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Samsung Shows Off a Foldable Prototype That Merges Phone and Tablet (usatoday.com)

Posted by msmash on from the marching-forward dept.

At its developer conference Wednesday, Samsung introduced its new Infinity Flex Display, a foldable OLED screen that can allow manufacturers like Samsung to create new, unique devices such as a phone that folds out to become a tablet-like device with a larger display. From a report: "The foldable display lays the foundation for a new kind of mobile experience," said DJ Koh, president and CEO of Samsung IT and mobile communications division, in a statement. "We are excited to work with developers on this new platform to create new value for our customers." Although the product shown Wednesday was just a prototype, the company plans to release a consumer product that features the technology in the coming months. In addition to creating the hardware, Samsung has partnered with Google to work on the software to make sure apps work seamlessly regardless of whether the display is folded in a "smartphone-like" mode or opened fully as akin to a tablet.

29 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Even more impressive by Provocateur · · Score: 2

    If the clip is to be believed, the display continuity is the extra feature that makes this a never-been-done-before item.

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  2. Game-changing... maybe by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This could make for an awesome device. I currently own both a phone and a tablet simply because there are so many things which work better with a tablet - but a tablet has obvious, significant portability issues.

    Whether this is truly game-changing, though, will come down to the mundane details regarding just how reliable and durable the tech turns out to be.

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    1. Re:Game-changing... maybe by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I already have one. It is called FlexPei. https://www.royole.com/flexpai

    2. Re:Game-changing... maybe by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Sure I do. It sure is nice.

    3. Re:Game-changing... maybe by rickb928 · · Score: 1

      When did you receive yours? I would be waiting until December sometime if I ordered today...

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    4. Re: Game-changing... maybe by niftydude · · Score: 1

      No you don't. None of those have shipped yet.

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    5. Re:Game-changing... maybe by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      But it's only a 7.3" tablet. Some phones aren't that far off from that. This thing, from the video, has two screens, one for the phone and the other for the tablet. Might as well just get the larger phone and have fewer things to worry about.

      I have a small, 4", phone and a 9" tablet and I like that combination. I use my phone as a phone, communications device, and a few things for shopping. My tablet is for reading, games, and a light mobile computer. Now if they can get the phone to unfold twice so the tablet is four times the screen size then it might be worth looking into.

    6. Re:Game-changing... maybe by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1

      The Nexus 7 was 7" and that was pretty popular. Although with a large phablet like the Note9 I there's probably not much of a need for it. Still, someone might prefer a device with more compact dimensions, and perhaps they'll make them in different sizes.

  3. Re:Pretty cool by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

    Yes. That is what I said.

  4. Video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the important bit

  5. Major blow to graphene by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    People have been talking about foldable phones as a killer application for graphene. Samsung is the leader in graphene research, but this phone appears to be OLED.

    That is a major setback towards commercialization of graphene or other nanomaterials like silicon nanowires; if Samsung found it not valuable to pursue graphene in this application then it's likely not feasible.

  6. they need more than that... by kiviQr · · Score: 1

    ...for next Galaxy Note one will have to fold "phablet" 5 times to fit it into the pocket.

  7. Obvious to whom? by Comboman · · Score: 1

    Remember when camera modules were expensive and the "obvious" way to have both front and rear facing cameras was to have one camera on a mechanical rotating swivel (like the Sony Clie PEG)? Sometimes the "obvious" solution is also the dumb solution.

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    1. Re:Obvious to whom? by jezwel · · Score: 2

      Dumb: a big display you have to open to the phone to see.
      Obvious: a big display on the outside.

      Lemme just check - does the folding screen use gorilla glass or other non-easily scratched material?
      Answer - not likely (yet anyway).
      So that means the folding screen is going to be a lot less tough than our current Gorilla Glass models.

      Dumb: having your fragile, expensive folding screen on both exterior sides and one edge of your phone, where it will encounter significant friction exposure when carried or placed on a surface
      Obvious: protecting the folding screen internally

  8. Re:That's what they all said. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    From TFA:

    "In addition to creating the hardware, Samsung has partnered with Google to work on the software to make sure Android apps work seamlessly regardless of whether the display is folded in a "smartphone-like" mode or opened fully like a tablet. The app you were using when the device is closed will be there when you open up the phone in tablet mode.

    When the display is fully unfolded, users will be able to have three apps open at once.

    Google calls these devices "foldables" and is adding support for Android developers to begin making apps for the new category."

    Google has not made any modifications to Android with any prior foldable devices. The fact they are enabling this alone makes it much more imminent.

  9. Do we really want this? by filesiteguy · · Score: 2

    I was a big adopter of the Continuum feature in Windows Mobile. A phone htat can be turned into a quasi PC. I used it at work, where I had a dock plugged into a 27" monitor. The phone correctly would connect to our LAN (but not domain), be able to use printers, network shares (sort of), and allow me to remote desktop into various other PCs. While nice, I felt it really wasn't what I needed. I often want my mobile device (phone) and PC / tablet seperate.

    In fact, I recall Dona Sarkar at Microsoft discussing how MS wasn't going to go this route because they don't see the future being a 2-in-1 device like a phone and mini tablet. The phone will be slightly too big and the tablet slightly too small, she mused. I tend to agree. When I want a tablet, I want a 10" or 12" device and don't want it integrated with my mobile phone.

    I'll wait and see on this one.

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  10. Since noone has posted that this is repeat hype by celeb8 · · Score: 1

    Hay guys did you know that Samsung is about to release a foldable tablet? This isn't like all those other times they said they were about to release a foldable tablet because _______________

    1. Re:Since noone has posted that this is repeat hype by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Hay guys did you know that Samsung is about to release a foldable tablet? This isn't like all those other times they said they were about to release a foldable tablet because _______________

      You noticed that too?

  11. What horrible detail did they need to hide? by ffkom · · Score: 2

    Usually, if you are proud to show something, you do not deliberately switch off the lights to make it barely visible. But Samsung did exactly that. So something must be very, very wrong with the prototype. (Maybe like with the Flexpai, where the display surface looks like a shriveled lamination?)

  12. Re:The iPhone 6 was foldable too by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    Just saw the video. It looks lame. A big chunk brick. Since they say the display is much much thinner (no glass, half the thickness polarizer) why does it need to be so thick? Should be thinner right?

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  13. Re:The iPhone 6 was foldable too by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1

    According to Ars, Samsung "disguised the elements of the design" with a case. Or maybe it's just a clunky early prototype and they didn't want to admit it, who knows. If it actually ends up being such a brick, I doubt anyone would actually want it though.

  14. I already have both though :( by wolfheart111 · · Score: 1

    They should've made this before making the tablet and phone.

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  15. Re:Pretty cool by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

    This was pretty cool the first ten times companies did it.

    Kinda how I felt about it.

  16. Re:only if... by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

    Now only if Android on a tablet wasn't an infuriating shit show mish-mash of applications that don't rotate or scale properly to the larger screen.

    Wow!

    And Slashtards whine about iOS...

  17. Re:Like thaat's gonna last ... by lokedhs · · Score: 1

    The reason why it's so think may be because its folding radius is actually much bigger than they want to make it seem. So when it folds in, it actually takes which a bit of space inside the device.

  18. Great to have one! by Roshni+Madhu · · Score: 1

    It's annoying to carry a big tablet everywere you go! Now, this is the best concept and I would get this as soon as possible for myself when it's done.

  19. Old tech by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 1

    YAWN...Westworld has had this tech for, like, forever. Samsung is just playing catch up to Delos like they always have. Old news.

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  20. Future design I'd like by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

    I've long thought a useful future design would be a phone that looks like (or even functions as) a pen while in basic telephone mode. One end is the earpiece, the other the mic. When it's tablet time, you then pull and unscroll a flexible screen up out of it's side, as two opposing armatures spring out from each end to hold the top in place, you now have a very thin tablet with a round base. Obviously that kind of screen tech isn't here yet, but that would seem pretty nifty to me, and certainly easy to pocket when done.
    Other than fragility (unless the armatures were flexible too) and the fact screen tech isnt there yet, what would be some caveats to that kind of design?
    Having to unscroll every time to read a text just came to mind, and it probably couldn't have a screen wider than 4 inches, or 8 or 9cm.

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  21. Re:The iPhone 6 was foldable too by farble1670 · · Score: 1

    Just saw the video. It looks lame. A big chunk brick. Since they say the display is much much thinner (no glass, half the thickness polarizer) why does it need to be so thick? Should be thinner right?

    I am getting confused. Do we hate phone companies for making thin phones, or do we hate it when they make thick phones? Can someone help? What is the acceptable thickness where I should stop trolling?