Product killers.

[ArenaBoy]

This is an annoying phrase I hear from those in marketing, advertising, or journalism. Company makes product, they start releasing teasers, opinion columnists start getting abuzz writing asking if it's THE product killer or just says it is THE product killer. It's finally released, the reviews are out, a while later the product fails, and becomes irrelevant.

To me it just shows a lack of foresight and how persuadable people are.

[Boozy]

I'm pretty sure "[product] killer" is a phrase that comes directly from the competitors's marketing departments. Even if it doesn't turn out to be true, they've created some pre-release buzz.

I live in the city that hosts RIM headquarters, so people here are always talking about the latest Blackberry. Every model is hyped as an "iPhone killer" -- and it never happens.

And so what? The Blackberry and iPhone don't share the same market. They're both smart phones, but they appeal to completely different people with entirely different needs.

My husband uses his phone primarily for business, so he uses a Blackberry. I use mine for games, music, and sheer amusement, so I like my iPhone. One can certainly use a Blackberry for games and an iPhone for business applications, but most people don't. RIM and Apple may be splitting the smart phone market, but they're both thriving. I'd prefer it if they just stuck to what they did best.

[DesignFox]

<snip> I'd prefer it if they just stuck to what they did best.

More products would survive longer if they did just that. Simple marketing principle. You can't make everyone happy. So stick to your target market and be the best at what you do.

Well, at least that's what I was taught at one of the many retail stores I've worked in.

I get annoyed with the cell phone companies for this reason. It makes my job so hard when a phone does a bajillion million thousandty things and I have to try and get a customer to decide on one (or convince them which company makes the best phone for their purposes- once they've got it in their head that the magazine or TV said something else...ugh...then we go through disappointments, returns, or fits thrown if the return period has passed) *headdesk*

[kiwi]

Video killed the radio star man

just sayin

[elsporko]

If companies just stuck to what they did best then life would suck. Expanding a products uses makes the product better. I'm glad I can watch dvds in video game systems or listen to music in cars. No reason to limit what something can do for no reason.

[ArenaBoy]

If companies just stuck to what they did best then life would suck. Expanding a products uses makes the product better. I'm glad I can watch dvds in video game systems or listen to music in cars. No reason to limit what something can do for no reason.

You're missing the point. To expand on the smartphone example, I see new phones that are always deemed iphone killers yet they fail. They either don't match it or they're just a poor imitation. The companies releasing those phones aren't doing anything innovative. They're trying too hard to match a standard, not set new standards.

[smileyeagle1021]

If companies just stuck to what they did best then life would suck. Expanding a products uses makes the product better. I'm glad I can watch dvds in video game systems or listen to music in cars. No reason to limit what something can do for no reason.

In both of those examples the companies ARE doing what they do best. When Playstation made it possible to watch DVDs in the PS2 they were providing an additional ENTERTAINMENT feature on an ENTERTAINMENT device. When Nissan (I like Nissan, so I use them as an example) started putting 6 CD changers into cars they were adding a piece of equipment to make travel more comfortable from a company that has the goal to make travel more comfortable.
Going back to the smart phones... trying to make a phone that is primarily designed for business to compete with the iPhone (which is primarily used for entertainment) would be like Nissan trying to make a home entertainment system or Sony making a car.

[Vagabond]

I just want a mobile phone that makes telephone calls. Not anymore... all mobiles come with a thousand other widgets and gadgets on them, half of which I'll never use.
Also, I dislike the same companies that market the same product as 'New Improved, Green, whatever'!!! You look and read the label and the only thing that's changed is they're charging you more money for it.

If I want a product killer... gimme a device that's a directional EMP device. Someone yapping on a cell phone in the movie theatre? Zzzap! Someone gabbing about their latest drama/medical condition in a convenience store or restaurant.... Zzzzap! I would have too much fun with that. That is an app I would use a lot! Can I get a mobile EMP device?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

My phone makes calls, that's what phones are for. My PSP (slim) is for entertainment, so it's what I use to watch videos, listen to music and play games (or mostly just FF Tactics, the best FF ever cept7) If only I could burn my own UMDs with my own video files... meh...

I can't say how many times I read that a game was a 'halo killer' or 'COD killer', and so far not one has been. Meanwhile, the Battlefield series of games is almost as big as those two because they do their own flavor of FPS, and do it well. No one ever outsold something by imitating it, but they have often done so by altering it.

[Vagabond]

The mobiles that intimidate me are the ones that in addition to making calls they also perform the following functions:
Calendar, clock, camera, video recorder, Personal Digital Assistant, Gaming Device (tetris, pong and the like), connect to the internet, GPS, driving directions, restaurant (or other location) finder, movie time and location thingamajig, etc.

I have fat fingers, so what if I'm trying to make a phone call and accidentally order a pizza for someone in Montana?

Yes, I get flustered easily sometimes.

[Boozy]

Yes, I get flustered easily sometimes.

LOL

Yeah, you're probably over-thinking it a bit. Remember: Paris Hilton owns and operates a smart phone. Paris Hilton.

I think someone like you would manage just fine.

[Vagabond]

Boozy,
I appreciate your confidence in me. I guess it's just my own paranoia against being too wired in... I don't think someone needs to know where I am or what I'm doing at all times. I like my gadgets and gizmos, don't get me wrong, but I want them to work FOR me. Don't want someone being too snoopy about me and tracking me via mobile. OR maybe I've just seen 'Enemy of the State' too many times.