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« 5 things about me… — Can you Digg it? Apparently, some can’t! »
Apple iPhone versus the LG KE850?
Friday, 12 January 2007 — by Wayne Smallman
Some might say by accident, some might say by design, I say the chances of Apple just copying the work of someone else is not even an idea worth bothering with.
There’s no doubting the similarities between the Apple iPhone and the LG KE850, that no one can deny.
However, for Apple, design is a matter of pride and principle, so in my mind, I see no reason for Apple to just copy the work of others.
Images courtesy of Engadget.
Look at it this way: compare one car to any other car and you see the basic, overall mechanical design principles are the same. So the same can easily be said of mobile phones.
However, once you begin to totally rethink the design of the mobile phone, to begin at the bottom and design from the very beginning – as both LG and Apple clearly have – while thinking about what a mobile phone could do with the restraints released, then you see two companies approaching the same problems in much the same way.
Add to that the fact that the form factor is the most extremely limiting aspect of the whole design.
A wider angle view
So let’s take a look at this from a much wider vantage point.
Here comes Apple, introducing their very first mobile phone product in the form of the iPhone. In their first attempt, they get to the point where most phone manufacturers would be expected to arrive at in the next 12 months or so.
Then there’s LG, who’ve been in the mobile phone business for some years, so they’ve had plenty more time than Apple and more industry experience to draw upon.
Now, that is in no way a sleight against LG because what they’ve produced in the LG KE850 looks to be a very good product. But for a company that’s been making all of the right noises for the past couple of years, you’d expect that, wouldn’t you?
Fast forward 2 more years and Apple will have encountered some serious object lessons in the mobile phone business, and learn them they will. Think of it this way: if this is what Apple can produce from a standing start, what might they be able to achieve with a head of steam behind them in 2 more years?
One last, final question: in 2 years time, who do you think people will still be talking about? Apple or LG?
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« 5 things about me… — Can you Digg it? Apparently, some can’t! »
such an American view on the world. Here’s a fact in 2 years time believe me you will still be talking LG and probably more so than Apple!
LG is huge in Asia / and which market is growing at a blistering rate / China (and India) followed by S.Korea. S.Korea is home to LG and they sell more phones in China and India (and S.Korea) than any other brand / LG will grow and with their recent advancements in design as well as technical superiority will indeed place LG ahead of Apple / Apple is going to suffer as these brands get to grips with innovation and with the Asia markets growing in advanced design skills Steve Jobs had better watch out! Also LG is carving out quite a big piece of the market in the US and Europe and is actually the fastest growing mobile phone brand in Europe!
LG also just won the highly coveted iF Design Award 2007 for this phone! A very important award that will make major investors take a serious look at LG for future developments…