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Fujitsu's Latest Mobile Phone Splits In Two
angry tapir writes with news of Fujitsu's new phone which is taking the sliding phone keyboard a step further by allowing it to detach completely. "The F-04B was announced as part of NTT DoCoMo's new line-up and is scheduled to hit Japanese shelves in March or April next year. At first glance it looks like a conventional slider cell phone: grab onto the bottom of the phone and a numeric keypad slides out. But decouple a catch and the entire back half of the phone can be pulled off."
I can do the same thing with my iPhone and a hacksaw... big deal
Here is a demo of the phone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q15kGMW0N98&feature=player_embedded
Now I've got another piece of the phone I'm going to lose in the couch. Along with the remote and loose change.
From TFA: "Fujitsu also plans to offer an optional projector unit that can be clipped onto the bottom of the phone in place of the keyboard to project images on a nearby flat surface." Really? Doesn't this seem a bit much for a phone? Or is there a demand I don't know about to have a projector on your phone? I guess it *could* be useful for someone making a presentation of some sort, but I'd think a computer or an actual projector would be better..
Ah am not a crook! (\(-__-)/)
Another part to get lost. Cool.
This ain't rocket surgery.
Sometimes people say "we CAN do this", but should say "we SHOULDN'T do this". Sounds like a touch screen phone with an optional keypad. The only interesting use case they presented was if you are concerned about health issues of keeping phones near your head. Sounds to me like they would have been better off actually bundling and blue-tooth headset with a standard touch phone. On the other hand, it kind of makes the phone sound like a break apart robot, and we all know the Japanese are big into robots. Maybe they will add a feature later where you can attach multiple phones together to create Megazord. Now THAT is a phone I would consider buying...
Now my phone can give me two small objects to misplace.
Sounds like the best of both worlds so far, being able to operate with just the phone half, or even use the keyboard half like a bluetooth headset.
But can both halves be used at once for a home-made three-way? Does keeping the entire package together yield better battery life? How long till we've got video calls where we're talking on the keyboard and watching video on the main phone? What about texting while talking on the phone? Inquiring teenagers want to know!
"We have to go forth and crush every world view that doesn't believe in tolerance and free speech." - David Brin
Now you'll have TWO overpriced batteries to replace instead of just one!
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
Sweet, it's just like the Enterprise. This will come in handy in case of a warp core breach.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Or, "...and can be reassembled."
I've had far too many phones that split in two, or otherwise fell apart.
"If using the keyboard half of the phone to make or receive a call it's possible to use the top half of the display to, for example, check e-mail or take a picture." It seems like if you can check email while making a call, texting while on a call shouldn't be that much different.
Ah am not a crook! (\(-__-)/)
Waiting for the customers who buy it to complain that it breaks easier thank their old phone. Just like how many complained that the 1st gen Ipod nano breaks when you have it in your back pocket and sit down.
No, see... the feature would be if both sections vibrated. That way you could have each half in separate pockets for 100% vbration coverage.
Oh right- like YOU'VE never let a call ring long when it's on vibrate in your front pants pocket...
A separate ad page for EVERY picture and the stupid ad doesn't even load...
... all while driving!
How useful is this when you are stuck with the little lens on the camera?
To bad the link just goes to an advertisement page that doesn't load and there isn't even a picture of this wacky new phone. Oh well, I guess I just don't care that much.
If I pull hard enough, the cord for my keyboard will come off. Should this also be a selling feature?
The summary doesn't note if their keyboard works once it's been yanked off.
Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
when you put the second half into water, it grows into a new phone.
In the video, the girl mentions that for example, you can detach the screen while on a call, and then use the screen part to look through your address book or do other stuff. That's one case where I can see it being handy. Overall it feels like a gimmick, but maybe there's someone out there who is just dying to have this functionality. Japan's technology markets have always gone for this notion of technology fitting your purposes, whereas in the U.S., for example, you have limited choices to which you must tailor your use.
I thought the idea sounded interesting, but that thing is huge! It reminds me of a cell-phone from the 70's or early 80's...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
It's always nice to see the phones we're not getting.... : (
I'm still sore about the Dell Android phone that's not being released in the USA
http://tekobot.com/dell-anounces-android-based-mini-3-smartphone-to-be-available-only-in-brazil-and-china/
------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
I thought that this would be really cool until I saw a video of it. That phone is quite thick.
I found a website that lists the dimensions as: "11.4 x 5.1 x 20.4 cm and weight is about 173g."
For reference, an iPhone is 11.6 x 1.2 x 6.2 cm and weighs 135g. The Droid is 11.6 x 1.4 x 6.0 cm and weighs 169g.
I can't think of anyone who will want to carry something that thick around in their pocket. Even if you split it in half, both halves are still going to be thicker than either the iPhone or the Droid. I suppose it could help you pick up women in a bar though.
"Now my phone can give me two small objects to misplace."
Awesome!!!
You're like the fifth person to make that joke out of 40 posts!!!
Creativity is Awesome!!!
And seriously, are you people retarded or something, losing crap constantly?
Not having Alzheimer's is Awesome!!!
Hey, I have Alzheimer's you ins...uh, what are you called again?
The only problem is I can only do it once...
My wife already had a phone that split in two... after I'd dropped it on the floor.
Why? What is gained by allowing a phone to split in half?
This is a serious question: I can't RTFA because the web site is apparently overloaded at present. (And I can't listen to the video as I have no headset or speakers).
That's nothing: My wife can make ANY phone split into multiple parts. All she does is fling it to the ground when she can't immediately figure out how to work it.
Also; TV remotes, house thermostats, lawn mowers....
];)
Regards;
So if one hand has to hold the screen how are you even going to use the keyboard? I'm completely lost on the supposed advantage of having the screen detach from the keyboard.
'sup dawg I herd yo like gimmicks wo we split yo phone in two so you can gimmick while yo gimmick.
It's not exactly the same, but the phone comes with an expansion port built in and a keyboard you attach to it. They plan to release other hardware expansion devices for it over time.
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/lg-versa-verizon-wireless/4505-6454_7-33530742.html?tag=mncol;lst
I checked the article and yes, you can use one half to make phone calls, while the half that buzzes is stored somewhere else.
Now I can lose half of my phone!
Have gnu, will travel.
Whatever. Call me back when it can split into five lions.
Since GoodGearGuide.com.au is a bit bogged down, try Engadget: Fujitsu's splitting F-04B cellphone gets tested, found to contain no Energon cubes
This post contains no rudeness or derision of any kind. All arguments are friendly. Terms and exclusions may apply.
Sounds like the best of both worlds so far, being able to operate with just the phone half, or even use the keyboard half like a bluetooth headset.
Weird. I would have thought that a keyboard doesn't give very good audio output when using it like a bluetooth headset. Also, it wouldn't fit very well in most people's ears.
... and then they built the supercollider.
Nice! Now I can talk on the phone, while texting, while driving!
Can I talk into one part and hold the other part up to my ear?
Towards the Singularity.
http://images.google.com/images?q=htc+advantage