Is HTC Making a “Female-Friendly” Droid Phone?

Fantastic! I’ve just been using my iPhone as a mirror to put on lipstick all these years.

See, if companies would just figure out that you can market to women simply by making a regular old commercial and feature a woman using whatever product you’re selling, you will sell that product to the female population just fine. You don’t need the stupid stereotypes, all you need to do is show a woman enjoying whatever the product is and it will sell. Seriously. It doesn’t have to be pink. Or calming. Or whatever that weird awful seafoam green color is.

The one positive thing I will say is that having a charm thingy to help you find it in your bag is helpful, since I have to carry around a giant bag since I have allergies and have to carry epi-pens and benadryl and crap like that. :/ It does get crowded in there… Oh for the days of a small/or non-existent bag. I wish I could just use my pockets still. Oh well.

WUT EVEN. I agree so hard with Erincb87 – just show women using the product and more women will probably use it. No need to make me a special brain-matter colored (sea-foam, whatever) phone that comes prepacked with more shit about which I do not care (i.e. shopping comparisons and a “less manly” bluetooth set.) Damn, what is with companies and trying to make stereotypical gender-specific products out of EVERYTHING these days?

A smart phone should be just that. Smart. It should become what the user needs regardless of gender.

One of Android’s selling points is that it’s very customizable. Just keep it that way. Offer the shopping applications to those who want it. Advertise the option but don’t force it upon us. Tell us it’s there if we want it but don’t pretend to know what every women needs.

In the end the market will really tell if a “Smart Phone for Women” will really sell. Personally, I think just selling a great phone that works with a lot of applications and add ons (that cost extra) would see more revenue and be less insulting to the potential user base but what do I know. I’m just a girl.

I actually like the sea-foam green color and the charm indicator sounds like a useful tool but other than that, don’t they realize they could save themselves so much money by, erm, just making a functional phone?

I have an HTC Evo. My sound scheme? Dalek’s: EXTERMINATE! Buwahahaha.. I love being a girl.

I want an Android phone BECAUSE of the robot. I suppose I are doing it wrong.

Huh. Ok so confession: I work for in the cellular industry. When you all are dreaming of your next great device, I’m playing with it. I also tote an Android device myself. So a phone geared towards women? HELLS YES.

Hear me out:

Yes, we shouldn’t need to separate women from the men. HOWEVER. All those android phones are getting bigger and bigger to accommodate the incredible screens. Many women have smaller hands than men and are frustrated that the device feels too big in their hands. This does not mean all women will prefer a smaller phone over a larger screen. Just saying.

Based on your facts:
1. Seaform green body – Eh. Most devices start out in gray or black and then add colors to their lineups. This one starting green is different and a bit well, erg, if it’s due to its female focus. bummer. I prefer black or blue. Yet if so, THANK the gods it’s finally NOT pink or purple.
2. Some devices are beginning to feature a rubber back so that the device doesn’t slide everywhere whether it’s on your car dashboard or about to fall from your too full arms.
2.b. It’s thinner? Woot! All the devices are getting thinner. It’s because we can fit so much tech into smaller and smaller casings. Check out the difference between the HTC Hero and HTC Desire.
3. Seriously? Did HTC actually promote that? Huh. Well, now that’s a bit of standard marketing. Everyone tries to appeal to demographics based on stereotyped ideas. Shitty, but on the whole, marketing works.
4. Bluetooth devices are usually called stylish. Check out the stylish Jawbone.
5. Well, as a big bag carrier, that would be kinda helpful I guess.

I think it’s awesome that you love your Droid. I love my Hero. You’re right, nothing in those commercials said you shouldn’t buy that phone. Doesn’t mean they can’t create a phone for a specific demographic that you don’t fit in. (to be clear: athletic, fashion-loving women who want a tech savvy, smaller android that they can find easily despite fitting their lives in a purse) Don’t crap on a company because they might create a phone that’s not for you.

Overall, kinda funny. But Mary Sue, please watch the snark. We’ve ditched Jezebel for something smarter, geeker, & less high-school girl bully. The whole world isn’t out to get women. Sometimes, they just stereotype when they’re trying a bit too hard. Let’s encourage them in the right direction rather than victimizing ourselves in such innocent situations like these.

Wow did THAT come out bitter. Hate to say it but the charm feature and rubber backing are beneficial to a lot of us, regardless of gender. Also, most women tend to have smaller hands, which is why they made it thinner. The DS Lite had a mention, when it first came out, of how it would be good for both “people with smaller hands and women” and thankfully there was no blast of flames for this.

How is a calming color automatically “cuz god knows you are are crazy lololol”? That and the stylish bluetooth are simply there because, as a whole, women tend to buy things that… look nice. Not many of us, regardless of gender, go out of our way to buy things that look horrible. There are tons of headphones (Skullcandy for one major brand) that make a bit of effort to look nice. They’re not specifically female-targeted, but I do wonder if more of their customers are women at times. Liking nice things does not = being shallow or only caring about appearances.

The calorie counting I have no defense for, but the shopping app can be used for practical purposes by both genders. I have two barcode scanners, once for groceries and one for general products. Is it because I’m a woman? No, it’s because I like to save money.

So yes, I agree with Oliver. Not all women want or need these features, nor should it be stereotyped that women “have to have things smaller and prettier and cuter,” but.. these people (usually) do their research and give the people what they ask for. I’ve always thought that feminism was, first and foremost, “The right to choose what you want, instead of it being chosen for you.” I happen to be a girly girl, frills and lace, all that jazz. I have a pink background on my iTouch. This phone is not for all women, but it may be for some women like me. It ain’t gonna work for everyone, just like if they marketed a phone for guys that was all “Commando G.I. Joe.” It’d hit a lot of guys, but definitely not all of em. Can’t please everyone.

It’s been going on for awhile, really. According to commercials, only women need to buy and use vacuums or dishwasher soap. If a man appears, its purely for some stereotypical gender role comedic relief that we’re suppose to find relatable and amusing. It really isn’t. I agree with you and the previous poster, Heaven forbid we achieve a more gender neutral mind set in society.

Let’s make a phone that’s shiny and gold that plays rap and market it to black people! Because, that’s what all black people like. Right? Right?

I agree with the article. This is stupid.

Seems to me that this designed for women, just not those in their target demo. This seems more geared more for the older user who may have problems adjusting to smartphones’ customizability. It sounds like it’s a little sleeker, maybe a touch more feminine (perish the thought that not all women would want their tech in chrome and black like the rest of us), and preloaded with a couple of apps that women my wife’s and mom’s ages would likely appreciate anyway on a smartphone. I wonder what Jamie would have said if it includes a map app…that it was just there because the men on the marketing team think women need the extra help because women are getting lost all the time?

I have an original Droid because I wanted a real freaking keyboard.

Interesting input. You have to be careful about bashing a phone designed for women, even more so when you advertise yourself as a geek website for women.

Thank god it’s a calming colour, because my black phone is STRESSING ME THE FCUK OUT.

Excellent reply. I don’t agree with all your points but it was good to hear from someone within the industry Thank you.

Thank goodness! My delicate lady-brain was making it super duper difficult text and download weight-watching apps on my butch HTC Android.

I have pockets… no, tell a lie; I actually tend to keep my phone in my bra at work (only times I wear a bra are at work and at the climbing wall) because oh my god why is it so difficult to find PLAIN black trousers WITHOUT fashionable labels with POCKETS?!

There’s a very nice commercial for some washing powder where there’s a man using the powder and a female VO explaining why/how it works.

It’s simple, streamlined, is not condescending at all and doesn’t use stereotypes. Bloody shocking. Unfortunately I can’t remember the brand… I only use hippie friendly products so an ad for anything not hippie friendly just doesn’t embed itself in my memory well enough.

Am I the only one who hears ‘sea foam’ and thinks ‘pollution’ and ‘scum’ as opposed to gentle, soft green?

Take out the words ‘women’ and ‘female’ and there’s no problem with this phone. Make it a phone for people with smaller hands who like soft colours and carry a lot of crap in their bags (I speak as someone who carries a rucksack that contains a LOT of crap including but not restricted to climbing shoes, a note bad, moisturiser and hair bobbles) and we’re all good.

Reminds me of that British show, “Look Around You” when they had the first computer for women, The Petticoat V5, by women gag.

I always assume all technology is for women rather than men. Why else make the keys so small or touchscreens that require fingernails to operate with any precision? Obv. they are not intended for clumsy manhands.

Does this mean guys have to hand in their apple products? If pretty colours and design and a ton of apps make them for women only then I demand that y’all hand in your iphones!

I think my main problem with these kinds of products is as soon
as I hear “marketed to women” or “pink box” a lot of baggage associated
with these advertising campaigns resurfaces and all I think is “Oh, boy
is this going to be like the car advertised as having a ponytail hole in
the seat or like when I wanted to buy a video game and was shown Barbie
Horse Adventures?” It never sounds cool. It always feels
patronizing.

Why not just say the phone is smaller and thinner? Isn’t that what
makes new i-pods so cool? It’s why I switched from my old huge one to a nano. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a phone that
didn’t have the option of lighting up while ringing so why should I replace my current phone with this one? Can’t you just tell me that the grip will keep it planted on my
dash and not under the brake pedal? More importantly, has not putting a pink spin on a phone ever stopped women from buying them?

I’m looking forward to the phone for men:
1. COLORED RED LIKE BOOD MOTHERFUCKER2. APPS FOR COUNTING BENCH PRESS REPS PUSH IT OUT YOU PUSSY3. THE ONLY RINGTONE IS UFC CHAMPION CHUCK LIDDELL ROARING
4. GRIP PAD MADE OF BARBED WIRE
5. RAZOR FOR SLITTING YOUR WRISTS WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU’LL NEVER BE AS MANLY AS YOUR PHONE
5. BEEF JERKY DISPENSER

rofl! This is so true. Using my touchscreen has become ten times more troublesome since I started rock climbing; no nails at ALL.

It’ll be called The Chuck Norris.

I dunno. This could sell well to the Paris Hilton wannabes.

I like the color–it matches my car. Not that I need to be feminine to want my phone and my car to match, it’s just something that would make me smile. (Also, I just really like that color.)

The rubber back sounds AWESOME. As someone else mentioned: It wouldn’t slide around on my dash.

Who am I kidding? I’m just glad the dang thing isn’t pink. Not that there’s anything wrong with pink, I’m just tired of it being the default “women’s product” color.