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From the CNET Nexus 7 review (by Josh Miller):
http://reviews.cnet.com/google-nexus-7/
The bad: The lack of built-in expandable storage and and omission of HDMI are disappointing and the design follows the plain, black tablet mold, with uselessly thick top and bottom bezels
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Really? What is Josh smoking? And folks who are expecting expandable storage on Nexus devices need a reality check.
A big "whoosh" to Mr. Josh Miller
*Flame suit on*
I agree with him.
In fact on the Xoom or Nexus Tablets forum I stated that exact complaint yesterday or the day before.
They could have done something with the top and bottom bezels....or at least trimmed them down a bit.
Now I'm no stranger to tablets and understand we need *SOME* bezel real estate for our thumbs/pads of our fingers to reside w/out touching the screen. Just think the bezel is a bit excessive. Then again....I'm not buying one for the looks. It's really stretching to complain about that issue, but it is a valid one IMHO.
It's a beautiful / slick device my friend, have you seen these pictures yet?
http://www.anandtech.com/Gallery/Album/2131#10
I think they're "handle bars" that way you can read your device and still hold it
I am thinking the bottom and top bars are thicker is because of when holding the tab in landscape mode. Since you will need more support to hold the tablet that way they gave you more bevel to hold onto. While holding it in portrait you are able to grab it easier with one hand so its not as necessary to have thicker bezel on the sides.
Right away when I noticed it I was disappointed with the large bezels. It's a waste of real estate. I'm not saying no bezel, I'm just asking for a thinner bezel that would allow for more display.
The lack of sd card support is also disappointing but there are ways around it. Also the lack of MHL or HDMI is a bummer. It wouldn't have added much to the cost. Heck, they could have been exclusive features for the premium version.
i didnt really notice the bezel yet but looking at it again its huge! lol could have been a little smaller tbh.
Yeah, the bezels are a bit thick, but the extra space is probably needed for the device's internals. We'll find out once someone does a tear down of the device.
Hey, leave the Nexus 7 alone, they had to have the big bezel so they had room for the micro sd slot!!!!!!! What? There is no slot? Mmmkaaay. Nothing to see here folks, move along.
I think it's fine (but then again I don't really have much to compare to). I'm not a fan of bezels so thin that you have no good way of holding it without touching the touch screen. I do think it's odd that the top and bottom are bigger than the sides. Maybe someone has a patent on uniform bezels?
Anyway, I think it's all good if they use that extra space to cram as much battery in it as possible.
Well of they shrunk the bezels down, apple could have sued over that. They did patent bezel size and matching. Sizing or whatever bull****
Sent from my Iconia A500 using Tapatalk 2
Cant agree with the OP.
It would have been nice for the top and bottom bezels to be slimmed down, as they are pretty pointless since there are no buttons or anything.
Also, although its not a tradition, its nice if they would add in the expandable storage. Its a really useful feature to have.
According to Duarte, Android designer, the bezel widths are designed. The side bezel is thin to allow easier thumb navigating while in portrait (default orientation for N7). The top/bottom bezels are thicker, since you need a larger space to grip when in landscape mode.
While valid, this ignores handspan differences. As someone with XS hands that have difficulty grasping both sides of a Nook in portrait, I would've preferred a more grippy border in portrait than the edge-to-edge glass surface. I dare say this is true as well for the majority of women, and of course for kids/teens.
Secondly, the unbalanced top/bottom notification bars are also intentional design aesthetic, to create a "weighted base" effect. While I was unaware of this, after some introspection I agree with the intent. The display seems more "proper" with a "heavy chin." Note that Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet/Color also have this element.
Watch video below at 11:11 mark for discussion of the bezel design.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/29/3126587/matias-duarte-on-the-nexus-7-and-jelly-bean
BTW, while Topolsky may be an above-average blogger (which isn't saying much), I find him a poor interviewer. An interview is about the interviewee, not the interviewer. Topo interrupts too often, and talks for too long. There is a need to keep to an agenda for an interview, but he needs to blend into the background and let the interviewee through.
Can't imagine how you'd hold the thing without putting your fingers on the screen if the sides in landscape mode weren't the size they are. Of course, if they were smaller then a bunch of people would be on here complaining about that so there's no way to satisfy everyone.
That is, unless you're Apple and everything you produce is magically perfect. :laugh:
Bezel size is perfect for me for gaming. Would not want them any smaller.
And had the bezel been made smaller people would complain about that..
Humans = funny... LOL
Besides providing space for my palms in landscape mode, they're also the right width for a thumb to hold the bottom of the device in portrait mode. Also they look much bigger in pictures than they do in hand.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
You need reasonably large bezels to be able to fit in a big battery and then put the motherboard around outside, have a look at a tear down on YT they don't waste much space with these things
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app
When i saw the first images of the nexus 7 i thought they'd made a mistake with the size of the bezel, but having used it now i can't complain.
Actually I do a lot of reading in portrait and wish the "long" bezels were thicker.
While the diagonal of the display is "more", what concerns me is that the usability of the area is much less.
Consider the real strength of the Note line is the use of the S-Pen. Taking notes and drawing or writing we have LESS real space unless in horizontal mode - this is not my preferred orientation.
If you align the FLAT (non infinity) area - comparison from NOTE-4 to rumored NOTE-8 yes it's taller, but the writable area in width is compromised. Take a look at the attachment. the lower left display area is aligned discounting the "curved" portion of the NOTE-8 - you can't write on curved surface without difficulty... The width is 6.5mm narrower - that's ALOT!
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I don't write TO-DO lists that are 25 items long! I write in sentences and paragraphs for inclusion in reports and analysis - and the NOTE-4 (my current device) is better at that.
I want a NOTE-8, but I'm somewhat concerned. How about you all? Do you like the direction that the Note line is headed with aspect ratios?
It's narrower PLUS the infinity display narrows the width even more -
Deetz
I don't think the note series is following the right path - ie S8+ with a pen is not what I want. The screen is narrowing for the worse.
I currently have the V20 and I am getting the Note8 because of the water resistance, better screen and much better camera. I have both Note 7's and had the Note 4 prior to that so I need the Note back in my life!
I have a Note 5 & wish they had stayed with that screen ratio rather than the narrow one of the S8, it just looks a bit odd on a Note.
The reason they are narrowing and lengthening the phones is to accommodate people with smaller hands mostly IMO. I also prefer a slightly shorter and wider display. 16:9 with basically no bezels would be ideal. But everyone is going to 18:9 for most of the newer phones. Samsung is going 18.5:9 which is even taller and more narrow. For now, this is the ratio that most phones are adopting - taller and narrow. Maybe in a few years that will have proven to be not as popular and phones will gravitate back to a bit shorter an a bit wider. Who knows.
Also prefer the shorter wider display...
My point is not only that it is narrow, but with the curvy edges of the "infinity display" it limits the usable area even more.
It's FAKE NEWS - reporting a screen size for the sake of numbers - you can't use the edges - nice for photos and videos, but not much else. Have you plugged in your 4TB hard drive only to discover you've got 3.6 of usable space after formatting? Same thing.
The display is not bigger - just squished around to fit narrow Asian girl hands - does not help me with the functionality or "productivity" that Samsung espouses. It
the flat is 6.53 on both sides for the reduction of flat width.
It's obvious,
those giants makers including Samsung and HTC are pushing toward narrower screens because it saves on screen material cost during manufacturing. Note that 6.2in dia screen with 16:9 proportions has larger surface area by almost 9% vs. same diagonal screen but with 18.5:9 ratio This means with the last one more screens cut from single AMOLED wafer, means lower cost. But same diagonal spec. for marketing purposes. I won't be surprised if in 2-3 yrs some will start to push even further toward 2.35:1 (21:9) ratio marketing skinny phones as providing unique "cinematography experience". Same crap happened over a decade ago with laptops when all makers shifted from 4:3 screens to 16:9.
I had a chance to use S8 for couple weeks and experience was dreadful. Note 5 which I use now is probably last Samsung phone I owe.
I understand -
Plus:
Asians and women with narrower hands
Less scrolling, able to see more per page
Better spec's
VR may be better field of view
Con:
S-Pen has less writable area, you write on the "flat"
More scrolling, doc's that "word wrap" end up being longer, so more scrolling.
All that said, the writing and drawing is what the Note series is differentiated about.
It would make more sense to have more flat area.
Deetz.
I see people refer this design as been catered to please mainly Asian people. In China now, most people I meet small or big have large display phones, iPhone + range size is almost baseline for most of phones, It seems no one cares that you need two hands to use phone.
The Note 8 design I believe is more for western people as massive phones are still turn off for majority.
Comming from note 3 I am not finding issues with the width, I use s note! I find that curved edges are better for writing when phone is flat on table as it's curved and writing hand can rest on display easier as oppose to having flat edges which is less comfortable.
Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
DeetzSw said:
It's FAKE NEWS
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Please STOP with this STUPID "Trump" phrases!
DeetzSw said:
It's FAKE NEWS
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Oh, man. Tell me this bit here is just some sarcastic satire and not being serious. Hope you're not one of those folks. LOL!
esdwa said:
It's obvious,
those giants makers including Samsung and HTC are pushing toward narrower screens because it saves on screen material cost during manufacturing. Note that 6.2in dia screen with 16:9 proportions has larger surface area by almost 9% vs. same diagonal screen but with 18.5:9 ratio This means with the last one more screens cut from single AMOLED wafer, means lower cost. But same diagonal spec. for marketing purposes. I won't be surprised if in 2-3 yrs some will start to push even further toward 2.35:1 (21:9) ratio marketing skinny phones as providing unique "cinematography experience". Same crap happened over a decade ago with laptops when all makers shifted from 4:3 screens to 16:9.
I had a chance to use S8 for couple weeks and experience was dreadful. Note 5 which I use now is probably last Samsung phone I owe.
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I agree. It's all about the costs. I prefer 16:9 ratio.
And to add insult to injury they made the Note 8 narrower screen curved!
Not really Note anymore is it ?
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
It isn't about costs, the screens are actually more costly to produce, not less. It's about differentiation, style, and profit. Phones are getting good enough that the hardware is in many respects becoming a non factor. The phone industry is getting ready to enter the "appliance" stage. You don't really check the compressor on your new fridge, compare BTUs per square inch of burner, on stoves, etc. You look at the gross size, styling, durability/perceived reliability. The hardware under the hood is for most people generic, doesn't matter. Most of you should be old enough to recall this happening with laptops. Not to long ago laptops sold for much greater margins but as they got better for most people they became good enough, it became a value question, a styling question, rather than a hardware question. In the laptop industry however there was really only one operating system that mattered, windows. This made differentiation difficult when pricing was crucial and the result was the proverbial race to the bottom. Outside of the boutique systems for gamers most laptops move for a very low margin and it's a difficult business to compete in. They have become appliances.
Those happy people that make phones don't want this to happen to them so they are trying to create value and increase profits with style and differentiation before the performance factor becomes totally meaningless. They are also trying to wall you into their garden and for phones these things are related. When you know the clock is ticking and the hardware will soon become a non factor style and brand can still sell and is a way to avoid the low profits after the race to the bottom is complete. By locking you into their orbit they also act to make it so their value to you becomes higher because a move means hassle. Then they have the value add of harvesting your information and selling it. Remember Apple made 4 billion dollars last year serving google ads. Thats whats called free money and everyone likes free money.
So thats why, it's not really about right or wrong for the user, it's about holding profits up for the OEMs. If they make a same old same old boring slate they cant add value for style, they cant win brand recognition, they cant get the profit that those things bring. It's always about the money.
I find the narrower phone much more comfortable/"natural" to hold in my hand & overall less fatiguing to work with - so while I completely agree that narrower display contradicts most of what the Note series should stand for, by compromising effectiveness of the stylus from a professional writing/note-taking standpoint, I have to say that I still welcome this change, all things considered. Obviously this is something Samsung takes very seriously and would not have have overlooked. Yeah the cost-factor is a major consideration, but I'm sure there were many other practical factors which weighed in favour of the new design.
I also don't want to come across as naive in saying this, but given how expensive the Note 8 actually retails for, does the "cost savings" argument really even hold much water, any more than it being a convenient excuse? The fact is, Samsung could have put nearly any price tag on this unit and it clearly wouldn't have made much difference to their sales at the end of the day. People are prepared to pay a fortune for this device, just because it's "the new Samsung Galaxy Note" -- so there urgency for Samsung to take cost-cutting shortcuts couldn't have been all that great. Then again, I suppose when we consider how much the Note 7 disaster must have cost them, I suppose anything is possible after all
Granted, we all have our preferences though, and I can totally understand why some prefer 16:9 form factor and might even be disappointed/angered by this trend. You could certainly argue that anyone looking for long/narrow flagship offering could just buy the S8+ such that Samsung should have left the Note 8 form factor untouched, leaving customers with more variety in this regard instead of conforming everything to this new fashion trend... but it is what it is, and the overall sales figures will speak the loudest in the end. Can't wait to see what the future of this space holds though
I use a Note5 for work, and Note8 for personal. I prefer the screen of the 8 much better.
DeetzSw said:
My point is not only that it is narrow, but with the curvy edges of the "infinity display" it limits the usable area even more.
It's FAKE NEWS - reporting a screen size for the sake of numbers - you can't use the edges - nice for photos and videos, but not much else. Have you plugged in your 4TB hard drive only to discover you've got 3.6 of usable space after formatting? Same thing.
The display is not bigger - just squished around to fit narrow Asian girl hands - does not help me with the functionality or "productivity" that Samsung espouses. It
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This is way off topic, but me thinks you need to do some reading on how HD capacity is figured, calculated, and reported. Its not the same thing. At all.
fragtion said:
I find the narrower phone much more comfortable/"natural" to hold in my hand & overall less fatiguing to work with - so while I completely agree that narrower display contradicts most of what the Note series should stand for, by compromising effectiveness of the stylus from a professional writing/note-taking standpoint, I have to say that I still welcome this change, all things considered. Obviously this is something Samsung takes very seriously and would not have have overlooked. Yeah the cost-factor is a major consideration, but I'm sure there were many other practical factors which weighed in favour of the new design.
I also don't want to come across as naive in saying this, but given how expensive the Note 8 actually retails for, does the "cost savings" argument really even hold much water, any more than it being a convenient excuse? The fact is, Samsung could have put nearly any price tag on this unit and it clearly wouldn't have made much difference to their sales at the end of the day. People are prepared to pay a fortune for this device, just because it's "the new Samsung Galaxy Note" -- so there urgency for Samsung to take cost-cutting shortcuts couldn't have been all that great. Then again, I suppose when we consider how much the Note 7 disaster must have cost them, I suppose anything is possible after all
Granted, we all have our preferences though, and I can totally understand why some prefer 16:9 form factor and might even be disappointed/angered by this trend. You could certainly argue that anyone looking for long/narrow flagship offering could just buy the S8+ such that Samsung should have left the Note 8 form factor untouched, leaving customers with more variety in this regard instead of conforming everything to this new fashion trend... but it is what it is, and the overall sales figures will speak the loudest in the end. Can't wait to see what the future of this space holds though
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I find the more narrower a phone more of a being ripped off / short changed nickel and diming like OP does , especially when it's a "Note". I'm allowed to air my views ? Being easier to hold in the hand is perhaps true, but this is the makers justification for cutting corners to increase revenue but still charge a premium.
Karma already came and bit Samsung in the ass ref: the N7 fiasco, it will continue to do so should they keep abusing their position ethically and their clients. I remember Samsung when they were chasing Apple clients for customers, as soon as they got what they wanted figures wise they put the middle finger up on the folks who made them bigger than Apple.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Super Chimp said:
I have a Note 5 & wish they had stayed with that screen ratio rather than the narrow one of the S8, it just looks a bit odd on a Note.
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The same to me, I have both the 5 and the 8 here on the table, and I prefer the 5.
Also wearing it in my shirtpocket it extends too much.
No need either for a software home button. I really see not much advantage for a larger screen.
Was completely happy with the note 5. I bought the 8 because more memory. I use dual SIM so no SD card.
Disppointed? No, but still...
haha,
Huib
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Limeybastard said:
I agree. It's all about the costs. I prefer 16:9 ratio.
And to add insult to injury they made the Note 8 narrower screen curved!
Not really Note anymore is it ?
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
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I was using the note in a public bus today. I feel a little bit embarrased with this screen. I cannot hide it in my hand, so everybody sees I have this huge thing.
Huib
I noticed how much I liked the Note 2 when I brought home the Note 5.
Embarrassed by the size, no way.
I'm at a disaster recovery exercise and I've had my large screen phone in my hand all day.
After the Livermorium keyboard mod finally failed, I got to work to create something myself, using my trusty 3D printer.
As a basis I am using an generic mini bluetooth keyboard. This thing comes under a variety of names, one of which is Jelly Comb IBK-26IM, but there are a lot of other names for this thing. Additionally to the full six-row keyboard (including dedicated rows for numbers and F-keys and keys like alt, ctrl, esc or shift) it also offers a mediocre touchpad for mouse control.
In the current iteration I only use a 3D printed clamp that connects the keyboard to the smartphone. This is a very simplistic approach but already this is a lot better than only using a touch keyboard.
I made a version that used laptop hinges from an old laptop to fold the keyboard to the back of the phone when not used (Motorola Backflip style), but the laptop hinges were way to strong. So I am currently working on a design using 3D-printed adjustible-strength torque hinges. I am thinking of making a double-hinged design that allows the keyboard to be folded both over the front (laptop style) and the back (Motorola Backflip style), so it can protect the keys and display when stored, and still be used in landscape with the keyboard out and in portrait mode with the keyboard folded to the back of the phone.
These designs I am working on will replace the back plate of the keyboard to reduce the thickness of the whole thing. I am also thinking about adding lead weights to the bottom of the keyboard to balance the top-heavyness, which is an issue, though surprisingly not a major one.
I also made a clamp to connect the smartphone with a Playstation 3 or XBox One controller.
Is anyone interested in either 3D-print files or 3D-printed parts for this? I can adjust the clamp part to work with about every smartphone.
Instead of putting lead weights.. try design it to have a kick stand.
BTW, it awesome for your work so far. Please continue and update here the improvements.
I would love to have one if all fit - slim - easy and most of all, work out perfectly...
Thanks for the interest and the feedback!
Where would you put the kickstand?
I have been using the clamp for a while now. It works pretty nicely. I am not sure if a joint is entirely necessary, since I can just pop the phone out of the clamp if I don't need the keyboard. I will build and test it though, just to see if it is an improvement.
A nice project. :good:
Though there already exists some clamshell variants like the Gemini and the Cosmo
My interest is primarily in a slider - though of course your solution is much better than touch-only.
I have my hopes up high for the "Q-device" hinted at e.g. here and until more news on that, i'm using a Snap-On keyboard for the Samsung S8- (Unfortunately it does not work completely on S9-, see this https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9/accessories/keyboard-cover-s8-modified-s9-t3841101
ADD:
Just an Idea, depending on how the 3D-print and the hinge is joined. It could be nice if the two 3D-parts meet, and had some suitable cut-ins so it 'snapped' in place at a couple of angles. e.g. closed, open 120 degrees and open 180 degrees.
And If you can get hold of hinges like the Lenovo Yoga, it would be clever if it could bend over and stay in a couple of more angles, including 360 too...
Thank you!
The hinged version isn't actually a clamshell since it does not close with the display and the keyboard on the inside, but rather on the outside. Compared to a clamshell device this does not offer any protection for the screen and the keyboard, but it allows using the display in portrait mode without having the keyboard dangle off to one side. A double-hinged design would allow for both, closing it like a clamshell and also folding the keyboard to the backside.
I would prefer a slider as well, since it is a middle ground between both designs. The keyboard is protected and the screen is not, but you can still use the device in portrait mode. I have two problems with a slider design, though. First, I haven't found any 3D-printable (or cheap and very small buyable) sliding mechanisms. Second, because the sliding mechanism needs to attach to the top of the keyboard, I cannot build it into the back of the keyboard as I am doing with the folding mechanism. The back half of the keyboard is virtually empty and also the shape is pretty simple. So for the folding mechanism I am just going to replace that back half, thus saving a lot of thickness.
I attached renders of the backflip mechanism. Two of the renders show the device in the folded state, with the keyboard being on top, keys facing up, and the phone being on the bottom, screen facing down. The third render shows the mechanism in the opened state. The smartphone is inserted into the thin hoop part and the top half of the keyboard is screwed onto the wider flat panel on the right.
I will post pictures as soon as I'm done printing it and got it to work.
And also, thanks a lot for posting the link at the Keyboard Mod indiegogo page!
Dakkaron said:
.
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I attached renders of the backflip mechanism. Two of the renders show the device in the folded state, with the keyboard being on top, keys facing up, and the phone being on the bottom, screen facing down. The third render shows the mechanism in the opened state. The smartphone is inserted into the thin hoop part and the top half of the keyboard is screwed onto the wider flat panel on the right.
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Ah I see, only 'backflipping'
You might consider something like this they even mention that you can request a sample, But 500 for $100 that should be enough for your immediate needs
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
Dakkaron said:
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
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I'm not sure what the correct technical term is, perhaps "Locking hinge", what I mean is something along these lines integrated, but with a limited number of positions
https://www.yeggi.com/goto/l52hmXJ/...03endmN/Qq7Sc29yaqOXKY5nh04POrrC04a_smZusqZ2W
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Dakkaron said:
I think I will first try it with 3D printed joints, since there I can adjust the resistance. I already tried it with other laptop hinges, but they were extremely tough, so it was impossible to fold the device without breaking something. Maybe there is something like that with adjustable torque, that would be good.
The version I am currently working on will work like the Motorola Backflip, which is where I got the term from.
Edit: @eske.rahn: I just saw your edit to the first post. Cut-ins sound interesting. I'll have to see if I can get something like that to work.
Click to expand...
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You might also consider a completely different approach with the two halves always parallel, and the mechanics at the ends, like this table thing.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61PZJuntwQL._SL1500_.jpg
(sort of most primtive 'slider', and if the arms got different lengths, you can get a tilt also)
This locking hinge design looks pretty simple. Should be no problem to incorporate that into my design.
A friend of mine had a smartphone a few years with this parallel-arms-design. I can't remember what it was. I think some Samsung phone. I don't think I can make this in 3D-print in the required size... I am thinking about a real slider though. Have to see if it is possible.
I tried printing the hinged design, but I don't have a good printing direction, since neither the top nor the bottom of the keyboard half are touching the floor. I need to rework this. Didn't have much time this weekend.
slider vs hinge
i get it that a hinge is easy to implement but would it not be better to try a sliding action over the hinge since it would allow for a end design
@Dakkaron If you're going for a DIY-solution, I'd suggest modding one of the many existing QWERTY-cases for the Galaxy S4, S5 and iPhone.
Several years ago I had one of those for my S4. The problem is, these are hard to come by, unless you live in the US.
I was also a backer of the keyboard mod, actually only bought the Moto Z because of that about 1,5 years go (and then had to replace it with a Z2 Play half a year ago).
As someone who was craving a keyboard smartphone for years, this is really frustrating.
In 2016 I switched to a Blackberry Priv - up until then I had an imported Droid 4 - but the lack of root and its terrible keyboard drove me away.
A few days ago I got a Gemini PDA and while it definitely has its benefits, it's not nearly as practical as a daily driver as a slider would be.
I wish I could just find one of the lucky few who got the keyboard mod and buy it from them for a hefty price.
As someone who struggles with these highly impractical touchscreen keyboards - even after 1,5 years - I'm really frustrated.
I simply don't get why many years ago smartphone producers suddenly forced keyboard-less phones on us up to the point where most people forgot about them.
It's not like people suddenly said 'we don't want a hardware keyboard anymore', they just stopped producing models with a keyboard.
But it's not like people don't want a physical keyboard!
I still know a few that just want to have a keyboard again. And everyone who's seen my keyboard phones so far immediately responded positively to them.
It's a shame that the options for people like us are so limited.
noonebikes4free said:
i get it that a hinge is easy to implement but would it not be better to try a sliding action over the hinge since it would allow for a end design
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Sure a slider would be better for a SPECIFIC combo, but I guess the hinge design is easier to make more general for different types of keyboards and phablets/phones.
---------- Post added at 06:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 PM ----------
I'm certainly with you @Shani Ace
Personally in the waiting for a real slider, I prefer the primitive snap-on solution for e.g. the S8 as an intermediate device over a hinge design (no matter what way it folds).
(and I must admit I'm getting impatient for more information of the elusive Q device. The teaser page offers so little that it's more annoyance than tease...)
@noonebikes4free: I too would like a slider best, but I just have no idea how to make one. I have taken apart the Motorola Droid 3 and 4, so I know how their sliders work, but there is no way I can replicate that in 3D printed plastic and my metalworking skills are non-existant. So it is not a case of me being too lazy to design one, but rather one of me not having any idea how to make one. If you find a good example I'd be happy to clone it.
@Shani Ace: I was thinking about these slider cases as well, but as you mentioned, they are very hard to find. Also, they are tiny since they were designed for much smaller phones. I wanted a keyboard that would be about the same size as my phone.
I too got the Moto Z Play for the keyboard mod. Quite a disappointment.
I have been using the keyboard with only a snap-on clip for the last few weeks and that seems quite practical. If I need the keyboard, I snap it on. If I don't need it, I snap it off. But the clamp on the keyboard makes it a very awkward shape to carry it around. But I think I figured out a solution that is almost as good as a slider, and that's a swivel hinge (I think they are called that way). So the phone would then rotate like a Nokia Twist, but with the joint in the center of the side of the phone and it would rotate 180 degrees. That would store the keyboard the same way as on a slider, but it would be way easier to make and sturdier. Combine that with a locking swivel mechanism and easy detachability for when you only need the phone.
What fo you think?
@eske.rahn I actually used those snap-on keyboards for a while on an S6 edge and later again with a S7.
But there were a few downsides which made me switch again:
* no backlight
* it limits screen size significantly (I countered that by reducing the DPI, but still...)
* the display ratio is wierd (some apps didn't scale that well, you have to scroll a lot)
* while the keys were definitely better than those of the BB Priv, they were still not nearly as good as on classic sliders like the Droid 4
@Dakkaron I had to fiddle around a lot with those keyboard cases (something would constantly fall apart, usually the springs) and their mechanism seemed quite simple. Although maybe that was the reason why they weren't stable enough for daily usage, who knows.
From what I remember, the pictures and campaign updates for the moto keyboard mod were quite similar though.
If you scroll down to the section titled "Sliding Mechanism" here, you can still see the pictures of it. Maybe that helps?
Personally, I'm not a fan of swivel mechanisms (also don't need to detach).
Then I'd rather go with a flip (like your current one) or clamshell (Gemini) design, but don't particularly like those either.
Problem is, the Gemini PDA is somewhat impractical when you're on the go. You can't really open it one-handed and the keyboard is so huge (and not backlit) that you end up having to look at it while typing and you need to be a real finger acrobat to input certain symbols.
I was just tempted to buy a Droid 4 or Photon Q off ebay again, but then I remembered they don't support LTE over here...
Guess I really have to wait a few more months. I just hope the q-device will actually make it to a full product.
@Dakkaron and @Shani Ace at least the snap on can be clicked on the back too. (and on the S8 even as a camera protector) But I tend to simply carry the keyboard in the shirt-pocket, as it is so light. And yes the lack of backlight is really bad - especially as they do not have a mode where the software keyboard layout is identical to the hardware one, and this really confuses my memory... It would cost virtually NOTHING for them to offer as an optional layout, and would make it so much simpler to switch, depending on the length of the text we need to enter.
Note that the S8 is much more suited for this than the S6, as the native display is so extremely elongated.
And sure the snap-on is not really a solution. But it is tolerable workaround for some months, until we hopefully get a Q-device. :angel:
(And it is REALLY cumbersome to use in real-life in Danish, the frequently used national letters are a little hard to get, and it does not interact well with the word-prediction/spellchecker - and unfortunately they are VERY common in Danish)
Oh, I thought the S7 was the last device to get that keyboard cover. Guess I mistook the S9 for the S8. ^^
But now I remember another downside: it didn work with custom roms. Has that situation improved with the S8?
If so, that might actually be worth a try, at least for a few months.
I was one of the keyboard mod backers and now I will get the same bluetooth keyboard as you have. So please keep us informed
I found a simple approach with an attachable cover. I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Snoere said:
I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
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Hey, if you're successful with that, would you mind posting a how-to or even do it for others (for money) as well? Btw I'm also from Germany, so shipping would not be a problem.
Snoere said:
I was one of the keyboard mod backers and now I will get the same bluetooth keyboard as you have. So please keep us informed
I found a simple approach with an attachable cover. I'm thinking of adding a simple slide-out mechanism to the back of a cheap case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually you can get better solutions for the aPple Iphone6. See e.g. https://eskerahn.dk/wordpress/?p=554
But BE AWARE though standard BT keyboards works on Iphones, many Iphone keyboards does NOT work on standard phones/phablets...:silly:
I know it's a little off-topic, but @eske.rahn Mind answering my question from before (I guess it wasn't really clear, my bad)?
You said you were using the S8 with the keyboard cover. Does that still limited you to stock-based ROMs or is there a solution to use the keyboard cover with other ROMs (like RR, Lineage etc.) as well?
I just got an S7 and the keyboard cover will arrive in a few days, so I'm prepping everything right now to turn it into my daily driver until the q-device is released.
Am I the only one who Actually LIKES the Hole Punch concept? xD
And when I say like I don't mean "tolerate" or "find it ok". What I mean is "I'd rather have a Phone with a hole punch camera than a bezel-less full screen display!"
One of the reasons I like the Hole Punch concept is because it's look like some kind of "Logo". Giving the phone personality, like TV logos, the CNN or FOX logo always in a corner, reminding you where you are.
IMO full screen display phones lack personality. Even phones with top and chin bezels have more character, (except the notch. The notch looks awful), than a full screen display.
So I was wondering, what you guys think about that? Think about it? Would you rather have a phone which is only a screen like a mirror, or something on the display to remind you what the phone actually is?
PS: I don't have an S10, waiting for the Note 10.
I think the punch hole is different makes the phone stand out! people will actually look at it and say oh he/she has the new galaxy that's one sexy phone ?... Apple sheep's ?? will be jealous because they are stuck with a horrible notch, I'm glad Samsung thought outside the box because the s9 was a flop I regret even purchasing it ?... Can't wait to hold the s10 in my hand ... hopefully mine ships this week ?
I prefer it to a fat bezel.
I'll have to get used to it but may take some time with cropped full screen video.
The Infinity O display was the selling point for me. If they would have went with the notch I would have purchased the Note 9 and waited for the S12 series.
I like the fact you can have it on or off based on the app. In normal modes it does not bother me but for games or vid I do not like it but I like I can hid it. For those apps.
Coming from a 3XL it's a welcome change. Can't wait till I have the 10+ in hand.
It looks ok and kind of stream lined.
I think it would be cool to put the camera on the corner. Corners are already rounded so it wouldn't be a huge difference.
I'm good with it.
I like the Hole Punch concept also and I also have the Oneplus 6t with the teardrop camera. I prefer the look of the S10 front camera position. Doesn't see as obtrusive as the OP 6t. Plus able to integrate it into my home screen.
DarkAce5691 said:
I like the Hole Punch concept also and I also have the Oneplus 6t with the teardrop camera. I prefer the look of the S10 front camera position. Doesn't see as obtrusive as the OP 6t. Plus able to integrate it into my home screen.
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thats very cool/clever
could you share the Wallpaper
i think the punch whole was saved by these creative wallpapers
tim2london said:
thats very cool/clever
could you share the Wallpaper
i think the punch whole was saved by these creative wallpapers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the wallpaper from Reddit where lot of people are posting S10 and S10+ wallpapers to make use of the punch hole cameras.
tim2london said:
thats very cool/clever
could you share the Wallpaper
i think the punch whole was saved by these creative wallpapers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See attached wallpaper.
I only use black wallpapers so I don't anticipate any problems.
I wish it was on the far left side so I wouldn't get finger prints over the camera. My fingers hardly ever go to the top left, but top right is how i bring the notification bar down, and most app Settings button is in the top right. I imagine there are design reasons why they didn't put it on the left though.
It's a lot better the hole punch than an iPhone notch!!!!
I don't know what everyone else's experience is with quality control but here's mine:
The first X5 Pro I had, I had to return for a replacement because I discovered in low light (dark room) there was a stuck pixel on the screen which was permanently lit green. This isn't acceptable on £1000+ device.
Now, my replacement device feels different in the hand. People will probably think I have OCD, but it looks like the ceramic back is actually somehow a fraction of a millimetre smaller than it should be, therefore the aliminium edges of the device do not blend seamlessly into the ceramic back cover and give that smooth, pebble-like feel. It now feels like I have a sharp edge resting against my palm or fingers when I hold the device.
Most people would probably not notice this but I do.
My wife has the X5 Pro in Black and doesn't have this issue.
I read somewhere about the ceramic milling process means that every since piece of ceramic is unique, but obviously within a certain tolerance, and the backs are matched up with the camera lenses during the production process.
I've attached a picture to try and convey what I am talking about. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the back of my first device, which felt perfect in the hand.
It looks like there is around 0.5mm gap between the back and the edge of the device.
Would you return your device due to this, especially when you know what it should be like?
Morning chap,
Re the green pixel, I haven't had any and agree is unacceptable.
Re the back. I have a slight edge too but assumed that's how they all were. Doesn't bother me as I have a case around it. You may want to return it if it really is annoying you and you are 100pc sure that the first handset was seamless...(are you sure? Mind tricks?)...but no guarantee a replacement will be any different.
Interested to see how you get on.
OnePlus2Oppo said:
Morning chap,
Re the green pixel, I haven't had any and agree is unacceptable.
Re the back. I have a slight edge too but assumed that's how they all were. Doesn't bother me as I have a case around it. You may want to return it if it really is annoying you and you are 100pc sure that the first handset was seamless...(are you sure? Mind tricks?)...but no guarantee a replacement will be any different.
Interested to see how you get on.
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Click to collapse
Haha, yeah, my first thought was mind tricks, but my wife has the black one and it defo doesn't dig into your hand in the same way. Looking at them side by side, the back on her black X5 pro blends seamlessly into the frame whereas mine has an obvious lip.
Yes you are right about a replacement being no guarantee of being better. This is the first phone in 10+ years that I am using without a case because it feels so natural to hold, but when it digs into your hand and you can feel the ridge, it definitely isn't pleasant to hold.
Anyway, phoned the carrier and after a lengthy call with me trying to explain the issue to one of their first line tech support, it's getting replaced by courier tomorrow.
If this was an iPhone there would be threads all over twitter with people going bananas so I don't see how I should need to settle for second best when this phone costs more than most iPhone models bar the 13 pro max!
This is a good review with hi-res images of the sides of the phone, and on which you can see no visible lip (although harder to see on the black model).
Oppo Find X5 Pro Review - Slick smartphone with a Hasselblad camera
Review: The Oppo Find X5 Pro 5G employs 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of UFS 3.1 memory, a triple camera with two Sony IMX766 sensors, very fast charging and an accurate LTPO AMOLED display.
www.notebookcheck.net
Ha now you got me thinking!
I can't hold this phone without a case, too slippery.
Agree, regardless when you spend a grand and ain't happy you should deal with it, no matter the issue. See if you can put up an image of the Mrs phone
Will do when she gets home
So, got the replacement and it definitely does not have the same issue.
This one is perfect, the back blends seamlessly into the sides.
Pleased you're happy mate. The pix don't make it easy to see the difference if I'm being honest. I'd kick off with Oppo if I were you. 1000 quid phone.