RIM falling into same 'ol trap? Get Fresh!

C'mon RIM! Why waste more development resources and customers' limited attention spans on 'new' smartphones that are not much different from recently launched versions?

A recent blog entry on phonearena.com about a new Blackberry 9700 coming to TMobile prompted this note.

What I find intolerable is when device manufacturers start pumping out similar-looking models with very few tweaks and changes in form factor and/or feature set. This 9700 seems to basically replace the trackball with the trackpad, and offer WiFi. This is hardly different from the 8900 Bold, and Tour form factors (though the Tour does have global network support).

Each new smartphone should be developed to address either a new segment, or appeal to upgraders with updated form factors, feature sets, and marketing splash. Otherwise, what made RIM & Apple's smartphones unique will give way to similarities with customers' current perception of me-too handset manufacturers like Samsung & LG. Analogy to reference and learn from within the Automotive industry - we just don't want yet another Camry or Ford Taurus where nothing much is different except the model year.

As always, regardless of which popular smartphone you select, save time & money by getting hand-picked accessories at pdacart.com.

Please let me know if other customers agree with my POV on smartphones and what we expect from manufacturers.

Palm Pre will no longer sync with iTunes...

Apple went and did it. Updated their iTunes (version 8.2.1) so that a Palm Pre can no longer sync with iTunes. We are ambivalent about this move. Apple had to do it to protect their ecosystem, but we liked it that Palm had created a little pathway into Apple's ecosystem empire. On the other hand, we liked Palm allowing customers to sync with iTunes, but couldn't they come up with something similar rather than the cumbersome media sync or hard drive method to move files between a computer and the Pre.

We like the Apple – Palm cage fight though. If Palm can make it through these rough times, their arsenal of ex-Apple folks should give a good fight to the reigning smartphone king. Good times!!!