I commented recently [August 28, 2012] on the outcome of the first major trial in the US between the two giants of the smartphone, Apple and Samsung. Once synergistic bedfellows now turned bitter rivals, Apple recently won a massive payment of the order of $1B on claims that Samsung effectively copied design features that infringed various Apple patents.
It's hardly surprising, in that Samsung make certain key components of the Apple iPhone and iPad, so with their own expansion into the smartphone segment, I don't think that anyone expected them to not incorporate their own hardware in their devices. But the fact that certain design elements are also in common (which includes the hilarious "rectangular shape" aspect) opened the door to claims of outright copying.
What's not clear to me is whether Samsung fully expected to run into this kind of trouble, but did some calculations and realized that fines would be heavily outweighed by profits, or, because they were already in bed with Apple, that such problems would be worked out quietly behind the scenes. For sure, today, it's a very public dispute.
Additionally, the demands by Apple not only to be reimbursed for patent infringements but to further have the sales of various Samsung devices banned outright both internationally as well as domestically have pushed the mercury significantly higher. It's going to be war between two giants, and this is made clear by the new advertisement depicted above, which is not likely to be totally tongue-in-cheek!
In a direct head-to-head specifications comparison, Samsung list those of their new Galaxy SIII alongside those of the newly released iPhone 5, and needless to say, Samsung is the better option. For those who own Apple PCs or laptops or iPads, there will always be a pull, if only in terms of design and brand alignment, for the iPhone. However, for cutting edge functionality in an uber-cool unit at a great price point, Samsung wins hands down.
Samsung is superior in talk time, RAM and HD resolution, and the SIII comes with the new NFC technology which will permit users to make wireless payments in stores with their smartphone. The introduction of a new dock on this latest iPhone is not a popular decision even with some die-hard believers, and Samsung were quick to poke fun at it.
Frankly, for you and I, the consumer, we don't need to be concerned about who infringes who, or who copies who. We care about getting amazing devices at the best price possible, and the competition between the two giants is only a good thing for us, today. If, as I suspect, rather than Samsung devices being banned, Apple begins to obtain a royalty on each Samsung device (in question) sold, then it will not be such a good thing, tomorrow.
Once that would happen, almost certainly the weight will be transferred back onto the consumer via increased prices. One thing that Apple seems to hate is competitor brands selling similar (or better) products, at lower prices; one only needs to look at their alleged meddling in e-book price-fixing to see that. If they will cross the line to raise the price of e-books, imagine how aggressive they can be over their beloved iPhone?!
But we are living for today, not tomorrow! So I say that while the Samsung Galaxy SIII is on the market as a smartphone with superior functionality and let's say more or less equivalent design features but at a considerably lower price? At the risk of sounding repetitive, well, I would say that "it doesn't take a genius"!!! - Kevin Mc
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