Kuo: 2019 iPhones to Feature 12MP Front Cameras, Special Black Coating to Hide Lenses, and More

[rtdunham]

what are the 35mm focal length equivalents for these fovs? Are kuo’s fovs diag? Vert? Horizontal?

 

[smulji]

Check my posts again and you'll see that I never stated that Samsung has a longer list of features than iPhone. I simply stated that the list of features Sammy has that Apple doesn't is long, which it is.

Then I got repeated replies stating either that no one uses them, or most people don't use them, or that they are inferior to Apple implementations. At least two of those are patently false, and one is a matter of preference.

Now, me listing out said features are in response to the "exploding batteries and cracked screens" jab at Samsung for context's sake, but because another poster listed a bunch of software features Apple has that he or she prefers. I proceeded to show how this is irrelevant to the assertion that Apple doesn't have the features I listed, for example Force Touch has no relevance when I need a headphone jack.

Now regarding the items you listed, my assertion is that for me, these things have little value, particularly when taken into the context that I, me, personally use the MISSING features I have on Sammy daily. The missing features are deal breakers for me using iOS devices. I'm pretty sure I made it clear that depending on individual needs and preferences, an individual can choose the platform that suits them best.

Regarding the Galaxy 9 vs 10: I actually linked the product page for the Galaxy 10 in my original "protest" post because I wanted to show the features available TODAY that Apple doesn't have, today. Again, this was merely to illustrate that there are more features than the OP I replied to was alluding to in a dismissive way. My intention was NEVER to say Android or Samsung is better, and I reiterated that repeatedly in most of my posts on the subject.

Regarding the Fold, I'll give you my opinion: Too early, but still amazing. I love that Sammy and Huawei (which I think is a better design) did it, regardless of whether it fails (it will...the tech's not there yet). I personally had not had a holy crap moment like those reveals since the original iPhone. And to be honest, it's not an issue of brand loyalty. If Apple had done it I would have been equally blown away, even if I would not pay so much for such a device. I don't care that I can't afford it. I don't care that it's half-baked, will break, etc. As long as "regular" phones are available, companies should be sparking the imagination and pushing the envelope like this.

Now the moment of truth: Am I an Apple hater? Short answer: Yes and no. WAIT....Let me explain:

I came into the Apple camp in 2001 with the PowerBook 17". But I was blown away by every Apple product since then, and owned most of them, until Steve died.

With the release of iOS7 (the OS got progressively more and more unintuitive), Yosemite, soldered Macs, the EGREGIOUS 2013 Mac Pro, the loss of the headphone jack, and finally the MB/MBP redesign (I hate everything about those machines), Apple steadily moved away from my needs and preferences. The increase in prices have made staying even more difficult. Apple currently offers NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF HARDWARE I want. The keyword there is "I". I tried to use my wife's iPad for a day to see if I could do without my Macs (they're dying), and found iOS too much of blunt instrument compared to what I can do on Android, and how I do it. I posted about it in another thread.

Now, I think the Mac OS is still the best out there, hands down. I have been milking my 2011 17", my 2012 15", and my 2011 iMac 27 because I love them SO MUCH, and there is NO REPLACEMENT for what I can do with them in Apple's or ANY camp. I HATE that APPLE is driving me to the PC or a Hackingtosh with their hardware choices, their pricing, and their neglect of the Mac platform. But my hate comes from LOVE for the platform, kind of like a husband heading for divorce because the wife wants a younger man.

Regarding iOS, there's a feature that is uniquely outstanding: The integration between devices. iMessage and Continuity. I would love to have an iPhone so I can answer calls on a Mac or iPad, and those two are the only reason why I got my wife an iPad (and soon an iPhone...she's on a Sammy phone currently). She's not tech savvy, but she would use those 2 apps heavily so she'd benefit from them. I almost got an iPhone myself until I realized how much I'd have to give up (again, those missing features). It just wasn't worth the tradeoff for me. I live and work in mixed environments so I need devices that play equally well with everyone, not Apple to Apple only. That said, I hear Facetime's pretty good, people seem to love their watches and AirPods, etc. I don't use these products so I cannot say they're better or worse really. But I never did.

Apple is king of the mobile chips though. The A-series are absolutely impressive. Also, iOS is still the smoothest, fastest mobile OS. It is noticeable how delicious it is to scroll, swipe, and pinch on it. I swear, if Apple copied every missing Android feature to iOS I'd come back in a heartbeat. But alas, I have to settle and live with a tradeoff because APPLE removed, removed, REMOVED until I literally couldn't stand to use their products, and the backpedal extremely rarely. Plus, the competition is catching up, at least feature wise.

Still, like Aquaman's dad, I keep walking down that pier to every single one of their keynotes, only to walk back out with my hands in my pockets and my head down thinking: "Maybe next time..."

"Regarding the Fold, I'll give you my opinion: Too early, but still amazing."

Only in your world is a $2000 smartphone that stops working after two days considered amazing. In the real world, at best that's considered a prototype, at worst a catastrophe. Simply put, it's a POS

 

[cardfan]

There was this wall of text. The post kept going and going. Something about Samsung and fanboy. But that can’t be right. I sort of wish I could’ve folded this post in half but there was this gap. The more I peeled away at it, the more things just fell apart.

 

[FFR]

There was this wall of text. The post kept going and going. Something about Samsung and fanboy. But that can’t be right. I sort of wish I could’ve folded this post in half but there was this gap. The more I peeled away at it, the more things just fell apart.

Epic summary.

 

[drumcat]

What innovative feature should they add?

Smart phones have peaked, people. We've known this for a few years now.

Projected video
On-glass fingerprint sensor
External Laser keyboard
Temperature sensor
Laser distance measurement for AR
Screen sharing for "dockable" PC usage / KVM / PC Replace
Proper NFC
Improved contactless charge
5G
Improved OLED / Low power
e-paper back screen

I'm not advocating for or against, but they said the mobile phone "peaked" with the Nokia 8210. That *kind* did... there's more out there.

I'm personally of the opinion that the phone will actually not have its screen be the main viewer soon. It's going to be in the glasses or projection, etc., and the actual phone screen will be secondary. If you think 3 cameras is a lot, you ain't seen nothing yet.
[doublepost=1555803528][/doublepost]Also, Kuo has been wrong so often lately, it's hard to take him seriously anymore.

 

[GuruZac]

Boring. Seriously, the only thing that stands out is the flash.

Looks like I’ll be sticking with my X for yet ANOTHER year!

Innovation at Apple, is clearly dead.

As you type that from your iPhone X that came out just over 18 months ago and had revolutionary design and technology on it. Apple has not lost the ability to innovate in the last 18 months. The A series chips are innovative. Face ID was and is still innovative and a leader in biometric tech. The days of useful innovation happening year over year are slowing down on the hardware side. Innovation will come in the form of software and services, probably not huge leaps in hardware.

 

[The Game 161]

As you type that from your iPhone X that came out just over 18 months ago and had revolutionary design and technology on it. But yeah, Apple lost the ability to innovate in the last 18 months... The A series chips are innovative. Face ID was and is still innovative and a leader in biometric tech. The days of useful innovation happening every year over and over and slowing down. Innovation will come in the form of software and services.

Agreed, even on android devices packed with features it’s harder to get big upgrades each year...

Camera improvements seem the big focus this year and software via IOS 13 will be big this year and likely will mean more than hardware.

 

[iblast0ff]

still using an iphone 6s. if they get a night shot mode thats better than google and huawei (both of those are honestly not that great in real life usage) i'll finally upgrade.

the front camera should also really be a wider lens.

 

[bbednarz]

Maybe human progress should stop, since you can’t think of something new

Yeah man, that's totally the point I made.
[doublepost=1555881259][/doublepost]

Projected video
On-glass fingerprint sensor
External Laser keyboard
Temperature sensor
Laser distance measurement for AR
Screen sharing for "dockable" PC usage / KVM / PC Replace
Proper NFC
Improved contactless charge
5G
Improved OLED / Low power
e-paper back screen

I'm not advocating for or against, but they said the mobile phone "peaked" with the Nokia 8210. That *kind* did... there's more out there.

I'm personally of the opinion that the phone will actually not have its screen be the main viewer soon. It's going to be in the glasses or projection, etc., and the actual phone screen will be secondary. If you think 3 cameras is a lot, you ain't seen nothing yet.
[doublepost=1555803528][/doublepost]Also, Kuo has been wrong so often lately, it's hard to take him seriously anymore.

None of those are really innovative though. Those would be incremental upgrades really with the exception of the "dockable" PC idea.

 

[drumcat]

Yeah man, that's totally the point I made.
[doublepost=1555881259][/doublepost]
None of those are really innovative though. Those would be incremental upgrades really with the exception of the "dockable" PC idea.

Your idea of innovative is questionable. Of course those ideas have been around. Motorola did the dockable thing before, too. They all exist, but they don't exist commonly within the concept of a modern phone.

Innovation is getting something in your hands. Invention is what you're talking about.

 

[Gusjasso]

Wasn't last year a S year? I am expecting more.

Hello! This is tick tack toe era.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

"Regarding the Fold, I'll give you my opinion: Too early, but still amazing."

Only in your world is a $2000 smartphone that stops working after two days considered amazing. In the real world, at best that's considered a prototype, at worst a catastrophe. Simply put, it's a POS

To contextualize, I think it's amazing that they were able to get a folding screen to work at all in the way that it does.

I don't disagree with the rest of your post though.

 

[Azamat]

Darth Tulhu,

Thank you for your detailed response. I understand you now. I don't even think we have any arguments left. I kept nodding my head while reading your story. I couldn't choose any new MacBook today, I ended up getting a refurbished 2015 MBP for my wife when she needed one earlier this year.

I'm very happy with the iPhone X, extremely happy with the the Apple Watch, surprisingly happy with Beats Studio 3, love the 4K Apple TV, it motivated me to upgrade to a 4K TV and I'm very satisfied with my trusty 2013 MPB. I love iTunes, I don't think anything compares to it, I can play my lossless files or stream in 256 AAC.

I have many iPhone features I cannot live without, Find my Friends to keep track of the family, FaceTime that I use every day, and nothing comes close to it in video quality and reliability, iMessage of course, Apple Pay Cash I send allowance to my son, and many more down to the lock screen widget that I use to start the AC in my car which is now replaced with a Siri Shortcut, so I just say "pre-con" to my watch (no Hey Siri required), and it starts the AC.

What are your must-have features on the Samsung? For me only the VR headset support stands out.

 

[TedDaly72RIP]

I know what you mean. The two things I want in a phone are

a) 5 x Zoom. ...
B) Better low light performance.

At the same time? How much do you understand about photography? The two things are in direct opposition.

Perhaps Apple should rewrite the laws of physics while they're at it?

 

[Sciomar]

At the same time? How much do you understand about photography? The two things are in direct opposition.

Perhaps Apple should rewrite the laws of physics while they're at it?

Can they make that happen sometime soon? Things are getting boring with current laws in place.

 

[rasputin1969]

At the same time? How much do you understand about photography? The two things are in direct opposition.

Perhaps Apple should rewrite the laws of physics while they're at it?

No not at the same time. The Huawei P30 pro can do either of these things. It appears as though Apple are going to go with an extra wide angled lens, rather than a 5x periscope lens à la Huawei, which is a real shame. For my personal usage a better zoom is much preferable. Heck, I’d be happier withe the 5x just replacing the current 2x.

 

[TedDaly72RIP]

No not at the same time. The Huawei P30 pro can do either of these things. It appears as though Apple are going to go with an extra wide angled lens, rather than a 5x periscope lens à la Huawei, which is a real shame. For my personal usage a better zoom is much preferable. Heck, I’d be happier withe the 5x just replacing the current 2x.

Well I guess it depends what's more important to you: better pictures or your security.

I'm an iOS security researcher so I spend a lot of time tearing iOS apart at the kernel level, and I've also spent a lot of time in China working with the likes of Huawei. I don't trust either company with my data, but I know which device it's harder for state players to exfiltrate it from.

Just my 2c.

 

[FFR]

Well I guess it depends what's more important to you: better pictures or your security.

I'm an iOS security researcher so I spend a lot of time tearing iOS apart at the kernel level, and I've also spent a lot of time in China working with the likes of Huawei. I don't trust either company with my data, but I know which device it's harder for state players to exfiltrate it from.

Just my 2c.

I prefer the iPhone camera over the Huawei.

 

[Austin Chow]

That black lens coating will probably have quite the effect on the aperture/shutter speed. Wonder if this is a sign that they've been really working on low light images or if things are just gonna get worse. I'd be very surprised if it was the latter.

Turns out that Kuo was wrong and theres no special coating at all.
[automerge]1588850715[/automerge]

I know what you mean. The two things I want in a phone are

a) 5 x Zoom. Anyone with kids knows how useful a zoom lens is for things like school recitals. Plus nature photography, sport and music events etc.
B) Better low light performance.

It doesn’t look like the 2019 phones will address a) and possibly not b) either.

I was hoping for the exact same two things. Turns out we got b) but not a), god damn it. Apple really needs to improve zoom on their next model to 100X zoom, like the P40 Pro+