Originally Posted by
pseudoswede
Very true. I wonder what kind of truly innovative technologies coming soon will make people go "wow"? (And won't be leaked months in advance.)
Google - did Google Glass. Sure, not mainstream stuff, but smart to show what the future will bring. Also brought a $35 dongle to the masses to do online video. Apple has been treating their living room box as a hobby for the past 6 years.
Samsung - Galaxy Gear. Again, first gen stuff, but it used to be Apple who did first gen, and others followed. Apple had no problems launching something that clearly wasn't as good as it could be (original iPhone).
Motorola - smart features like an always on processor that listens for commands, NFC unlocking.
HTC - front facing speakers, ultra pixel camera
LG - active image stabilization in their camera chips
Nokia - pioneers in wireless charging, excellent sensor tech
Asus - sub $200 tablets with excellent specs.
Some are more successful than others, but all these companies are showing how innovation works.
"Thin" is not innovation. It shows some eye for detail, but hardly shows millions of R&D making its way into a new device. The new iPads don't even have the touch sensor of the iPhone, so as usual, they took one thing they really mastered, and held it back for the NEXT newest magicaler device.
Other things are just plain old - MIMO wireless was in the Kindle a year ago, and the "retina display" is also another generation old - I have a phone with almost the same resolution as their tablets. Others moved on to even higher resolutions.