| Guest writer David Thompson looks at how smartphone makers are working on the next level of innovation with their devices. Technology has a habit of reaching regular plateaus, and it's always exciting to see what brilliant minds do to take us back onto the slopes of tech evolution. |
The S4 is exciting the market not because of the way it's being sold, but because of the features that don't require jazzing up by PR. Smart Pausetech is one such example, as having a phone that will respond to whether or not you're looking at its screen is a little science fiction but in an exciting, innovative way that seems to be laying down the gauntlet to other manufacturers.
Initially, the competition would look solely to Apple for inspiration and a leading rival, but Apple's bold steps towards redefining what we ask of our smartphones, from Siri to the App Store, have motivated the rest of the market to start forging new paths of their very own.
The S4 is just one such example of this market-driven outside-the-box thinking. Voice and face recognition and better social media integration can be interpreted not just as features, but as a sign of the times. Smartphones like the Galaxy S4 from O2 are becoming devices that are allowing us to multitask with the minimum of physical interaction, taking advantage of the various sources of input on the device, from its microphone to its cameras, to allow people to interface with the internet in a manner not dissimilar to the way in which we dreamt of doing while watching Star Trek as kids.
One of the best parts of seeing some tech (such as screen resolution) approach Retina stage, and thus become pointless to improve because we can't perceive those improvements, is that companies are having to innovate in new areas. The smartphone frontier begun its shift from raising numbers as high as they will go to creating new features that will be refined and improved upon in the years to come. Technology has a habit of reaching regular plateaus, and it's always exciting to see what brilliant minds do to take us back onto the slopes of tech evolution.
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Where companies like Samsung will venture next isn't clear, although a focus on size is most definitely on the cards with the Galaxy Mega appearing on the tech horizon as people become more and more excited about phablets - smartphones with screen sizes not far off a small tablet computer. It does beg the question of whether or not we're after a phone in an age where people rarely use them to speak verbally and screen size is a common concern when looking for a new handset, so Samsung seems to be catering to an audience who isn't quite sure if they want to make that leap yet.
For now however, the S4 looks set to raise the bar once again and push the boundaries of smartphone tech, with Apple, HTC and other manufacturers likely to follow with their own concepts and ideas shortly after. If there's one thing that can be said for the fast-paced world of smartphone design, it's that it's definitely a buyer's market - the choice and excitement is endless.
| By David Thompson | Subscribe to 33rd Square |
David Thompson is a writer interested in the latest tech, future tech, mobile working and online media. His love of playing video games takes up most of his spare time and he also maintains a passion for fashion and design.
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