Smartphones
iPhone 6 concepts beginning to emerge
With all the hub-bub about iOS 7 and iPhone 5, several iPhone 6 concepts have emerged. The most prominent feature is the wrap around screen.
Looking into the future
Whether you are an Android lover or an Apple fanatic, people love to fantasize about what the newest phone release will bring, from hologram keyboards, an added projector, and so forth. As for the iPhone 6, the most common feature designers and fans think it will have is the wrap around screen. AGBeat has featured this concept several times, and while it has yet to become reality, there seems to be high hope for the iPhone 6 release.
Dribble users have designed and shared several concept models, all of which have the wrap around screen, also known as the infinity screen. This design allows a more engaged user experience, by removing the side casing. The sides have a flat, touch-responsive volume control and a much thinner design overall. And some additional revisions (based upon Cladio Guglieri’s original) have included wifi, Bluetooth, do not disturb, airplane mode, and rotation lock icons, right on the side.
These additions give you instant access to your most used controls, without the need to tap through to gain access to the settings screen. Also, with the extra features, the opposite side of the phone shows your message status, emails, and music controls. DeviantArt also has multiple postings of the infinity screen design. This is absolutely amazing to me because there is so much information in such a limited amount of space. The thickness of the phone in the concept states 0.30 inches; it is really hard to believe an email icon can fit and be legible, but it does.
Other futuristic possibilities
There are also several versions that include aluminum plus carbon fiber casing, in many different variations. Although most still remove the edges from the iPhone 5 design. Behance users have also created several examples of this design concept. With touch sensors wrapping the display edge, concept designers believe no borders means nothing between your hands and the display. And they hope accidental gestures can be prevented with the sensors, although this is just a concept. You certainly would not want to pick the phone up to answer a call from your boss and accidentally start your iTunes playlist.
The only problem I see with this beautiful design is protecting the edges, despite designers touting the durability of the new technologies. As someone who frequently drops their phone, and attempts to keep it safe by using a protective case, I wonder how you can utilize the edges, but still keep the phone safe. Also, I would be interested to see, how often holding the phone triggers the side sensors. Otherwise, I think the wrap around design is both beautifully functional and a long overdue, welcome feature.
Smartphones
LG G Flex will have a curved display: why it even matters
The LG G Flex is exciting as it is curved, but there are much deeper implications of this announcement that your company should take note of before your competitors do.
LG G Flex to feature curved display
You may have heard that Samsung will launch a smartphone with a curved display (although they’ve so far fallen short on their plans to produce their smartphone prototype that is completely flexible), but did you know that LG is hot on their heels, with rumors of the LG G Flex launching this November?
As depicted above, what is believed to be called the LG G Flex is similar to a standard smartphone in shape, with just a slight curve, using plastic OLED screen technology
CNET reports that sources close to the project say the G Flex will have a six-inch display and November is the projected unveiling, but that could always be pushed back (although to be in time for the holiday shopping season, we suspect it will be a November launch).
Samsung will likely unveil their curved display phone this month, and there are rumors that the Galaxy Note 3 could feature a curved display as well.
Curved does not equal flexible
So why develop a curved display? Analysts point to the device actually fitting around your face naturally for making calls, and others note that it fits in a rear pocket more comfortably with a curve.
Curved does not equal flexibility, though, as the devices are still stationary, but the reason the LG G Flex being curved matters to you is that mass production of this type of technology is the precursor to what’s coming next – flexible devices.
Looking into a crystal ball
LG already introduced a curved 55-inch OLED tv panel, and was first to the finish line with the ability to mass produce fully flexible plastic screens, announced last year with their electronic paper display (EPD) product, sold overseas.
The LG EPD is not just flexible, allowing the screen to bend up to 40 degrees from its center, it is a 6 inch, 1024 x 768 e-ink plastic screen. The technology used mimics the way traditional ink appears on paper, which many prefer over the backlit flat panel displays of tablets and computers. The EPD is only 0.7mm thick, weighs 14 grams (that’s 1/33 of a pound) and is said to be scratch resistant when dropped.
Flexibility is next, and it is relevant for your brand not just for the novelty of having a flexible device, but because the way people interact with your website or app could be changing sooner than you might suspect.
Smartphones
Contacts+ app adds productivity to any Android
Android users: Contacts+ is a great new way to manage your contacts, making a potentially frustrating process simple and streamlined, adding productivity to your phone.
Contacts+ is more than a contact manager
Contacts+ is more than just a contact manager though, it is also a dialer app and combines photos with information from all your connected services: WhatsApp, Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. Contacts+ is a welcome alternative to the Andriod favorite Smartr. Since Smartr was recently acquired by Yahoo!, Contacts+ could not have come at a better time.
You can send free and regular messages without switching apps, sync pictures to your contacts, including cover photos, from Facebook and get birthday reminders.
How the app works
With optimization for both Android phone and tablets, you have the ability to sort your contacts in a variety of ways without worrying if you will be able to see all the data. You can sort by groups, favorites, smart contact (prioritization by frequency or A-Z), and search message history of your contact from one place. If you happen to have the same contact in your phone more than once, Contacts+ will sync them together to save you any confusion.
One tap opens a contact card, and then you can tap again to make calls or email them. Once the contact card is open, you can also catch up on their social media life. Leo from Contacts+ writes, “they have a sync process with Facebook and Google+, essentially users connect their accounts (authentication is performed securely through the respective service) and once an account is connected, Contacts+ links and syncs contacts based on unique identifiable information, enabling them to automatically connect your contacts and their identities.”.
New features have been added
The newest features include high res picture sync, a new black theme, T9 search in the call log, Dialer+ shortcut that can be opened over your call log/contacts screen, the ability to call back directly from the incoming message pop up and ignore accents improvements.
The only drawback is that some of the “sorting” features are a bit harder to find. You will need to tap through a couple of different options to find the ability to sort by last name, for example. But, once you get used to it, it really is a nice way to manage your contacts. Contacts+ is free in the Google Play store.
Smartphones
iPhone 4 power button issues subject of new RICO lawsuit
The iPhone 4 power button has been a contentious issue, one which is being alleged to be a RICO violation, according to a newly filed lawsuit.
Allegations of Apple violating RICO laws
Debra Hilton, a Florida woman, has filed a class action lawsuit against Apple under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute in regards to a faulty power button on the iPhone 4.
The complaint claims that Apple both knew of the issues with the power button (most notably the flex cable connecting the button) causing the button to prevent the phone from being locked or powered off, and remained silent about the issue in order to sell more devices and require $149 service repairs on the device after the one year warranty expires, which seemed to correspond with the timeframe of the power button’s malfunction.
Power button issues not uncommon
Issues with the power button have been noted by many of Apple’s consumers, who have posted complaints on Apple’s own forums, and even by some who have created entire videos on fixing the problems related with the iPhone.
Hilton’s complaint seeks $5 million in compensation for iPhone 4 consumers who have experienced the same issue. The complaint reads:
“Despite touting the iPhone as a technological marvel…[it] has suffered, from a latent defect in a relatively simple component… Each iPhone 4 contains a flex cable that connects the power button to the phone. Premature deterioration of the cable causes the power button the become harder and harder to depress until eventually it becomes entirely unresponsive…”
Problem for Apple?
The complaint additionally mentions how the failure of this component of the device makes it essentially unusable, and that failure of the component seems to predominantly occur around an 18 month interval from the devices activation, causing it to fall outside of the 12 month warranty period offered by Apple.
The complaint addresses the concept that Apple knew beforehand about the defects and remained silent by utilizing hundreds of complaints posted on the official Apple forums from people who experience the same issue and have received no response from an Apple representative.
Apple has not yet made a response or comment for or against the allegations.
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rolandestrada
September 24, 2013 at 1:32 pm
So what happens if you drop the phone or want use a case? The great thing about concepts is they don’t need to live in the real world. Will these concepts see the light of day? Very unlikely. In about six to eight months you’ll see the supply chain start to reveal hints about iPhone 6. In the mean time, it’s fun to dream.