rscheffler Online Upload & Sell: Off
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rscheffler wrote:
it faces the continuing onslaught of photography-as-an-app tightly integrated in networked multifunctional devices... something so far none of the traditional brands have truly addressed.
And I think this is the greatest missed opportunity of the traditional camera brands. They waited far too long and now iOS and Android are firmly established with complete imaging solutions, from hardware to software. Of course a question is whether they could have even succeeded in the long run. Look at Blackberry. The early 'smartphone' darling that eventually succumbed to Apple and Google.
The traditional brands could still make compatible hardware, but they will never control the platform on which the hardware relies.
Interestingly and OT, the coming of the driverless car is at a much earlier stage compared to where photography is now relative to being swallowed up by Apple/Google. We can see that some of the major car manufacturers are quite aware of the threat posed to them by Apple/Google. It too will be a situation where there will be hardware manufacturers, but those controlling the software platform on which the hardware relies, are the ones who will reap the greatest windfall. And for example, Mercedes has stated they have no intention to become the Foxconn of the automotive industry (i.e. manufacturing hardware for Apple).
The camera manufacturers let the opportunity to steer the ship slip through their grasp quite some time ago.
But, IMO, there's also nothing wrong with evolving into a brand that caters to a niche group of dedicated users. Just that such an outcome will not be able to sustain a company the size of Samsung, obviously, let alone Canon or Nikon in their present forms.
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