This is just Samsung finding a use for their flexible OLED screens so they can continue to develop the technology and mass produce it to bring down costs in the interim. What really will be nice for mobile computing is when we see scrolls as opposed to tablets, or smartphones with roll out OLED displays.
Which Samsung has teased (and other companies have, as well) as being the future they envision, but right now I don't see the need to purchase a curved smartphone with only a few negligible benefits. Displays for decades have been moving towards flat as perfection, which was only really affordably achieved with LCDs in the past two. The Round is a good conversation piece if you are one of those in the Korean market who is willing to pony up the price, but I really only see curved displays as being a potential success in the large television display arena, where a panoramic, wide-aspect ratio can make sense for immersive gaming or movies.
Is it just me or are Samsung products as of late getting a bit extreme on the "Gimmicky" spectrum? It's as if they ran out of genuinely good ideas and are now resorting to a shotgun approach in hopes that one idea out of many will be a winner.
I can't help but feel that Samsung was only able to get to where it is today by looking at where the market was heading a few years back and charged as fast as it could in the same direction. However, now that they're a big player in the mobile space, they don't really have another company to look up to in deciding which way they should go for their new products because they've become a market leader. I personally don't see much innovation in their new products; sure, they get better each and every generation (as does most technology) but there's a serious lack of direction. It's all trial and error it seems.
I wouldn't say that at all, much of their success has come from devices which went a different way from the rest of the market. The Note is a prime example as it was ridiculed by many reviewers at the time and is now not only one of Samsung's more successful lines but it's created a new market segment.
Samsung do tend to take a shotgun approach at times but it's certainly nothing different to what they've been doing before with plenty of seemingly bizarre phones in the past. The hone with the builtin projector comes to mind or even further back the phone with a standard phone one side and an mp3 design the other side.
While I don't think this phone with the curved display is going to take off I think it's good that at least they're trying out different designs as otherwise the market would be a lot less interesting.
Only Samsung? I'd say the entire industry has been coming up with mostly gimmicks and barely incremental updates, with all the products aspects that may be considered "new" being useless or straight up criminally wasteful and inefficient.
I'm not saying that Samsung is the only one, but it feels as if they don't do any focus group testing on some of their new products to gauge consumer interest before releasing them. First we had a smartphone with a point and shoot built in, then we had a smartwatch which from what I've read isn't as popular as Samsung hoped, and now this. I do agree that they should have released the wrap-around display phone instead... There are many uses for a curved display but I did not expect this to be one of those permutations that was actually going to be released. Because of this, I also wouldn't be surprised if they released another curved phone except with the curvature in the opposite direction.
Trying to see the advantage of this screen, specially if using with an S-pen... Takes up more space in the pocket too. Agree with the "gimmicky" comments. Here's one novelty usage scenario: Leave it out in the rain screen side facing up, and it will collect water - serve as a bird bath.
Yeah but what if you've got big pockets and then it falls and rotates onto its side? Then its curvature will be working against that of your leg. I can't believe its a real advantage - at no point when walking or sitting do I think, "If only my Nexus 4 was curved, it'd fit so much more *snugly* against me."
Having said that, I did like the very gentle curve on the old Nexus S - it just felt great in the hand and at my finger tips. The curve on the screen was also in the vertical as well as the horizontal I seem to remember.
This screen, when considered as a focusing mirror, seems to have a focal radius similar to the typical viewing distance of the phone. Would be interesting to test what kind of light intensities you can generate in the focal plane of this screen when it reflects the sun. Does anybody know the reflectivity and actual curvature of the screen, and how much of the reflection is specular?
Yeah, I have to agree with the "don't understand why you'd want a curved phone" sentiment. Other than simply the 'because we can' factor. Definitely a gimmick.
Forget the title, it is not a "note" product. It is just morphologically similar, but the absence of stylus definitely disqualifies from being a "note". There is no "note" in the official product name, it is just the AT title.
Does anyone else get the sense that this is more of a proof-of-concept, and maybe an advertisement for their display division than an attempt at a blockbuster seller? It doesn't have the wraparound display that they showed off at CES, or some other feature that puts the curvature to good use. Furthermore, it is curved alongside the vertical edge, while a curve along the horizontal edge might have made for better ergonomics (to conform to the curvature of a face).
With LG set to release a curved OLED screen, as well, perhaps both are more interested in showing off what is technically possible and will try to attract other customers for their display businesses in addition to putting the features into their own phones.
"Although Samsung should be applauded for being the first to make a curved display, it is difficult to understand the utility of such a device."
Why should Samsung be applauded? What's the social value in producing a lame product, even when it is "innovative". Don't be such freaking pussies. Call a turd a turd. At least Ars Technica are willing to state the truth: " When a new article is posted on the Internet, the first addition to the comments section is often an inconsequential, one-word statement: "First!"
The frequent "First!" cry of the Internet troll declares some strange pride in being the first to comment on an article. The commenter put little to no effort into the post; it added nothing to the conversation, and it was completely devoid of substance. The troll did secure the spot at the top of the thread, though, and every additional commenter will be forced to scroll past the pointless contribution.
The Samsung Galaxy Gear says "First!" in hardware form. Samsung has beaten Google and Apple as the first major manufacturer to market, but much like the Internet commenter, it has sacrificed substance for the sake of timing "
That was for Galaxy Gear, but the sentiment seems just as appropriate here.
Hmmm… it seems to me that almost all of the commenters here, are Americans; thus, a certified Apple Fanboys!, and this certainly includes Ars Technica, AnandTech and many others! That, is the very reason why, all product that is needed to be reviewed (as the market demands), those are which directly competitors of Apple, especially Samsung, for sure; all possible types of professionally conjured praises shall certainly be provided just to pelt there most hidden agenda of wanting the very downfall of Samsung, believing that by doing so, Apple products specially iPhone 5S and beyond, will go up again to the top, hoping to become again the number one selling Smartphone of 2013 and beyond! Oh come-on…, don’t be too obvious, and envious!!!
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WinterCharm - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
I feel like putting this down on the table to type with it would be a major pain.silverblue - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
In addition, the lens would protude to the point that rocking the device may put undue stress on it, meaning it won't be long before it's scratched.Now, a BENDY phone... at least if you damaged the lens then, it'd be your fault and not the manufacturer's. Stll waiting for one of those.
Crono - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
This is just Samsung finding a use for their flexible OLED screens so they can continue to develop the technology and mass produce it to bring down costs in the interim. What really will be nice for mobile computing is when we see scrolls as opposed to tablets, or smartphones with roll out OLED displays.Which Samsung has teased (and other companies have, as well) as being the future they envision, but right now I don't see the need to purchase a curved smartphone with only a few negligible benefits. Displays for decades have been moving towards flat as perfection, which was only really affordably achieved with LCDs in the past two. The Round is a good conversation piece if you are one of those in the Korean market who is willing to pony up the price, but I really only see curved displays as being a potential success in the large television display arena, where a panoramic, wide-aspect ratio can make sense for immersive gaming or movies.
DaTanMan - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Is it just me or are Samsung products as of late getting a bit extreme on the "Gimmicky" spectrum? It's as if they ran out of genuinely good ideas and are now resorting to a shotgun approach in hopes that one idea out of many will be a winner.I can't help but feel that Samsung was only able to get to where it is today by looking at where the market was heading a few years back and charged as fast as it could in the same direction. However, now that they're a big player in the mobile space, they don't really have another company to look up to in deciding which way they should go for their new products because they've become a market leader. I personally don't see much innovation in their new products; sure, they get better each and every generation (as does most technology) but there's a serious lack of direction. It's all trial and error it seems.
Johnmcl7 - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
I wouldn't say that at all, much of their success has come from devices which went a different way from the rest of the market. The Note is a prime example as it was ridiculed by many reviewers at the time and is now not only one of Samsung's more successful lines but it's created a new market segment.Samsung do tend to take a shotgun approach at times but it's certainly nothing different to what they've been doing before with plenty of seemingly bizarre phones in the past. The hone with the builtin projector comes to mind or even further back the phone with a standard phone one side and an mp3 design the other side.
While I don't think this phone with the curved display is going to take off I think it's good that at least they're trying out different designs as otherwise the market would be a lot less interesting.
John
ddriver - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Only Samsung? I'd say the entire industry has been coming up with mostly gimmicks and barely incremental updates, with all the products aspects that may be considered "new" being useless or straight up criminally wasteful and inefficient.DaTanMan - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
I'm not saying that Samsung is the only one, but it feels as if they don't do any focus group testing on some of their new products to gauge consumer interest before releasing them. First we had a smartphone with a point and shoot built in, then we had a smartwatch which from what I've read isn't as popular as Samsung hoped, and now this. I do agree that they should have released the wrap-around display phone instead... There are many uses for a curved display but I did not expect this to be one of those permutations that was actually going to be released. Because of this, I also wouldn't be surprised if they released another curved phone except with the curvature in the opposite direction.willstay - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
What happened to wrap around display which can show notifications at all the times?KPOM - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Yes, that might be a lot more useful, and they had demoed it at CES back in January.Gadgety - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Trying to see the advantage of this screen, specially if using with an S-pen... Takes up more space in the pocket too. Agree with the "gimmicky" comments. Here's one novelty usage scenario: Leave it out in the rain screen side facing up, and it will collect water - serve as a bird bath.ddriver - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
It doesn't come with a pen or support for it apparently.ddriver - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
It will better fit in trouser pockets, since it will follow the curvature of the leg. Other than that I don't see much benefit to this product.JNo - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Yeah but what if you've got big pockets and then it falls and rotates onto its side? Then its curvature will be working against that of your leg. I can't believe its a real advantage - at no point when walking or sitting do I think, "If only my Nexus 4 was curved, it'd fit so much more *snugly* against me."Having said that, I did like the very gentle curve on the old Nexus S - it just felt great in the hand and at my finger tips. The curve on the screen was also in the vertical as well as the horizontal I seem to remember.
Impulses - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Pretty sure it was mostly along a vertical axis... It wasn't a concave/spherical shape, and it was a pretty shallow curvature anyway.ShieTar - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
This screen, when considered as a focusing mirror, seems to have a focal radius similar to the typical viewing distance of the phone. Would be interesting to test what kind of light intensities you can generate in the focal plane of this screen when it reflects the sun. Does anybody know the reflectivity and actual curvature of the screen, and how much of the reflection is specular?freedom4556 - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Yeah, I have to agree with the "don't understand why you'd want a curved phone" sentiment. Other than simply the 'because we can' factor. Definitely a gimmick.CZroe - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Read the entire article and still can't say for sure if it has pen/stylus input like the title implies. Clarification?ddriver - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Forget the title, it is not a "note" product. It is just morphologically similar, but the absence of stylus definitely disqualifies from being a "note". There is no "note" in the official product name, it is just the AT title.KPOM - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Does anyone else get the sense that this is more of a proof-of-concept, and maybe an advertisement for their display division than an attempt at a blockbuster seller? It doesn't have the wraparound display that they showed off at CES, or some other feature that puts the curvature to good use. Furthermore, it is curved alongside the vertical edge, while a curve along the horizontal edge might have made for better ergonomics (to conform to the curvature of a face).With LG set to release a curved OLED screen, as well, perhaps both are more interested in showing off what is technically possible and will try to attract other customers for their display businesses in addition to putting the features into their own phones.
repoman27 - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
Sure hope this thing is compatible with my Galaxy Gear :-Pdylan522p - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
what is the exact degree of curvature the phone has? Could you guys maybe update the article if you ever get that info.errorr - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
I think this would feel a lot safer to place in my pocket if it conforms to the curve of my leg. Otherwise I'm just dont get the point.name99 - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - link
"Although Samsung should be applauded for being the first to make a curved display, it is difficult to understand the utility of such a device."Why should Samsung be applauded? What's the social value in producing a lame product, even when it is "innovative".
Don't be such freaking pussies. Call a turd a turd. At least Ars Technica are willing to state the truth:
"
When a new article is posted on the Internet, the first addition to the comments section is often an inconsequential, one-word statement: "First!"
The frequent "First!" cry of the Internet troll declares some strange pride in being the first to comment on an article. The commenter put little to no effort into the post; it added nothing to the conversation, and it was completely devoid of substance. The troll did secure the spot at the top of the thread, though, and every additional commenter will be forced to scroll past the pointless contribution.
The Samsung Galaxy Gear says "First!" in hardware form. Samsung has beaten Google and Apple as the first major manufacturer to market, but much like the Internet commenter, it has sacrificed substance for the sake of timing
"
That was for Galaxy Gear, but the sentiment seems just as appropriate here.
Talks - Saturday, October 12, 2013 - link
Hmmm… it seems to me that almost all of the commenters here, are Americans; thus, a certified Apple Fanboys!, and this certainly includes Ars Technica, AnandTech and many others! That, is the very reason why, all product that is needed to be reviewed (as the market demands), those are which directly competitors of Apple, especially Samsung, for sure; all possible types of professionally conjured praises shall certainly be provided just to pelt there most hidden agenda of wanting the very downfall of Samsung, believing that by doing so, Apple products specially iPhone 5S and beyond, will go up again to the top, hoping to become again the number one selling Smartphone of 2013 and beyond! Oh come-on…, don’t be too obvious, and envious!!!