Samsung says it needs to improve software

Samsung's brand-new boss says the South Korean company needs to focus on improving its software, the Wall Street Journal reports.

In his inaugural speech, Kwon Oh-hyun said, "A particular focus must be given to serving new customer experience and value." To be specific, the Galaxy S3 maker will be "strengthening soft capabilities in software, user experience, design and solutions".

He's not wrong, either. Samsung makes some of the best smart phones money can buy, with the Samsung Galaxy S2 and S3 blowing our socks clean off our feet in the hardware stakes. The company's TouchWiz software, however, which it layers over Google's Android operating system, can be rough around the edges.

Our reviews of TouchWiz-slathered smart phones have focused on a sometimes confusing interface, and an unpleasant amount of bloatware that comes pre-loaded onto phones.

There are signs of improvement, however. The Samsung Galaxy S3 offers some fresh Samsung software treats, for example, such as Pop up Play and S Voice, a (mostly rubbish) Siri alternative.

I can think of several reasons why Samsung would want to improve its software chops. Most obviously it needs to compete with Apple's slick, app-laden iOS platform, but Samsung will also be eyeing Google's Motorola acquisition as a sign that its Android rival could soon be receiving preferential treatment in the software stakes.

Thinking beyond Android, Samsung could be planning to improve its own Bada operating system, which has traditionally powered low-end mobiles -- although recent cheap Samsung efforts like the Galaxy Y run on Android.

What do you think Samsung should focus on to improve its software experience? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook wall.