Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd:
The most interesting prototype at IFA this year was the Nubia Alpha, an Android-based device the company bills as a "wearable smartphone." The Alpha tries to realize one of the enduring gadget dreams: having a smart device with a display that wraps around the user's wrist. I checked it out at IFA in Berlin this past week, and, well, it's still at the rough draft stage of development, but Nubia is confident it'll have it ready to go on sale in China before the end of this year. If things work out, global distribution might also happen around the same time.
The demo units at IFA were behind glass, and it took a lot of cajoling to convince Nubia to even let me touch one. I was able to lay it on my wrist, but I wasn't allowed to close it up entirely, hence the semi-open position in these photos. The surprising thing was that, as bulky as the Alpha looks, it's really quite light and tolerable on the wrist. I believe fans of big watches will find this chunky beast attractive, while the rest of us should definitely be paying attention to the technological advancement it represents.
Related Stories
Royole's bendy-screen FlexPai phone unveiled in China
A little-known California-based company has laid claim to creating the "world's first foldable phone".
Royole Corporation - a specialist in manufacturing flexible displays - unveiled the FlexPai handset at an event in Beijing. When opened, the device presents a single display measuring 7.8in (19.8cm) - bigger than many tablets. But when folded up, it presents three separate smaller screens - on the front, rear and spine of the device.
The six-year-old company said it would hold three "flash sales" to consumers in China on 1 November to offer the first product run.
[...] The launch has caught many industry watchers by surprise. It was widely believed Samsung or Huawei would be the first to sell such a device to the public.
[...] Another company-watcher added that he doubted the FlexPai would ever be produced in large numbers. "Royole has carried out several publicity stunts over the years to showcase its flexible OLED [organic light-emitting diode] displays," said Dr Guillaume Chansin from Irimitech Consulting. "The FlexPai is probably another stunt. Royole is building its first OLED factory and it is now trying to compete directly with other display manufacturers such as Samsung and LG."
Samsung has been talking about this kind of thing for years. But talk is cheap.
See also: The World's First Foldable Screen Phone Is Not Fully Baked
Related: Flexible and Printable Battery that Will Revolutionize Wearables
Underwriters Laboratories Certifies "Unbreakable" and Flexible Samsung OLED Display
Nubia's Wearable Smartphone is a Preview of our Flexible OLED Future
This gaming phone has a built-in cooling fan and can record 8K video
We've already seen the likes of ASUS and Black Shark offering external cooling fans for their gaming smartphones, but the folks over at Nubia reckon it's about time to stuff a fan inside a phone (I mean, what else would you expect from a company that brought back the wearable phone?). Today, the Chinese brand unveiled the Red Magic 3 which not only packs a "liquid cooling" copper heat pipe, but also an internal cooling fan.
This small fan is said to run quietly but can spin up to 14,000 rpm, and it has an IP55 rating plus its own isolated chamber, so you won't have to worry about liquids and dust getting in. It's apparently good for over 30,000 hours of continuous use, though Nubia didn't specify the speed used for the test. Regardless, combining this fan with the heat pipe, the phone's heat transfer performance is apparently five times better than conventional passive cooling methods, thus ensuring a smooth gaming experience for a longer period.
Also at Android Authority.
Related: Mobile Gaming is Dominant in the Marketplace / Blame Loot Boxes
Nubia's Wearable Smartphone is a Preview of our Flexible OLED Future
Xiaomi Announces Smartphones with 10 GB of RAM
Nubia X Smartphone Ditches Front-Facing Camera, Adds Rear Display
(Score: 4, Interesting) by bob_super on Tuesday September 04 2018, @09:40PM (7 children)
Last time I looked at my arm, it was longer than it is wide.
Why aren't tech guys designing products which follow the arm ? There's space for a gig screen and big battery, if you go the correct way.
Plus, little girls could play Wonder Woman, which would take two.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday September 04 2018, @09:53PM (5 children)
Better idea, way more space for battery [wikipedia.org]
Market segment: phone for hipsters with 6-figure wages and atrophied arm muscles.
Effect: when answering, the phone slides so that the microphone comes close to the elbow. Not a big problem for the conversation, most of the time there's nothing important to communicate anyway, but... can you imagine how a selfie taken at elbow level looks like?
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday September 04 2018, @10:24PM (4 children)
For them bros, it shighlights them guns, and for them hos, it's all about sideboob.
I may have to stay away from the internet until that fad dies.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday September 04 2018, @10:27PM (3 children)
Lemme guess... beer belly?
(friendly grin)
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday September 04 2018, @10:30PM (2 children)
Clothing-optional computing.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday September 04 2018, @10:35PM
As an aggravating factor on top of beer belly or as the sole cause?
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday September 05 2018, @01:29AM
Chat roulette, just like russian roulette - sometimes there is a
bulletpenis"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 04 2018, @10:33PM
Stopping nerf darts with expensive electronics? Sure, why not.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday September 04 2018, @09:41PM
Right, rounded corners then waterproofing (kicking out ports) and... borked phones [theverge.com].
Small evolution steps and not a sign of a leap outside predictable.
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 04 2018, @09:42PM
Because I'm a hipster.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 04 2018, @09:47PM (1 child)
"Uncle Dad, I want me one of them Nubia watches." "What fer, Jim Bob? Is you going to wear it when they lynch you fer being a Nubian-lover?""
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday September 04 2018, @10:27PM
*hands Jim Bob a sticker that inserts "de Les" in the middle of the name.*
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 04 2018, @11:19PM
Call me when we can trigger a secret sector by standing under a closing door while getting lost souls spawned in our face on it.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday September 05 2018, @01:39AM
I'm OK with these sorts of things.
They're a bit silly, and no-one is really going to buy one of those arm things but at least someone is thinking about something new.
A folding phone I could see being great though. a phone sized device for carrying about that folds out to be a tablet when that is needed. I would have a use for that.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Wednesday September 05 2018, @07:25AM
n00b ya
Account abandoned.
(Score: 1) by Gertlex on Wednesday September 05 2018, @02:38PM
Does anyone else have a sense whether there's a sizeable fraction of the population (besides myself) that dislikes wearing (bulky, at least) things on their wrist? I've never worn a watch regularly, and haven't seen a need for the current smart watch or even fitness trackers.