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SE - Past 2 years and 2008 |
dr_thug
Joined: Nov 11, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: India
PM |
@Hlcn Twst,S700 was the first swivel,and though it was expensive,it was well accepted.Thats why SE launched W550 and W900 later.Even nokia copied the swivel and made a swivel phone.You may not have liked it,but there are many who did.
On the Cybershot-Walkman feature,i am with you.I need a good camera compared to a mediocre camera.For that,i am ready to sacrifice on the mediocre media player and not on the Walkman player.Thats why i didnt buy any Walkman phone so far and instead bought a Walkman wired headset(HPM-70).
But,i am more tempted to the Walkman brand,than any.I even love some of the Walkman designs.But their camera is a major let down.This is the sole reason why i don't consider most of the Walkman phones worth buying.I am not asking for bestpic/red eye reduction/antishake etc on a Walkman phone...just an autofocus-macro mode and flash.Thats reasonable.
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I  SE,but...
[ This Message was edited by: dr_thug on 2008-01-07 13:03 ] | |
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Hlcn Twst
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Purgatory, Utah, USA
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And how many swivels do you see now? Even gave up.
I think the S700i/S710a was well-accepted because of its uniqueness. (Not to mention marketing. Almost every movie I watched in 2004-2005 had the ad with the American, Japanese, and Finnish engineers putting together an S710a while singing "Close To You.") But after a year of owning one, I have to say its physical design is very poorly executed.
[ This Message was edited by: Hlcn Twst on 2008-01-07 17:38 ] |
hgautam
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: > 500
PM |
@dr_thug
First you said SE low end phones are not good enough and Nokia has changed the definition of low end phone... I proved you wrong there... And currently this low-end market of SE phone (though lacking in marketing and sales) is the only segment where SE still has better phones than Nokia... And you wan't them to quit it????  I just don't get??? If they don't have good sales then they should improve them with better marketing and after sales service and not quit like they are a losser... I really like SE low-end phone and I can still recommend many I know who are looking for a low-end phone, though I have always brought the high-end ones for myself  ... SE can release great phone in low, mid and high level phone all at the same time but the fact is they are not doing so and taking a very slow approach... And Sagem just doesn't have the brand value that SE have... You know by doing a small work doesn't make anyone smaller, similarly, if SE release low end phones as well, won't make them a low brand company...
But.... Well it's your wish write what you wan't, but I just don't agree with your point...
[ This Message was edited by: hgautam on 2008-01-07 19:05 ] |
mode
Joined: Jan 12, 2007
Posts: > 500
PM |
IMO, SE's low ends will not sell (as proven in Q4 2007) because there is no anchor product that would attract the low end market towards the brand. By anchor product I mean a killer high end device like N95 that would create a buzz which everyone would like to own eventually. It would put SE back on the map, and eventhough most in the low-end market can't afford it they'd stand by a leading brand nevertheless. Without this, SE wouldn'5 have a foot hold in the lower segment since Nokia is already in the grass roots in so many countries. SE would have to re-brand themselves with something innovative and eye-opening to achieve this and it's long ovedue as it is.
Ericsson EH97, GA628, GF768, A2618s, T29s Sony Ericsson T68i, S700i, P990i, Z558i, W902, W995, X10, Arc S
*Xperia V*White*Black MW600*Sandisk Mobile Ultra 64GB microSDXC* |
Dogmann
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: London England
PM |
Hi all,
I find all this 2008 is going to be the Year quite strange look back to the Forum this time last year with all the boasts of this will be SE's year they will put the UIQ3 problems behind them. Along with the claims that SE where going to sell over 200 million units this year and move up to NO:2 and look what happened just more of the same mediocrity.
I really do hope this is the Year that SE get back to being the company we all so fondly remember and produces the type of devcies we once more aspire to. But from looking around the Forum at the amount of dissatisfied SE users and just how many have now moved to other brands to get what they want SE really has it's work cut out for it and needs to deliver some really knockout devcies and soon. The k85O launch was a farce and did even more damage to SE's battered reputation and how this was allowed to happen is just beyond me, if SE don't stop making this avoidable type of mistakes there future really is in jeopardy. I hope the new CEO manages to change things and fast other wise it really will be game over and SE will disappear in a cloud of mediocrity.
Marc
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Nokia N95 8GB, SU-8W, Fring, Vox, Tom Tom 6, Shure EC2g
Honoured to have won BEST DEBATER
[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2008-01-07 21:05 ] |
dr_thug
Joined: Nov 11, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: India
PM |
My first post in this thread was mostly about SE's lacking performance in the last 2 years.In this post,i am discussing mostly the future aspect...2008(and maybe beyond).This time,i have an optimistic approach,compared to last time.
Gaming
Gaming is an great source of entertainment for youngsters(below 35 year olds  ) now.Games generates money(when more game titles are sold),develops brand loyalty among users and its a whole new untapped business opportunity.Nokia planned to re-launch their n-gage in Dec last year...but got postponed to Jan-Feb 2008.And i don't think n-gage was a success for nokia.If nokia did their study right,this is a good time to re-launch it.So whats SE planning?Will we see a PSP phone?IMO,no,not this year.I see it the same way as K750 not branded Cybershot,but K800 branded.I would like to see a new dedicated series for gaming..say G series.And,when Sony thinks,it has reached a feature level worth for the trademark name,brand it 'playstation'.
On the hardware aspect,a big screen,a good chip to handle the 3d games,input via a combination of hardware keys,touchscreen and accelerometer(motion detection front camera anyone?).As for games,1GB MSPD preloaded with mobile versions of successful console games,sold by game developers in SE stores.Online multiplayer gaming via 3g/HSDPA/Wifi.
Arcade games,which are still popular with everyone(proof Quadrapop) should be free...inbuilt in phone or download from websites.Success of such phone will depend a lot on games...as in the case of consoles.Sony knows this lesson.Such a phone would be perfect to fill the gap of teenagers,who don't want to carry their DS/PSP and phone.Q3-Q4 would be the perfect time.
Good to see that the new W760 comes preloaded with Need for Speed.A good start...maybe SE are testing the waters.
The next P series and future of UIQ
Ahh..i belive i will stir a lot of hornet's nest with my comments but,these are my thoughts and i welcome your comments(positive or negative).
Before i start on P5,did anyone check the specs of the new Mylo 2 from Sony(from endgadget)??
* 800 x 480 3.5-inch (resistive) touchscreen display!
* 1GB internal storage, mini-USB
* 1.3 megapixel camera, 802.11b/g, colored info-LEDs
* WMA / PlaysForSure DRM, MP3, AAC, ATRAC, and MPEG-4 codec support
* Flash Lite 3 (capable of playing back YouTube videos, for example)
* Netfront-based browser, AIM / Gtalk / Yahoo IM support
* Skype support, podcast and RSS aggregator (!), and an expandable widget panel with access to Google, YouTube, Facebook and other web 2.0 sites
* Attachable face plates ($20) and cradle ($30) options
* Free Wayport WiFi access at your local participating McDonald's until December 31, 2010
* 5.1 x 2.5 x 0.8-inch footprint
And priced around 300$(lacks a good chip).Wish Sony put their efforts to develop a SE phone(and also market it in USA) than on this stupid Mylo.
We expect a lot of features mentioned in Mylo2 in the next P...give or take.
So what will the Px have?
IMO,the main features would be...A 3inch screen(roughly),a good chip for all the amazing UI(P5 thread guys here know well),Wifi,upto HSDPA,5mpx cam(i won't be surprised to see a 3.2mpx cam to keep price down),qwerty keyb(hope so),new UIQ3.x(i don't think we will see UIQ4 coz SE and UIQ are still asking developers to make more applications for uiq3..unless ofcourse,uiq4 is compatible with Uiq3 applications-seamlessly)...and a UI which will be as exciting as the UI of iPhone,Windows 7,nokia prototype(video we saw)etc.Add a bluetooth headset to that(i would like to see one in the box).All this at a price somewhere around $850-900(initially-no contract and unbranded).I don't think we will see anything revolutionary in the next P.The UI and simplicity to use will be the major attraction(and yes,the design...i trust those Ericsson designers).In terms of hardware,i doubt we will see anything new other than what we have already seen so far in the phones.I think you get only these for the price i mentioned above.Can anyone guess what the price would be,towards the end of its product life(1-1.5 yrs from release)??
Future of UIQ
Competetion is heating up..Symbian,Winmo,iPhone OS,Android,Palm,Blackberry,Linux.Success of an OS depends on user acceptability(which depend on visually pleasing UI,ease of use,OS stability,maximum customization,availability of large number of applications(freeware & paid),support of firmware upgrades etc) which directly leads to increase in user base of that OS.For UIQ to increase user base,more well tested phones(touchscreen & non touchscreen) should be made with different hardware specifications by as many manufacturers as possible.They should also support development of applications for their phones by independent developers more activly. SE did the right thing in selling half of UIQ to Motorola.I want to see UIQ in all formfactors across all series(K,W,S other than the P).Bring back the M series!
Afaik,Symbian and Winmo are the leaders worldwide with largest marketshare.Iphone and blackberry are leaders in usa.I don't know about the European marketshare,but i guess,after Symbian at the top,Winmo and/or UIQ may be at close 2nd and 3rd. Android has the mighty google backing,and linux is the underdog with great potentials.
If SE (and Motorola)doesn't act now,the future of UIQ is bleak.Sony should give more attention to SE and not give a step-motherly treatment any longer.Ahh can we count UIQ among these... http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9843429-7.html ??
Among UIQ,WinMo,Symbian,Android,Blackerry,Palm OS and Apple OS for phones,which do you think will become extinct in next 5 years?? |
Dogmann
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: London England
PM |
@dr_thug
Good post except for one for correction Symbian is the leading smart phone OS but both S60 and UIQ are both Symbian they are just different UI's over the same platform. I also hate to disappoint you but i think you will find less UIQ smart phones are sold than S60 or WM and this is partly down to the lack of devices as much as anything else.
Really only die hard SE fans buy UIQ it really doesn't have much of a presence it the market place and Motorola's first UIQ device the Z8 was not the success it was hoped to be either. The next Moto UIQ Z10 is just launching now and is many months behind schedule and again looks like being very expensive for what it is. It's strongest selling point it's Multimedia abilities were badly let down by a screen that failed to live up to it's pre launch hype, when i eventually managed to play with one the screen was wholly unimpressive IMO.
As for gaming phones the simple fact is Nokia got there first and have done deals with most of the major players that make games i really can't see them not having exclusive deals that would allow thier rivals to access the same games on different platforms it doesn't happen on games consoles and i really can't believe it would happen on mobile devices either. Nokia with OVI are already launching an online Music store again with many majors taking part and the N-gage arena should launch soon with these and what else OVI will bring Nokia really have managed to get a big head start on the competition. The biggest surprise to me was the fact that some of the major Networks that initially were critical of these services as they saw them taking revenue away from them have now agreed to support and partake in OVI supported handsets. They must believe these services will be of value to thier customers and therefore them selves to of had a turnround and done so.
I do believe 2008 will be the Year we see Data really growing but this will not be Buisness led it will come from Multimedia smart phones but the competition is getting tougher and those Os's and manufacturers that fail to deliver will really suffer as the amount of choice will be larger than ever before.
Marc
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Nokia N95 8GB, SU-8W, Fring, Vox, Tom Tom 6, Shure EC2g
Honoured to have won BEST DEBATER
[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2008-01-08 07:05 ] |
razec
Joined: Aug 20, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Pearl of the Orient Seas
PM |
Even the ongoing fanatic's concepts slapped the face of all SE designers as well as the technical management team for their poor job on 2007. i hope they would now make their job better this year I'll give SE a chance... they imo deserved it.
~19 years at Esato |
Erotomaniac
Joined: Sep 27, 2005
Posts: 82
From: Novaliches
PM |
I think SE needs to hire (or pirate) innovative people for their product design team.
I believe in what was said that they have to stand out right now to regain some lost ground.
they also need to make sure their flagship models work 100%. heehee |
Ranjith
Joined: Dec 07, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Saudi Arabia/India,Cochin
PM |
well said thug...
but among the few low-end phones i have used frm NOKIA and SE...i like the UI of SE much better.....
and i believe 2008 is going to be the year of resurrection for SE.....fingers crossed!
I  ESATO I W1i  T20,T65, P800(2x),K800,Z300,  800, 850 (2x),P1i(with WALKMAN) |
Peio
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 152
From: Euskadi
PM |
About those low-end phones, I was surprised to see that over the past 6 months, ALL my friends who changed their phones bought a SE: 1 w300, 3 w660, 2 w580. Before I was the only one to have a SE phone, my friends mostly had a samsung/LG/motorola phone. So it seems that SE strategy is not that bad.
Of course it may not be representative of the global sales here in France, but I was just suprised to see that. | |
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Posted: 2008-01-07 14:02
ESATO
T20,T65, 
800, 
