Huawei Delays Launch of Foldable Smartphone, Being More 'Cautious' After Samsung's Galaxy Fold Issues

[TheWatchfulOne]

Whoa! I'd forgotten the Galaxy Fold existed.

 

[theluggage]

What reputation?

The one they've got for making half-decent phones at low prices?

OK, there's the whole security thing which is an issue - if the Chinese Communist Party want to snoop on my personal data they should ruddy well pay to get it from Google, Facebook or Equifax like everybody else!

Yeah but what about the Android issue.

It will be forked. Android itself is open-source anyhow, its the Google 'services*' bundled with 'official' Android that Google controls, and most big phone makers have been pushing their own versions of those anyhow. Even after the US government manages to wring some token concessions out of China on trade and this whole 'Huawei is a clear and present danger' thing suddenly evaporates, Chinese companies are going to think twice before becoming dependent on US software again.

* Service (n) - opportunity to collect user data for advertising and/or global domination purpose by offering free email/maps/chat etc.

Why would you need to be more cautious after the Galaxy Fold incident?

Translation: We know it's a dumb idea. We know that there's a big difference between a screen that can be folded and a screen that can take being folded and unfolded dozens of times a day for 2-3 years... but Samsung decided to rush to market and we had to announce something to save face - now Samsung have fouled up the whole idea is discredited and can be safely kicked into the long grass.

Of course, Apple started it with the 'notch'. Or "We want to make an iPhone with a bezel-less screen covering the whole front, but that needs through-screen cameras and fingerprint sensors which aren't ready yet, and the 10th Anniversary is coming up so let's make it anyway even if it means putting a great ugly notch that defeats the purpose of having a larger screen..."

 

[Baymowe335]

The one they've got for making half-decent phones at low prices?

OK, there's the whole security thing which is an issue - if the Chinese Communist Party want to snoop on my personal data they should ruddy well pay to get it from Google, Facebook or Equifax like everybody else!



It will be forked. Android itself is open-source anyhow, its the Google 'services*' bundled with 'official' Android that Google controls, and most big phone makers have been pushing their own versions of those anyhow. Even after the US government manages to wring some token concessions out of China on trade and this whole 'Huawei is a clear and present danger' thing suddenly evaporates, Chinese companies are going to think twice before becoming dependent on US software again.

* Service (n) - opportunity to collect user data for advertising and/or global domination purpose by offering free email/maps/chat etc.



Translation: We know it's a dumb idea. We know that there's a big difference between a screen that can be folded and a screen that can take being folded and unfolded dozens of times a day for 2-3 years... but Samsung decided to rush to market and we had to announce something to save face - now Samsung have fouled up the whole idea is discredited and can be safely kicked into the long grass.

Of course, Apple started it with the 'notch'. Or "We want to make an iPhone with a bezel-less screen covering the whole front, but that needs through-screen cameras and fingerprint sensors which aren't ready yet, and the 10th Anniversary is coming up so let's make it anyway even if it means putting a great ugly notch that defeats the purpose of having a larger screen..."

Everything you said about Apple’s design is your own view. The notch doesn’t defeat any purpose. It’s there and most people are OK with it and happy with the other benefits.

Don’t agree? Well, sales after X launch would disagree. The X propelled Apple to $166B in iPhone revenue and $266B overall in 2018.

 

[JetTester]

Well, it takes extra time to get the spy gadgets to work with a folding screen.

 

[Rogifan]

You never know. It could become the next Apple Watch. No one in the industry thought people would adopt it despite its early shortcomings.

Yeah but fitness/notification devices that you wear on your wrist make sense. This to me is just tech press boredom trying to find something different to get excited about. A few years ago it was VR, then chat bots, then smart speakers. Now it’s foldable tablets. I’m struggling to find situations where I would be using a tablet that I would need to fold up to the size of large phone. I guess it’s for guys who don’t carry handbags? But still how many circumstances are you going to have where you need a tablet to become the size of a phone?

 

[realtuner]

It will be forked. Android itself is open-source anyhow, its the Google 'services*' bundled with 'official' Android that Google controls, and most big phone makers have been pushing their own versions of those anyhow. Even after the US government manages to wring some token concessions out of China on trade and this whole 'Huawei is a clear and present danger' thing suddenly evaporates, Chinese companies are going to think twice before becoming dependent on US software again.

That’s not the real Android “issue”. For foldable devices.

Android is garbage on tablets, plain & simple. Developers can’t be bothered to optimize for tablets and rely on universal Apps and scaling so their phone Apps can “sort of” work on a tablet. Which is ironic, as the running gag when the iPad was released is it’s just a big iPhone. It’s Android tablets that are nothing more than big phones with scaled up phone Apps.

So if developers can’t be bothered to optimize for the millions of existing Android tablets, what makes people think they’ll invest time & money optimizing Apps for an extremely niche market of foldable phones? Answer: They won’t.

 

[jmgregory1]

Has anyone seen the latest Black Mirror episode where everyone is using folding screen phones / devices? The one thing they got right about these devices in the show, is that they were all small and thin. Effectively a Razor-sized flip phone that opens up to what looks more like today’s conventional sized smart phone.

That to me is the direction manufacturers should be moving towards. Start by trying to make what is a larger device smaller, then when that tech is perfected, they can move on to tablet sized devices that unfold to be laptop sized, where half the screen becomes a keyboard with haptic key touch feedback.

And of course, ditch the idea of using a plastic faced screen.

 

[BvizioN]

So they can resolve the fundamental problems with this tech in a couple of months? Laughable. I stil don’t get who this is for other than bored tech writers at The Verge. Are there that many people who need a tablet that can fold into the size of a phone?

The problem I see with these early versions of foldable is that they are neither a good tablet nor a good phone. On the top, they are overpriced.

 

[theOmega]

It's still embarrassing to delay your product because of problems other company had

 

[thasan]

It’s amazing that there is no proof in all these and everyone is hysterical about this spying claim.
Also effortlessly changing it from 5G gears to phones...
We are all sheeps in this forum it seems.

And no, I own Apple products only and not interested in android devices.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Hungmen OS will only be popular in comedy sketches.

 

[sparkso]

So they still need to take a look at how Apple will do it first

 

[code-m]

I remember months ago when I was saying these looked like crap and the quality and technology wasn’t there yet and I was getting told I was an Apple “fanboy”. Sure is looking like I and those who shared that view were right.

By this logic Apple’s AirPower, the delayed MacPro, Display XDR, butterfly keyboard MBP, etc are all crap as the tech wasn’t there yet
[doublepost=1560525218][/doublepost]

So they still need to take a look at how Apple will do it first

Apple has not been rumoured to release a folding display phone this year

 

[Jim Lahey]

Not something I will lose sleep over. I never got the appeal to begin with. This springs to mind;

 

[synergize]

The Mate X when unfolded looks difficult to use while driving, looks like it will need to rested against the steering wheel. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[code-m]

It's still embarrassing to delay your product because of problems other company had

Interesting you mentioned this, let’s look at OLED, Qi, Smart Watch, etc, etc, etc.
[doublepost=1560525425][/doublepost]

The Mate X when unfolded looks difficult to use while driving, looks like it will need to rested against the steering wheel. What could possibly go wrong?

Why are you using a phone while driving, it is against the law in many countries for good reason. Are you being a liability on the road to others and yourself because you cannot use BT.

 

[palmerc2]

They had better give me double the normal social merit credits for buying this.

LMAO

 

[code-m]

Waiting to bring reliable tech to market > rushing to prove that you're more innovative than Apple.

Your comment sounds like elitist, where only Apple is innovating. Most of the tech incorporated into Apple’s hardware is from 3rd party innovation, including gasp OLED and Qi

Are you afraid that a Far-East Asian company or companies can innovate and Apple requires them to manufacture the “affordable” hardware for your consumption. Apple requires China and India more so than those companies people need Apple, just look at the hardware numbers and usage of iOS to a Android in China and India who have the worlds largest population or even South America. Why such a smug attitude?

 

[Kabeyun]

So they can resolve the fundamental problems with this tech in a couple of months? Laughable. I stil don’t get who this is for other than bored tech writers at The Verge. Are there that many people who need a tablet that can fold into the size of a phone?

Too small for a good tablet, too think for a good phone, costs $2000, and will break. Sign me up!

 

[synergize]

Why are you using a phone while driving, it is against the law on many countries for good reason. Are you being a liability on the road to others and yourself because you cannot use BT. [/QUOTE]

I don't use a device while driving, just pointing out that people who do use a device will most likely need to rest it the steering wheel with unfavorable results.

 

[code-m]

That's really RICH coming from Huawei.

Huawei has a working 5G, Apple has 4G, Intel has decided not to play. Yes, Huawei has a reputation in China, just as Apple has in America, Samsung in S.Korea, Sony in Japan, etc.

You are falling into political nonsense, I would recommend waiting till all the facts are laid out
[doublepost=1560526104][/doublepost]

I don't use a device while driving, just pointing out that people who do use a device will most likely need to rest it the steering wheel with unfavorable results.

So you are supporting and not reporting unlawful behaviour concerning lives. Tell me do you support drinking and driving too
[doublepost=1560526230][/doublepost]

Too small for a good tablet, too think for a good phone, costs $2000, and will break. Sign me up!

Working prototype like FaceID on iPhone X/XS/XR, the finished product is on iPad Pro

 

[sulpfiction]

This is a great example of why Apple waits on things. Sometimes too long, but I’d rather get it late and perfect then be the first to market with s big flop. Samsung does it all the time and 1/2 of their “new tech” features are half baked and terrible.

 

[44267547]

It's still embarrassing to delay your product because of problems other company had

Not at all. I (As a consumer spending
My money) would rather have a product delayed to make sure it’s executed right the first time then release a product that would have mechanical/technical issues, and be scrutinized throughout the public and damage the branding.

{And exact thing happened to the Airower, it was never released, because Apple didn’t believe it was ready for the masses, likely due to technical complications, why release something that will only cause problems or not work as intended.}

 

[Rogifan]

The problem I see with these early versions of foldable is that they are neither a good tablet nor a good phone. On the top, they are overpriced.

When are they ever going to be though? Seems to me the compromises aren’t something engineering needs more time to solve. It’s like 2 in 1 laptops. They’re never going to be great tablets. And an iPad is never going to be a great laptop.

 

[Kabeyun]

Working prototype like FaceID on iPhone X/XS/XR, the finished product is on iPad Pro

Not sure I have any idea what you’re saying, but I think it’s that somehow FaceID on anything prior to the iPad Pro was A) some sort of malfunctioning beta, and B) somehow analogous to the Galaxy Fold dumpster fire. Please verify before I roll my eyes.