Android Device Makers: Take Note of These Two Articles
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sat 24th Dec 2011 13:00 UTC
PDAs, Cellphones, Wireless "Earlier today, Samsung revealed that it won't update the Galaxy S, its most successful smartphone to date, to the latest version of Android. You might shrug and dismiss that as just more evidence of Android's inherent fragmentation or the need for buyers to beware, but I take grave issue with it. This is a decision based not on technical constraints, as Samsung would have you believe, but on hubris." This. A gazillion million thousand times this. Also: "It's simple: make a large high-end device, a smaller value device, and a QWERTY device. Maybe one or two other specialty form factors, tops. That's it. Update them once a year, and keep the names the same." It would make updating a hell of a lot easier. We don't need the Samsung Galaxy SII Epic 4G Touch Sensation.
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RE[3]: Speak by spending $$
by Alfman on Mon 26th Dec 2011 20:28 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: Speak by spending $$"
Alfman
Member since:
2011-01-28

PresentIt,

"Actually, they will recall cars if they discover some problem that might cause to their customers. Lots of models have been recalled though the years because of flaws in the design (bugs)."

I've heard of plenty of incidents of manufacturers replacing things such as exploding tires and broken breaks in huge safety recalls, etc, but to my knowledge manufacturers won't replace/upgrade components after a warranty expires even if a defective component caused premature failure. Usually if anything stops working as intended, then it's up to the owner to pay to fix it. If I am mistaken then I could probably save a lot of money in auto repairs. I've even heard of some horror stores about them failing to cover their own warranties.


"Similarly, phones will have bugs. Especially with all the security problems everywhere it's important to provide updates."

Maybe phone manufacturers should be held accountable for security holes, it would give them much more incentive to provide updates... I'm not going to hold my breath though.

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE[4]: Speak by spending $$
by PresentIt on Mon 26th Dec 2011 20:42 in reply to "RE[3]: Speak by spending $$"
PresentIt Member since:
2010-02-10

After warranty expires? Warranty expires right away on a phone?

Also, if the warranty expires and a huge dangerous problem is discovered with the car, they will do nothing?

Reply Parent Score: 1

RE[5]: Speak by spending $$
by Alfman on Mon 26th Dec 2011 21:16 in reply to "RE[4]: Speak by spending $$"
Alfman Member since:
2011-01-28

PresentIt,

"After warranty expires? Warranty expires right away on a phone?"

I'm not sure what you are trying to say/ask here with regards to my post.

"Also, if the warranty expires and a huge dangerous problem is discovered with the car, they will do nothing?"

I explicitly mentioned the safety recall because I thought it was an exception to the rule. However I'm not sure this exception applies to mobile devices.


I'm actually agreeing with you that manufacturers should do their best to support after sale products. I just don't think they have much incentive to in the cheap disposable world we live in.


My own take is that open/unlocked devices would not only extend their useful lifetimes for the primary and after-market owners, it would cut back on a great deal of unnecessary environmental and manufacturing waste. Unfortunately, the goal of making the best use of resources doesn't align with the goal of making the most profits. Corporations choose profits, our environment pays the costs, such is life.

Reply Parent Score: 2

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