I was asked this question the other day:
What’s the definition of a smartphone?
I didn’t immediately have an answer. I had the answer in my mind… I could feel the neutrons firing but not giving a distinct summary sentence.
Then I formulated this:
A smartphone is a handset that enables you to manage your work and social life via means other than just the medium of voice.
What do you think? The thinking behind my definition is that, irrespective of what platform or specific functions, the main element that differentiates a ‘smartphone’ from a ‘shit phone’* is the fact that you can DO stuff. Manage a diary that’s synced from your Google Apps. Use instant messaging to talk to your team in Singapore whilst on an extended conference call at the office. Browse a spreadsheet or powerpoint on your device whilst you’re waiting for the ‘check’ at the restaurant.
What do you think?
* By the way: Will people PLEASE stop ‘shit phones’ that only call or text as ‘feature phones’. They have next to NO features.
What’s the definition of a smartphone?: http://ping.fm/mzCCf
What’s the definition of a smartphone? http://tinyurl.com/mynf84
What’s the definition of a smartphone?: http://ping.fm/mzCCf
My simple definition is a phone with a qwerty keyboard is a smartphone and without is not. Craapy definition, I know, but it works for me.
Here is what Wikipedia says:
A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.[1][2] For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.[3] For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail, Internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external USB keyboard and VGA connector. In other words, it is a miniature computer that has phone capability.
What’s the definition of a smartphone? http://tinyurl.com/mynf84
What’s the definition of a smartphone? Stewie reckons it’s the ability to multitask? http://bit.ly/20aj2l
A smartphone can multitask.. 😉
Stewie, I really like your definition… so the iPhone is simply a feature phone? 😉
Does an on-screen qwerty keyboard count?
What’s the definition of a smartphone? Stewie reckons it’s the ability to multitask? http://bit.ly/20aj2l
The smartphone definition seems increasingly pointless (and has for the last two years). I guess its about distinguishing open OS from RTOS. However what matters is the UX, and therefore its about what OS enables. Typically smartphones enable a richer UX for consumers (but perhaps not as true as it once was), but also offer costs saving to manufacturers and operators in terms of integration costs, testing and deployment (etc etc.).
I've been tending to refer to things an having an open mobile platform, though smartphone, as a word, is still more widely understood, if poorly defined.
It's all very well having an open mobile platform, I'm all for that with bells on. UX is the be all and end all of smartphones.
I am 24 hours in to using a Nokia E71, supposedly a “smartphone”. This is simply the dumbest & least usable device I have had the misfortune to handle since the outstandingly dumb N70.
For me a smartphone is a phone that is capable of background data processes, rendering anything available on the internet, facilitates easy text input, and can make and receive calls in one hand.
If I actually have to refer to the manual to do any of this with the device, the term smart is no longer applicable.
I should correct myself – Typically open OS enable a richer UX…
Yes that's the point I was trying to make – the definition of smartphone is pointless because technically its hard to pin down. What matters is the next layer up software and services, which is where much of future development and innovations will be.
As for the E71 – I had the opposite experience to you 🙂 But that just goes to show how variable the term smart is!
Absolutely, my E71 experience once again proves I'm a usability *dumbass*.
Open OS is also the enabler for a rich and innovative app development ecosystem. It's good that many of the device manufacturers are finally waking up to this.
Not at all. Given your background, I'd be the usability dumbass if anyone 🙂 Designing one thing that (past a certain level of complexity) everyone get is hard (if not impossible). One person's smart UI is another person's nightmare.
For me a smartphone has a rather simpler definition
“Has the ability to be extended by software by the user or a third party to fit a users need”
Hence the differentiation from “feature phones” which can only have software installed at the manufacturers discretion
Platforms such as Android which are open for innovation allow new user experiences rather than user interfaces to take place, intercepting and manipulating outgoing/incoming telephony features might be something the user wants for example
I always thought a smartphone was one that ran an OS whereby third-party software developers can write apps native to that phone's OS (written specifically for it) rather than just generic java apps or no apps by third parties at all. To the end user this is less of a dinstiction based on capabilities alone e.g. the INQ1
Yay! Platform wars all over again! Yet it's funny how all of you seem to specifically avoid mentioning names.
I'll blow all of your minds and say that I think that a smartphone is a smart phone. Bear with me.
A pretty phone can be one that has a pretty exterior or a pretty UI. Or both. This can also be a smart phone, but not necessarily.
An easy phone is one that has great UX (hence easy for everyone to approach and use). The Holy Grail is to have a phone that is smart, pretty and easy at the same time. This has not yet been accomplished.
So what makes a phone smart? What makes a person smart? It's the same impossible to define, yet everyone has their own personal definition sort of thing.
On the technical side, I'd still argue that a smart phone should take native apps and allow them full control (capabilities) of the hardware. And the UI, if needed. It should also be able to multitask till the RAM is drained.
But really, let me get back to smart, pretty and easy. Let's do the girlfriend analogy. There's smart, there's pretty, and there's easy. Ideally, there should be one person encompassing all these. But usually only in movies. So you stick with whoever seems like requiring the least number of compromises in your book.
Me, I would never give up on smart. In phones, at least 😉
Ahem… http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=14839 (dated Jan 29, 2009)
“Smartphones are mobile devices which utilize cellular and wireless software to enhance the user experience of mobile-enabled services by connecting to those services by direct ties into the operating system and hardware of the mobile device.”
😉
Ahem… http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=14839 (dated Jan 29, 2009)
“Smartphones are mobile devices which utilize cellular and wireless software to enhance the user experience of mobile-enabled services by connecting to those services by direct ties into the operating system and hardware of the mobile device.”
😉