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posted by martyb on Wednesday March 18 2020, @02:05PM   Printer-friendly
from the Nothing-beats-the-candy-bar dept.

How much is too much? Are these portable computers we carry around that just happen to be able to make phone calls really worth a small fortune? Would you pay over $2000 for a mobile phone that can fold in half?

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip on sale in Australia April 3 for [AUS]$2199

[...] At the Z Flip's [AUS]$2199 price it's [AUS]$200 more than the Galaxy S20 Ultra we told you was too expensive and too big earlier this month.

The Z Flip may be even more expensive but it is at least smaller, and gets even more so when you fold it in half to stash in your pocket or bag.

The new wave of foldable phones are very expensive, but that's also part of their appeal.

"The Galaxy Z Flip is a statement piece and we can't wait to see what Australians do with it," Samsung vice president of mobile Garry McGregor said.

On the other end of the scale, Huawei has announced its new foldable, the Mate Xs, will also be coming to Australia soon.

[...] The phone, a horizontally folding device that opens up into an 8-inch tablet is described by the company as a "high-end, luxury device," which partly explains its massive price tag.

The Huawei Mate Xs is due to go on sale here April 9 for [AUS]$3999, but is already available for pre-order.

[...] Huawei's local managing director Larking Huang said the phone was "ideal for tech seekers or anyone who craves performance, design and usability".

"Australian consumers will benefit from an unprecedented, immersive experience, all at the touch of their fingertips. Offering large dual displays, ultra-slim foldable form and all-day usage – Australians will be able to do business on the go or watch movies," he said.

What they won't be able to do is use any of Google's mobile services, like the Play Store, Gmail, Drive, Maps, YouTube, and other apps Australians rely on to do business, and indeed watch movies.

Huawei was banned from using those when it was placed on a US list of "banned entities" last year.

What is the most you will pay for a mobile phone?


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  • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday March 18 2020, @05:04PM (2 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday March 18 2020, @05:04PM (#972824)

    I resisted cell phones (and never did carry a beeper), until we bought a cheap beater car that we would drive across the everglades every weekend. The phone was cheap insurance against the possibility that the car would die on us in the middle of nowhere - that never happened, but... once we had one cellphone it wasn't long before the wife demanded that I carry a leash - I still ignore it more than she thinks is appropriate, but I also let her track me on Google Location Services, because: why not?

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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 18 2020, @10:40PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 18 2020, @10:40PM (#972943)

    but I also let her track me on Google Location Services, because: why not?

    You mean Google Location Services sometimes lets her watch them tracking you.

    • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday March 18 2020, @11:34PM

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday March 18 2020, @11:34PM (#972971)

      Google Location Services sometimes lets her watch them tracking you.

      I actually appreciate the inaccuracy and slow update rate of GLS - they really do show me places I'm not about 2% of the time, and often run 10-20 minutes behind real-time. That's more than accurate enough for letting the SO know where I'm at "at all times."

      On the other hand, I wish they had a "real-time pinpoint" mode we could track our kids with...

      As for Google knowing where I am at all times, I don't think the info is high enough quality to put me at risk from law enforcement fishing expeditions, and that's my only real concern for all this public data: someone law enforcement type might troll it and find that my trail is a plausible match for a serious crime (that I didn't commit.)

      There's also always the option to switch it off...

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