[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Unicorn512:
One tiny consumer voice

I have read with great interest the various views regarding how VZN could or should provide their services to consumers. As a retired project manger who handled many hardware and software development projects, I can tell you that the most important thing to understand is what the user/customer wants. And I DON'T mean EVERY user/customer because I often found that the users/customers could not agree between themselves what should be in a system solution. I suspect there are many of you who have experienced the same thing.

But the fact remains that there should be a clear set of specifications in order to get a good product out the door, on time, and within budget.

So here is what I want from my "life companion"....

1) I want it to be incredibly responsive. I want to be fast and smooth. I would prefer that it come that way from the mfg. but if they can't deliver, then I want the option to look for and install alternative solutions. ROOT/RECOVERY/BOOTLOAD are only the current technical issues we are facing today, but they are the means to an end, not the end itself.

2) I want it to be incredibly secure. I don't want to live with the nagging fear that some criminal has compromised my important tools for his gain and my loss. If part of that security has to be add-on programs and services then so be it. If part of that security has to be locking key elements of the solution, then so be it.

3) I want it to be incredibly flexible. Not everyone has the same needs and no solution works in every situation. I want to be able to find and install add-on tools and programs to extend the value of basic tool. The best screw driver in the world is useless if you need a wrench.

4) I don't want it to be a nag. I don't want advertising or hints or anything else to be unexpectedly jumping out at me. Ideally this would be a list of options I could turn on and off. Perhaps in some situations I do want help in finding something, but I definitely want control over that aspect of the solution.

5) I want it to be incredibly durable. I don't want to be worried that if I drop it (in or out of liquid) that it will be rendered useless. Gorilla Glass was a huge improvement. I haven't needed or wanted a screen protector since it came out and I would never get a device without it (or something better.)

6) I want it run for a good long while between charges, and I want charging to be fast. One of the main reasons that battery operated cars have not become very popular is the long "refueling" times. If I could pull into a service station and recharge my electric vehicle in the same time it takes me to fill a tank with gas, then I would instantly look for an electric vehicle. When I can recharge my "life companion" as fast as I can change batteries then I will be happy. And no, I don't want to carry an extra battery, because that's good for one switch. I want quick charging every time.

When I consider how much the smartphone has improved since my initial "smart" phone several years ago, I am encouraged, but we still have a long way to go.

So until VZN or some other supplier gets it all right, I am happy to find and use the tools available. They keep getting better and better. Sometimes they come only from the mfg. and sometimes the mfg. comes up a little short so "developers" pick up the slack. Bravo to all involved. Keep up the good work.

And just wait until they come out with the "implantable" model....