That was quick. Mattias over at the new Sony product blog was kind enough to post a tutorial video of Sony’s Timescape and Mediascape Android applications. We appreciate the demo, but none of our friends Facebook photos look nearly that good. Maybe we need to find some better looking friends.
Any thoughts on the Sony apps?
We are huge fans of the recently announced XPERIA™ X10 – we’ve waited weeks for the official launch. But one thing that took us aback was the way this Sony video introduces the X10. We were shocked at way the phone is being positioned. The video screams,”This phone is for the BEAUTIFUL people – the young, hip, and fashionable.”
Now, there is nothing wrong with being young, hip or fashionable. Clearly the dozens of Android phones hitting the market over the next 24 months need to be differentiated some how – think HTC Sense, or MOTOs Blur, etc. And this is not out of character for Sony, the VAIO line has always been aimed at the higher end of the PC and laptop market.
However, as a HUGE Sony product fan, I hope that Sony (who needs any revenue that it can find) opens the X10’s customer base beyond the Euro Chic crowd. This is their chance to claim market and mind share of the I-will-never-buy-an-iPhone smartphone market.
Sony, please be bright enough (aggressive enough) to market your Andriod products to the masses – the industry needs your help, we need your intellectual property. Please don’t pull a Nokia. You did this in the gaming console industry with the Playstation. The Playstation 3 is amazing, the standard for the industry. Let us help you do it again in the Android smartphone space.
What do you think of the way that Sony is positioning the X10?
BTW: Sony, we would love to know more about Timespace and Mediaspace; and if you want to send us an X10 to review feel free…
The answer is: Simplicity Sells! People love tools, gadgets, remotes, computers, etc. that are SIMPLE and MULTIPURPOSE. This has always been one of the strongest selling features of the iPod and the iPhone; One device, with a simply interface, that plays your music collection, your movies, makes calls, with hundreds of games (you get the point).
Well Verizon, Google and MOTO (VGM) have been working on a similar strategy and their first love child is the Droid (Sholes). Why do people love this device (it more than just a phone of course) so much, even before it has launched?
1) They (VGM) took their time and clearly designed a device that would be more than just a phone, check the video below (provide by BoyGenius)
The point here is not that the device also acts as a night stand alarm clock; but that VGM took the time to think about the true, desired user experience. You have to charge your phone, why not put the thing to good use while it is charging? With Android as the operating system, clearly the device could act as an alarm clock, or a photo frame, or a weather channel, maybe a stock tracker, maybe even a podcast or Pandora player (now I know you get the point).
2) The fact that the charging stand changes the traditional use of a “cell phone”, allows software developers to dream wildly. This is always a WINNER for everyone involved. It means that we will see new “horizontal” apps for the device, which makes Droid owners happy, thus VGM will sell a bunch more phones – nothing beats a bunch of crazed device loving customers running around evangelizing your product.
The same opportunity will happen when Apple introduces its iPad or iTablet (you pick), but it is damn nice to that type of innovation and opportunity on the Android side as well. Maybe we will see similar thinking from the Nook?
3) The “night stand / alarm clock” mode keeps the device top of mind and always within reach of its owner. Does this mean that the Sholes will occupy the same level of importance as your wallet and your keys? Maybe. Most can’t live without the internet or our cell phone, but making the Sholes a 24/7, always ready to go at a moments notice type product was a brilliant move by VGM.
If they (VGM) have put half this much thought into the packing, installed apps, and support for the Sholes then we are in for lots of 30 and 40 somethings running around the house like little school girls on Christmas day, giddy with joy over their new Droid!
Nice work guys (and gals).
One of the wonderful things about Android is that phone manufactures can “skin” their own flavors. Sony, always one to be foreword thinking, has plans to introduce a skin that may just be as user friendly as the iPhone.
Sony’s first Android-powered phone is codenamed the “Rachael” and should arrive early 2010. The walk through below is provide by the Boy Genius Report.
