Kodak-Branded Android Smartphones To Launch At CES, But Will Consumers Bite?
If you woke up this morning thinking the world would be a better place if only another company would jump into the smartphone market, well, your wish is about to come true. Kodak is putting the word out that in intends to launch a range of Android-powered mobile devices with best-in-class image management software and features, which will make their debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.
This is an interesting play on Kodak's part. The company is obviously known for its deep roots in photography, which happens to be a critical part of the smartphone experience. With its brand recognition in tow, there's a real opportunity for Kodak to capture an audience of smartphone buyers by combining a high-end feature-set with an equally high-end camera experience, one that trumps everything that's currently out there.
Sadly, it doesn't appear Kodak is interested in that approach. That's not to say photography won't play a big role in its smartphones (and tablets), we're just disappointed that there's no mention of fancy optics and related features not currently found on other devices.
Kodak is known for its roots in photography, but will now look to make a splash in mobile electronics market. Image Source: Flickr (Logan Ingalls)
Instead, Kodak is focusing its efforts on ease-of-use.
"Aimed at - but not exclusively for - consumers who want a high-end experience but aren't always as comfortable using increasingly complicated mobile devices as they would like to be, the range of smartphones and tablets will come pre-loaded with bespoke image capture, management and sharing features to offer a rich user experience," Kodak said. "Unlike other phones aimed at this target audience, the Kodak Mobile Device range will not compromise on design and user experience. With as much focus on design as well as usability, the range will stand out in a market segment that is currently under-served."
Kodak's phones will also come pre-loaded with advanced remote management software so mom and pop can ping you every time they can't figure out how to do something. Thanks, Kodak!
Whether or not consumers care about all this remains to be seen. After all, smartphones aren't super complicated to begin with, so Kodak has to be careful not to dumb down the experience so much that it ends up with a gimped device.
This is an interesting play on Kodak's part. The company is obviously known for its deep roots in photography, which happens to be a critical part of the smartphone experience. With its brand recognition in tow, there's a real opportunity for Kodak to capture an audience of smartphone buyers by combining a high-end feature-set with an equally high-end camera experience, one that trumps everything that's currently out there.
Sadly, it doesn't appear Kodak is interested in that approach. That's not to say photography won't play a big role in its smartphones (and tablets), we're just disappointed that there's no mention of fancy optics and related features not currently found on other devices.
Kodak is known for its roots in photography, but will now look to make a splash in mobile electronics market. Image Source: Flickr (Logan Ingalls)
Instead, Kodak is focusing its efforts on ease-of-use.
"Aimed at - but not exclusively for - consumers who want a high-end experience but aren't always as comfortable using increasingly complicated mobile devices as they would like to be, the range of smartphones and tablets will come pre-loaded with bespoke image capture, management and sharing features to offer a rich user experience," Kodak said. "Unlike other phones aimed at this target audience, the Kodak Mobile Device range will not compromise on design and user experience. With as much focus on design as well as usability, the range will stand out in a market segment that is currently under-served."
Kodak's phones will also come pre-loaded with advanced remote management software so mom and pop can ping you every time they can't figure out how to do something. Thanks, Kodak!
Whether or not consumers care about all this remains to be seen. After all, smartphones aren't super complicated to begin with, so Kodak has to be careful not to dumb down the experience so much that it ends up with a gimped device.
