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Other iPhone foldable is the most clear Apple downfall yet.
- Thread starter sre.live
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I disagree. I think the time Apple is putting into it before it hits the market speaks volumes. I bet when it comes out it will be impressive.
Even if you've no interest in Android Id recommend going to your nearest phone shop and checking out the Z Fold 7. Folded shut it's just the right size for a regular phone without being too big. Unfold it and it's a marvel of engineering, thinner even that the M4 iPad Pro.
The feeling of the plastic interior screen takes some getting used to as it's not glass. It feels quite soft under the finger but still sturdy. In Europe I see quite a few of them around, often from what seem like casual users. I see some mums rocking the older versions, like the Z3 or 4 still going strong.
The feeling of the plastic interior screen takes some getting used to as it's not glass. It feels quite soft under the finger but still sturdy. In Europe I see quite a few of them around, often from what seem like casual users. I see some mums rocking the older versions, like the Z3 or 4 still going strong.
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You are all both right and wrong at the same time. Let me explain.
The need to move from a small screen to a larger one is real and has existed for years. That’s why we have smartphones, tablets, and computers. We switch from a smartphone to a tablet when we need a bigger screen. Right now, this is done by buying two separate devices because that’s the stage technology has reached so far. From this perspective, the OP is wrong. The need exists, and moving from a smaller screen to a larger one is not a gimmick as a concept.
But then we have the current foldable models, which are trying to simulate this transition with a single device instead of two. However, this comes with too many compromises compared to the benefits, as the OP described well. From this perspective, the OP is right. The current solutions are somewhat gimmicky.
I think the real question now is whether Apple could create a single-device solution that meets this existing need, but without so many compromises and with greater benefits.
The need to move from a small screen to a larger one is real and has existed for years. That’s why we have smartphones, tablets, and computers. We switch from a smartphone to a tablet when we need a bigger screen. Right now, this is done by buying two separate devices because that’s the stage technology has reached so far. From this perspective, the OP is wrong. The need exists, and moving from a smaller screen to a larger one is not a gimmick as a concept.
But then we have the current foldable models, which are trying to simulate this transition with a single device instead of two. However, this comes with too many compromises compared to the benefits, as the OP described well. From this perspective, the OP is right. The current solutions are somewhat gimmicky.
I think the real question now is whether Apple could create a single-device solution that meets this existing need, but without so many compromises and with greater benefits.
This is actually an interesting point: if users want foldables to replace their need for two devices, an iPhone and an iPad, how will Apple avoid losing revenue when people no longer buy both? Surely a company that many believe cares only about profits has already considered this. Will they price a foldable in such a way that you’re essentially paying for two devices? But then, how will Apple compete with other foldables that may become cheaper as the technology matures and no longer costs anywhere near the price of the current iPhone and iPad combo? And what purpose will the iPad Mini serve once a foldable is released? As far as I know, the Mini has been quite a popular product.
Thank GOD you are not in charge, or anywhere close to being in charge. Delusional.
I don’t think a foldable iPhone will replace an iPad for most people who use an iPad. I think it will mainly just give people like me the extra screen real estate that we need at random times. A foldable iPhone might take a bit of the iPad Mini market, but I think it won’t touch much of the other iPad market.
Question mark for me then would be whether the folding iPhone runs iPad software and apps.
while waiting for iphonedable!
It’s been a while, can you please remind the members of the audience: principles of what exactly? 🥹
Interestingly, Hartley on yesterday’s MacRumors Show argued that foldables will replace slabs in the long run, like ten years from now, the argument being that they’ll have the same size and cost as slab phones have now. I don’t know if I follow that, but being cheaper to manufacture didn’t prevent feature phones from being replaced by smartphones.
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Depends on whether they want to allow apps that can only run on the inner screen (iPad-only apps). Currently iPhone apps can run on iPads, though only as second-class citizens (using some virtual iPhone display resolution), but not the other way around.
My guess is that it’s easier and more intuitive to restrict the foldable iPhone to iOS apps, possibly adding a split-view option for the inner screen, rather than introducing an OS that supports both iPad and iPhone apps, but where the iPad-only apps only work on the inner screen. For example, when a notification is shown on the outer screen from an iPad-only app, then tapping on the notification couldn’t open the app on the outer screen, and you’d have to unfold the phone to access the app.
Of course, Apple could disallow iPad-only apps on the foldable. That probably still poses a problem for iPhone+iPad universal apps, because how would they switch between an iPhone app instance (outer screen) and an iPad instance (inner screen). Maybe they would have to be restarted when switching screens.
It might be simpler to allow iPhone apps to support resolution switching, and those that don’t are just rendered the same on the inner and outer screen (the aspect ratio is very close), or possibly in split-screen.
The newest Samsung Fold is the first non-Apple phone that has ever tempted me and it's because it is a damn good and incredibly slick device that serves a real need that I currently have. Its software isn't as polished as Apple's, but I would take that hardware in a second. A foldable phone seems to me like exactly what Apple should be doing. My only concern at this point is that I'm not sure they can do it as well as Samsung.
Say something, if proven wrong, back pedal and release the same thing he was once against Steve had strong opinions but would change his mind if he was wrong or market shifted. I am not interested in foldable iPhone but I wouldn’t say it is bad for Apple to try and make one.
Downfall? Really? If i had a nickel for every-time someone predicted Apple’s downfall, i’d be a rich man. 🙄 Every other smartphone company has been doing foldable smartphones for years now. But they are all plagued with screen crease issues. Apple just waited until they can do it better. They may be late to the game sometimes, but they usually hit it out of the park. I don’t know how big the foldable market is. But I am sure Apple will dominate it once they enter it.
I would commit several minor war crimes to combine my phone and ipad. One is always on me, the other is my primary computer. If I could accomplish 80% of daily tasks with my Watch and iPad, I would’ve done it already. Nobody is going to manage the transition to device convergence as well as Apple, so it might as well be them.
OK, but that wasn’t the only question Apple asked under Steve Jobs. That’s what OP is saying
Apple could’ve turned a profit on a netbook, but instead they decided to question if a netbook was a good idea and came up with the MacBook Air instead
In the end, that line of computers became their biggest seller for several years
There’s a reason chasing the latest trend is a bad idea. You can make a lot of money in the short term but it leads to a dead end. It prevents a company from creating a better product that could make them even more money because they are simply followers, not leaders
Seems you missed the point of OP’s post. It’s not that they never released a flop, it’s that they didn’t chase trends, they created them
That’s not true, they have chased many trends. And it has made them one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world. And that’s what they care about, not adhering to principles of some dead guy.
Ordered my first ever "foldable", the Flip 7 and I can't wait. I have no use for the Fold 7 at the moment, I've handled it in store, it's an incredible device. For me the purpose of a foldable is to decrease the overall size of the phone when not using it, which the Flip is perfect for. Who knows, is may hate it, but worth a try.
I'd be first in line to buy an iFlip. I absolutely loved my old Z Flip and honestly the only reason I went back to an iPhone was b/c I'm neck deep in the Apple ecosystem and it was just too inconvenient to try and make an Android phone work with my iPad & Macs.
This probably doesn’t change your point, but the MBA wasn’t Apple’s answer to netbooks, it was the iPad The MBA came out in 2008 almost immediately after the first netbooks (2007). This is too quick to be a response because they were likely in development for awhile before that. Also at over $1000 they were much more expensive than netbooks (<$400) and therefore not in the same market. The iPad came out in 2010 after the rise of netbooks and was more similar in price (~$500).
Steve Jobs even slammed the netbook in the iPad introduction. This video goes over it 4:30-5:30:
I suspect that at launch we will see some extra layouts for the inner screen, much like how a Plus or Max phone in landscape can offer a slightly different UI. This will be very much like current iOS and would not require much effort for iOS apps to work.
In my mind that offers too little extra value at that price, you'd be paying for the novelty mostly. Not unlike most first gen products from Apple. It wouldn't immediately cannibalise iPad sales much either I assume, since that platform offers more advanced features and apps.
But years into the development they might start adding iPad features to the folding phone, just like how they're drip-feeding macOS features to iPad. They will cite improved processor speed and battery life over the generations for making the extra features possible.