The moment the event started we saw blogs exploding with device previews, impressions and the works. All fine and good but what does it mean for designers and developers?

With the unique privilege to experience the event, here’s where all those gadgets and toys are taking us and what companies aren’t but should be doing.

Yes this comes a little after the event has ended, but much hasn’t changed since the closure of the event. I played with almost every device on the floor. The experience of going to MWC for the second year is just as intense as the last. The plethora of devices and technologies is impressive — this year bringing over 60,000 people. As I made my probing through the booths, exhibits, picking the brains of exhibitors and the like, there were two things that became evident within the tech industry:

• Lots of Android.
• Seemingly lack of innovation

A ton of Android. It became evident that as I bounced from exhibition to exhibition, we found a plethora of Android devices finding myself saying “I keep seeing the same thing over and over again”. The same thing, with slight minor variations — Samsung doing this, Motorola doing that. But with no innovation. Steve Ballmer, Windows CEO, hit the nail on the head during his keynote. He established that it is not about the devices, everyone has the same hardware nowadays, but the OS — the platform is how you distinguish yourself.

“The battle has become Platforms vs Platforms rather than devices.”

This is true for the most part, although very well built devices and gadgets with quality materials has a very strong swaying power. This is what has helped make Apple so successful, but this isn’t about them…well it is actually.

Blame Apple for lack of industry innovation

The lack of innovation is because of the relationship, rather, the affinity non-Apple companies have with Droid. Not that the OS is bad or flawed, but the bottom line is influencing, maybe more so than normal, innovation. Companies are finding it successful to be passive and churn out devices pushing Android. Ballmer already said, the battle is of platform. Nokia was forced to either move to Droid or WP7 OS because of how weak the Symbian OS is fairing in the U.S. market. Innovation is becoming stifled. Apple’s enormous success has tricked companies into being complacent. Surely Apple executes like Steve Jobs knows this. As Apple continues to “do their own thing”, they continue to innovate a bit a head of the curve, both in hardware and software. Whereas companies are working to continue doing what they are doing hoping for success. For those running Droid OS, it is indeed a battle of devices — and mediocre proprietary Droid OS overlay and skins. Of course there is the occasional 3D this and 3D that, but how is that innovation? It is changing how we interact with the device? Not really. It is in fact straining your eyes; having spent time with the LG Optimus 3D, the exhibitor told me the best visible range for the device when I commented, “I can’t see anything as I push the device away”.

RIM and HP are exempt. I think they are trying to find ways to distinguish themselves and innovate. They have recognized the value of maintaining identity and finding niche markets (mainly BlackBerry). I like the playbook and how it works harmoniously with your BlackBerry, the relationship I wish the iPad and iPhone had. I like the HP Web OS and how they are organizing its functionality. These are companies who are continuing to be successful and “doing their own thing” (yes the Storm has been a flop, I know).

One Japanese company really impressed me with how they are using 3D. The name slips me, but they showed signs of innovation. No, it was not a device, but they created a new way of interacting with the device. I approached this gentlemen standing next to a little hole at this giant exhibition and I said “what do you have here?” He says, “Grab the stylus and touch the screen”. Of course I grab the stylus and attempt to touch the screen that has this small gecko staring at me, in 3D. As I approach the screen with the pen, it’s head turns and stares at the pen and as it gets closer the lizard begins to open it’s mouth, strikes the pen with its tongue, and I exclaim “Woah”. Suddenly a crowd of people are behind me. I felt the tongue hit the pen, I didn’t even touch the screen. The demo utilized magnets so that the computer would detect the pen within a radius of the screen (the pen having another magnet) and with careful programming would send the signal to flip the magnets causing the pen to move. It was truly different and quite an experience. I felt as though I had offended the lizard with my intrusion — a great sign of someone with their thinking caps on!

I’m an optimist and computer scientist

These are Eric’s words during his keynote. I find it ironic that the guy I have a lot of faith in, in terms of innovation, is Google’s CEO (and soon to be former) Eric Schmidt. Why ironic? Well he is Droid and he is being muscled out from his Executive position. During his keynote Eric Schmidt eluded to a lot of ideas; he is thinking ahead, while so many companies are trying to be current.

“The phone as a serendipity platform — Why doesn’t my phone coordinate with my friend’s phone and tell me ‘what road did they take to get here?’”

This resonated me. We are trying so hard to be social, and the device that is supposed to increase social interaction is actually alienating us from each other because of apps, increased phone complexities, and the like. Why can’t my phone coordinate with my friend’s phone when he or she adds a particular event that they label to interest friends, and then sync on my calendar? Or inform me that a buddy of mine has been to this restaurant and took a particular highway that took him 35minutes rather than my 45minute route? Schmidt asked a lot of these questions. We have the devices, they are all going to get faster and faster, but what is changing how we use them?

Where you can thank Apple, and where you come in

No I am not an Apple “fanboy”, I do own Apple products and do enjoy them; but you can thank them for making the competition, relatively stagnant right now. All are nipping at  their heels to make the Apple killer this, Apple killer that. Something I learned when I ran track: “It is easier to start off fast than to have to catch up at the end.” Apple has clearly set the pace, for better or for worse. You can choose to get sucked into it, or create your own path — your own race. The Zuckerburgs and Costolo’s are changing the way we interact, Steve did it with the iOS. The technology ecosystem is delicate and innovation is king, followed by content. How we interact with the world is what shapes it and creates a new direction. The Camera, phone, TV, these are all things that change interaction.

“…the device that is supposed to increase social interaction is actually alienating us from each other because of apps, increased phone complexities, and the like.”

I played with WP7 on day 2 and left feeling unsatisfied with the phone. It was “ok” but didn’t match my needs. Came back the 3rd day and played with the phone. For an hour. And guess what? Pretty damn nice OS. Sure, I was on HTC’s beautiful HD7, but the OS was crisp, smooth, beautiful, and to the point. My colleague said he’d switch from his Droid Incredible (I an iPhone4 user). We found the OS refreshing, much like Ballmer said we would. It was as though when we used it we found ourselves repeating what Steve was saying in his keynote concerning the OS. Simple tasks completely simply, but with great comfort and efficiency. Complex tasks such as email and web were intuitive and uninhibiating. The all text OS relaxes the eyes, eases the muscular faces. I heard my colleague respond after using it “I feel so relaxed while I use the phone. My eyes don’t get stressed at all.” I think this is innovative. The WP7 steers away from the direction of complex pixel pushing OS’s with all the icons and graphics to still look beautiful using typography, while still being incredibly effective.

Recap

The MWC ’11 was a great event. There is a lot to see, learn, and play with. The market is saturated with the same products over and over again. It is no wonder Apple is gaining strength. The reality is that iOS and Droid are incredibly similar, sure, iOS has higher quality applications (in my opinion), but neither OS’s are like WP7. The natural cycle of life is that as things become more and more complex, it will eventually turn to simplicity. As developers and designers, there is great innovation being done on the app front. This is where most designers and developers will continue to find work. Creating great apps that blow us away. And surely, with Android and iOS saturation, there is a ton of opportunity for App growth. App designers and developers will push how phones will shape in future expansions. Software development should drive the need for different, and hopefully innovative, technology and devices. How are we interacting with technology that makes it actually worth the effort? Lets face it; its a bit exhausting controlling your smartphone and the many things going on.

Microsoft Kinect is a way of innovating thinking. Games aside, Xbox aside, what if we could apply the same level of interaction to our TV’s, laptops, and more? This stale ecosystem of slow progression of innovation is allowing for what some call “the era of entrepreneurs”. Why? Because the technology is there, but now we have so many more ways to innovate and create things that aren’t being done. Sure you aren’t manufacturing your own hardware and what not, but maybe you’re a part of a web design team or industrial design team and you can ask “What if” or “Wouldn’t it be cool if”. These are important questions that, from MWC 11, companies aren’t asking. Apple says, “What if we do this, wouldn’t that be cool?” and they implement it while the competitive companies respond “Yes, that is cool — I’ll do that too.”

Has mobile technology innovation hit a wall? 3D is a step in the direction of innovation, but it isn’t really “moving”. It is cool to see something in 3D, but is it changing your experience? What innovations are you seeing on the mobile front?