Really weird article guys. Not a single photo of the screen, head-on, wide open, at 6.7" 2636 x 1080 ? One shot like that laid down on a table so that you can't see if the 'fold' has any appreciable effect on image quality.... All the prominent images show the phone, uh... flipped halfway.... With 6.7" of screen, I want to see how good it looks as a mini-tablet....
Then there is the 1.1" cover screen. Really would like to see a shot of that as well.
Just really lacking for useful images in this article.... Either it's a paid advert... or you guys just couldn't be bothered to ask for more photos?
Anytime you have to go through outside PR to request info the vendor didn't prepare them with in advance, you can expect to be waiting a while to get a satisfactory answer. It's a system that's optimized for communication in one direction only, and it does work fine when the vendor's launch plans include sharing all the info we want for a product announcement news post.
(To be clear, I'm speaking in generalities here, and have not been involved in our communications with Samsung mobile; I deal with different Samsung people and PR agents for storage stuff, who are only occasionally recalcitrant.)
Juist fwiw - having been on almost all sides of this (Trying to get info from a pr department from the outside; working in a business and needing pr approval; being part of a pr team talking to press; and having to work with a pr team from another company as partner) - it depends on the company but esp the large ones can indeed be adequately described as recalcitrant and honestly that’s being nice... the pr side of some companies is as pent up as... well, imagine something ;-)
They try desperately to protect something that often, by being so overly protective, gets hurt in the process. I myself believe that being open and honest is the best pr strategy - of course, in there is still plenty room to present things in a more positive way, fitting the narrative of the brand and so on. I’ve had some wonderful moments that made me particularly proud, where a fsckup ended up being communicated so that the outside perceived it as a great move and a win, hehe. But you can’t win all such battles and I have sympathy for pr folks, it isn’t easy.
These are press renders, not photos of the product. They obviously wouldn't show any effects the fold might have on image quality. You would need to wait for reviews (or at least proper hands-ons) for that.
The cover screen is in the semi-transparent window next to the camera modules, clearly seen in several pictures. As for the full screen folded out - did you see the third image in the article? It quite clearly shows the phone fully unfolded from both sides. And 6.7" at 22:9 isn't a mini-tablet, it's an extra tall 5.1" 16:9 phone.
I don't understand the purpose. It unfolds into a normal-sized phone. So what's the purpose of its folding? To protect the screen from keys in your pocket?
It's a second test of the waters to see if there is a marketable product because the first round has been inconclusive OR the first round has proven there is a viable draw. Either is possible.
It's basically a concept phone as a product. The technology will be used in the future to make phones with bigger screens that can still fit inside a pocket.
Yeas ago these types of products will never go on sale but times have changed and commercial products that are buggy or with half baked technology don't bother current crop of consumers much anymore.
It could remove the need for a phone case and therefore end up smaller. You would think that you would need some for of lock otherwise the phone could spring apart during the fall.
Obviously this wouldn't help if the phone were open or in use.
For one. For another, when folded up its a more compact (if thicker) form factor when you put it away, since phones are becoming larger than tacos nowadays. Another use case is a sort of "laptop" style mode for when you put this on your desk- it's much more ergonomic when using as a clock, for video conferencing, or simply for quick peak at information instead of having to prop the phone up on something.
I can't lie, my favorite phone to date is still the Samsung "Blade" A900 flip phone. This is one step closer, it just needs a physical keyboard a la BlackBerry Key annnnnnnd I'm spent.
pardon my comments about lack of photos. i just imagined getting photos of new products was easier than it is. I'm not in your industry, so forgive me assumption please.
We will always be limited by width of a phone as folks want to hold a phone with one hand and dial/type/navigate with their thumb. this lenghwise folding phone, my encourage phones to get even longer... we'll start seeing 2.35:1 aspect ratios (like a cinema screen) soon. folding widthwise can get us to a tabletlike 4:3 aspect ratio.... but then you loose one handed ability unless you introduce a 2nd exterior screen...
I suspect we will continue to see a variety of folding formats and eventually one or two will emerge as the preferred.
I liked the Huawei Mate X style, which unfortunately is a no-go since the plastic screen would scratch. Mate X with folding glass would be a fine phone to hold with one hand, and when you wanted some extra size you could unfold it. That would actually be really good!
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24 Comments
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HardwareDufus - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Really weird article guys.Not a single photo of the screen, head-on, wide open, at 6.7" 2636 x 1080 ? One shot like that laid down on a table so that you can't see if the 'fold' has any appreciable effect on image quality.... All the prominent images show the phone, uh... flipped halfway.... With 6.7" of screen, I want to see how good it looks as a mini-tablet....
Then there is the 1.1" cover screen. Really would like to see a shot of that as well.
Just really lacking for useful images in this article.... Either it's a paid advert... or you guys just couldn't be bothered to ask for more photos?
Billy Tallis - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
It's not a paid advertisement, and there's nothing wrong with publishing what info we have while trying to get more info out of a recalcitrant vendor.0iron - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Recalcitrant vendor, wow really? 😏Billy Tallis - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Anytime you have to go through outside PR to request info the vendor didn't prepare them with in advance, you can expect to be waiting a while to get a satisfactory answer. It's a system that's optimized for communication in one direction only, and it does work fine when the vendor's launch plans include sharing all the info we want for a product announcement news post.(To be clear, I'm speaking in generalities here, and have not been involved in our communications with Samsung mobile; I deal with different Samsung people and PR agents for storage stuff, who are only occasionally recalcitrant.)
jospoortvliet - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
Juist fwiw - having been on almost all sides of this (Trying to get info from a pr department from the outside; working in a business and needing pr approval; being part of a pr team talking to press; and having to work with a pr team from another company as partner) - it depends on the company but esp the large ones can indeed be adequately described as recalcitrant and honestly that’s being nice... the pr side of some companies is as pent up as... well, imagine something ;-)They try desperately to protect something that often, by being so overly protective, gets hurt in the process. I myself believe that being open and honest is the best pr strategy - of course, in there is still plenty room to present things in a more positive way, fitting the narrative of the brand and so on. I’ve had some wonderful moments that made me particularly proud, where a fsckup ended up being communicated so that the outside perceived it as a great move and a win, hehe. But you can’t win all such battles and I have sympathy for pr folks, it isn’t easy.
Valantar - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
These are press renders, not photos of the product. They obviously wouldn't show any effects the fold might have on image quality. You would need to wait for reviews (or at least proper hands-ons) for that.The cover screen is in the semi-transparent window next to the camera modules, clearly seen in several pictures. As for the full screen folded out - did you see the third image in the article? It quite clearly shows the phone fully unfolded from both sides. And 6.7" at 22:9 isn't a mini-tablet, it's an extra tall 5.1" 16:9 phone.
Mikewind Dale - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
I don't understand the purpose. It unfolds into a normal-sized phone. So what's the purpose of its folding? To protect the screen from keys in your pocket?PeachNCream - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
It's a second test of the waters to see if there is a marketable product because the first round has been inconclusive OR the first round has proven there is a viable draw. Either is possible.wr3zzz - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
It's basically a concept phone as a product. The technology will be used in the future to make phones with bigger screens that can still fit inside a pocket.Yeas ago these types of products will never go on sale but times have changed and commercial products that are buggy or with half baked technology don't bother current crop of consumers much anymore.
RBFL - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
It could remove the need for a phone case and therefore end up smaller. You would think that you would need some for of lock otherwise the phone could spring apart during the fall.Obviously this wouldn't help if the phone were open or in use.
flyingpants265 - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
You know what would remove the need for a phone case? If the phone weren't designed to explode into 1800 pieces on impact.Duckferd - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
For one. For another, when folded up its a more compact (if thicker) form factor when you put it away, since phones are becoming larger than tacos nowadays. Another use case is a sort of "laptop" style mode for when you put this on your desk- it's much more ergonomic when using as a clock, for video conferencing, or simply for quick peak at information instead of having to prop the phone up on something.BenSkywalker - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
Seeing a picture of this sitting next to a new Razr it hit me, this looks just like a GBA SP.psychobriggsy - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
It's a fancy DS without the game controls, but I certainly see your point!nathanddrews - Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - link
I can't lie, my favorite phone to date is still the Samsung "Blade" A900 flip phone. This is one step closer, it just needs a physical keyboard a la BlackBerry Key annnnnnnd I'm spent.yetanotherhuman - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
Very nice. I like this, we can get sane size phones once again.HardwareDufus - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
pardon my comments about lack of photos. i just imagined getting photos of new products was easier than it is. I'm not in your industry, so forgive me assumption please.We will always be limited by width of a phone as folks want to hold a phone with one hand and dial/type/navigate with their thumb. this lenghwise folding phone, my encourage phones to get even longer... we'll start seeing 2.35:1 aspect ratios (like a cinema screen) soon. folding widthwise can get us to a tabletlike 4:3 aspect ratio.... but then you loose one handed ability unless you introduce a 2nd exterior screen...
I suspect we will continue to see a variety of folding formats and eventually one or two will emerge as the preferred.
flyingpants265 - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
This is probably the worst comment I've ever read on this site.It's the EXACT opposite, you'll always be limited by HEIGHT. 18:9 is already way, wayy wayy too tall and makes the phone unusable.
Sivar - Thursday, February 13, 2020 - link
Really? THIS is the worst comment you have read on this site?An honest apology and a speculation that you do not happen to agree with?
mkozakewich - Sunday, February 16, 2020 - link
I liked the Huawei Mate X style, which unfortunately is a no-go since the plastic screen would scratch. Mate X with folding glass would be a fine phone to hold with one hand, and when you wanted some extra size you could unfold it. That would actually be really good!Beaver M. - Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - link
Guys!Foldable Glass (!!)
shyam163 - Monday, February 17, 2020 - link
Zach at JerryRigEverything scratched this "glass" display with his fingernails.jimjamjamie - Monday, February 17, 2020 - link
That's what happens when you post too many mr skeltal memes at halloweenjfgarro31 - Thursday, February 20, 2020 - link
Omg! thats amazing.Thank you for share, but i love Iphone.Say hello to my website about learn spanish buenos aires https://expanish.com/school-buenos-aires/