Comments on: What makes a flagship device?

By: Making of the Nokia N97 video (with “blood, sweat and tears”) | MShabaz

Making of the Nokia N97 video (with “blood, sweat and tears”) | MShabaz — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:40:40 +0000

[...] that gives a real insight of what goes into to forging a flagship device from scratch (the topic of what makes a flagship device has been sizzling on Conversations recently). So this morning we were excited to get our hands on a [...]

By: Uxi

Uxi — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:14:27 +0000

The Flagship handset should be the ultimate convergence device that can replace: 1) an ordinary cell phone (preferably a world cell phone with quad-band GSM and all of the North American, European, and Asian market 3G frequencies; 2) a point and shoot camera with at least 8-12 megapixels with a good xenon flash for night time; 3) removable battery and memory (SD flash); 4) a large touch screen with sliding qwerty keyboard and maybe a removable/flip numpad. Removable means the folks who want it can have it while the guys who don’t can take it off; 6) A small portable Internet device and multimedia player; and 7) PDA/organizer.

There is still no device that lets me replace my iPod (160GB), my 8mp point and shoot and camera, my pda, and my cell phone with one device. Nokia devices (N95 and N96) have let me replace 2-3 of them, but always at the cost of compromise when it just isn’t necessary (N95 and N96 with the poor night quality camera due to the LED flash).

For myself, I also most appreciate the ability (but not the requirement) to use my phone one handed for quick text messages and answer/hang up/dialing functionality.

For a camera, both xenon and LED flash would be appropriate for night time stills and video in poor lit areas. Battery issues are an enginnering or logistics issue for those of us willing to carry spares.

By: Is the Nokia N97 a flagship device? | Ke Feed

Is the Nokia N97 a flagship device? | Ke Feed — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:36:50 +0000

[...] Would you buy a device simply because you knew it to be the ‘flagship’ or ‘premium’ device from that company? Or are there other factors to take in to account? Let us know in the Comments below or get involved over at Nokia Conversations. [...]

By: leo

leo — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:31:10 +0000

Some people mentioned the requirement of ‘nice looks’ and ‘affordability’. IMHO, these terms are relative and will only muddy up the definition.

I also understand the ‘One flagship per company’ point, but its necessary to drop the ‘The best of all’ criterion then; Nokia doesn’t have any device, out or planned, that meets that one. Because,
In terms of camera, N82 is the best right now
In terms of battery, I think its the E71
In terms of software version, its the 5800XM (?)
In terms of screen estate, N96
In terms of build quality, anything but the Nseries =D

It gets worse and worse with Nokia. It seems that the single flagship thing just doesn’t fit in with Nokia as a brand. Nokia’s whole point is to offer the widest range of products to find the perfect phone for the most number of people. Jay (scroll up) drives this point home.

Now, only if we were talking of Apple’s flagship device…

By: illusionado

illusionado — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:41:05 +0000

n97 is questionable in its place to be the flagship…i dont like the dled flash for its average 5mp for many phones now..flagship should be an n86 8mp phone with 3.5″ AMOLED screen and dual slide for either half qwerty/ qweerty

By: msav

msav — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:25:31 +0000

A flagship device, I think, should represent the direction where things are headed. It should create culture. It’s not all about every feature possible, but the extent of features and services available. It should deliver what the company has to offer. It should have a relatively long life span as a product in order to have some time for making an impact. The price should be such that it’s justifiable for people choosing between a mid-range device and a flagship device. People should still be able to afford the product if they agree on the direction where the flagship is leading them. A too expensive and thus largely inaccessible flagship can’t be truly visionary, because it generates no real movement in the user culture. Every owner of a flagship device is a possible future owner of a new flagship device, therefore the direction of where things are headed should stay constant.

By: gregg003

gregg003 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:50:44 +0000

A flagship device must have a cutting edge technology, innovations in all aspect like photography, music, video, processor among others.

It must contain every possible feature, no less, spice up with something new and fresh.

It must be affordable.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:48:53 +0000

FLagship- the best the company has to offer.

now the definition of “the best” is what the debate is all about. To me it is the phone that is most technologically advance and innovative.

By: ming387

ming387 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:18:50 +0000

By definition the device should be made of all the best that Nokia has to offer. The largest battery, best camera MP/Lens, best display LCD/OLED, best built material, everything the best a company has under 1 device, priced the highest and is never really intended to make money! That is a “Flagship.” But if you want “flagged-ships” you can always built plenty of ships one with the biggest battery, one with the largest display and etc..

Again, the Flagship is not a product to make money! It’s a product to show off how technically advance you can make things. A Flagship is built to carry a company’s logo proudly to flaunt the company’s technological capabilities.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:11:06 +0000

A flagship phone is something that encapsulates the achievements of that manufacturer, i.e. having the best of EVERY great feature you have once included in previous handsets, but all in one device.

In the context for Nokia, the flagship epitomises the true meaning of convergence. The flagship leads the way; it is deeply recognizable to consumers as an example of the ultimate potential of Nokia handsets and sets the bar of innovation for which other manufacturers should aspire to reach.

Hardware wise, you guys have had every single component that if combined could have resulted in the most formidable handset ever made.

But, as a long fan of Nokia, you get to be aware that it’s part and parcel of that Nokia is number 1 BECAUSE they specifically divide up features for different markets. That’s been perfect for business, but bad for geeks.

The point of the flagship is NOT to be the most sold; it is to bring the confidence in the brand so that when consumers come to buy a different handset, they will know from the flagship that it’s a brand that they can trust; a brand that will deliver the particular requirements they may need in a phone; a brand that delivers the best.