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Lenovo Teases a True All-Screen Smartphone With No Notch (cnet.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNET: Notches, it seems, are the new black. Originally seen -- and often criticized -- on the Essential PH-1 and iPhone X in 2017, the trend of adding notches to Android phones has only accelerated this year as phone makers look to maximize the screen size. But the Lenovo Z5 is going the other way: It's truly all-screen, and notch-free. At least, that's according to a sketch shared last Friday by Lenovo VP Chang Cheng on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform in China. Cheng's teaser post says (according to Google Translate) that the Lenovo Z5 is the company's new flagship phone. Besides that, the post leaves it pretty vague.
All-screen phones look cool, but they challenge the manufacturer to find a place to put front cameras, sensors and other hardware. That's why we see bezels on some phones and notches on others. It's not clear what Lenovo plans to do with the front camera on the Lenovo Z5. Cheng's post claims that "four technological breakthroughs" and "18 patented technologies" were made for the phone, but doesn't go into details. One of the first smartphones to launch with an edge-to-edge display was the Xiaomi Mi Mix. It launched with next to no bezel or notch, leaving many to wonder where the earpiece would be. What Xiaomi managed to do was use what it calls "cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology." Basically, it's a component that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to transfer to the phone's internal metal frame, which then vibrates to create sound. It's possible the Z5 relies on a similar technology, or bone conduction technology found in many headphones and some smartphones.
Aside from the front-facing camera and ambient light sensors, the other components that are typically found on the front of smartphones are relatively easy to drag-and-drop to different locations. For example, the speakers in the Z5 are likely bottom facing and the navigation controls are almost certainly software based. The question is whether or not it's worth having a true all-screen smartphone if it means there's no front-facing camera, ambient light sensors, or stereo speakers.
All-screen phones look cool, but they challenge the manufacturer to find a place to put front cameras, sensors and other hardware. That's why we see bezels on some phones and notches on others. It's not clear what Lenovo plans to do with the front camera on the Lenovo Z5. Cheng's post claims that "four technological breakthroughs" and "18 patented technologies" were made for the phone, but doesn't go into details. One of the first smartphones to launch with an edge-to-edge display was the Xiaomi Mi Mix. It launched with next to no bezel or notch, leaving many to wonder where the earpiece would be. What Xiaomi managed to do was use what it calls "cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology." Basically, it's a component that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to transfer to the phone's internal metal frame, which then vibrates to create sound. It's possible the Z5 relies on a similar technology, or bone conduction technology found in many headphones and some smartphones.
Aside from the front-facing camera and ambient light sensors, the other components that are typically found on the front of smartphones are relatively easy to drag-and-drop to different locations. For example, the speakers in the Z5 are likely bottom facing and the navigation controls are almost certainly software based. The question is whether or not it's worth having a true all-screen smartphone if it means there's no front-facing camera, ambient light sensors, or stereo speakers.
The question is whether or not it's worth having a true all-screen smartphone if it means there's no front-facing camera, ambient light sensors, or stereo speakers.
Absolutely NOT!
Until Apple does it, then it is a must-have and an obvious requirement.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
...if they've actually pulled it off.
Conceivably you could get away with the ambient light sensors on the top or even sides of the device, ear speaker should be able to go behind the screen and not affect things too much (or perhaps they've gone with some kind of bone conduction system). But the real challenge would be the front facing camera, maybe they've found a way to put it behind the screen or maybe they've just decided to omit it completely.
I'd rather have a good earpiece, not some crap workaround that uses the entire phone face as a speaker. I TALK on the phone, more than I use it as a pocket computer, so I want it not to sound like junk. What's the big deal about a 1/4" stripe without a display on top and bottom. It's a functional device, not artwork, for G-d's sake.
"What Xiaomi managed to do was use what it calls "cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology." [...] It's possible the Z5 relies on a similar technology"
Followed by
"For example, the speakers in the Z5 are likely bottom facing"
Nice.
What's wrong with a traditional top and bottom bezel? It gives space for a camera, speakers, etc, and takes up what, 1/4 of an inch on phones that have already gotten too massive? It's as if they're manufacturing a solution to a problem nobody has.
"Damn, if only the screen extended a half cm in both directions, this phone would be even more awesome!"
Cause the pictures show a big black "notch" that goes all the way across the screen. In other words, its only edge to edge width wise, there is a large non screen area where the camera etc are on the front.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
If it's not Apple then it's not innovative.
Do you really expect some Chinese company to design something like this?
Fake News !
To sell boring "all-screen" phones under the Lenovo label?
While laying off a significant part especially of the Moto Z related staff, effectively slowing down, if not stopping, the Moto Mods idea?
As of now, it isn't even clear whether we'll still get the Keyboard Mod delivered that was already officially adopted by Motorola, before the layoffs started.
Lenovo should have adapted the Mods concept for their own phones, too, instead.
I'm not a pod person. I haven't been absorbed into the Apple financial/mindfuck system. I have no idea what a "notch" has to do with a smartphone. Can somebody provide a link to what these pod people are talking about?
I don't respond to AC's.
That's a brilliantly simple idea, for the speaker. The sound could also come through a very thin slit at the top of the phone.
Speaker in the back wouldn't work so well for videos and touch-tone menus, but you could certainly have a tip-firing or bottom-firing speaker for speakerphone and video, along with a rear-mounted earpiece.
You still want a camera and light sensor on the screen side, for selfies.
For myself, I put a case on mine because I don't WANT the corners and edges, the part that hits the ground when I drop it, to be the screen. I'm perfectly happy with small amount of non-screen space at the top and bottom.
...the touczscreen continues to plague me...
(Typo intentionally left in)
Who?
It's not like manufacturers now a days fight for screen real estate. Every single flagship on the market (and even the latest xz2 compact) are phablets. If every screen out there is more than 5", why fight for the last .2"? It's not like the phones fit a human being's hand or a pocket anymore anyway. /rant
But the key question remains unanswered: Why the fuck would I want that?
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Maybe I am the exception, but none this is what I want in a smarthphone. I want standard physical buttons, I want a good front facing camera, I want a good speaker. I want a replacable battery. I want a longer battery life. I want a headphone socket. I want an easy to replace glass screen.
The size of the screen is not what is the most important.
But what I do NOT want is a curved screen or edge to edge screen that makes the screen more fragile and breakable. The screen is the most vulnarable part of the device so the primary design should be to protect the screen with edges and sides to cover the screen.
A flying car, a personal jet-pack, and him having sex with Giselle Bündchen and Leonardo DiCaprio on Mars.
Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
Until Apple does it right.
...you are not allowed to impose your Khmer Rouge agenda on the rest of us.
For illogical reasons, the "flagship" phones seem headed in the direction of form over function.
I think form over function is in the rear view mirror. I have an iPhone X and while it's a good device overall, some of the hardware design decisions are baffling. Starting with Apple's pursuit of thin at all costs. I would MUCH rather have a phone twice as thick with a bigger battery and a better camera both of which are largely precluded by making each device thinner than the last. They removed the TouchID for FaceID but there are a lot of circumstances where TouchID works better and it would have been nice to still have it even if relocated. The notch seems to me to be pure marketing BS with little actual utility. I don't personally care about the 3.5mm jack but many do and Apple provided no option for pass through connections in their Lightning interface so you can plug in your headphones or plug in power but not both at the same time.
Give me a larger, replaceable battery, not some phone that's hard to not drop.
I don't care about a the fact that the battery is built in but I think there is a better solution. Most of my complaints could have been solved if Apple provided an well designed expansion interface for cases. Think about a battery case with variants for stuff like better speakers or a 3.5mm jack or TouchID or cameras or other add ons would solve a lot of problems. Honestly I think Apple (and others) are leaving money on the table by ignoring cases as a tightly integrated expansion device rather than the afterthought they treat it as today. Keep the built in battery but make an option for cases to provide features missing.
I don't want a phone which makes it hard to not "fat finger" an unintentional/undisired change due to touching a screen edge,
The iPhone X screen goes pretty close to the edge of the device and in every day use the lack of a bezel hasn't proven to be a real world problem for me. I understand the concern but my take is try it before judging. For me at least the smaller form factor while maximizing screen size turned out to be a huge win. Your mileage may vary of course but I suspect you will find it to be less of an issue than you fear.
I'm quite happy with my 2017 era smartphone with removable battery, dual SIM, headphone jack, sdcard, fm radio and possibly other features Tim Cook decided I didn't need.
I think you are also happy living in a world where you can troll people about devices that don't exist.
What's wrong with a traditional top and bottom bezel?
It takes up space that could be otherwise put to good use and makes the device larger. It's something you have because you must, not because it is desirable.
takes up what, 1/4 of an inch on phones that have already gotten too massive? It's as if they're manufacturing a solution to a problem nobody has.
Are you seriously arguing that the size of some smartphones doesn't present a problem? Gotta disagree with you there. I had an iPhone 7+ and it was too large to handle comfortably but the iPhone X has basically the same size screen but is notably smaller. A lot of that had to do with all the useless extra bezels. In principle the ideal is no bezel at all. This is technically challenging for some good reasons but it's a reasonable thing to target.
"Damn, if only the screen extended a half cm in both directions, this phone would be even more awesome!"
I know you are being sarcastic and I get your point but actually yes, I'd prefer the extra screen real estate over a bezel. Not a deal breaker of course but given the choice I doubt you'd take the bezel if it could be done without loss of function.
Maybe I am the exception, but none this is what I want in a smarthphone.
Fair enough. I have similar opinions about what I'd ideally like in a phone that differ from what I can generally buy.
I want standard physical buttons
I have no idea what you regard as "standard" buttons.
I want a good front facing camera, I want a good speaker. I want a replacable battery. I want a longer battery life. I want a headphone socket. I want an easy to replace glass screen.
All reasonable but the question becomes what engineering trade offs are you willing to make to get them? None of that comes without trade offs. For example I don't care much about the front camera but I'd like a MUCH better rear camera and a bigger battery. I'm willing to live with a thicker phone to get them. I don't care about the glass screen replacement because that is what insurance is for and if you make it easy to replace you also make it hard to waterproof. I'm not trying to sway you in a direction but just to suggest that design decisions always come at the expense of something else.
The size of the screen is not what is the most important.
I think you are definitely in the minority in this opinion. Based on what sells best it seems clear that screen size is one of if not the most important considerations for a majority of smartphone buyers.
I've never used my front facing camera on any device, but the problem here is the grip on the phone triggering multitouch
Notch, notch, say no more....
-- Make America hate again!
Well most phones have these buttons: Power on, Volume up, Volume down, Back, Home and programs. The first five are a must to have.
Disagree. The iPhone X does not have a back or home or programs button and after many months of use I can say they aren't necessary. Fine to have but not required and I haven't found myself wanting them. I agree that power, volume up/down are mandatory and probably mute as well though there might be a way to roll that into the volume buttons. More buttons are fine but my point is that the minimum required is actually quite minimal.
Waterproof and replaceable are not at odds end.
Strictly speaking you are correct but they are VERY difficult to package together in a user serviceable form while maintaining a factory level of performance. Frankly I'm not surprised the phone makers don't want the warranty and tech support hassles that would come with them. I run a small electronics manufacturing company for my day job and I've dealt with this sort of problem first hand. Even with trained technicians water sealing can be challenging in the field. I have some sympathy for companies like Apple and Samsung not wanting that particular headache. That said I'm all for products that can be serviced whenever possible so I have mixed feelings here.
The reason for the non replacable battery is just so that you buy a new phone when the battery gets old. It's all a scam.
No that is not the only reason and you are letting your preferences blind your objectivity. There are unquestionable advantages to having a non-serviceable battery. It allows for a more compact device, it makes it easier to weatherproof, it reduces cost to manufacture, it eliminates a lot of warranty costs, it reduces the number of failure modes, it is simpler to design, and the list goes on. You may or may not care about any of these but all of them are very real and quantifiable advantages. As you point out there are downsides too (planned obsolescence not the least of them) but as I said before it's not obviously a one sided argument. Plus you can have the battery replaced by the manufacturer in a lot of cases. Sure it's pricey but it's usually cheaper than a new phone if you like what you have.
I would love to have a case that has a large battery. Should not be that hard to make. Just see that it fits into the usb slot and that would be it. (Sure a hole for the camera's and what not.
Those sorts of cases already exist but I don't think they go far enough. What I'm suggesting is something more deeply integrated into the smartphone. Have a dedicated connection on the back rather than adding a bulky pass through USB on the bottom. And have the case do more than just be a second battery. Why not have an upgraded camera? Or a 3.5mm headphone jack? Or an ethernet port? Or better speakers? Or scientific equipment? The list is endless. Then you can have the compact simple base phone if you want but if you want additional features you add them via the case. Since most people put a case on their phone anyway why not make it more than an afterthought in the device design?
Why do many people buy a new phone? Because their battery does not last for a whole day anymore.
Sometimes that happens. Having a bigger battery won't solve that problem and you can already pay to have the battery replaced. People buy a new phone for a variety of reasons and a degrading battery is only one of them. In my case it's usually some combination of new features I want and the fact I've worn out my old one since it is almost always near me and used heavily. I'm not a guy who has to have the latest and greatest but I do put a lot of figurative mileage on my smartphones and I'm not the only one.
So if you buy a new phone that you can use first for three days, then for 2 and then even for 1, you have sold less phones over time.
Oh I won't deny that some amount of planned obsolescence probably goes into the figuring by the handset makers. But this is ultimately a self defeating strategy because eventually someone will bring out a better product to gain marketshare.
Why not a pop-up front camera, or even a single camera that can be rotated to both front and back? Makes more sense than a hole in the middle of the screen, doesn't it?
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
It's like saying my cat can sing but not well.
Who gives a shit that your cat can sing?
Unless it's Frank Sincatra, just fuck off, okay?
"All-screen phones look cool"
No, they don't. At least not to me and presumably to at least some others as well.
This seems like a physical manifestation of Flat/Material design, an attempt to eliminate as much differentiation and contextual elements as possible. Some of us like differentiation and context! I like boxes and grids in my UI keeping different areas visually distinct from each other, and i like to have at least a small bezel on my phone, both for aesthetic reasons and because it helps avoid accidental touches registering on the edges of the screen. And having extra room at the top and bottom for speakers, cameras, notification LEDs, and what have you is perfectly acceptable.
My current phone has about 1 cm of space both above and below the screen and it's not an issue. If i wanted more screen i would just buy a larger phone, and i really appreciate having dual forward-facing speakers.
This Space Intentionally Left Blank
Zerolemon makes replacement batteries and cases for some phones which replace the stock battery and the original rear of the phone.
That's cool (albeit rather inelegant since the beauty of a case is that you can remove it) but it won't matter unless Apple or Samsung or Google do it. And really they just would have to make the interface and let the aftermarket do its thing. But I doubt it will ever happen. And it would need to be more than just a battery.
Maybe if they don't tease it, the phone will be more willing to cooperate. :-)