Product focus and quality matter

I far from consider myself an expert on 'mobile web' -- I can't even stand trying to get the formatting on my webpage's and apps right for 'Tablet' or 'Mobile'.


I'd like to point out an observation that I think is all too apparent and bears repeating when I went to find a replacement for my mobile phone.


(This isn't a jab at Android, or HTC for that matter, hardware fails, I get that, I have a subsidized phone that has now failed. If I don't want to be tied in for another 2 years, than I have to go buy a phone on the open market. Fine. I get that.)


But you would think that 5-years into the iPhone craze, the other manufactures, whom whole-sale copied Apple's UI and hardware style, can't seem to wrap their head around the idea of product differentiation through simplification, lets take HTC vs. Apple for an easy example (see below, glued together from Wikipedia)- Regardless of the accuracy, you see my point.


So many options, so little differentiation, it's no wonder Droid has outgrown Apple phone like an army of flying monkeys! 


Still there is a reason companies like Louis Vuitton have lasted so long, and their products continue to sell for higher prices. Maybe luxury isn't what HTC or it's competitors are going for, but Apple's big profit numbers should be...     

HTC (Android) v. Apple (iOS), 2009 - 2012

T-Mobile myTouch 4G,[8] HTC Panache[9][10]	2010-11	Android 2.2/2.3	iPhone 3GS	16 and 32 GB: June 19, 2009 - Black 8 GB: June 24, 2010	IOS 6
T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide[21]	2011-07	Android 2.3	iPhone 4	GSM (Black): June 24, 2010 - CDMA (Black): February 10, 2011 - White: April 28, 2011- 8 GB: October 4, 2011 (Available from Oct 14, 2011)	IOS 6
T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide	2010-06	Android 2.1/2.2	iPhone 4S	10/14/11	IOS 6
S510e, HTC Desire S[14]	2011-04	Android 2.3
HTC Wildfire S[13]	2011-02	Android 2.3
HTC Sensation[17]	2011-05	Android 2.3/4.0
HTC Sensation XL[31]	2011-11	Android 2.3
HTC Sensation XE[30]	2011-11	Android 2.3/4.0
HTC Salsa[19]	2011-06	Android 2.3
HTC Rhyme[25]	2011-09	Android 2.3
HTC Raider 4G[24], HTC Vivid 4G, HTC Velocity 4G	2011-09	Android 2.3/4.0.3
HTC One XL[33][35]	2012-04	Android 4.0
HTC One X[33][34]	2012-04	Android 4.0
HTC One V[33][37]	2012-04	Android 4.0
HTC One S[33][36]	2012-04	Android 4.0
HTC Inspire 4G	2010-12	Android 2.2/2.3
HTC Incredible S[12]	2011-02	Android 2.2/2.3
HTC Explorer[28]	2011-10[29]	Android 2.3
HTC Evo Shift 4G	2011-01	Android 2.2/2.3
HTC Evo Design 4G[26]	2011-10	Android 2.3
HTC Evo 4G+[22]	2011-07	Android 2.3
HTC Evo 4G LTE[38]	2012-05	Android 4.0
HTC Evo 3D[23]	2011-07	Android 2.3
HTC Evo 3D[20]	2011-06	Android 2.3
HTC Desire Z, T-Mobile G2	2010-09	Android 2.2/2.3
HTC Desire HD	2010-09	Android 2.2/2.3
HTC Desire C[39]	2012-06	Android 4.0
HTC ChaCha[18]	2011-06	Android 2.3
HTC Amaze 4G[27]	2011-10	Android 2.3
Droid Incredible 2[15]	2011-04	Android 2.2/2.3
Droid Incredible	2010-04	Android 2.1/2.2/2.3
Droid Eris	2009-11	Android 1.5/2.1
ADR6425, HTC Rezound[32]	2011-11	Android 2.3
ADR6400, HTC ThunderBolt[11]	2011-01	Android 2.2/2.3
ADR6325, HTC Merge[16]	2011-05	Android 2.2
A9292, HTC Evo 4G	2010-06	Android 2.1/2.2/2.3
A8181, HTC Desire[3]	2010-04[4]	Android 2.1/2.2/2.3
A71XX, T-Mobile G1, Era G1	2008-10	Android 1.0/1.5/1.6
A6380, Gratia	2010-11	Android 2.2
A6366, HTC Aria	2010-06	Android 2.1/2.2
A6363	2010-04[5]	Android 2.1/2.2
A62XX	2009-07	Android 1.5/2.1
A61XX, HTC Magic, T-Mobile myTouch 3G	2009-02	Android 1.5/1.6/2.1
A3333, HTC Wildfire	2010-06	Android 2.12.2[6]
A3232, HTC Tattoo	2009-10[1]	Android 1.6

Why I signed up for a VPN

Despite of recent court rulings and delays in implementing the MPAA/RIAA "6 Strike Policy", I've decided to subscribe to a paid VPN/anonymous proxy service.


Comcast is most certainly beholden to content providers, and content providers are the primary source of copywrite 'shakedowns' and infringement violations. 


Even if Comcast is unwilling or not required to hand-over the personal information of it's subscribers: I assume this is only the case in a limited number of instances. Overall, Comcast (and other consumer internet providers) will continue to be subservient to its content provider partners requests that they implement an internal copy-write infringement controls. 


Shameless plug, the service I used, simply enough, was the first one that came up in Google: Hide my ass (affiliate link...in case you care!), stupid name, sophisticated, and quality service (my personal opinion)!


It's paid: up and running in less than 10 minutes, and the configuration was stupid easy. 


I bit the bullet and subscribed for 6 months (probably should have done 12, which would have been a few $ cheaper each month) 


It cost: $8.44/month (about the cost of one day's lunch here in Denver) 


I'm cheap. Really cheap. $58 up front for 6 months makes me cringe, but a letter demanding $7000 in an infringement shakedown sounds a lot more expensive.