2013 was a lost year for tech.

[unnamedny]

Both HTC and Samsung produced that in 2012, and the broader implementation of that is Miracast, built in as a "new" Nexus feature. Pretty much the same thing exists with an iPhone and an Apple TV.

Look for the possible return of this app to Chromecast when the SDK goes final.

Lack of device mirroring is a big complaint among those wanting it with Chromecast but that was not its primary intended use case.

In any case, the SDK has already adopted the ability to discern attempts to bypass DRM so even if Chromecast does somehow pick up device mirroring, don't expect it to mirror everything.

Not sure why you want me to stick to an article that I consider whining and not valid.

PS - still would prefer your definition of breakthrough.

The examples are well and good, but leaves us with a sort of "I know it when I see it" deal.

If LTE - a GSM modification - qualified as a breakthrough, DIAL certainly must.

I would consider a breakthrough somethings new or something multiple times better than available to everyone. Battery that would last a week in your phone would be a breakthrough, ISP providing 200mbps connection to anyone. All cars getting double mileage per gallon all the sudden. Now new would be something replacing smartphones entirely. This kind of device does not exist yet, so I can't give an example of it.

Now what's happening today is we get improvement of most devices, and not too noticeable in many cases. Smartphones are getting better, but how much better can they get? Bigger ppi, bigger screen, more ram. Most already have enough specs. Adding biometric reading is not something extremely anticipated. I haven't noticed anyone saying "Oh, God, I can't wait for my phone to read my fingerprints!"

 

[Slug]

Now what's happening today is we get improvement of most devices, and not too noticeable in many cases.

Don't forget that everything "announced" in 2013 would have been in development for at least a year, maybe longer. "Breakthroughs" are now only trumpeted when the patents, IP rights etc are watertight in case a competitor steals the thunder.

To address specifics, Google Glass is nothing more than a proof-of-concept. The true power of Glass will come when the tech can be incorporated into standard spectacle frames, opening it to a wider customer base.

As for smartwatches looking "nerdy".... few people outside the geekosystem recognise my SW2 as anything other than a watch.

Nokia's Lumia 1020 is anything but ridiculous..... it put serious camera performance into a smartphone package. As an Andoid smartphone user AND a photographer, if I wanted a single device the 1020 would be my choice regardless of the OS. There's simply nothing else to touch it.

 

[unnamedny]

Nokia's Lumia 1020 is anything but ridiculous..... it put serious camera performance into a smartphone package. As an Andoid smartphone user AND a photographer, if I wanted a single device the 1020 would be my choice regardless of the OS. There's simply nothing else to touch it.

If you are an amateur or professional photographer chances of you getting 1020 is very very slim. You can get a compact point and shoot taking better pictures, easier to use, and not much bigger than a phone. I own a mirror less camera with standard 14-42mm lens that it came with, but I also have 20mm f/1.7 lens, and let me tell you, you can take a picture in very dark room and still get a decent light photo without any noise. Pictures are very very sharp, and you can blur the background beautifully. Check Lumix 20mm lens pictures, you'd be amazed with the quality. 1020 is a good camera for a smartphone at price of $600 plus tax, that's where it ends.

Not to mention 1020 was a desperate attempt to save Nokia from going bankrupt, because nokia was not making much for a past few years.

 

[out of ideas]

Nokia's Lumia 1020 is anything but ridiculous..... it put serious camera performance into a smartphone package. As an Andoid smartphone user AND a photographer, if I wanted a single device the 1020 would be my choice regardless of the OS. There's simply nothing else to touch it.

This.

I think if an Android phone came out with a 40MP(or 38 or whatever it really is) everyone here would be flipping out about how great it is.

The "i could go buy a comparable camera for $xxx" is a pointless arguement, as I always have my phone, I wouldnt always have a camera on me.

 

[unnamedny]

This.

I think if an Android phone came out with a 40MP(or 38 or whatever it really is) everyone here would be flipping out about how great it is.

The "i could go buy a comparable camera for $xxx" is a pointless arguement, as I always have my phone, I wouldnt always have a camera on me.

I don't think that it would be a hit. (and its not) You always have a phone on you so as the camera. Your camera is suitable for most situations. Looking at 1020 shots, my 5 year old point and shoot makes better pictures. It's expensive and bulky, 4 second delay between pictures, slow loading camera, nothing is screaming out about all that.

 

[Slug]

You can get a compact point and shoot taking better pictures, easier to use, and not much bigger than a phone.

Your compact camera doesn't have the functionality of a smartphone though.

I own a mirror less camera with standard 14-42mm lens that it came with, but I also have 20mm f/1.7 lens, and let me tell you, you can take a picture in very dark room and still get a decent light photo without any noise.

I've got a full-frame Canon with a bag-full of L-series f2.8 glass, but it still doesn't rival the 1020 for all-round functionality. Stop comparing apples with bananas, please.

1020 is a good camera for a smartphone at price of $600 plus tax, that's where it ends.

It's THE best camera in a smartphone, period. Maybe you don't see putting that level of quality into a usable smartphone package as "exciting" but I do.

Not to mention 1020 was a desperate attempt to save Nokia from going bankrupt, because nokia was not making much for a past few years.

lol. Not even close..... high-end 'flagships' never sell enough to save the fleet.

 

[unnamedny]

Your compact camera doesn't have the functionality of a smartphone though.

I've got a full-frame Canon with a bag-full of L-series f2.8 glass, but it still doesn't rival the 1020 for all-round functionality. Stop comparing apples with bananas, please.



It's THE best camera in a smartphone, period. Maybe you don't see putting that level of quality into a usable smartphone package as "exciting" but I do.

lol. Not even close..... high-end 'flagships' never sell enough to save the fleet.

My compact camera does not need functionality of the smartphone. That's why you don't find drills with jigsaws all in one at homedepot.

I don't really get what do you mean by "functionality". Maybe you meant "convenience in one package" then yeah, but it does not have same functionality as your dslr camera.

It's not the best, it has most megapixels and does decent photos, but if your Dslr was taking 30 seconds to start up, 10 seconds shot-to-shot time, horrible UI, etc., it simple would not be the best no matter how good pictures it takes. So for most best camera smartphone is something that does not deel like a brick in your jeans pocket. And even if you are a fan of a good photography, it's very inconvenient for you along with other cons.

It was not to make as much sales of 1020 but, it was to get a little more recognition back on the market for Nokia brand. Nokia was a leader on the cell phone market for 10 years straight. After iPhone was introduced, along with Android devices, Nokia lost it's recognition on the market. They desperately needed to invent something, to avoid getting broke, so they only thing they could come up with is this monstrosity. If it was such a great innovation people would not hesitate to spend $600 on it. If you do some research you are going to find that 1020 dis not even crack top 50 of best selling phones after few weeks after release.

It's a failed invention. If it was not, then other companies would pick up at this idea.

 

[Slug]

My compact camera does not need functionality of the smartphone.

I doubt anyone buys a 1020 purely as a compact camera replacement; they buy it because it's a smartphone with the functionality of a compact camera built-in.

if your Dslr was taking 30 seconds to start up, 10 seconds shot-to-shot time, horrible UI, etc., it simple would not be the best no matter how good pictures it takes.

Your OP argues that 2013 gave us no decent developments. I would argue that a smartphone with a camera equivalent to that of a high-quality compact is exactly that. Sure there are better dedicated cameras, and better smartphones, but the 'breakthrough' was combining it all into a single package.

If it was such a great innovation people would not hesitate to spend $600 on it.

You suggested the following as an example of "innovation":

Biggest breakthrough I'm waiting for is a battery which may allow last cellphones or other devices for weeks, maybe a hydrogen fuel cells are getting there.

How affordable do you think the first examples of this tech are going to be? The first hurdle is getting your idea into production, the second is reducing costs to make it affordable to the mass market.

If you do some research you are going to find that 1020 dis not even crack top 50 of best selling phones after few weeks after release.

Sorry, I though we were discussing innovation (or the lack of it) not sales figures. In that case, how "innovative" was the top-selling phone? Or the top five?

 

[unnamedny]

I doubt anyone buys a 1020 purely as a compact camera replacement; they buy it because it's a smartphone with the functionality of a compact camera built-in.

Your OP argues that 2013 gave us no decent developments. I would argue that a smartphone with a camera equivalent to that of a high-quality compact is exactly that. Sure there are better dedicated cameras, and better smartphones, but the 'breakthrough' was combining it all into a single package.

You suggested the following as an example of "innovation":



How affordable do you think the first examples of this tech are going to be? The first hurdle is getting your idea into production, the second is reducing costs to make it affordable to the mass market.

Sorry, I though we were discussing innovation (or the lack of it) not sales figures. In that case, how "innovative" was the top-selling phone? Or the top five?

I would pay a good deal of money for 10x battery life. My boss receives around 100 calls everyday, he used internet and GPS he jumped into droid maxx first day it came out but it was still not enough for his daily use.

Sales and quality of innovations are connected in most cases. Just because you come up with something new it does not make it a great innovation. If you are poorly connecting dots, delivering it to the market without any practical sense of use, poorly designing it, it's not going to work. I seems that 1020 was just an experimental thing that did not take off.

Did you even read the article? It states that companies like Apple, Samsung and Google made plenty of sales in 2013, meanwhile they are not delivering any breakthroughs to the market.

Sorry, I though we were discussing innovation (or the lack of it) not sales figures. In that case, how "innovative" was the top-selling phone? Or the top five?

So that's my point. It was not really innovative.

 

[Slug]

Did you even read the article? It states that companies like Apple, Samsung and Google made plenty of sales in 2013, meanwhile they are not delivering any breakthroughs to the market.

Yes I did, and I don't agree with its pessimistic slant. I've put my case forward with examples, as have others. You don't agree, and that's fine.

 

[unnamedny]

Yes I did, and I don't agree with its pessimistic slant. I've put my case forward with examples, as have others. You don't agree, and that's fine.

That pessimistic slant is for good. Negative criticism of this kind is good for consumers and companies. It make us realize that we are spend money on same technologies with just a tiny improvements. For companies its a red flag, it let them know if they are not going to start working a little harder they are going to lose market shares. (Nokia is perfect example of refusing Android. Blackberry RIM is another)
http://internet2go.net/news/europe/saying-no-android-are-nokia-ceo-elops-days-numbered

As any media article it's of cause over exaggerated. It missed Chromecast and other tech. Other than that, its mostly true.

 

[Rxpert83]

That pessimistic slant is for good. Negative criticism of this kind is good for consumers and companies. It make us realize that we are spend money on same technologies with just a tiny improvements. For companies its a red flag, it let them know if they are not going to start working a little harder they are going to lose market shares.

But its not good if its unfounded criticism, as many are saying in this thread.

 

[nickdalzell]

RIM/BlackBerry: "No one wants to use their phone for apps!" now they're where? extinct. Windows Phone: "forget apps, let's sell this awesome camera! people will buy it for that and that alone! phone calls are bonus!" and we're not seeing the RIM redux here? RIM thought email/messaging were the only important things in their phones, as if that was the only need people would have. Windows Phone assumes similar, promoting nothing short of a glorified digital camera as a phone, assuming that people won't care how lacking the software is if they got 41 Megapixels in their pocket. meanwhile the camera is like less than 1/3 of what people use their smartphones for, and even when they use them, they don't really get all worked up over megapixels. the popularity of the iPhone with its blue haze camera is still pretty good so it's obvious camera specs don't sell phones.

 

[Eugene]

I would buy it IF it had a useable OS on it. Nokia camera phone with Android would sell. The worst OS in the world kills the sales. Even Windows likers (notice I didn't say lovers, no one loves windows) don't like the windows 8 interface, its a flop so any phone with it is going to flop as well.
We are at a slow time for innovation, it like the economy is cyclical. We went through the same cycle around a decade ago