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That looks very nice and how you can still use it after folding it. My only concern is the durability of the screen from folding and being scratch proof.
 
I bet Apple has loads of tech in the famous pipeline. But, they don't want to spill it all at once. It makes a lot more sense to let it trickle out over the years. That means they can be comfortably ahead in R&D while maximizing profit.

Probably good for stockholders, but not good for consumers paying very high.

This prototype by far the best way to go about flexible displays.

It is certainly not possible to make this in glass without compromising flexibility aspect.

Plastic displays are not that bad and you may not need screen protectors and chances of breaking gets minimised if not eliminated with this approach. In screen finger print scanner, all OLED displays, curved displays all probably moving towards this by slowly reducing the risks involved in such displays.

Now with profits are reducing in other OEMs they need to compete with new form factor.

For Apple in the iOS world there is no dsuc need, instead they could keep jacking up prices until it lasts
 
So what happens when you hold it from the bottom and tap at the top. I assume it would fold away from you, all at once or progressively.

Or would that be using it wrong?
 
Interesting idea in the abstract, but I wonder how long it would be before the screen degrades along the folds. In general flexing material back and forth tends to weaken it. Putting electronic on a flexible substrate has become routine in some fields, but flexing the substrate repeatedly back and forth, not so much.
 
That looks so ****ing cool!

As @Relentless Power has been saying, there is a practical application to this; it's essentially a tablet with the footprint of a smartphone.

I don't think durability is as big of an issue as many are making it out to be. Well, it certainly is with this trifold prototype, but a bifold version could be as durable as two smartphones side by side; Samsung showed off seamless but separate MicroLED panels at CES:

Ky23YQj.gif

From @MacRumors YouTube channel

You could place two of them next to each other, hinge them, and cover each one in gorilla glass:

foldable.gif
 
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May be the future, may not be. Still seems to be a bit like a clever gimmick more than anything. I'm sure that Apple have been developing ideas for such tech for years, but they have no need to release 'teasers' to up their market share. They tend to work out all the kinks and perfect it before they release anything. Personally I'm not convinced these are the 'future' with the inherent issues of constant folding.
Well, Airpower and the Mac Pro beg to differ...
 
I don't understand the churn around these things. I mean, it's probably because it's something different in the mobile space after years of the 'same old', but these things are dumb. The underlying OLED substance looks like wavy garbage, and I can't imagine the wear and use patterns on the device after a month of use.

Foldable devices may become a thing, but this ain't it.
 
Not sure how anybody can say this isn’t good and neat tech

Can be a small tablet and phone rolled into one
 
Screen size is not really a gimmick, it is a feature in itself. Large enough screens give you decent video and different apps (just compare some iPad apps with the same iPhone app).

That is why the iPhone started at 3,5" and is going around 6 or something. Apple got dragged there but it is still there.

We are somewhat at a wall of enlargement. This could be a great thing (or not, who cares?).

Watching this video gives the same type of awe as when the first iPhone was unveiled, you could right away understand that nothing would be the same again (well, Balmer couldn't... lol). There is a difference, the iPhone was there and ready to assess and marvel, this is more of teaser, it may suck in use. But the possible implications of being done right are just amazing.
 
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Ridiculous. Bending display, so what? Such a phone is a gimmick at best and fragile like ****.
 
Again, I'll take any type of folding for the 13" iPad Pro :) Because when doubled / unfolded it would give you a 21" monster!
 
I am not seeing the value yet, but that could obviously change over time. Right now it's too small for me to be a good tablet, and too bulky to be a good phone. The software also obviously needs to be improved, but that is to be expected I suppose. We'll see how this type of tech shakes out. I am good with Apple waiting until the tech is matured and more ready to make an impact.
 
Why don’t we just let others who can afford it enjoy it. More and more updates will come out soon for sure. But how can we see those updates unless something like this gets released.
 
No, but they’ll wait a couple of years to see what works and what doesn’t, and figure out what they can do to improve on the concept before releasing their own.

Or not release one at all if it turns out to be more of a gimmick than something useful.

Agree here, no real reason for Apple to jump in at this point. See what brings value and focus on that. Right now it could end up being as useful as curved TV's, we'll see.
 
It is good that companies are experimenting, however the technology as it is now is completely unacceptable for prime time.
I mean, everybody here is complaining about tolerances in the manufacturing of iPads and screens not being fully laminated, etc... don’t come and tell me that you would find that “thing” in the video acceptable; a never fully straight, thin, flexible, plastic screen?

Please spare me... I am quite happy to keep two separate devices.
Now, if only they cost half the price though, THAT would be real innovation.
 
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