The new Samsung Galaxy S4 Gold

[WelshBloke]

I think they were "oh, if Apple does it we get free R&D and/or free marketing. We'll just keep doing what they do but more discreetly this time. What's not to like?"

I'm not sure theres that much R&D to painting a phone gold. Also isn't it more "Apple keep doing what we are doing" in this case?

 

[Oyeve]

I'm not sure theres that much R&D to painting a phone gold. Also isn't it more "Apple keep doing what we are doing" in this case?

It is but the usual people will always harp one way or the other.

 

[Dari]

I'm not sure theres that much R&D to painting a phone gold. Also isn't it more "Apple keep doing what we are doing" in this case?

Again, re-read. Samsung had Apple's help when it came to SG series and Touchwiz, in addition to their watch...

 

[WelshBloke]

Again, re-read. Samsung had Apple's help when it came to SG series and Touchwiz, in addition to their watch...

This has got what to do with Samsung releasing a gold phone before Apple?

Oh! You're saying that Apple are copying Samsung watch as well? It's probably more fair to give Apple time to release it first before you make too many judgements.

 

[Jodell88]

This has got what to do with Samsung releasing a gold phone before Apple?

Oh! You're saying that Apple are copying Samsung watch as well? It's probably more fair to give Apple time to release it first before you make too many judgements.

I'm not sure why you're going over this with Dari. Samsung can cure world hunger, cure all forms of cancer, give us inter-galactic space travel, and he'll still criticize.

 

[Oyeve]

Again, re-read. Samsung had Apple's help when it came to SG series and Touchwiz, in addition to their watch...

Shut up already. Even apple is starting to think you should stfu already.

 

[Dari]

This has got what to do with Samsung releasing a gold phone before Apple?

Oh! You're saying that Apple are copying Samsung watch as well? It's probably more fair to give Apple time to release it first before you make too many judgements.

It's has everything to do with Samsung riding on Apple's coattails. Maybe you're too stupid to understand.

Shut up already. Even apple is starting to think you should stfu already.

Really? And they told you this? Also, how are you going to make me STFU? With more posts?

 

[Dari]

Apparently no one here seems to understand how Samsung operates. The corrupt head of Samsung once said the company's product can easily become commoditized so it needs to act fast when faced with challenges. That lead to major corporate changes. The company's management is heavily federalized. That allows middle management to launch anything into the wild without seeking approval from above. That can lead to success or failure. Obviously, the system is most likely incentivized so that leads to rampant internet "research" to listen for rumors and rumors of rumors to see what their major competitors are cooking. And stealing their ideas to climb up that corporate ladder.

There is no doubt in my mind that that is what happened with that ridiculous watch they came out with and this stupid gold plastic phone. No doubt the Galaxy Gear 2 will be Apple polished...

 

[Mopetar]

Every company tries to know or figure out what the competition is doing. I would hardly say that Samsung is unique in that regard. They're making the most money (really the only company at that) outside of Apple, so if doing whatever Apple is doing seems to get them there, it's hard to argue against that strategy.

 

[Dari]

Every company tries to know or figure out what the competition is doing. I would hardly say that Samsung is unique in that regard. They're making the most money (really the only company at that) outside of Apple, so if doing whatever Apple is doing seems to get them there, it's hard to argue against that strategy.

Not sure how long that strategy will work for them. They've been successful for 13-14 years now for being commodity kings, not innovators. Their strategy of riding on the coattails of their customers is well known and most are going sideways, leaving Samsung to go on the internet to see what's hot. Now, because of the backlash from outsourcing it's design, it now has to outsource some of the products it used to make in-house because being the only customer can be very expensive. Worse, their strategy of going into new fields hasn't worked out because, again, people know their strategy of stealing IP and using their economies of scale and logistical network to realize the gains from those thefts.

Personally, I think the strategy of letting middle managers be deciders is a smart one, although it can be very expensive and highly incoherent in the long run. Also, being paranoid is good. But, at the end of the day, this company is just China, writ small. It's products are devoid of emotions because they come from elsewhere. Maybe their new "innovation" centers will change that but who knows...

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

This is still going on? Let me break it down for those who still have their head in the sand. This isn't about copying or who got there first. There's likely plenty of gold phones released before, but none were touted this heavily like the iPhone.

As for the arguments about how Samsung had this out in the Middle East before the iPhone launch, the thing is that most people closely following Apple already knew a gold iPhone was coming out. If Samsung had spies carefully planted in Apple, they could've known even earlier even.

My problem with Samsung is that they seem to always be in this "ME TOO!" situation. I don't see why Samsung needs to come out a few days after the iPhone launch to specifically address 64-bit CPUs, and then promote this gold iPhone.

I'm not trying to say Apple is original. There's been copying and borrowing all across the industry. For example Apple hasn't been first with panorama photos or a notification bar. But the difference between Apple and Samsung is Apple won't play this ME TOO game. Sure they brought the notification bar, but it wasn't a knee jerk reaction to Android. If Apple's missing something that we techies want, they won't give a rat's ass. They'll wait til next year to address it and will do it quietly. Instead, Samsung seems to have some sort of inferiority complex. My problem is with the way Samsung handles these things. It's just desperate.

 

[Mopetar]

Not sure how long that strategy will work for them.

Obviously as long as there's someone else to follow. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

They've been successful for 13-14 years now for being commodity kings, not innovators.

And that strategy will suddenly stop working for what reason? The only reasonable way in which they fail is if some other company becomes better at commoditization that Samsung. Given that Samsung can make every part of the device themselves and I'm not aware of any other company that can do that, Samsung is in no real danger of losing their position. At worst their profitability will erode, but they'll still outlast everyone else.

Their strategy of riding on the coattails of their customers is well known and most are going sideways, leaving Samsung to go on the internet to see what's hot.

No one really cares. Even Apple who have been trying to distance themselves from Samsung are still using them as a supplier for several components.

Now, because of the backlash from outsourcing it's design, it now has to outsource some of the products it used to make in-house because being the only customer can be very expensive.

I'm not even sure what you're trying to say here.

Worse, their strategy of going into new fields hasn't worked out because, again, people know their strategy of stealing IP and using their economies of scale and logistical network to realize the gains from those thefts.

That has nothing to do with it. You already said earlier that they're not an innovator, at least not as far as consumer hardware is concerned, but they do have some top of the line components.

Samsung can move into almost any existing field that it wants to because it doesn't have to innovate. It just needs to see what is successful and do a better job of it than the competition.

Creating a new field is difficult and it's something not even Apple or other companies that are known for their innovation in the consumer product space can easily do. But Samsung doesn't need to worry about that, as they can just wait for someone else to figure it out and then do what they do best, which is making a similar product for a lot less and being able to produce more of them.

Personally, I think the strategy of letting middle managers be deciders is a smart one, although it can be very expensive and highly incoherent in the long run. Also, being paranoid is good. But, at the end of the day, this company is just China, writ small. It's products are devoid of emotions because they come from elsewhere. Maybe their new "innovation" centers will change that but who knows...

Again most people don't care. There are very few people who have compelling reasons for buying Apple vs. Android or any other brand for that matter. There are some die hard members of both camps, but most consumers don't care.

 

[Oyeve]

It's has everything to do with Samsung riding on Apple's coattails. Maybe you're too stupid to understand.



Really? And they told you this? Also, how are you going to make me STFU? With more posts?

Why are you such a dick? This is the second time this year that you have raised your testosterone with me. Are the drugs not working anymore?

 

[dawheat]

As a Note 2 and soon to be Note 3 user - creating the phablet market, re-introducing the stylus into the touchscreen model and constantly adding new pen functionality - certainly seems to have created a product more innovative than most in the industry.

And for those saying the sky is falling for Samsung, they've been proving their naysayers wrong for a while now. Not to say they won't stumble, but they've certainly carved out a brand name in the smartphone market - not as strong as Apple, but certainly massively stronger than any other brand (LG, Sony, HTC, etc).

 

[Dari]

Obviously as long as there's someone else to follow. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

As margins get tighter they will have to change. As I've said earlier, their own corrupt and convicted chairman sees this.

And that strategy will suddenly stop working for what reason? The only reasonable way in which they fail is if some other company becomes better at commoditization that Samsung. Given that Samsung can make every part of the device themselves and I'm not aware of any other company that can do that, Samsung is in no real danger of losing their position. At worst their profitability will erode, but they'll still outlast everyone else.

Samsung does not make every part. They also outsource, something they did not do. With other Chinese OEMs coming on board, the pressure to go upmarket becomes greater.

No one really cares. Even Apple who have been trying to distance themselves from Samsung are still using them as a supplier for several components.

Apple uses them when they have no other choice. Otherwise, they've moved away from Samsung. The only thing that Apple uses from Samsung that I can think of are SSDs and the fab to make their chips. Before, Samsung was their major supplier. No more.

I'm not even sure what you're trying to say here.

Samsung relies on other suppliers for LCD screens that are either very small or very large. I guess it's gotten too expensive to make those in-house because no one else wants to buy from them.

That has nothing to do with it. You already said earlier that they're not an innovator, at least not as far as consumer hardware is concerned, but they do have some top of the line components.

Samsung can move into almost any existing field that it wants to because it doesn't have to innovate. It just needs to see what is successful and do a better job of it than the competition.

False. They've tried going into car batteries and failed. Same thing with medical devices. BMW dumped them. Others are going sideways. If you look at their earnings report you will see that Samsung Electronics is the major, if not the only, earner in the Samsung Group.

Creating a new field is difficult and it's something not even Apple or other companies that are known for their innovation in the consumer product space can easily do. But Samsung doesn't need to worry about that, as they can just wait for someone else to figure it out and then do what they do best, which is making a similar product for a lot less and being able to produce more of them

.

That's not how they operate.

Again most people don't care. There are very few people who have compelling reasons for buying Apple vs. Android or any other brand for that matter. There are some die hard members of both camps, but most consumers don't care.

And this is why being a "me-too" company can hurt them badly and why the corrupt and convicted chairman felt the need to implore his minions to become more innovative. If most people don't care then they can just as easily move on to the next firm that makes something similar.

Why are you such a dick? This is the second time this year that you have raised your testosterone with me. Are the drugs not working anymore?

You call that raising your testosterone? You must be old.

 

[pm]

I'm locking - for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are the last two posts.

Moderator PM