BGR: Samsung exec reportedly admits Galaxy Gear smartwatch ‘lacks something special’

The last thing you want to do when entering a new product category for the first time is launch something that isn’t your best effort. According to a report from The Korea Times, however, a Samsung executive may have admitted that the company is doing just that with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. “We’ve acknowledged that our Gear lacks something special,” an unnamed Samsung official is quoted as having told the site. “With more investment for user interface and user experience, Samsung devices will be better in terms of customer satisfaction.”
Give ’em some time.
As soon as they see what Apple has planned for the motion-tracking capabilities in their M7 chip Samsung will have a clear picture where they need to take their smart watch.
The expression, “lead, follow or get out of the way” comes to mind.
In the realm of mobile computing innovation we have Apple leading, Samsung following and Blackberry, well, getting out of the way.

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.
—T.S. Elliot
Samsung, how much more immature can you get?

Influencer: Kickstand, inventioned by Joseph Paul Treen, 1930’s

Influenced: Microsoft Surface, 26 October 2012

Microsoft Surface image taken from Anandtech

Influencer: VW Beetle ad, 1960 by Doyle Dane Bernbach

Influenced: Toyota Land Cruiser ad, 1970

Land Cruiser ad via Le Container

Influencer
Dyson Cyclone Upright

Influenced
Hoover WindTunnel Air Upright

Influencers

Influenced

Influencer: Swiss Railway Clock, designed by Hans Hilfiker, 1944

Influenced: Apple World Clock (iPad), introduced with iOS6, September 19, 2012

Ladies and gentlemen, today’s Influencer/Influenced post comes as a surprise to me (and it might to you as well).
Today Apple is not the Influencer, but the Influenced.
(Note: I know this very well might not be the case, given how far in advance Apple develops new products. If anything, you could say Apple is the influencer here since it’s likely they’ll be shipping new Nanos before Nokia even announces their ship date)
Influencer: Nokia Lumia 920, announced 5 Spetember 2012

Influenced: Apple iPod Nano, announced 12 September 2012

Ladies and gentlemen, today’s Influencer/Influenced post comes as a surprise to me (and it might to you as well).

Today Apple is not the Influencer, but the Influenced.

(Note: I know this very well might not be the case, given how far in advance Apple develops new products. If anything, you could say Apple is the influencer here since it’s likely they’ll be shipping new Nanos before Nokia even *announces* their ship date)

Influencer: Nokia Lumia 920, announced 5 Spetember 2012

Influenced: Apple iPod Nano, announced 12 September 2012

Most people have been focusing on how shameless Samsung has been in copying Apple’s product design given the recent Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit.
We shouldn’t overlook HP, who just announced their Spectre One desktop:

Just in case you forgot, this is Apple’s iMac and the Magic TrackPad, 2010:

Influencer: Logo, Volkswagen Rabbit (1974)

Influenced: 2x speed icon, Podcasts App, iOS 5, June 2012

My friend Quigga first introduced to to John Gruber’s site, Daring Fireball around 2005 or 2006. I’ll always associate a 5-point star with his site, as it’s his way of providing links to individual posts on his site (a quick search on archive.org reveals he started DF in 2002, but only began using the 5-point star for post links in 2006). He also uses the star at the beginning of a post title to indicate long form entries, entries warranting more attention than his quick, day-to-day reactions to tech news.
The star derives directly from his logo, a circumscribed star. When I’m scanning through my RSS feeds, the star placement in the favicon, post titles and entry links tells me immediately it’s Daring Fireball.
So why then, all of a sudden, is Ben Brooks using the 5-point star to denote links to posts on his site in his RSS feed? I’ve been following Mr. Brooks loosely for a year or so and I’ve never seen him use the star before. Mr. Brooks started using the star on 28 June 2012. Prior to that, he used an infinity sign (it should be noted he seems to just be using the star on his RSS feed, not his site).
Gruber by no means ‘owns’ the star, but it’s a core part of his brand, and the fact that Ben Brooks also writes about Apple-related news and is a somewhat prominent blogger makes this move feel very douchey.
Below are screen grabs from my iPad Reeder application.
Influencer: Daring Fireball (RSS feed), introduced 2006

Influenced, Brooks Review (RSS feed), introduced 28 June 2012

Sorry if you’re getting overloaded on the Microsoft Surface posts, but I can’t not post on these things. Microsoft is shameless:

via Laughing Squid

Magnetically attaching Apple Smart Cover for iPad, introduced March 2011

Magnetically attaching Microsoft Touch Cover for Surface, introduced 18 June 2012