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Future iPhones Could Fold In Half (geek.com)
Apple has just received a patent, titled "electronic devices with carbon nanotube printing circuits," that suggests future iPhones may be foldable -- at least to some degree. Geek reports: Based on the language in the patent, it doesn't sound like Apple is specifically talking about a device that has a fully bendable display. It mentions one that can bend "along edges of touch sensors or displays." The carbon nanotube PCBs provide flexibility for some of the phone's internals, but not all of them. Those other parts will likely be covered by other patents if Apple is genuinely working on a seamless foldable device. The usual caveats apply here. For now, this is simply yet another patent padding Apple's already massive portfolio. Could they be planning to release an iPhone that folds in half? Definitely.
Uh, we already HAD flip phones.
but it won't have any inputs and the screen won't be visible without a $25 dongle you add to your $600 iGlasses that have to be connected to your iWatch (something has to tell this thing the time) because they think that is the next great thing
What will they think of next?
Get rid of those last few pesky ports, and we'll be able to fold Apple's laptops into quarters.
You joke but I'm seriously thinking about going back to my old w995.
Now you can roll your phone up and shove it up your ass!
I really like that idea! But, I liked it even better when it was called the Microsoft Courier.
And they'll make it thin. I mean, THIN thin. Really thin. Like super thin. Unbelieveably thin. Like thin as a razor. So thin you can't even use all the letters to describe it.
The Apple iPhone Razr.
Apple: the Courage to Think diiferent.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
(Silly) Samsung promo video from 2014
Samsung to introduce foldable phones in 2017
Current iPhones can already fold in half, if you push hard enough. Wake me up when we can unfold them back into a functional state.
See that "Preview" button?
That's why Apple will never produce a foldable phone... those filthy, uncouth users might choose to fold it in half, instantly doubling its thickness.
Log in or piss off.
This wouldn't be enough to make me buy an iOS device, but I have to admit it would make me a little jealous. I miss the compactness of my old flip phone. It seems phones have been getting smaller in stupid ways (e.g. by having ever-more-anemic batteries, as if I give a fuck about its thickness) instead of getting smaller in actually-convenient ways. Most phones, you can easily get 4-8 times as thick and have it be just as good (and probably gain something useful, like battery space) so folding for 2x thickness while reducing its biggest dimension, is a good move.
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Patent Logic 101:
X via human hand: not patentable
X via robot hand: patentable
X via Internet: patentable
X via phone screen: patentable
X in the cloud: patentable
Table-ized A.I.
And it won't work with any Mac without adapter.
Slide out keyboards require extra thickness so they won't go for that. Besides the virtual keyboard already slides up from the bottom of the screen.
Folding an iPhone is also easier in the full-sized Ford Transit, with the odd door pocket that becomes inaccessible when the door is closed: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/some-people-arent-the-brightest-crown-in-the-box-15-gifs-7.gif?w=400
This week I recharged, popped in a 3G SIM that had been in an original HTC Desire (bravo) and switched on my old Nokia 8310.
Registered to the network (with a hilariously old operator logo of One 2 One) and worked just fine. Lasted 3 days before the battery gave in, and I can't remember how good the battery used to be on that.
There was a series from New Zealand called This is Not My Life and they had an interesting idea of a phone (though it probably showed up elsewhere too). Take a canister that you could wrap your hand around and make it slightly longer. From there the screen is pulled out. It's about the size of a man's hand. When you done with it then you just push it back into the canister part. It's been a while since I've watch the series so I forget all of the detail of what it could do. Basically an advanced smart phone that also lets you control your home environment.
It's also a pretty good show. They were supposed to make a second season but some company from the US bought the rights to the show and an American version was supposed to be made.
Don't hold your breath. They had a patent in 2002 for changing the colors of a device's case that we still haven't seen used.
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
Aren't printed circuits using carbon nanotubes kind of the entire point of carbon nanotubes? How can hey be awarded a patent on it?
And they'll include a shaving app to that phone that can shave the beards of most people these days so that they don't look like ISIS or al Qaeda fighters
I used to get well over a week out of a charge on some of my old Motorola flip phones. Yes, there aren't too many cases where I can't charge my phone on a daily basis, but it was nice to not have to care about always plugging in your phone without having to worry about your battery life the next day.
Looks like people are making this out to be more then it really is. I assume the main purpose is to allow for devices that can tolerate repeated bending - such as leaving it in you back pocket when sitting down. The described patent would eliminate the "touch disease" that was reported with the iPhone 6.
Can I just flip it back open? WOW!
-Dave
Just give me a gimmick free phone. I want blazing fast hardware, as much battery life as possible, a good looking screen, and I don't want it to break if I look at it the wrong way.
That's why Apple will never produce a foldable phone... those filthy, uncouth users might choose to fold it in half, instantly doubling its thickness.
They already make a foldable phone. Of course, you can only fold it once...
I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
Poor donkey!
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
I am patenting that...
Apple: the courage to shave.
BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
Just askin' as they're getting thinner and thinner.
On y va, qui mal y pense!
Wait till they invent and patent slider phones. Its amazingly fantastic slide out keyboard.
FTFY
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
Considering the patent office is nothing more than a rubber stamp, I fully expect this and any other patent they submit to be granted. They got a fucking patent on a black phone with rounded corners.
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
I've always wanted an iFlip
Have you ever fallen asleep at the keybhanusdiog?
I'd rather have a headphone jack than a phone that folds in half.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
But it won't be a Dollar Shave Club. No sir! This is Apple! It will be a $29.95 Shave Club, only need 3 dongles ($19 retail each), and so shiny!
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
"The 3 dongle shave club"... Sounds dongly
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
Current iPhones will fold in half. They just stop working after that.
How ya like dat?