Here’s a tip. If your device only does one thing – even if it does it very well – chances are, it will become obsolete before it’s even lost that new gizmo smell. I’m looking at you, Kindle.
We live in an era where it’s no longer acceptable to be good at just one thing. One could say multi-tasking has become the single task we’re challenged with on a daily basis. Look at your personal life. It’s all about juggling your commitments, family or friends, and responsibilities. You shouldn’t have to pick just one. And let us not forget about how many hats most of us wear at our jobs. Your boss wouldn’t pay you to do the same one task all day long, so why would we let our gadgets get away with that?
Look at the iPod. Sure, it started off simply as a music device. But then it evolved. Into a jukebox that also does games, video, is a virtual picture album, and gets you on the Internet, too. It adapted to its environment. Technological Darwinism.
Mobile devices are no different. Take your cell phone, for example. You could argue that the phone aspects of mobile devices almost feel like an after-thought, these days. Just look at how the new iPhone – with the word PHONE built right into its name, might I remind you – has issues with its reception if you don’t hold it correctly. Because of where its antenna was built into it. Oh, but its display is so crystal clear, the T1000 would ooooh and ahhhhh over its resolution! Ahem. We use our phones as much for texting, gaming and Internetting (is that even a term?!) as we do to make phone calls.
The Kindle was, or should I say is still, a great reader. But then the iPad came around and was an e-reader, computer, jukebox and social media device rolled into one. All for just a little more than that of a single-purpose Kindle. I was an English major in college. And still an active reader. Yet, as much as I love how the e-ink looks on the Kindle, it’s hard for me to justify spending my hard-to-come-by “fun time” money on a device that does just one thing when the Swiss Army Knife of gadgets is available for nearly the same drop of coin.
If single-purpose devices hope to survive, they better have been built with flexibility for future expansion. Otherwise, in this nation of multi-tasking and “Oh look, bright shiny object!” short attention spans, they run the likely risk of finding themselves on the Island of Misfit Toys with Charlie-in-the-Box and his Microsoft Kin.
Bruce is a Mobile Media Specialist at Roll Mobile. He is a lover of good music, bad puns and ugly sweater vests. Want to learn more about adding mobile components to complement your existing marketing strategies? Or have a BLOG@ROLL topic you’d like us to explore?
Contact bruce@whyroll.com or on Twitter via @RollMobile.