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Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

bbc.com

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Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#151

Post by iainmerrick »

dahdum wrote: post #66
sandworm101 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> They've made every size of phone between a stamp and a tablet. There's nothing left to do. Really? My dream phone doesn't exist yet. I want a phone that is reliable, that lasts more than a few days on a single charge. I want one with two USB connections. I want one with a proper headphone jack, and a speaker that is loud enough to hear properly while driving (without a mount). For these features I am willing to tr…

I'm sure you've realized your dream phone will never exist, it sounds more like an older ultrabook than a phone. What's the reason for a USB port, much less two of them? Every new vehicle the past few years has bluetooth, so why a loud speaker?

(I assumed they just meant two USB-C or micro-USB ports, not big desktop-style ones)

Two USB sockets is like two SIMs. It sounds crazy to most people who’ve never had them, but for a lot of other people they are / would be amazingly useful.

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#152

Post by mrguyorama »

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #143
mrguyorama wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was spoiled by a Droid Turbo. Now I can't buy anything with less than 3500mAh of battery, which severely limits my options. Too bad Motorola phones never get software updates and are super locked down

Not to mention the latest offerings by Motorola have been lackluster. I, too, loved my Droid Turbo. When I first got it, I remember driving from San Diego to the north edge of the Los Angeles metro area over about four hours using Waze. 4 hours of screen and GPS time and it only used about 40% of the battery. But after 3 years, 1 hour of Waze would consume 25% of the battery. The battery would barely last me a day, a…

My Droid Turbo didn't lose much battery capacity, but it was four years old, and everyday apps barely functioned, and random things killed the battery in the background.

I went for the Pixel 2XL, for the battery and for the software updates. Can plug in my phone for an hour here and there at random times, and no longer leave it plugged in at night. I can go out or visit family with battery at 50% and not worry about my phone dying.

Google's fast charging also seems to be more variable and "smart" than motorola's, and doesn't seem to overheat my phone as much

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#153

Post by misterprime »

jlokier wrote: post #82
misterprime wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can I ask what the dual USB is used for? Charge + USB OTG device?

For some, it would be charge + speaker, charge + headphones, or charge + TV.

>charge + headphones

I forgot about the hellscape we're living in where this is a thing.

I do see advantages for those other uses. Also, copying data between USB drives seems handy too!

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#154

Post by frandroid »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #95
jacquesm wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bulk of the 'supercars' for sale here in NL has absurdly low mileage compared to their age.

In fact this was Lamborghini's comeback when Greenpeace had it out for them some years ago. "Sure our cars may have the worst CO2 emission per km, but they're among the best in CO2 emissions per year".

Brilliant :)

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#155

Post by iainmerrick »

jandrese wrote: post #130
iheartpotatoes wrote: post #120

I have an iPhone 7 and the Phone app periodically freezes requiring a reboot. Let that sink in: the primary function of the phone does not work. And I switched to Apple after too many Android issues turned me off completely. You think we're going to nail folding screens any time soon?

Sounds like you might have bad hardware or a corrupt install. Phone app freezes should be exceedingly rare, to the point of nonexistence for most users. I assume you have not jailbroken your phone?

I frequently hit bugs in the Phone app in iOS too (eg can’t answer incoming call). When I used Android it was even worse. I just assumed that was a common experience but nobody cares.

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#156

Post by rchaud »

jmull wrote: post #146
rchaud wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you call "design tradeoffs" is what consumers call "basic features". I can't think of a single phone before the iPhone that had non-replaceable batteries. Samsung and LG had replacement slots on their flagships all the way up to 2014/15. You had someone a 2014 LG G3 today, and I doubt anyone would complain about the weight or the size, especially when the top-line iPhone has a 6.5 inch screen. > Maybe not a grea…

> ...what consumers call "basic features" Consumers are the ones who have insisted — with their wallets — that they prefer phones without user-swappable batteries.

Consumers have "insisted" on that in the same way they've insisted on having more hormones, preservatives and color treatments in their food.

Companies have switched to non-replaceable batteries because it's good for their bottom line. It's definitely market forces that are in play, but not the ones in the textbooks where consumers hold all the cards.

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#157

Post by DoreenMichele »

rchaud wrote: post #156
jmull wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...what consumers call "basic features" Consumers are the ones who have insisted — with their wallets — that they prefer phones without user-swappable batteries.

Consumers have "insisted" on that in the same way they've insisted on having more hormones, preservatives and color treatments in their food. Companies have switched to non-replaceable batteries because it's good for their bottom line. It's definitely market forces that are in play, but not the ones in the textbooks where consumers hold all the cards.

Yeah. A lot of "voting with your wallet" boils down to "Buy this crap and kvetch about it ...or, I guess, have nothing?"

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#158

Post by neogodless »

jmull wrote: post #146
rchaud wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you call "design tradeoffs" is what consumers call "basic features". I can't think of a single phone before the iPhone that had non-replaceable batteries. Samsung and LG had replacement slots on their flagships all the way up to 2014/15. You had someone a 2014 LG G3 today, and I doubt anyone would complain about the weight or the size, especially when the top-line iPhone has a 6.5 inch screen. > Maybe not a grea…

> ...what consumers call "basic features" Consumers are the ones who have insisted — with their wallets — that they prefer phones without user-swappable batteries.

This is correct, at face value. However, the comparison is usually this:

Option 1:

- has a removable battery, headphone jack and/or stereo speakers

- security / OS updates stop in 6 months (or never happen or are years behind)

- camera is OK

- getting kind of slow

- proprietary version of Android with bloatware

Option 2:

- no removable battery, headphone jack or stereo speakers

- security / OS updates for 2-3 years

- camera is better in low light

- it's fast right now

It's like evolution, except there aren't enough options and the timeline is too short and bad features are too coupled with good features.

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#159

Post by jayd16 »

reallymental wrote: post #17

Let's assume that they knew this was a half baked product. Not a "first edition" product like the first iPhone, but a rushed, half baked product, released without consideration of sales but just for being the first in the market for this niche. Given this assumption, why would you give it to reviewers at all ? Remember "Vertu" ? They were the Ferrari of phones during the Blackberry era and were _shit_. I got my hands…

Whats the point of being secretive and ruining your reputation by pretending this is a daily driver? This is a status symbol phone. The price point makes that obvious. If it breaks all the time, all the better. It shows you don't care about a disposable $2k.

Re: Samsung's folding phone breaks for reviewers

#160

Post by iainmerrick »

The main thing I don’t understand about all this is, what would be wrong with just having two screens with a thin hinge between them?

Movies wouldn’t look as good, sure. But what else? Surely this entire product line can’t be driven by movie watching... can it?

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