groups is okay on S60, but Windows Mobile does blow S60 away to be honest. There's still customisation of the groups and ordering, as well as the huge range of "Today Screen" plugins for PPCs. I would love a version of the "most recently used" list for S60 instead of/as well as the existing static list of applications - is the API for the S60 standby screen too locked down/difficult for this? Wisbar Advance etc. give WM even more flexibility for the today screen, and the Smartphone edition of WM already allows detailed layouts with multiple plugins on a horizontal line. In comparison, I still find the S60 UI feels rather locked down, unfortunately.
2) I agree that this is probably the main thing identifying a smartphone at the moment, but with Java on feature phones becoming more powerful, as well as a lot of the functionality that people want being included in the phone itself(geotagging, internet radio, etc.) the line really is starting to get very blurred. Given enough RAM/processing power, does the application really have to be native rather than Java?
3) I agree with the usefulness but I don't really think that it defines a smartphone.
4) Also not really a defining feature. I have firmware upgraded previous non-smartphones. As you say, it used to be more "hacking" but phones like the W850i offer legitimate firmware upgrades via the Sony Ericsson Update Service.
2) I agree that this is probably the main thing identifying a smartphone at the moment, but with Java on feature phones becoming more powerful, as well as a lot of the functionality that people want being included in the phone itself(geotagging, internet radio, etc.) the line really is starting to get very blurred. Given enough RAM/processing power, does the application really have to be native rather than Java?
3) I agree with the usefulness but I don't really think that it defines a smartphone.
4) Also not really a defining feature. I have firmware upgraded previous non-smartphones. As you say, it used to be more "hacking" but phones like the W850i offer legitimate firmware upgrades via the Sony Ericsson Update Service.
krisse
Comment: If you watch documentaries about home computers made in the 1980s, they often talk about them as "microcomputers" partly because home computers were physically much smaller than the enormous office mainframes which were still quite common at the time.
However, nowadays almost all office and home computers are roughly the same size and the term "microcomputer" has completely vanished from use.
I think the same thing will happen to "smartphone" as mobile phones all become capable of running native apps, and perhaps eventually as mobile phones all start running web-based apps.
However, nowadays almost all office and home computers are roughly the same size and the term "microcomputer" has completely vanished from use.
I think the same thing will happen to "smartphone" as mobile phones all become capable of running native apps, and perhaps eventually as mobile phones all start running web-based apps.
viipottaja
Comment: This is off topic.. :) Just as a way of making your site even more user friendly (I think at least), it would be great if the reader by clicking the title of an article on the home page would go directly to the full article rather than to the in between page of the same snipped and comments.
Unregistered
Comment: Krisse, what are you on about? "In the old days mainframes were bigger but nowadays home machines are the same size as office machines?????????????"
Have you seen an IBM System Z? A System P 595? A SPARC M9000? The SAN storage they use for disk? These are the modern equivalent of those old mainframes. They use at least one full height 32 inch rack. Slightly bigger than a Dell desktop I think. And common enough for me to see data centres packed with the every day.
Anyway, "Smartphone" horrible marketing term, can't stand it. It's a phone.
Have you seen an IBM System Z? A System P 595? A SPARC M9000? The SAN storage they use for disk? These are the modern equivalent of those old mainframes. They use at least one full height 32 inch rack. Slightly bigger than a Dell desktop I think. And common enough for me to see data centres packed with the every day.
Anyway, "Smartphone" horrible marketing term, can't stand it. It's a phone.
sturgeon
Comment: Mine's a computer. I do much less phoning than almost anything else with it.
s.
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