Already this year, several manufacturers are threatening to release a foldable smartphone. In general, as long as such statements should be treated rather skeptically, but is itself a concept device that flick of the wrist turns a smartphone into a tablet, is discussed for a long time.
The idea itself is really good: it is much more convenient to have one of the two gadgets. Hitherto we tried to solve this problem in different ways. For example, the ASUS PadFone released a special line of smartphones that by setting the docking station converted into a tablet.
In principle, a good solution, which is quite right to exist, but with a big minus in the form of significant size. For this reason, ASUS PadFone has never enjoyed great popularity, and, in general, the future is the uncertain line.
As an alternative, some manufacturers offer a smartphone equipped with a miniature projector. Samsung released several similar “production concept” in the family Galaxy Beam. Understandably, they simply could not miss the media, but the demand is clearly not consistent with the expectations of marketers.
Cons here just two. First, for however picture quality, you need a good projection screen. Secondly, the problem of management. Poking a finger in the projected image can be, and even scan these gestures are also real. However, neither of which feedback can not even dream of.
And what we’re left with? Correctly:
CREATE FOLDABLE SMARTPHONE
SAMSUNG
Among the first, Samsung turned out again that during the second half of 2015 showed a similar video on the device, codenamed Project V (Valley). Just shortly before the flexible OLED-screens have been demonstrated.
Last year there were rumors that the Koreans will present such an unusual concept in the “hardware” later this year, called the Galaxy the X, but it is already known that the output of the device is removed for an indefinite period.
NEC
In 2013, the mobile market now abandons the company showed a very interesting gadget called Medias W N-05E. The device is a smart folding of two halves, each of which had by the 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels.
However, as a full-fledged tablet to use a transformer NEC did not work: all the fault visible frame around the display, and the gap between them and the lack of ready-made software platform for comfortable operation. Probably for this reason Medias W N-05E sold exclusively through Japanese mobile operator DoCoMo.
XIAOMI
One of the largest Chinese manufacturers of smartphones also promises to release the folding (or flexible) smartphone. The company even recently received the patent. As in the case of Galaxy X, the gadget will fold out like a book.
MICROSOFT
Perhaps the most unusual, and at the same time, the most detailed in the patent version of the foldable smartphone lineup Surface unveiled the company that created of Windows. The device can not only be decomposed into a tablet but transformed into a smartphone with a convenient stand.
LG
Another Korean electronics maker also could not be on the side and registered a patent which discloses very original foldable smartphone: its flexible OLED-touch screen as it is wrapped around the body.
LENOVO
The Taiwanese company went further and not only registered the patent but also introduced in the summer of 2016 the prototype of the convertible tablet with the 10-inch screen that can be folded like a book screen outside and use a phablet.
The device allows you to make calls even. However, mass production is still so far away. Nevertheless, the experience of Lenovo shows that until the folding phablet market remains very little.
OTHER MANUFACTURERS
Of course, only the above-named companies is not limited. For example, the Oppo Chinese, who recently became the leader in the China market among smartphone manufacturers, in May 2016, presented her working partially foldable tablet concept.
So it may well happen that it will be vendors from China by these pioneers.
WHY DO I NEED IT?
We have already written that the smartphone market is now in a stage of stagnation. The growth performance of processors, amount of memory is still going on, but for a comfortable run, most applications and solutions lacking 2-year-old.
In addition, in recent years the vast majority of smart phones look almost the same: monoblock with a large touch screen for most of the front surface and a minimum of other controls.
Every other Chinese smartphone Apple iPhone copies the design of the latest series, one in three – the flagship Samsung Galaxy S. When a full line of the curved screen is too expensive, it makes it a cheap imitation and proudly calls it 2.5D-effect.
You can certainly make the screen even almost the entire front of the smartphone, like Xiaomi Mi Mix, but essentially it does not change, just a little unusual here design. The foldable smartphone – is really unusual and always interesting. As far as it is practical – it depends on how it can realize manufacturers.
Title: Foldable smartphone: a small excursion into the history of the concept
Updated: 2017-01-27
Author:
No comments:
Post a Comment