Poll: New hardware every 12 months, or spread throughout the year

February 16, 2011 | By Surur

concept It is now becoming very clear that we will not see any new Windows phone 7 smartphones until the fall at the earliest, with Samsung for example saying they felt their current handsets were only mid-way through its hardware cycle.

The current synchronization of the OEMs are in part an artefact of the launch handsets all being released at the same time, and it is clear no OEM want to obsolete their current handsets until around 12 months have passed.

Of course having bought a handset, a current Windows Phone 7 owner may be happy that their handset will not be superseded very soon.

How do our readers feel about this? Let us know in the poll below.

[poll id=”30”]

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged poll, windows phone 7

http://twitter.com/clindhartsen @clindhartsen

The only other example of 'once a year' that exists in the market is the Palm Pre, and we all know how slow a seller that was, and in many respects, how far behind in hardware it became with time.

Apple has the advantage of being, well, Apple. Android has the advantage of new handsets constantly and a wide array of choices. The thing Microsoft needs is a regular influx of new phones, if only to get dealers to fill up the shelves and make them a more prominate display in their stores.

grumpy_666uk

Palm just has the two phone(s)…Microsoft have many….so I don't think it applies in this case….Android is an overkill…..there is nothing worse than buying a phone…just to find out it's out of date the next day there is nothig you can do about it…since ure under contract.

Physboy

When handsets are released throughout the year, you just keep getting fragmented upgrades w/ one thing here on this one, then a little something on that one, etc… Good for business, bad for consumers.

If the handsets are released once a year then there will be a slew of new features each time rather than piecemeal miniscule continuous changes.

In addition, with a longer h/w cycle you have more probability of having issues remedied by mfrs, as opposed to the mfrs, just ignoring the previous model since the new one is out. Again, good for business, bad for consumers.

http://twitter.com/clindhartsen @clindhartsen

Would fragmented upgrades happen, if you're talking OS, if Microsoft controls the experience and doesn't really allow for third party modifications, ala Sense/TouchWiz/whathaveyou with the Android handsets?

Physboy

No, I was not talking about OS fragmentation, but rather h/w fragmentation.

E.g. Device A comes out w/ magnetometer but no FF camera, Device B comes out in 6 months w/ FF camera, then after a year Device C comes out w/ both feature sets on them.

As a consumer playing the upgrade game that h/w mfrs want you to play, you wind up getting 2 extra devices when in a year, you can just get the one device w/ all the h/w upgrades in it.

Drewidian

I think you could have one version of that version of hardware released throughout the year. Generating and keeping buzz about your product is just as important as avoiding fragmentation. I believe we see different functionality now on different handsets, but still have the same core OS on all hardware. To combat the Android buzz you still need to release hardware throughout the year.

winningguy

I like the idea of manufacturers releasing just one handset per year of a particular form factor (per carrier).

So, if HTC coming out with a handset with a keyboard and one without a keyboard is fine. I just don't want to see a bunch of new handsets that are almost the same as the old handsets, just with some updated specs. It becomes cluttered.

All manufacturers don't necessarily have to release them all at the same time, though I expect they would all be close to the holiday season.

Ram

One year is big cycle in this fast moving trend. Just 1 for every 2 quarters per manufacturer would be great.

Drewidian

If you constantly have different hardware coming out all throughout the year, you have consistent and constant buzz about your product. Having all devices come out at the same time means you might have a big splash, but it also means that you can be forgotten. Once the iphone 4 was revealed the only thing that kept them in the news was antenna-gate and potential white iphone 4, while Android has had buzz all year long. Android's strategy is a better one. I think MS should learn the lessons of its competitors.

http://www.martinschmidler.com martinschmidler

If OEMs would actually put more work into real quality hardware the devices would keep a long-lasting value. If you like it or not, that´s one reason Apple is so popular.

Actually I think this is going to change a bit now Nokia´s on board, we all know they can build great hardware.

Alan Strangis

The problem is, Apple controls their own hardware. Manufacturers would HATE to be told when they could release hardware, because that affects their inventory, cash flow, parts ordering etc… who cares if Apple comes out once a year. If 4 WP7 OEMs are making 3 phones each, who would want to have all 12 hit on the same day (other than WP7 launch of course)?

That's bad business.

jplayer01j

I would like the platform to advance at an even pace. A slew of handsets once a year is fine because then manufacturers can 1) better assess the direction the platform is taking (apps-wise), 2) incorporate (if applicable) changes made by updates up 'til then into hardware ("sockets -> Skype -> front-facing camera" is the most obvious example) and 3) better assess the hardware on competing platforms. Longer R&D and design cycles will probably/hopefully give us better, higher quality, well-thought out hardware and less glaring issues. Oh, and bigger technological jumps are always a plus. We don't need dual-core phones in 6 months, *maybe* we'll need them in a year. We don't need rapid hardware development right now; we need rapid software development, more developer support and more consumer interest (whether by better/more advertising, word-of-mouth, better support from Microsoft, etc.).

Imo, Nokia jumping onto the WP7 ship is a great boost to WP7's image and maybe in a year, it'll be a viable competitor to Android and iOS. The rapid pace of updates by Microsoft (seems like the current rate is around every 6 months) and the services/recognition Nokia is bringing will be huge boons to the WP7 platform: It will continue to gain credibility.
bugbog

I think the problem with once a year, is currently (with the exception of the Dell) there are no overtly desireable devices, so we yearn for more options. The problem with the majority of the of current releases are that they are 'nothing new!' in that they are recycled designs/parts that were floating around for the better part of a year before the WP7 release, so there is not "WOW" factor.

If there were a minimum of FIVE highly desireable devices (form factor, components, features, etc) released, with a known refresh cycle of a 6 – 12 months then i doubt we would have cause to crave the current 'Android' pattern!

Just Visiting

+1. Agree bugbog. Specs aside – the key phrase: Highly desirable; and I will add: aesthetically distinctive and attractive.

seon

I like the once a year idea but Manufactorers seldom follow the same product cycle for instance HTC might release a yearly product around Mobile World Congress, Samsung in the Summer and Nokia around the holiday season. Its still once a year for each OEM but its varied and continuous products for Windows Phones.
chinch

it's nice to see… but surprising… that "once a year" is leading the poll. I mean this is a tekkie site where some get bored of a phone in a matter of days.

less phone churn = better quality phones, longer retail presence (spread marketing $) and expectations of software updates. all good stuff.

plus less broken apps if specs change or are added yearly (ie. mix2011)
http://www.martinschmidler.com martinschmidler

I think a 12-month hardware refresh-cycle is best, because it allows to really optimize and integrate hardware and software _together_ which is exactly what Apple does. It just makes sense.

And as Robert Scoble recently wrote, consumers mostly choose a platform because of apps and services, not so much because of the hardware. And MS´s definitely good at that.

http://www.martinschmidler.com martinschmidler

Could the people who downrank me please account for their opinion? Don´t be childish because I´m a convinced multi-OS user..

Alan Strangis

I downranked you, and my longer reasoning is below, but…

Here's another way to look at it. If you were a WP7 OEM, and you were told that you had to release your phones on a yearly cycle, how many WP7 devices would you WANT to invest time in making, and making well, knowing EVERYONE is going to market at the same time? Don't compare WP7 to iOS, where the hardware is homogeneous.
anonymous

well i dont agree with you. There's lots of people that buy Hardware specs… If you need a new phone, and you are in the middle 6 month, you can buy Android. For instance now, you can buy Android dual-core much better GPU… Will you buy and Android or go buy an 6 months old specs wp7… Really, for lots of people hardware is really important…

Neal

12 months? Are you guys crazy?
12 months is way too long even for a market leader like apple. (That's why android beats iphone). To beat android, wp7 need more hardware than Android. It is good we have Nokia right now.
Rusty_Shackelford

I would rather have every 6 months than 12 months. Let's say that by chance we get a bad crop of phones one year, then that would mean waiting til next year to get a better phone. Technology also advances quite quickly now so competitors making Android phones would have the jump in terms of hardware if you wait 12 months.
danny

I can't believe anyone would choose once a year. Why? Because then you won't have to feel like someone next door has a slightly better phone because they bought it 3 months later? If wp7 is a once-a-year blowout I'll leave the platform because it does not bode well. Once a year will not work for wp7. It just does not generate the event status that the iphone does for one and secondly, to put every vendor right up against each other in a feast or famine competition is incredibly short sighted. They need a revenue stream throughout the year not just a one quarter blowout. What more could drive them deeper into android than to know they can have a showpiece at least once a quarter vs a once-a-year feast or famine with wp7? They would have no choice but to support android and as we are seeing now with waffling partners, they don't need another.

Part of the reason that android has been so successful is that, just by sheer avalanche of models, tech blogs are always talking about it and that filters into the mainstream as "android phones are cutting edge" even if most people don't end up getting the latest and greatest. As it is, if your contract is up in between wp7 cycles…you might just get a hardware-fresher android phone rather than get a wp7 halfway through its lifecycle or sticking with your old model until the refresh. No good.

You see it now, there are so many stories about android out of mwc because there are so many android phones on display there. Practically each phone gets a preview which is great for the platform. In comparison, there is simply nothing concrete to show about wp7 coming out of mwc so outside of talking about what will happen with the software there is not much buzz about it. Without the nokia announcement it would hardly garner any coverage at all. Lastly, multiple releases means that the manufacturers always have it on their minds and are invested in it. If the makers are constantly pushing the envelope with android hardware but not wp7 it means we'll consistently end up with warmed over android models as we did in the first round. It only makes sense. Why spend all those r&d dollars on a once-a-year roll of dice? In that case you'll just go with something safe because you only have one chance. If makers are pushing the latest stuff as android it means they are willing to invest in it and take risks, pushing the edge – we need to see that with wp7. There is more reason to do that when you know your competitor is moving fast. With once-a-year they will all move at the same speed. Samsung calling the focus halfway done is telling. Amazing really, what they are saying is, we don't need to worry about it right now which means they'll be worrying about android.

Truthfully, the fact that no one is showing any new wp7 at mwc is a concern. It means that the guys in the both are spending all their time talking android and that there is an android in action in front of someone's camera at all times. You can whine all you want about blooger bias, but the fact is that wp7 is comparatively invisible because there is nothing new to show. That's it. People would rather see new hardware in action rather than a dull video of wp7 displaying features otehr phones already have. If there was some kick ass hardware to back up the vision we'd be seeing a lot more of it. No way MS is happy about that but what can they do? Their story right now is all about what could be…not what is.
Alan Strangis

Sorry to sound snippy here, but I think once a year is a horrible option, and anyone who picked that isn't thinking clearly.

Anyone in business will tell you the same thing, because MS is NOT Apple, and doesn't prodcuce their own hardware. If Microsoft dictated a yearly hardware release to OEMs, a lot of them would back off (and many seem half hearted anyways). Like Danny said… stale hardware (even perceptually) and a regular news cycle of prodcucts coming out is important.

MS should worry about a new revision of the OS every year, but manufacturers should be able to put out devices whenever they think it's best. MS should let manufacturers know that any hardware they release before a major update will be compatible with the next yearly update, but no guarantees for the year after that.

This way MS can control the minimum specs as they would need to, and manufacturers will have a reliable software upgrade schedule to balance with a dependable hardware upgrade cycle.

This would benefit everybody, and leave MS to worry about the software aspects while OEMs find ways to differentiate themselves from competitors, both in WP7 and other OSes.
http://twitter.com/EJ1024 @EJ1024

this i a hard poll to vote on……
i think the current windows phones are ok.. considering the os is only 4 months old.. plus we dont even have any updates.. i say release all the updates.. make the os ready for primetime… then may be windows phone througout the year…..4 devices for each and every carrier in the usa…omg imagine what verizon store will look like with all the phones they have…windows phone, rim,androids then you have the one and only iphone in the corner just like att…..i love my hd7.. i dont see myself replacing this anytime soon,,just got this in dec men… come on now…. hd8????
jabtano

I think it should be much like android. the reason apple can get away with it is because apple is just one device. where as android is many so is wp7 this OS needs to be kept fresh both in how MS delivers updates and how OEMs bring fourth new devices. let us face the facts the cards are stacked. with WP7 being in last place MS needs to pull out all the stops. and they need to do it with the OEMS that is why I like this Nokia deal. because MS is notoriously slow with updates and bug fixes. as with the MP it should have been fixed right off without waiting. so yes bring them out fast keep it fresh and keep it alive. if we wait 12 months with the way android is moving WP7 will not have a chance and webos is now pumping up to integrate everything phone -pc the works MS needs to move fast this is where I start to loos a little faith in MS now in what they made because WP7 is very nice but in the way they deliver updates. being behind should have motivated them to be swift I'm not seeing that. if it the OEMs at fault then all the more reason Nokia is looking good.
Joe

It has to be throughout the year. new innovations in hardware do not wait for the release cycle. Other than the month of release it will mean WP7 handsets will have (in some way) out of date hardware.
http://twitter.com/michaelmaikeru @michaelmaikeru

I agree with those who have chosen several times a year and would add that once a year is not too bad either. I strongly believe, there should be no hardware release cycle restriction imposed on manufacturers, so that they can choose to do either depending on what works for them.

The issue is less about how frequent the hardware is refreshed and more about the quality and attractiveness of the hardware, frequency and quality of the updates, that the software makes full use of the hardware, and how well both the new and existing features are marketed in an appealing way to drive sales.

I guess the concern with yearly release cycles is that the hardware will feel dated but, if you pause and think about it for a second, you'll realise that the WP7 hardware was outdated at launch and yet the devices are still more responsive and smoother than most, if not all, rivalling mobile OS's. By having longer hardware release cycles, MS would be able to consistently deliver mature drivers that allow the 'dated' or 'matured' hardware platforms to outperform or at least match the latest hardware in 'real world' use.

I agree that a lot of us are very technical when it comes to hardware, but we all know that specs only tell half of the story. Even if the hardware refresh cycle was 12 months, so long as MS and manufacturers can use software features to keep these devices selling throughout the year, Windows Phones will continue to do well.

I'll end with an apples to oranges comparison that is still somewhat relevant in this context. What causes console sales to surge at points during their long lifecycles despite the hardware staying unchanged for extended periods (with the exception of redesigns of what is essentially the same product)?
http://twitter.com/michaelmaikeru @michaelmaikeru

Apologies for the double post…
CoopaSnoops

Guys, like the poster said above…Each manufacturer has their own release cycles. If you had 4 manufacturers releasing phones once a year but happened to be staggered, you may be getting new phones every 3 months. I like this approach because while it seems that new phones are always streaming out, the refresh cycle per manufacturer is still 1 year. Perhaps this isn't what the poll above indicated. Also, I akin contstant phone releases to car releases, like a new porsche coming out every month, mine would be obsolete immediately. Although with a staggered release schedule like I mentioned above, this would still occur. How about 1 year hardware refresh cycles with constant software updates. Perhaps best of both worlds
Murani Lewis

If you enjoy your phone and have very little issues with speed and responsiveness a year can easily go past and retain the enjoyment. I think most people are of the mindset they would keep a phone for at least a year before upgrading.

It makes sense too as a year passes by and that lowers your cost to get another one even if you break your contract.
Juavez707

how about just bringing hardware to carriers that dont have any that would make me happy….
Ken

Every 12 months is fine once established and in everyone's mindset like the iPhones, but for WP7, they need more of everything to create Buzz….. more Buzzz = more $$$$.

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