Gadgets in the Age of Smartphones
Smartphones have obsoleted an entire galaxy of gadgets, including cameras, music players, and handheld game consoles. What are gadget makers to do? As Farhad Manjoo explains in the New York Times, the answer lies in software. Specifically, gadgets that rely on software to create flexible platforms that can grow with their users and integrate with smartphones. But it’s worth keeping in mind that this approach doesn’t guarantee open connected systems; proprietary walled gardens are all the rage among today’s tech giants.
most of these software/app 'gadgets' are weak compared to dedicated devices. People serious about photography, listening to music, or other things are not going to give up their better, more dedicated hardware (e.g. a nice stereo or high-quality camera) just to use a phone as a mediocre replacement.