A list of features I'd like to see more often in future smartphone designs. Why are the manufacturers so obsessed with fancy gimmicks rather than making their devices more practical?

New phones are marketed with so many features that are ultimately barely used, while other features that are much easier to implement and were proven to be practical, are for some reason left out.

Here are a couple of features I find worth implementing: - A removable battery. - An option for wireless charging. - NFC capability. - IR Blaster and receiver - so that the phone could be paired with any remote control and to "learn" IR codes for future use. - Camera with Flash, Front facing camera. - USB Host, possible slimport - MicroSD slot - Notification LED - Unlocked bootloader and developer-friendly platform (So that custom ROMS would be supported, along with many other ways to customize the OS)

Additionally, a list of features that for me seem overrated: - Screen size. Most of the modern devices feature screen sizes that I can live with. I would want it to have a sufficient resolution and wide viewing angle though. - Water proof. I'd rather have an option for removable battery, and that the phone would be easier to repair at home. - Camera. I don't need it to be the best on the market. Most of the devices feature one that meets my needs. - Size, weight and design. It doesn't have to be extremely light and thin, nor has it got to have some fancy brushed metal look, for people who care about their phone are going to stuff it inside a bulky case anyway. So why not building the phone into a hard removable plastic case in the first place rather than selling a device that wouldn't hold-up without separately purchased accessories? - etc... It doesn't have to include any facial recognition, fingerprint sensor, air gestures, humidity sensor, heartbeat sensor etc... this might be only my opinion, but frankly I don't know anyone who actually use these features after the first couple of weeks with the phone.

All of these features aren't that revolutionary neither hard to implement. Why aren't there more devices that have them?

Submitted December 31, 2014 at 05:12AM by michaelfri http://www.reddit.com/r/gadgets/comments/2qv5ho/a_list_of_features_id_like_to_see_more_often_in/