Books have a "hinge" because it is better than being a scroll. Screens have mastered "scrolling" for a long time so there is no point in going to the book paradigm. Folding is good to make a device pocketable but otherwise? Pretty useless I think. The color shift on off angle is horrendous
they show some images of the back side when flat but it's a little worrisome that the front screen when flat is not shown. the issues you talk about make me question uniformity that would inhibit fullscreen apps.
Depends on the expected usage scenario. What I would like to see is an e-ink A4 (13,3") foldable ebook reader/editor, something similar to Onyx Boox Max2, Sony DPT-RP1 or Remarkable which can process PDF, ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu, CBZ and CBR files.
"and software that allows owners to use foldable smartphones efficiently (e.g., switch from cover displays to main ones, tailor Android apps for larger screens, etc.)."
which leads the curious to ask: can such software be written using standard C compilers, or is this back to assembler work?
This would all be handled in the display driver and UX framework.
The software end of this (hopefully) isn't any more complex than handling screen rotation or multiple PPIs - the OS tells the software that the display layout has changed, so it loads the appropriate assets or redraws the vector graphics to match.
I can say that I have a folding ZTE Axon M, and it seamlessly re-scales all the apps I have from Google Play. So whatever ZTE did to the Android OS, it seamlessly works for any apps without further modification.
Of course it is C++. ASM is only used to take advantage of PU (CPU, DSP etc) instructions which do not even have intrinsics in a C++ compiler yet. Which has nothing to do with folding tech.
I am more afraid they will write the software in Java and it will be painfully slow and memory- and battery-hungry as a result.
I'm always wondering if this way this isn't a solution for a problem nobody has. I mean, as long as folding a larger device just leads to a smaller one that is three times as thick and that you always have to unfold to use it anyway this seems gimmicky to me at best.
Yes, if you could fold it into one that is just twice as thick AND has the display on the outside, maybe. But then those displays are plastic and need all the protection they can get or they will be scratched to hell in no time. They also can't fold very tightly. I am not convinced.
My 7" Nexus got more use time than my 11.6" laptop and 10.1" tablet at the time because it was easily pocketable in my breast pocket. If the 10.1" tablet had been foldable to the footprint of the 7" tablet and be pocketable that way, I would have carried it around much more often.
Although for phone size applications, the other route makes more sense. The other being the outside fold with the phone being useable in both folded and non-folded status.
Well, the difference in weight from a 7" to a 10" tablet is pretty important - while you could easily carry the weight of a 7" tablet in a breast pocket, the weight of a 10" tablet (even without its bulk) would be a bit too much. Also, due to the increased width, it would need to have a smaller footprint than a 7" tablet to fit the same pocket
Clamshell phones were a thing, and they were easy to use. A bit more thickness is unlikely to be an issue. What, 10-15mm instead of 7-8mm inside a protective case?
If it leads to smaller phones, and the screens are reliable and look good, I'm all for it. Other advantages are that plastic screens are more shock-resistant than glass, and the screen is protected while closed, at least in the case of inside-folding.
For decades they’ve been making phones with displays that if you drop - they crack - you buy new ones. And all of the sudden - foldable display. WTF!!! Sure, it won’t be good old scratch resistance glass. It’ll be plastic but can plastic crease like paper?
It's fascinating how the industry is moving ahead, from Samsung Galaxy Fold to Huawei's Mate X, especially the latter. I hope others also join this and evolve this by not compromising like MicroSD slot and 3.5mm jack, LG is the hope.
All of this 2019 advancements while Apple is still going to release another iPhone with same stuff at max, a new AR camera at back, reduced notch, shows how stagnated they have become.
Even Sony is making a new aspect ratio without letterboxing and no notch.
I am curious how much cheaper they can make the folding phone if we don't need the active display at the hinge, say dual touch screen with 3 mm divider line in the middle?
The folding form factor with flexible screen as shown does not seem to offer much productivity benefit beyond dual side by side screen.
With the caution that it's unclear what "low cost" means in the absence of even approximate pricing: Bravo TCL! I would be very interested in such a foldable 7.2 or, even better, 8 inch device that doesn't cost as much as a well-equipped MacBook Pro. Because that is how much the foldies from Samsung and Huawei are - well over $2,000. So, TCL, here is looking at you - don't disappoint us now.
Yawn. While interesting from a proof of concept standpoint all of the folding designs shown so far are years away from being ready for Primetime. Wake me when I can get a Westworld foldable for $500.
Ideally you want to go as large as possible not 7.2 inch. The bigger the display, the larger the value gained over a normal phone. Aim for 78-80 mm wide when folded and reduce bezels to get most out of it. And if you fold this way, just make it a tablet and get the price to bellow 500$.
Trend - Largest possible screen. Trend - Thinnest possible device. Trend - More camera lenses than you can count. Trend - Folding device.
Eh, I get that companies are furiously competing and that results in seeking out the next fad that will land sales, but given the solution to the problem of a difficult to carry device due to a large screen is to now make said device fold which in turn makes it excessively thick already speaks to how one stupid trend guides us into a problematic space where another stupid trend attempts to solve it. How about, if a screen is too large, we just shrink the screen a bit or is that too sensible for the world in which we live?
Memories of my old Kyocera Echo... It was occasionally handy having the larger screen (I didn't even find the seam between the two halves of the screen too annoying).
Of course, the distinctive difference is I didn't pay any more for it than I would have for other phones at a similar level...
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ianmills - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Books have a "hinge" because it is better than being a scroll. Screens have mastered "scrolling" for a long time so there is no point in going to the book paradigm. Folding is good to make a device pocketable but otherwise? Pretty useless I think. The color shift on off angle is horrendousOpencg - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
they show some images of the back side when flat but it's a little worrisome that the front screen when flat is not shown. the issues you talk about make me question uniformity that would inhibit fullscreen apps.bigvlada - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Depends on the expected usage scenario. What I would like to see is an e-ink A4 (13,3") foldable ebook reader/editor, something similar to Onyx Boox Max2, Sony DPT-RP1 or Remarkable which can process PDF, ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu, CBZ and CBR files.FunBunny2 - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
"and software that allows owners to use foldable smartphones efficiently (e.g., switch from cover displays to main ones, tailor Android apps for larger screens, etc.)."which leads the curious to ask: can such software be written using standard C compilers, or is this back to assembler work?
A5 - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
This would all be handled in the display driver and UX framework.The software end of this (hopefully) isn't any more complex than handling screen rotation or multiple PPIs - the OS tells the software that the display layout has changed, so it loads the appropriate assets or redraws the vector graphics to match.
Mikewind Dale - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
I can say that I have a folding ZTE Axon M, and it seamlessly re-scales all the apps I have from Google Play. So whatever ZTE did to the Android OS, it seamlessly works for any apps without further modification.peevee - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Of course it is C++. ASM is only used to take advantage of PU (CPU, DSP etc) instructions which do not even have intrinsics in a C++ compiler yet. Which has nothing to do with folding tech.I am more afraid they will write the software in Java and it will be painfully slow and memory- and battery-hungry as a result.
peevee - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Higher level I mean. Like their own mail client, switcher etc specifically for this thing.uhuznaa - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
I'm always wondering if this way this isn't a solution for a problem nobody has. I mean, as long as folding a larger device just leads to a smaller one that is three times as thick and that you always have to unfold to use it anyway this seems gimmicky to me at best.Yes, if you could fold it into one that is just twice as thick AND has the display on the outside, maybe. But then those displays are plastic and need all the protection they can get or they will be scratched to hell in no time. They also can't fold very tightly. I am not convinced.
Death666Angel - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
My 7" Nexus got more use time than my 11.6" laptop and 10.1" tablet at the time because it was easily pocketable in my breast pocket. If the 10.1" tablet had been foldable to the footprint of the 7" tablet and be pocketable that way, I would have carried it around much more often.Although for phone size applications, the other route makes more sense. The other being the outside fold with the phone being useable in both folded and non-folded status.
Calin - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Well, the difference in weight from a 7" to a 10" tablet is pretty important - while you could easily carry the weight of a 7" tablet in a breast pocket, the weight of a 10" tablet (even without its bulk) would be a bit too much. Also, due to the increased width, it would need to have a smaller footprint than a 7" tablet to fit the same pocketsheh - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Clamshell phones were a thing, and they were easy to use.A bit more thickness is unlikely to be an issue. What, 10-15mm instead of 7-8mm inside a protective case?
If it leads to smaller phones, and the screens are reliable and look good, I'm all for it.
Other advantages are that plastic screens are more shock-resistant than glass, and the screen is protected while closed, at least in the case of inside-folding.
sonny73n - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
You fell for it.For decades they’ve been making phones with displays that if you drop - they crack - you buy new ones. And all of the sudden - foldable display. WTF!!! Sure, it won’t be good old scratch resistance glass. It’ll be plastic but can plastic crease like paper?
GreenReaper - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Well, look at modern banknotes. I imagine they will use a plastic which is flexible but crease-resistant.name99 - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
You’re EXTREMELY optimistic if you think plastic bank notes don’t crease...Quantumz0d - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
It's fascinating how the industry is moving ahead, from Samsung Galaxy Fold to Huawei's Mate X, especially the latter. I hope others also join this and evolve this by not compromising like MicroSD slot and 3.5mm jack, LG is the hope.All of this 2019 advancements while Apple is still going to release another iPhone with same stuff at max, a new AR camera at back, reduced notch, shows how stagnated they have become.
Even Sony is making a new aspect ratio without letterboxing and no notch.
uhuznaa - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
I guess Apple won't bother until they can do this in a way to sell at least 100 million of them or so.name99 - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Really? You know what the 2019 iPhone looks like?How did you come by this information?
mkozakewich - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Ugh, that last shot. "The phone is a little too long, so let's make it an inch thick instead!"PEJUman - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
I am curious how much cheaper they can make the folding phone if we don't need the active display at the hinge, say dual touch screen with 3 mm divider line in the middle?The folding form factor with flexible screen as shown does not seem to offer much productivity benefit beyond dual side by side screen.
eastcoast_pete - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
With the caution that it's unclear what "low cost" means in the absence of even approximate pricing: Bravo TCL! I would be very interested in such a foldable 7.2 or, even better, 8 inch device that doesn't cost as much as a well-equipped MacBook Pro. Because that is how much the foldies from Samsung and Huawei are - well over $2,000. So, TCL, here is looking at you - don't disappoint us now.SquarePeg - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Yawn. While interesting from a proof of concept standpoint all of the folding designs shown so far are years away from being ready for Primetime. Wake me when I can get a Westworld foldable for $500.jjj - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Ideally you want to go as large as possible not 7.2 inch. The bigger the display, the larger the value gained over a normal phone. Aim for 78-80 mm wide when folded and reduce bezels to get most out of it.And if you fold this way, just make it a tablet and get the price to bellow 500$.
PeachNCream - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Trend - Largest possible screen. Trend - Thinnest possible device. Trend - More camera lenses than you can count. Trend - Folding device.Eh, I get that companies are furiously competing and that results in seeking out the next fad that will land sales, but given the solution to the problem of a difficult to carry device due to a large screen is to now make said device fold which in turn makes it excessively thick already speaks to how one stupid trend guides us into a problematic space where another stupid trend attempts to solve it. How about, if a screen is too large, we just shrink the screen a bit or is that too sensible for the world in which we live?
JoeTheDestroyr - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Memories of my old Kyocera Echo... It was occasionally handy having the larger screen (I didn't even find the seam between the two halves of the screen too annoying).Of course, the distinctive difference is I didn't pay any more for it than I would have for other phones at a similar level...
Thud2 - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
These hinges are a non-starter. Would you buy a laptop that had a big void at the hinge when you closed it?