“Samsung Electronics Co. is considering introducing two new smartphone models that will feature bendable screens, including a version that folds in half like a cosmetic compact, people familiar with the matter said,” Jungah Lee reports for Bloomberg. “The devices using organic light-emitting diodes could be unveiled as soon as early 2017, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. ”
“That would likely give it a head start on new Apple Inc. iPhones,” Lee reports. “The second Samsung model will have a 5-inch screen when used as a handset, that unfurls into a display that’s as large as 8 inches, similar to a tablet, the people said.
“Using advanced display technology may help the company recapture customers from Apple and boost earnings that have slumped for the past two years,” Lee reports. “Codenamed “Project Valley,” Samsung could unveil one or both of the devices as soon as February, when Mobile World Congress takes place in Barcelona, one of the people said. That timing would give Samsung a head-start on Apple’s iPhone using OLED screens that may be released later in 2017, the person said.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Bendable displays will certainly be a game-changer and obviously something to keep an eye on, as Apple surely is doing.
Apple already did it. #bendgate
You mean where Android phones got worse marks for bending and cracking from falls?
No, I meant it as a fecking joke.
It’s TT Week here in the Isle of Man. Red Arrows display, BBQ, beer and an joke online.
Long time AAPL shareholder, etc. Typed on my iPad Pro.
Ahh. Not immediately apparent. Especially these days on this site with all the free-roaming trolls out for a bit of Apple or Cook hate.
Yeah, the trolls can be a nuisance. My fault, too much sun, beer and wine. Peace.
On this occasion the trolls would be absolutely right when they claim that Android did it so much better.
I look forward to seeing these in the wild. The idea is not new, but the technology may be catching up with the concept. The stress on the screen at the bend point will be an obvious point to examine. Repeatedly bending any solid surface tends to weaken it, so it’ll be interesting to see how they address this issue.
I’d also like to see how they address the touch surface, since it won’t be covered with a protective glass. Pressing down on a squishy plastic surface may detract from the experience. Also, with a full screen on the front and a larger screen inside, how will this affect the cost of the units? Initial volumes will certainly be low, so will they be affordable enough for Android users, or will Samsung need to subsidize them as a loss leader to get them in distribution? Powering two screens will also be an issue, and selecting a processor with enough umph to drive both screens, keeping both images in RAM for quick selection between them will also drive up the cost.
In any case, I’m happy to see these roll out. Apple couldn’t come out with this at their volume levels until the manufacturing costs of the multiple screens drops substantially and production capacity and quality control rises to meet Apple’s standards.
I suppose if you have a phone designed to last for but a short time it isn’t an issue, on the other hand for Apple it might be of course.
On a serious note I will be interested to see exactly what this new wonder material is that will keep nearly 100% performance over a number of years. I also suspect that early versions of this concept will be more gimmick than practical but it’s where it goes from there that counts.
That foldable screen must be made of the same material found at the Roswell crash, because there is not a material on earth that can be folded without leaving a fold line, then eventually splitting after folding back and forth. I think a perfect name for this magical device is the Samsung Galaxy Courier.
Android phone users are used to bending over and taking it from Samsung anyway so this is a perfect “fit.”
If it’s concept video with CGI, it doesn’t exist. Concept videos are for suckers.
This will be absolutely great, Waterproof and Bendable; this means that when you throw that Samsung Android phone down the toilet in frustration, it will happily disappear round the s-bend with ease!!
Can’t wait to fold my iPhone before putting it in my pocket! Like a good old flip phone
Gesh!!!
So that Samsung ad of the bendable phone is basically saying, “Get one so you can meet a woman!” That’s pathetic. Instead of showing the appreciation of new technology and how it can help with our daily lives (like Apple does), it sends a message as to buy one in order to meet someone of the opposite sex. Even with new technology, Samsung still gets it backwards.
About as classy as their troll bots on here.
Golly. Now you can be a lard-ass and never have to worry about sitting on your phone again.
Yeah right.
Samsung simply sucks at product videos. That’s almost as bad as the Skier using the Galaxy gear watch.
Bendable… breakable… Or will Samsung just say “Oh don’t worry Mr. Pratter,” (unknowledgeable people often forget the rules of English phonology,) “We see you’ve been using your Samsung Galaxy Airbender for a few weeks now and it’s come apart. This is one of the features you should have gotten in the box. Just send it back to us and we’ll fix it, for only $300, since you bought the phone on a two-year contract.” Yeah yeah, warrantee and all, but it’s satire.