Samsung’s Head Of Mobile Design Resigns After Galaxy S5′s Poor Reception

[ETRJ]

Samsung Electronic’s head of mobile design, Chang Dong-hoon, has resigned following criticism about the Galaxy S5 smartphone’s lack of pulchritude.

Though the Galaxy S5′s design did not actually deviate too far from earlier models, its looks and textured plastic back were roundly lambasted by reviewers.

“I think I audibly let out a sound that was something along the lines of ‘aaaahuughhhh’ upon seeing the shimmering dimpled gold back of the Galaxy S5,” wrote Derek Kessler at Android Central, summing up many reviewers’ reaction to the device’s appearance.

Other Samsung smartphones have also been described as ugly. For example, some users felt that the Galaxy Note 3′s leather-textured plastic back was tacky. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S4′s glossy back looked and felt cheap, especially considering that it is one of Samsung’s pricier flagship models.

Despite their perceived lack of beauty, Samsung still managed to sell 86 million smartphones in 4Q2013, widening its lead over Apple. During that quarter, it also attained a 29.6% share of the global smartphone market, compared to Apple’s 17.6%.

But Samsung has been struggling to make a profit with its phones, thanks in part to heavy spending on marketing. In April, it also reduced the price of the Galaxy S5 in South Korea, the first time it has ever done so for a flagship phone.

Samsung said Chang will be replaced by Lee Min-hyouk, Samsung’s vice president for mobile design. Chang, who studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, offered to leave the company last week, but will continue to oversee Samsung’s overall design strategy.

To be honest I don't like the phones design, I've got the nexus 5 and I'm loving the design even though some people may not see that much difference its definately feels different in the hand.

http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/07/samsungs-head-of-mobile-design-resigns-after-galaxy-s5s-poor-reception/?ncid=rss

[qwertywarrior]

they fired Jonathan Ive?

but he doesn't even work for them

[One Who Craves Souls]

Well it's true, the S5 is boring... 

[Akolyte]

s3: Cool, its a nice change in design from the s2!

 

s4: Oh, its not all that great, we were expecting better.  However, maybe its like the iphone system.

 

s5: ARGGH!  This stinks, where's the aluminium!?? 

[Paralectic]

S3 > S5 is size increasement and too much money spent on marketing the product as revolutionary.

[Hawx]

Samsung has just become like Apple.

They have enough of the market and are a household name, so they don't need to bother with innovation, since people will see the logo, recognize the brand, and buy it..

"Oh cool, Apple have released the iPhone 5S! It must be so much better than my iPhone 5, better buy it!"

"Oh cool, Samsung have release the Galaxy S5, it must be so much better than my S4, better buy it!"

 

Same thing.

[lachyman]

Maybe their phones will now look on par with the competition. I can't really think of any current flagship uglier than the S5.

[Warcony]

I don't know why people are so gung-ho on materials all of a sudden. If it feels good in my hand and isn't slippery then I am all for it.  When the HTC one M8 and S5 came out I decided I was going to upgrade to one or the other from my Blackberry Q10.  I spent a bunch of time holding each one, and the S5 felt way better and was easier to handle than the M8.  I actually really like the back cover of the phone. 

 

Either way, I always throw a case over my phone (usually a slim hard case) just to protect it as I am always using my phone on the go.  Compared to previous Samsung devices, there is no creaking, which for me was a big issue.

 

Being water resistant is amazing and I wish every smartphone and tablet was like this.  I don't think I can go back to using a device that isn't (after all I ruined by Q10 by spilling coffee on it).

 

 

 

TL;DR: People just love hating on Samsung these days,  they are becoming the new Apple.

[dizmo]

I don't know why people are so gung-ho on materials all of a sudden. If it feels good in my hand and isn't slippery then I am all for it.  When the HTC one M8 and S5 came out I decided I was going to upgrade to one or the other from my Blackberry Q10.  I spent a bunch of time holding each one, and the S5 felt way better and was easier to handle than the M8.  I actually really like the back cover of the phone. 

 

Either way, I always throw a case over my phone (usually a slim hard case) just to protect it as I am always using my phone on the go.  Compared to previous Samsung devices, there is no creaking, which for me was a big issue.

 

Being water resistant is amazing and I wish every smartphone and tablet was like this.  I don't think I can go back to using a device that isn't (after all I ruined by Q10 by spilling coffee on it).

 

 

 

TL;DR: People just love hating on Samsung these days,  they are becoming the new Apple.

I like the idea of water resistance, but I don't think many companies do it properly. Right now there's too many down sides. Crappier speaker performance, and size increase come to mind. Sharp's new phone is an exception size wise, but I bet the speaker is still lacking.

I mean I can see why other people need it but I've never spilled liquid on my devices. I'm a little more careful.

[Misanthrope]

Here's their new mobile division head:

 

 

He doesn't looks like much but trust us, he's unprecedented in his ability to copy designs, plus is made of metal he has premium built on his DNA!

[eric95204]

Yea "resigned"

[DarylEPerez]

Samsung has just become like Apple.

They have enough of the market and are a household name, so they don't need to bother with innovation, since people will see the logo, recognize the brand, and buy it..

"Oh cool, Apple have released the iPhone 5S! It must be so much better than my iPhone 5, better buy it!"

"Oh cool, Samsung have release the Galaxy S5, it must be so much better than my S4, better buy it!"

 

Same thing.

 

Looking at benchmarks, 5S is as twice as fast when comparing it to the 5. Along with that, is the first mobile phone to incorporate 64bit architecture. Camera is by far improved if compared to the 5 as well as I find the fingerprint scanner helpful in terms of time wasted when unlocking your phone. If you do gaming on mobile devices, you will find the 5S blowing the 5 as speed clock have been improved from 200mhz's to 600mh's. Rendering is also three times faster in the 5S when comparing to the 5.

 

I'm not a fan boy but it is what it is. I own a HTC ONE M7 as well as the iPhone 5 and currently use the iPhone 5S. 

[PLehis]

IMO the phone isn't THAT bad but I still don't like it. It is not about that they use plastic but that the plastic feels cheap. Also it isn't very comfortable in my hand and I have big hands. Maybe I am just new in the smartphone section (have had 2 smartphones) but I myself dislike it and approve the resignation thing.

[LDX]

How come there is so much noise about samsung designs? 

while the iPhone is basically the same phone through generations...?

 

Besides, how much a rectangle can be improved? 

[Misanthrope]

How come there is so much noise about samsung designs? 

while the iPhone is basically the same phone through generations...?

 

Besides, how much a rectangle can be improved? 

 

Because hipsters: Apple did it before it was cool not really but we already spent 700 bucks on this stupid thing so we might as well pretend it's cool

[DiamondFX]

I am happy with the S4 but they could have built it in a better way. The feel it gives the end-user is unsatisfactory. The S5 should have been better. Yet again, can't live with iTunes.  

[alepodj]

didnt something like this happened with Apple? someone resigned because of issue with phone?

[mahirh]

IMHO s2 was superior to all of them

[Louis54000]

 Yet again, can't live with iTunes.  

 

Well I have an iPhone 5 and I never use iTunes, just have to install it, otherwise I use iFunBox. Backups are made via iCloud, transfers with iFunBox.

And I think one of the only other nice smartphones is the HTC One M7, Galaxy S have always been kinda crap... I thought the S2 was nice back in the days, but now that I have one and compared to iPhones it just feels cheap!

[Scia]

The s4 is a solid phone. But my next phone will probably be either the One (m9) or the Z3, though I'm leaning towards the Sony one, so much better design. And Sony > HTC.

[Louis54000]

How come there is so much noise about samsung designs? 

while the iPhone is basically the same phone through generations...?

 

Besides, how much a rectangle can be improved? 

 

Because iPhones are nice, have an awesome build quality and just feels great in your hand. Why completely change the design when people like it? Samsung on the other hand have crappy plasic which doesn't feel nice, and globally just does not look as good as iPhones. I think that everyone can agree that Samsung, when it comes down to aesthetics at least, is not as good as Apple.

[MetaDrow]

I actually like the design of Samung's phone, some people want "all metal body" blah blah like the HTC One (M8). The HTC One is a nice phone and all but I don't like the back, not enough grip. And besides it's Android, we can pick and choose which phone to use; unlike a stupid apple products

[Lyons]

How come there is so much noise about samsung designs? 

while the iPhone is basically the same phone through generations...?

 

Besides, how much a rectangle can be improved? 

 

Because iPhones are the best built phones in the world, period.

 

Samsung phones are plasticy shite.

[zEr04]

I have recently purchased two S5's and I love them. Upgraded from the S3 and HTC one X. Don't understand why they hate on it so much? Reviewer's change phones on a regular basis thus looking for minor changes.. everyone has different taste.  

Tbh, I could not care about metal or plasitc build phones. When I went looking to purchase them, I was looking at battery, storage, camera and screen. I'm the one operating it, not others looking at...

The bonus of water resistant is an added feature. Like I said everyone has different taste and opinions..

[Tech_Dreamer]

I HAVU DISUHONORED MY FAMHILY, I SHALL RESIGN AND PERFOM SEPPUKU!

 

 

 

Honor