08-02-2002, 08:09 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Okay, Now It's MY Turn To Rant...
Okay, now that Ed's had his chance to rant about how so many of the people writing product "reviews" don't understand what a Pocket PC Phone Edition is and is not supposed to do, I've got a similar point to make. It relates to this headline and teaser on the WirelessNewsFactor.com site:
This site is (I thought) a good, reliable source of information about anything that's going on in the area of wireless communications, yet they clearly do not understand that the Pocket PC Phone Edition is NOT the same thing as a Smart Phone. Throughout the entire article, the two types of devices are confused. Granted, it's a fine hair to split for many people, but these writers are supposed to actually know their markets.
So here it is, all you media types out there who want to publish in the mobile device space. Here's the difference between a Phone Edition and a Smartphone:
A Pocket PC Phone Edition device is first and foremost a powerful Pocket PC, with some wireless voice and data capabilities built in. It is visually-driven, two-handed device. A Smartphone, on the other hand, is primarily a phone, with some PIM functionality added. It is meant to be a voice-centric, one-hand tool.
See, this is what creates the exact problems that Ed's referring to. Writers don't bother to get their heads on straight before they write a news piece like this, and the result is an explosion of confusion and misinformation. It's the exact same thing as if I were to publish an article talking about the new BMW Z4 and referring to it as an SUV. Then, to Ed's point, people reviewing the vehicle would feel free to complain that the Z4 couldn't haul very much lumber and cornered way to well.
It's like I've always said...If you want to get the best, most accurate and up-to-date information about Pocket PCs and mobile-related stuff, the very LAST source you should use is the press (and the manufacturers' technical support center); the very best information comes from YOU people, who make up this enthusiast community.
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08-02-2002, 08:27 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 38
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Quote:
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A Pocket PC Phone Edition device is first and foremost a powerful Pocket PC, with some wireless voice and data capabilities built in. It is visually-driven, two-handed device. A Smartphone, on the other hand, is primarily a phone, with some PIM functionality added. It is meant to be a voice-centric, one-hand tool.
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Excellent definition! Forward that to all the online rags!
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08-02-2002, 08:56 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 167
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you introduce a ppc into a phone market who will understand?
That's the problem. They're comparing apples and oranges and coming up saying that the oranges can do all this and the apples can't. well, DUH, they're ORANGES. NOT apples.
They were tasked with doing reviews. Instead of doing a review of a totally different device, they compared it to the existing devices that are nothing like devices that exist today.
No wonder they got it wrong.
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08-02-2002, 09:42 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 58
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What is this?
Ok, I'm confused. I was under the impression that the battery of the O2 was not changable. So can anyone tell me why T-Mobile has one priced on their site?
http://www.t-mobile.com/products/acc...phoneid=163904
Your knowledge is power
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08-02-2002, 09:50 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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I am 99.9% sure that is the piggy back battery.
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08-02-2002, 09:55 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 170
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I have studied a bit of marketing, and this is a marketeer's nightmare, for two different (and in an important way) products, which should be focused to different consumers, to be confused by the market, and by that same confusing, both products hurted because of their own nature and misconceptions from confused consumers/reviewers.
So we got smartphone reviewers expecting a powerful pda and phone ed reviewers expecting a better phone. Stupid!! But that is the way people are.
Wait people. MS will get it better on the next gen. They always do. Amazing company!
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08-02-2002, 10:23 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 289
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Battery is an ADD ON ... that snaps to the back. If you have more than one, it is CHANGEABLE.
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08-02-2002, 10:39 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 113
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Such product line madness
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Originally Posted by Venturello
I have studied a bit of marketing, and this is a marketeer's nightmare, for two different (and in an important way) products, which should be focused to different consumers, to be confused by the market, and by that same confusing, both products hurted because of their own nature and misconceptions from confused consumers/reviewers.
So we got smartphone reviewers expecting a powerful pda and phone ed reviewers expecting a better phone. Stupid!! But that is the way people are.
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Ah, a good description of our industry being thoroughly confused. Divide and conquer seems to be working. You'd think Palm came up with the strategy. 
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08-03-2002, 12:45 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Re: Such product line madness
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Originally Posted by MobiliT
You'd think Palm came up with the strategy. |
Hey, hey, HEY! There's no need to get nasty. 
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08-03-2002, 12:57 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 516
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Re: Okay, Now It's MY Turn To Rant...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Brad Adrian
This site is (I thought) a good, reliable source of information about anything that's going on in the area of wireless communications, yet they clearly do not understand that the Pocket PC Phone Edition is NOT the same thing as a Smart Phone.
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Well, you'll note that they didn't capitalize the word "smartphone". The term "smartphone" is a long-standing term which includes all PDA/phone combos, which this device is.
Scott
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