Spot on - teens and tweens. Just had a look at the website and the concept looks pretty cool even if it is being wasted on a bunch of Gen Z bedwetters.
@N900 - there's a ton of people out there who really don't need a smartphone by any means, but still like to update their Facebook status from their phones and similar things.
They're competitors to Samsungs/LG's crappy cheap touchscreen dumbphones, and seen in that light, I think they're pretty awesome. Of course, the average Engadget commenter completely fails to see that positioning, but that's a given...
Also, coming to think of it - does the fall launch in Europe indicate that the Zune Store/Pass will finally become available over here as well? And maybe the Zunes as well?
@N900 You're right. My girlfriend has gone through a few of those cheap, crappy "social" phones from Samsung and LG. She'd find a lot to love in this phone.
@NewL That was my first thought when I heard the Kin would be launched in the UK with Zune.
I think Microsoft has some pretty amazing announcements coming up this year. I love my Zune HD in the USA, and would love the UK'ers to enjoy it as well. (even though I guess some of you have figured out how to access the full Zunepass library)
@MarkAnderson The market strategy for MSFT with the KIN is kinda intelligent. They don't want to compete with their Partners in the Windows Phone 7 market and also want to enter into the ever-expanding mobile hardware space. The devices are all but more what one would've expected when we heard they'll be targeted at kids and teens. Pretty UI, nicely integrated Cloud service, Zune. Parents will be happy to keep their children away from the app stores and iTunes and just buy them a Zune Pass so that they don't spend extra on the devices an stuff like apps and games. And moreover, S. Jobs is happy 'coz they didn't 'blew it with a Task Manager'.
@N900 Ok the UI is charming. Other than that its MotoBlur. We've seen this Microsoft. Prove to me that you got something better than MotoBlur. Just seems like youre the kid in school who's only wish is to be like the other cool kids.
@N900 agreed. I recently had the interesting situation of showing a couple of people the basic features of their android phones. They were amazed. The Kin would have been better for them.
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I know it's better than the Sidekick.
Simply put though, this phone is not for us. I wonder how many here can grasp that concept.
@N900
Dont waste your breath N900. Im here with you on this one. Its not a feature phone. This is the perfect phone for my niece.
@N900
Spot on - teens and tweens. Just had a look at the website and the concept looks pretty cool even if it is being wasted on a bunch of Gen Z bedwetters.
Oh and get off my lawn!
@N900
Well, then.. where's the Bieber edition?
@N900 I hear ya, but you gotta admit the kin studio is impressive. Is there anything else out there like it?
@N900 - there's a ton of people out there who really don't need a smartphone by any means, but still like to update their Facebook status from their phones and similar things.
They're competitors to Samsungs/LG's crappy cheap touchscreen dumbphones, and seen in that light, I think they're pretty awesome. Of course, the average Engadget commenter completely fails to see that positioning, but that's a given...
Also, coming to think of it - does the fall launch in Europe indicate that the Zune Store/Pass will finally become available over here as well? And maybe the Zunes as well?
@N900 You're right. My girlfriend has gone through a few of those cheap, crappy "social" phones from Samsung and LG. She'd find a lot to love in this phone.
@NewL That was my first thought when I heard the Kin would be launched in the UK with Zune.
I think Microsoft has some pretty amazing announcements coming up this year. I love my Zune HD in the USA, and would love the UK'ers to enjoy it as well. (even though I guess some of you have figured out how to access the full Zunepass library)
@MarkAnderson The market strategy for MSFT with the KIN is kinda intelligent. They don't want to compete with their Partners in the Windows Phone 7 market and also want to enter into the ever-expanding mobile hardware space. The devices are all but more what one would've expected when we heard they'll be targeted at kids and teens. Pretty UI, nicely integrated Cloud service, Zune.
Parents will be happy to keep their children away from the app stores and iTunes and just buy them a Zune Pass so that they don't spend extra on the devices an stuff like apps and games.
And moreover, S. Jobs is happy 'coz they didn't 'blew it with a Task Manager'.
@N900 Ok the UI is charming. Other than that its MotoBlur. We've seen this Microsoft. Prove to me that you got something better than MotoBlur. Just seems like youre the kid in school who's only wish is to be like the other cool kids.
@N900 agreed. I recently had the interesting situation of showing a couple of people the basic features of their android phones. They were amazed. The Kin would have been better for them.