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Iphone Apple Technology

Apple Develops a Foldable Clamshell iPhone (theinformation.com) 65

Posted by msmash from the up-next dept.
Apple is building prototypes of at least two iPhones that fold widthwise like a clamshell, The Information reported Wednesday. From the report: If Apple ends up launching a foldable iPhone, it would be one of the biggest hardware design changes in the product's history. The foldable iPhones are in early development and aren't on the company's mass production plans for 2024 or 2025, the person said. Apple recently approached at least one manufacturer in Asia for components related to two foldable iPhones of different sizes, they said. The products could be canceled if they don't meet Apple's standards, they said.
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Apple Develops a Foldable Clamshell iPhone More

Apple Develops a Foldable Clamshell iPhone

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  • A message from the future (Score:4, Funny)

    by burtosis ( 1124179 ) on Wednesday February 07, 2024 @10:24AM (#64222088)
    You’re folding it wrong.

  • Folding is old hat (Score:3)

    by backslashdot ( 95548 ) on Wednesday February 07, 2024 @10:27AM (#64222100)

    Make one that can be crumpled.

  • Does this mean foldables are going to be become the coolest thing ever because no one has ever done it before and it's so fresh and original?

    • Does this mean foldables are going to be become the coolest thing ever because no one has ever done it before and it's so fresh and original?

      What it really means is the flagship iPhones will start costing upwards of $2k a pop, rather than $1k a pop. For shit we're expected to throw away every two years. Seems a brilliant move for profits, if Apple can pull it off. Shit for the environment, shit for finances, shit for society, but hey, profits!

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by blahbooboo ( 839709 )

        Does this mean foldables are going to be become the coolest thing ever because no one has ever done it before and it's so fresh and original?

        What it really means is the flagship iPhones will start costing upwards of $2k a pop, rather than $1k a pop. For shit we're expected to throw away every two years. Seems a brilliant move for profits, if Apple can pull it off. Shit for the environment, shit for finances, shit for society, but hey, profits!

        No one is expected to get a new iPhone every 2 years due to their 5+ year support. Heck, majority of folks I have seen use their iPhones for years and years until they break, or the phones are stolen/lost. You're confusing yourself as a technology enthusiast versus mass market.

        • Does this mean foldables are going to be become the coolest thing ever because no one has ever done it before and it's so fresh and original?

          What it really means is the flagship iPhones will start costing upwards of $2k a pop, rather than $1k a pop. For shit we're expected to throw away every two years. Seems a brilliant move for profits, if Apple can pull it off. Shit for the environment, shit for finances, shit for society, but hey, profits!

          No one is expected to get a new iPhone every 2 years due to their 5+ year support. Heck, majority of folks I have seen use their iPhones for years and years until they break, or the phones are stolen/lost. You're confusing yourself as a technology enthusiast versus mass market.

          That's rich. I might be a tech enthusiast, but I do NOT replace phones until they break. Even then I'll limp along with them until the screen becomes unusable. I'm talking about the HORDES of people that absolutely HAVE to have the latest, greatest, bestest, biggest, newest everything when it comes to Apple. It's hardly some reclusive nerd club that subscribes to that mentality at this point. It's a pretty big segment of the consumersphere on that particular ride. The expectation of the corporation absolute

          • I'm talking about the HORDES of people that absolutely HAVE to have the latest, greatest, bestest, biggest, newest everything when it comes to Apple. It's hardly some reclusive nerd club that subscribes to that mentality at this point. It's a pretty big segment of the consumersphere on that particular ride. The expectation of the corporation absolutely *IS* replacement every two years at a minimum, and a LOT of folks do so obediently without fail. I know of fifteen in the office I'm at, and it's hardly a la

            • I'm talking about the HORDES of people that absolutely HAVE to have the latest, greatest, bestest, biggest, newest everything when it comes to Apple. It's hardly some reclusive nerd club that subscribes to that mentality at this point. It's a pretty big segment of the consumersphere on that particular ride. The expectation of the corporation absolutely *IS* replacement every two years at a minimum, and a LOT of folks do so obediently without fail. I know of fifteen in the office I'm at, and it's hardly a large office building.

              Interesting.

              I thought for the most part, we were all long past the idea of which phone or phone model you have to be any sort of "status" symbol.

              I thought smart phones were pretty much on the commodity level these days....?

              I'm in South Dakota. While we get new technology, our cultural shifts tend to be at least a decade behind the rest of the country, if not more. That's probably affecting my perception.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by Pascoea ( 968200 )

              I thought for the most part, we were all long past the idea of which phone or phone model you have to be any sort of "status" symbol.

              How many discussions were had on Slashdot last month regarding Blue Bubbles and Green Bubbles in text messages?

          • Re:Cycle begins in 5..4..3... (Score:4, Insightful)

            by redmid17 ( 1217076 ) on Wednesday February 07, 2024 @01:03PM (#64222492)
            We know what you're talking about. We just reject that you're correct. Maybe 10% of people -- and that's high as hell for an estimate -- are diving in to get the latest and greatest every release. Smartphone sales had been slumping for 2 straight years before the 15, and iPhone profit % of apple's business has been dropping consistently for 9 years.
            • I think the statistics is that about 2% replace a non-broken iPhone within a year. And if you have a family with 3 kids where you buy one new iPhone, then five people replace their phones with one a year newer, then it actually makes sense.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by tsqr ( 808554 )

            I'm talking about the HORDES of people that absolutely HAVE to have the latest, greatest, bestest, biggest, newest everything when it comes to Apple.

            My first was an iPhone 4s, in 2011. I didn't care for IOS, so I got a Samsung Galaxy 4 a year later. As time has passed, the interval between new phones has become longer and longer; my current on is 4 years old, and I'm in no hurry to replace it. But I do know several people who always get the latest iPhone as soon as it's released.

            Obligatory Oatmeal [theoatmeal.com]

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by tsqr ( 808554 )

            I think "hordes" [substack.com] is the right word.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Dusanyu ( 675778 )
        Why two years? Isent the soupport window 8 to 10 years after being discontinued? Personally I tent to hold on to a phone, computer or any tech untill the Support ends and it is dangerous to continue to use the phone or the device is broken. than I buy a newer referbished replacement.

    • Does this mean foldables are going to be become the coolest thing ever because no one has ever done it before and it's so fresh and original?

      Yes.

      I am still amused by how loud the mocking of things like the Galaxy Note and Pixel XL while the only iPhones were the size of postage stamps... but got really quiet once they went 5-inch-plus.

      There's no one solution that's right for everyone. Small phones, big phones, folding phones, smart phones, feature phones... these should all exist and users will buy what's right for them.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Pascoea ( 968200 )

        Small phones, big phones, folding phones, smart phones, feature phones... these should all exist...

        Says the guy with the tiny...cell phone.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by narcc ( 412956 )

          Smaller phones was the trend for a while. I think the smallest I had at the time was a Sony Ericsson J300a. A tiny 3.9"x1.7"x0.7" with a 1.5" display. When I moved over to a BlackBerry 7290, people would comment about the ridiculous size of my phone, with its querty keyboard and absolutely massive 2.6" screen. How times have changed...

          It was only a matter of time until this absurdly larger phone trend also started to reverse itself. Folding phones seems to be a part of that, though I have no idea why th

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Pascoea ( 968200 )
            Two thoughts...

            1. That comment was a dick joke.
            2. My absolute favorite smartphone was my Moto Droid Mini.

        • Small phones, big phones, folding phones, smart phones, feature phones... these should all exist...

          Says the guy with the tiny...cell phone.

          You know what they say about people who feel the need to hit the Internet and make innuendos about other people's junk without contributing to the discussion?

          But seriously, since you seem interested, I'll just let you know... mine needs to be folded in half, it's so big. And it's not one of those Z-fold things that totally lack girth.

          But even more seriously, as I enjoy telling people who deserve the image, my... cell phone... is average. Like, very precisely, dead on what you get when you look up aver

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Pascoea ( 968200 )

            You can probably visualize it if you try.

            No need to visualize what a precisely average sized cell phone looks like, I can just take mine out and look at it.

            without contributing to the discussion?

            Ugh. Fine, Captain of the Fun Police. My contributions: Cell phone sizes have gotten ridiculous. Obviously people want them, judging by the number that are sold. I don't get it, if I wanted a tablet I would buy a tablet. But to each their own.

            • Cell phone sizes have gotten ridiculous. Obviously people want them, judging by the number that are sold.

              People want the bigger screens because for more and more people their phone is their main computing device and a tiny screen sucks if you have no other alternative like a PC or laptop.

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by Pascoea ( 968200 )
                I'm curious if you have data to back that, or if it's more of an anecdote/observation. I mean, it's valid. My Mini was pretty well useless for getting any "work" done, but I also generally had a laptop nearby when work needed to be done. I don't care how big it is, unless it's literally a tablet, you couldn't pay me enough to do anything besides "phone stuff" on my phone. I currently carry some iteration of the Galaxy, roughly 6" diagonal. I wouldn't want anything bigger, this one is already approaching

      • I am still amused by how loud the mocking of things like the Galaxy Note and Pixel XL while the only iPhones were the size of postage stamps... but got really quiet once they went 5-inch-plus.

        I remember when people said the original iPhone (before it shipped) was too fucking big, and Apple used models with large hands in the photos to hide the fact. I'm not kidding. [esato.com]

    • It is Courage. The same courage that was required to drop the headphone jack, apparently.

    • I get so tired of reading this same comment in every article about Apple launching a product line...

      Where do you actually see people unironically celebrating Apple for being the first to release an MP3 player, VR/AR headset, touchscreen smartphone, wireless headphones, tablet, etc.?

      A certain subset of the population gets interested when Apple enters a market because they have a pretty good track record of releasing quality products that raise the bar for the competition. Don't confuse that with some sor

  • Seriously am I the only one that remembers that the iPhone 6 is foldable?

  • Oh, come on... (Score:3)

    by pahles ( 701275 ) on Wednesday February 07, 2024 @10:53AM (#64222168)
    Apple has been working on a foldable iPhone for years already. It just doesn't stand up to the quality Apple wants to pursue. Looking at those ridiculous foldable phones with scratchy and bumpy screens of other phone makers, I can understand their position.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dbialac ( 320955 )
      I've owned all four. The 5 blows. The biggest benefits of a foldable phone is that it becomes incredibly durable should you drop it and it fits a lot better in your pocket. I was in the hospital for 5 weeks and watched as my original Z Flip fell on the floor time after time when nurses moved my tray and the recharging cord pulled it to the ground. The screen never developed a single crack. Then the phone reviewers stepped in and Samsung unfortunately listened to them instead of the customers. With the 5 the
    • I am pretty sure Apple (and many others) have been working on different prototypes for a long time. Could Apple be working on a foldable phone? Sure. Does that mean they will release a product? There is no guarantee. Remember that Apple worked on the iPad before the iPhone. They had Intel based prototype tablets. In developing the tablets, the development team concluded they could shrink everything into a phone sized product. Thus development efforts were shifted towards smart phones instead. Along the way,

  • If it's priced like Samsung's foldable - and it certainly will be - it'll have a niche market at best.

    I also can't imagine anyone tolerating the inevitable crease.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dbialac ( 320955 )
      I've had all of them and as weird as it may seem, you don't see the crease at all. I think they scale the digital display in that area which makes it so the distortion doesn't show up.
      • Agreed, I have the Fold rather than the Flip but the crease isn't really any more noticeable than dust on a monitor. It's there if you 'look for it' or the lighting is just so, but most of the time your brain filters it out.
      • I agree the fold can't be seen in most circumstances. The feel of it is what personally bothers me. Modern phones require lots of swiping and scrolling and the wavyness at the fold isn't easy to get used to.
  • It's a very Apple way of doing products:
    • - Ignore the hype (publicly)
    • - Secretly explore the tech
    • - Refine until your's is better for a large enough market
    • - Launch

    They did this with MP3 players, phones, notebooks, tablet PCs, headphones, etc.

    I know, some may not agree, but they tend to do this repeatably.

    In the meantime there are many many products never launched.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by narcc ( 412956 )

      They did this with MP3 players, phones, notebooks

      That's ... certainly a perspective. I don't remember Apple leading with any of those in any way other than marketing. The first iPod was terrible. The first iPhone wasn't particularly good either. While it got a lot of attention thanks to their success with the ipod as a fashion accessory, the credit they get for the slap design is way overblown as they weren't even first to market with a product like that

      As for notebooks, Do you mean the toilet seat model?

  • Who could have guessed we'd be able to singlehandedly solve climate change by attaching Steve Jobs spinning corpse to turn a generator... :)

  • My wife read this and says she looks forward to playing with a new shiny iClam. Probably the only Apple product I have ever looked forward to.

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