As I was sitting here today watching the HTC Leo (Touch HD successor) multi-touch video on YouTube I couldn’t help but find myself puzzled at why I was even watching the video in the first place. In 2007 Apple did a stellar job demonstrating nearly everything in this ‘cutting-edge’ device they claim to be the iPhone-killer, yet I am still supposed to be impressed by multi-touch on a capacitive screen? Sure the specs are outstanding, but when my Touch Pro hardly lasts half a day with a full battery and it is only powered by 528MHz how should I feel about a 1GHz processor?
Next I see Crackberry laying out more shots of the Storm2, as if the first generation Storm wasn’t bad enough to not deserve a sequel, and they’ve literally created a clone of the iPod/iPhone dock. I enjoy mobile phones because of the innovation, not seeing every major manufacturer attempt to make an iPhone after they all laughed at the idea that the device could compete in 2007. RIM, HTC, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, LG and other major manufacturers all managed to survive without the iPhone before 2007, the two year window for trying to make an iPhone killer has passed. Continue doing what you did best before the iPhone, what makes the iPhone a success are the innovative features and App Store.
Not everyone wants an all touchscreen device, even an iPhone owner like myself loves a physical keyboard and this is exactly why I keep multiple devices. RIM you make excellent email machines, your keyboards are superb and every single BlackBerry Storm owner who switched to the Tour loves it and would never go back. HTC, a future with Android is the right choice and you will be rewarded especially when you release a device that merges the HTC Hero with the Touch Pro2. Motorola, the CLIQ has my attention I am impressed, this is a step in the right direction. Nokia, the E90 communicator still remains my favorite Nokia device, the N97 and N900 are exactly what I was hoping from your lineup. LG, good job announcing your first Android device, you realized the future. Samsung, the Instinct HD has the makings to be a great device but realize that we need apps, think Android.
Manufacturers please keep in mind that my rant is critical because I care. 10 years ago I lived for the Palm Treo 600 and was just becoming a Windows Mobile enthusiast. Today I’ve tried nearly every device released over the past 6 years and it has been an exciting journey. The past 2 years of non-stop iPhone have been hard, but WebOS and Android are the light at the end of my tunnel. I dream of seeing innovation that makes Apple take note and not the other way around.