Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Xiaomi Reveals Dual-Folding Flexible Phone in Teaser Video
Amidst increasing hype about foldable displays, Xiaomi has revealed that it is also working on its own flexible phone.
The Chinese mobile maker broke the news with a teaser video posted on Weibo that shows Xiaomi president and co-founder Lin Bin using what at first looks like a normal tablet device, until he folds back both sides of the display so that it resembles a distinctly phone-like form factor.
The physical power button is side-mounted on the device when in landscape orientation, which places it in a top-center location when in phone mode. In a neat touch, the size and orientation of the user interface also automatically adjusts in order to conform to the new dimensions of the display.
In a message accompanying the post, Bin wrote that the device is the result of the company overcoming technical challenges relating to folding displays, foldable hinges, flexible covers, and UI adaptation.
Bin admitted that what he hopes will become "the world's first dual-folding phone" is still just a prototype at this stage, but said that the company will consider mass producing it if the response from consumers is positive. Bin floated two possible names for the phone – the Mi Dual Flex and the Mi MIX Flex – although he said Xiaomi is open to suggestions from the public.
Last year, Samsung showed off its new Infinity Flex display technology in a device that features a 7.3-inch flexible display that can be folded in half. The company said it had developed an advanced composite polymer that's "flexible and tough" to replace the glass that's usually used as a display cover in smartphones.
Samsung is expected to formally announce its first commercially available foldable phone during its Galaxy S10 event on February 20 in San Francisco, California.
Rumors that Apple is developing an iPhone with a foldable display stretch back to December 2016, when it was reported that LG's display division would begin mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones as early as 2018. Apple was said to have chosen to work with LG Display and not Samsung out of fears that Samsung could get ahold of the sensitive tech.
LG is said to have created a dedicated task force to start developing a foldable OLED display for a future iPhone, while its siser company LG Innotek has a team developing a rigid flexible printed circuit board or (RFPCB) to go along with it.
LG has shown off several foldable display prototypes over recent years, including one that folds over like a book and a second that rolls up much like a newspaper.
The Chinese mobile maker broke the news with a teaser video posted on Weibo that shows Xiaomi president and co-founder Lin Bin using what at first looks like a normal tablet device, until he folds back both sides of the display so that it resembles a distinctly phone-like form factor.
The physical power button is side-mounted on the device when in landscape orientation, which places it in a top-center location when in phone mode. In a neat touch, the size and orientation of the user interface also automatically adjusts in order to conform to the new dimensions of the display.
In a message accompanying the post, Bin wrote that the device is the result of the company overcoming technical challenges relating to folding displays, foldable hinges, flexible covers, and UI adaptation.
Bin admitted that what he hopes will become "the world's first dual-folding phone" is still just a prototype at this stage, but said that the company will consider mass producing it if the response from consumers is positive. Bin floated two possible names for the phone – the Mi Dual Flex and the Mi MIX Flex – although he said Xiaomi is open to suggestions from the public.
Last year, Samsung showed off its new Infinity Flex display technology in a device that features a 7.3-inch flexible display that can be folded in half. The company said it had developed an advanced composite polymer that's "flexible and tough" to replace the glass that's usually used as a display cover in smartphones.
Samsung is expected to formally announce its first commercially available foldable phone during its Galaxy S10 event on February 20 in San Francisco, California.
Rumors that Apple is developing an iPhone with a foldable display stretch back to December 2016, when it was reported that LG's display division would begin mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones as early as 2018. Apple was said to have chosen to work with LG Display and not Samsung out of fears that Samsung could get ahold of the sensitive tech.
LG is said to have created a dedicated task force to start developing a foldable OLED display for a future iPhone, while its siser company LG Innotek has a team developing a rigid flexible printed circuit board or (RFPCB) to go along with it.
LG has shown off several foldable display prototypes over recent years, including one that folds over like a book and a second that rolls up much like a newspaper.
Tag: Xiaomi
[ 181 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
8 months ago
Wonder how that plastic screen would look after a couple of months, probably full och scratches due to the soft material.
8 months ago
Looks cool, and bonus points for thinking of making a trifold.
With any folding screen though, I’d want to wait and see how durable they turn out to be before considering a purchase.
With any folding screen though, I’d want to wait and see how durable they turn out to be before considering a purchase.
8 months ago
I mean if that isn’t innovative I don’t know what is. Looks pretty good to me and will only get better as years go on. We need something new after these last 5 years of basically speed increases to the point it doesn’t matter anymore and some decent camera upgrades.
8 months ago
Why waste the space on the back? If there was just one fold you could use both sides.
The problem with all these designs is there has to be some movement in the screen to allow for the fold or you get a crease - think of the dust jacket on a book. This means the screen is never going to look or feel as good as a normal touchscreen. While I'm sure there will be some applications for this tech, solid screen devices are going to remain the most practical for everyday use.
If you've ever used a phone with a plastic screen you'll understand why all modern phones are covered in glass.
The problem with all these designs is there has to be some movement in the screen to allow for the fold or you get a crease - think of the dust jacket on a book. This means the screen is never going to look or feel as good as a normal touchscreen. While I'm sure there will be some applications for this tech, solid screen devices are going to remain the most practical for everyday use.
If you've ever used a phone with a plastic screen you'll understand why all modern phones are covered in glass.
8 months ago
That is courage! Not removing a hardware feature most people in the world still use.
8 months ago
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.
Like AirPower?
8 months ago
I think all this folding of oled screens is not what apple is after ... yet.
That plastic makes it look very cheap , and not durable.
My guess is that apple is betting on micro led displays, they have been researching this tech for 3 to 4 years now, since they took over luxvue.
And judging Samsung’s demo of microled at CES , they will be able to seamlessly make 1 screen out of more screens, since it is bezelles. So you can make a more solid and premium device without the plastic, glare, etc.
That plastic makes it look very cheap , and not durable.
My guess is that apple is betting on micro led displays, they have been researching this tech for 3 to 4 years now, since they took over luxvue.
And judging Samsung’s demo of microled at CES , they will be able to seamlessly make 1 screen out of more screens, since it is bezelles. So you can make a more solid and premium device without the plastic, glare, etc.
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple has just launched an account on Twitter dedicated to its new credit card, which went live for customers in the U.S on Tuesday.
The official account, which goes by the handle...
Non-profit organization Girls Who Code today announced plans to begin offering a new Swift coding tutorial option for its upcoming 6th to 12th grade clubs as part of Apple’s ongoing Everyone Can Code...
Netflix today introduced a new "Latest" section to its service, which is designed to highlight newly released titles and movies and TV shows that are coming soon.
According to Variety,...
Struggling movie ticket subscription service MoviePass stored thousands of customer card numbers and personal credit cards in a database that was not protected with a password, reports TechCrunch.
...
While it has yet to be announced, we're likely just three weeks away from Apple's annual September event at Steve Jobs Theater, where the company is expected to unveil new iPhone and Apple...
Apple recently purchased additional real estate in its hometown of Cupertino, reports The Mercury News, expanding its presence in the Bay Area of California.
Apple purchased two office buildings...
Microsoft today announced the launch of a beta version of its upcoming Microsoft Edge browser, which is available today for Windows and macOS users.
Previously, the Microsoft Edge browser was...
In an email to developers today, received by MacRumors, Apple has announced that apps marked as having "Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling" will be rated 17+ in all countries and regions...
