Progress is inevitable, and despite the fact that we’re looking at some of the most advanced smartphones we’ve ever seen already available on the market, with even more coming down the pipe sooner than later, we all know that it’s only going to keep getting better from here. Unfortunately, “better” is a relative term, and while we know our phones will certainly get faster and more powerful, there’s still the question about other features that needs attention. We’ve already discussed whether or not battery life will make a difference in the future, and that’s a very valid point. But the whole picture needs a peek.
The whole picture is a vast one, with all sorts of variables. There’s the hardware with its many different components, and then there’s the software, and how much it varies at its core to the user interface elements. All of these things come together to form the smartphone experience that we have all grown accustomed to, or expect. If one of those elements is missing, then our experience is tarnished and we find another platform, and other pieces of hardware, to satiate our desires. We’ve already got 1GHz devices available now. We’ve already got 1GHz dual-core devices available now. And here shortly we’ll have 1.2GHz-powered handsets available.
Samsung’s already looking towards the future, which isn’t surprising. But, unlike some companies, it looks like Sammy is taking a more realistic approach this time around. Instead of saying that they’ll have 2GHz processors in devices by this year, they’re targeting 2012. So while we’ve already had 1GHz devices available for several months now, Samsung knows that waiting, and making sure that the new chips and architecture are worth the limelight, is the right thing to do.
It comes down to the fact that our devices, while advanced and powerful, sometimes suffer from the improvements that we give them. We’ve seen our 1GHz devices suffer from battery life. We’ve heard that some devices are being shelved due to inoperability with pieces of technology inside, all because we’re trying to shove too much technology into these handsets too quickly. Samsung is letting some time pass, and the technology to advance in its own right, before they start mass marketing these chips, or sticking them in their own phones.
But, will other companies follow suit? If we’re worried about our phones now, what will happen if some companies shove a 2GHz dual-core processor into a device like the HTC EVO and call it good? We can expect a lot of people to buy it, sure, and then we can safely assume that they’ll be complaining about something sometime down the line after that purchase. Battery life for sure, or perhaps the fact that they can’t really tell a difference between the 2GHz-powered speed on their Android phone, versus what they experienced on their original EVO with its 1GHz processor.
Do you agree with Samsung’s plans to wait until 2012 to move ahead with a 2GHz dual-core processor? Or do you think they should try to get it out to market before the end of 2011? Let me know in the comments below what you think.
