You can spare the "Apple fanboy" thing. I'm not one. I have a long, illustrious love-hate relationship with Apple that prevents me from being a fanboy. But I do appreciate Apple's history enough to know that if they ever do release a foldable screen, it will be done so in a way that actually addresses a concrete problem, not just for Samsung-style hype/headline generation.
My issue wasn't how this technology could be applied but rather what problem it solves. Saying I could unfold a phone screen to tablet size doesn't answer that. I own an iPhone and an iPad, but you're completely ignoring some of the physicality/form factor issues that might make me prefer a pad or a phone and focusing solely on screen size. Unfolding a phone screen to be tablet sized would be weird because it's a tablet screen with a phone attached somewhere awkwardly on the back. That's not an optimal user experience. I use a tablet when I want a bigger screen but what you're describing sounds like a pain. If I'm having a video chat with someone on my iPad, I will often prop up the tablet. How does that work with a phone screen that has been folded out to tablet size?
My issue is that I'm not clear on what actual day-to-day gripe/problem this solves. I don't have a complaint about owning a phone and tablet. I have a small screen with my phone and a larger screen with my tablet. I don't consider owning both to be a problem per se. There's never a time when I'm walking around with my phone and wishing I could transform it into a tablet or vice-versa. So in pointing that out, you haven't really given me a problem (or at least a compelling one) that this solves.
Flip the concept. I use an iPad mini as BOTH my phone (with buds) and tablet. I have NONE of the issues you describe using it both ways. For example, if it needs to be propped up, I prop it up. What do I wish it could do that is automatically in a phone-sized device? Fit in my pocket. If I could fold or roll up an iPad to phone or less size, it becomes big-screen tablet, small-screen phone AND is as portable as a phone... as ONE device.
THAT is the problem these attempts at making a bigger mobile screen able to fold/roll/fit into a pocket solves. How most of us Apple people address that now is by carrying BOTH around... or making do with whichever we happen to have with us. Examples:
- at the airport, a little phone can be handy for getting ready to fly needs in the terminal. On the flight, bigger screen iPad (or MB) is much better for watching a movie than tiny phone screen.
- In my case, phone calls are more convenient in a phone format. However, pretty much everything else- including texting- is better- IMO- on the iPad.
- Taking a picture is generally better on a phone-sized device. Editing that picture is much better on an iPad or bigger screen.
- Etc.
Basically, stack up all situations where- if both are with you- you choose one over the other because it helps you do whatever you want to do better. Now, what if those "this one or that one?" choices could be eliminated because ONE device could cover
both bases? That's what's attempting to be accomplished here.
I would love to have phone-like pocket-abilty of my iPad. That means it needs to fold/roll/<something else>. But I don't want that portability enough to embrace owning BOTH devices. The bulk of what I want to do on a mobile is- IMO- simply better on that bigger-than-phone screen. Certainly, there are people who feel the opposite. But again, if ONE device can scratch BOTH itches, both sides can get exactly what they want... with the bonus of having some flexibility to adjust in those rarer instances where they really wish they had their other device with them instead.
I'm convinced Apple will eventually roll out something to address this. Maybe that will be 85" virtual screens inside of ski goggles which also absorb the iPhone too??? Whatever it turns out to be, all of the very passionate arguments against it will evaporate... just at they did when Apple rolled out a phablet, NFC payments, etc. We can't ever seem to see much "use case" while Apple isn't selling whatever it is... but as soon as they do... "use cases" erupt in abundance.
