Meizu Unveils a Smartphone That Does Not Have Any Port, or a SIM Card Slot, or a Button, or Speaker Grill (phonedog.com) 124
Phone maker Meizu has announced a new phone called "Zero," which doesn't have a headphone jack, or a charging port, or a physical SIM card slot, or any buttons, or a speaker grill. From a report: It doesn't even come with a SIM card slot and buttons you'd usually see on a phone -- the only elements that disturb the surface of its all-display, 7.8mm-thick ceramic unibody are its 12MP and 20MP rear cameras and two pinholes. One is a microphone, while the other is for hard resets. To make up for the lack of ports, Meizu Zero will support Bluetooth 5.0 and a wireless USB connectivity that will reportedly be able to transfer files as fast as the USB 3.0 standard can.
Zero's 5.99-inch QHD OLED screen will act as some sort of a giant speaker and earpiece replacement. It does have a big enough bezel for a 20MP front camera, but its fingerprint reader is completely on-screen. The device, which is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor, relies on 18W wireless charging due to the lack of a charger port. And it may not have the usual physical buttons, but it does have pressure-sensing ones with haptic feedback on its borders.
Zero's 5.99-inch QHD OLED screen will act as some sort of a giant speaker and earpiece replacement. It does have a big enough bezel for a 20MP front camera, but its fingerprint reader is completely on-screen. The device, which is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor, relies on 18W wireless charging due to the lack of a charger port. And it may not have the usual physical buttons, but it does have pressure-sensing ones with haptic feedback on its borders.
The Ultimate (Score:5, Funny)
in impossible to repair, glued and welded shut non-user servicable hardware.
Apple would be proud.
Re:The Ultimate (Score:5, Funny)
Yep. Meizu has certainly one-upped Apple here. I bet all those people who just bought a new iPhone are feeling pretty sick after reading this announcement.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I do have to admit, Meizu does appears now to be braver than Apple.
Hell, with this phone, they may be bravest of all the companies!!!
Re: (Score:3)
Zero. Uh-huh. (Score:4, Insightful)
The name is perfect, though. Zero is the amount of money they'll ever get from me for such a design; zero is the amount of interest I have in anyone else imitating them; zero is the amount of respect I have for the company for choosing this path; and zero is the score I give the designers for coming up with this in the first place.
Re: (Score:2)
Zero also happens to be the amount of f***s they give about technical users as opposed to mass consumers who gobble this crap up.
Re: (Score:2)
Two holes left to go... (Score:2)
Re: The Ultimate (Score:2)
Wasn't Meizu going bankrupt just a few months ago?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Stop reading Slashdot and get back to work at the "Genius Bar."
Apple has literally cited "people repairing phones" as a threat to their business.
Re:It's all good (Score:5, Funny)
It's almost as if you didn't make it to the second sentence of the summary before posting.
Re:It's all good (Score:4, Interesting)
It does have a reset hole.
One idea of smartphone which would be nice would be one that you used a paper clip to push a release button, similar to the SIM card tray in iPhones, but would allow you to pop the phone open, replace the battery, add/replace one of two SIM cards, add/replace one of two MicroSD cards. This way, you have the same zero-hole look... but you still have full repairability.
No 3,5 mm audio jack?!?!? (Score:3, Funny)
Meizu Unveils a Smartphone That Does Not Have Any Port
No 3,5 mm audio jack?!?!? ... blasphemy ...SACRILEGE!!!!!
Re: (Score:2)
I would prefer a 2.5 mm balanced port.
Re: (Score:2)
Why not just an XLR connector while you're at it?
Size. A 2.5mm balanced socket is smaller than a 3.5mm mini headphone one, while offering better sound quality.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Balanced output especially for portable headphones has a rather large effect on sound quality, perhaps most of all because the thin wires of portable headphones are susceptible to noise, and with a balanced output, any EM noise hitting both wires cancel exactly out. And it allows for higher voltage differential, which further raises the noise ceiling.
Re: (Score:2)
What? Really? Someone needs to go back and learn some basic E/M theory. Inducing a signal on both lines would result in a net zero for the load, because both sides of the load would be driven equally..
Additionally, a low impedance load (10-40 Ohms, for most headphones) and a relatively low impedance source (typically 5-10 Ohms) means you're really not going to get the issue you talk about.
Now, with single ended connections (which are NOT a speaker - they have two signals, and we hear the difference betwee
Re: (Score:2)
What? Really? Someone needs to go back and learn some basic E/M theory. Inducing a signal on both lines would result in a net zero for the load, because both sides of the load would be driven equally..
Um, that is what I said happens to a balanced connection.
Unlike an unbalanced connection where one wire is shared.
Speaker wires are a completely different beast, with enormously more power.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
For typical small headphones used with phones, no, they're not "a few magnitudes higher in currents".
Line level is typically around +- 1.7V, and you can indeed drive some high impedance headphones from line out. (Not low impedance speakers, which if it doesn't short the output doesn't have nearly enough current to drive the elements.) Of course, that's not ideal, but it shows that it's in the same ballpark, not "a few magnitudes higher".
You were the one who brought up speaker cables and long runs. The 12
Re: (Score:2)
3.5mm? miss me with that effete eurocrap (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Honestly you need to have a cassette deck on that phone or you're just an idiot. You can tape trade dick picks and metallica from one device.
Meizu. (Score:3, Funny)
The most courageous company of them all. They make Apple seem like that kid who hides in the corner and wets themselves.
Re: (Score:1)
I dunno, it's fairly normal for Apple to steal features from Android phones, so I'm not surprised that an Android phone will clearly be the basis for the inevitable all-display, buttonless, portless, SIMless iPhone X++.
Re:Meizu. (Score:5, Insightful)
Also Android phone makers steal from Apple. This is what we call competition, and innovation. Where someone elses competing product has some advantage or feature they will implement it and try to perfect it above what they other guy had. Then the other guy will try to make something better from you.
Re: (Score:3)
If Android is a “stolen product,” then so was the iPhone
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/02/if-android-is-a-stolen-product-then-so-was-the-iphone/
Re: (Score:2)
There hasn't really been many new products out of the blue, except for ones that kinda happened by mistake.
Re: (Score:2)
I dunno, it's fairly normal for Apple to steal features from Android phones, so I'm not surprised that an Android phone will clearly be the basis for the inevitable all-display, buttonless, portless, SIMless iPhone X++.
So when the guy who came up with a cart that had round wheels, the next guy who wanted to set up a cart building workshop should have used octagonal ones? ... the guy after that hexagonal wheels, etc?? Because nobody should ever copy a good idea...
The distinction (Score:2)
Courage! (Score:3, Funny)
The ultimate in courage!
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Doesn't need a screen and camera Re:Courage! (Score:1)
Early cell phones did not and they worked just fine. The "Jitterbug" series that's marketed at "old people" (it's a valid niche market, but way overpriced for what you get).
There are other niche markets for a screen-less phones and camera-less phones.
Blind people don't need a screen, so why bake that into the cost? They do need a camera for things like "what is this?" apps.
In some high-security environments you need a phone but you need to prohibit cameras.
Personally, I'd like to have the phone/computer i
Re: (Score:2)
But I wonder if you could still make phone calls with it?
Re: (Score:3)
The ultimate in courage!
Yeah, and as and Apple user I must say that I find it deliciously ironic that the 'ultimate in [port less] courage' that you guys like to bitch about so much runs Android :-D
No Headphone Jack, No Sale (Score:1)
Acutally, I have three criteria for a smartphone:
1) Headphone Jack
2) User-replaceable Battery
3) Rootable / Flashable
I'm okay with some disassembly for #2, for example my samsung tablets have batteries that CAN be replaced with a little tinkering, and that's good enough for me.
#3 is trivially easy with 99% of smart phones.
So, that leaves #1 as the sticking point. I refuse to listen to music using cheap-ass bluetooth "headphones." None of them are any good at all.
No headphone jack, no sale. Period.
Re: (Score:2)
My list is slightly different from yours:
- Being able to make calls, whether in tropical heat or it's -40.
- Being able to charge it through standard micro-USB or USB-C.
- A size that allows one-handed operation.
Re: (Score:2)
if the power circuit is internally reduced to -40 (ie has soaked ambient heat overnight) it's hard to expect much of the chemistry, if it's urgent I guess jam it in your pants or armpit. OTOH i'm fine with expecting a running phone to continue running upon exposure, while I expect the spec writers don't give a fuck if the display shits itself in five seconds.
now that everything has a decent PPI the display inches mean fuckall to me, a non-journalist who doesn't masturbate with 30-second demos at consumer ex
Re: (Score:2)
if the power circuit is internally reduced to -40 (ie has soaked ambient heat overnight) it's hard to expect much of the chemistry, if it's urgent I guess jam it in your pants or armpit.
One problem with many capacitive touch displays is that they stop working if your hands are cold and dry.
Big Brother Phone (Score:1)
No SIM slot = big brother phone.
No USB port = No jailbreaking / removing surveillance software
This phone is a tool of Chinese oppression, and nothing more.
DOA (Score:1)
All of Apple's drawbacks without any of Apple's PR?
Yeah. That's going to fly well.
Anyone actually used wireless USB? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
I don't know, is the entire point of USB that it requires plugs that have to be turned 180 degrees three times to plug in correctly? How are you going to replicate that wirelessly?
Simple, you have to flip the phone over a few times before it connects. Bonus points if you have to have it aligned within a few degrees of the exact same 3D plane before it connects. Or if its aligned incorrectly 1s turn into 0s and vice versa.
The Cell Brick! (Score:2)
I actually almost thought it didn't have a screen either. Then it'd be called the cell brick. In all seriousness thou, if they aren't going to bother with replaceable battery then missing most ports with the exception of usb might actually be an advantage. You technically don't need speaker grills if you can integrate the piezoelectric speakers into or onto the surface. Probably wouldn't result in great sound quality.
A button is just one type of switch, which it has. (Score:4, Interesting)
it may not have the usual physical buttons, but it does have pressure-sensing ones
Because it doesn't protrude they can get away with their marketing gimmick. But it still has switches. And behind the reset pinhole is - another switch! Now if only they managed not to include a screen, make it completely voice controlled, and it can easily adhere to your shirt...
Re: (Score:2)
Now if only they managed not to include a screen, make it completely voice controlled, and it can easily adhere to your shirt...
This made me realize that Picard probably knew everyone's browser history because everyone in Starfleet had an always-on badge.
Re: (Score:2)
Not Unreasonable (Score:3, Insightful)
I see a lot of complaints, but this really isn't unreasonable for many people. Let's take the various points one-by-one:
* No headphone jack.
I never use headphones with my phone, so it's not an issue for me. Many people only use Bluetooth headphones, so it's not an issue for them. Yes, it does eliminate people who really want to use their old headphones. Yes, this is a market-restricting decision.
* Wireless charging only
If you've switched over to wireless charging already, this isn't a big deal. It does mean you're out of luck if you suddenly need to charge when traveling and all you have is a USB port unless you start bringing a wireless charger with you, and that's a pain. We're heading towards the day when wireless charging pads will be as common as USB ports, but we're not there yet. This is a bit ahead of its time, but once Starbucks and the like all have wireless charging pads in the tables, this may become standard.
* No data port.
While the port is the same as the charging port, using the USB port for data transfer is a completely different use, so it should be discussed separately. I can't think of the last time I used a data cable with a phone except when manually installing firmware (which was last week). There's really no reason to expect normal users to need a data cable.
* No SIM card
Well, obviously it has a built-in SIM card, so this is really no removable SIM card. In all the years I've owned a cell phone, I've only needed to move the SIM card once, and that was because the provider didn't send a new one with the new phone. I don't think many consumers care one bit about this. Yes, it is a big issue for international travelers who will want to switch cards.
* Battery, SD Card
This has been beaten to death with other phones already.
Ultimately the question is what do they gain by removing all this stuff. It makes the phone less expensive to make. It may make the phone more reliable. It may make room for the phone to be smaller or have a larger battery. None of that really matters to me.
So the removed features don't bother me much, but I also don't see the advantage for me.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
When switching between T-Mobile and AT&T, I had to buy new SIM cards, which makes me wonder if this comes locked to a specific carrier. (The sad thing is when I switched back to T-Mobile, I had to buy another SIM card!)
I'm sure it uses an eSIM. My Pixel 3 has one (and also a SIM slot). It's the same sort of chip as in a SIM, but it's inside and it's reprogrammable. You connect to Wifi, install a carrier app and the app configures the eSIM with data from the carrier. Over the next few years I expect SIM slots to gradually disappear.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I see a lot of complaints
Which are entirely reasonable.
Yes, it does eliminate people who really want to use their old headphones.
Old ?!? I have brand new noise cancelling headphones, with a jack, that work perfectly in public transportation or airplanes. And their single AAA battery lasts for more than 60 hours. Fuck those tiny things you keep loosing and that you need to recharge every 2 hours.
Wireless charging only If you've switched over to wireless charging already, this isn't a big deal. It does mean you're out of luck if you suddenly need to charge when traveling
Glad you figured that one out...
I can't think of the last time I used a data cable with a phone except when manually installing firmware (which was last week). There's really no reason to expect normal users to need a data cable.
You are right, it's so much faster to pop the SD card out, put it in your PC and copy all the music and movies you want. Right ? Right ?!?
In all the years I've owned a cell phone, I've only needed to move the SIM card once, and that was because the provider didn't send a new one with the new phone.
Travel much ? Go to a country without a roa
Re: (Score:2)
Neat. Just one question. Who are you going to call while scuba diving?
Re: (Score:1)
Every port and button is one more place water and dust can get into the guts of the phone, and sealing them adds cost. A phone with no external ports or buttons will be much easier to protect against the environment.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
* No SIM card
Well, obviously it has a built-in SIM card, so this is really no removable SIM card. In all the years I've owned a cell phone, I've only needed to move the SIM card once, and that was because the provider didn't send a new one with the new phone. I don't think many consumers care one bit about this. Yes, it is a big issue for international travelers who will want to switch cards.
No kids? No significant other carrying too many things? No removable SIM card means not being able to easily replace the phone when it is broken and you just want to pop in the old SIM into a new phone . . . or a refurbished phone. The last several phones in my household that have been replaced were done so without a trip to the carrier's store or a phone call to customer service because of removable SIM cards.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't know the technical process, but the carriers have never had a problem keeping my phone number when I switched phones. They have to do something on their end to switch it over, but it's essentially painless for me. I assume the carrier just changes which SIM card ID is associated with my account.
Re: (Score:2)
it takes curage... to glue everything! (Score:2)
Next model... (Score:2)
The screen (Score:3)
I feel like the screen is really breaking the perfection of design they are aspiring to. They should remove the screen then it will be smartphone nirvana.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
I will gladly pay you $899 US for a shiny metal and plastic box that barely fits in my pocket. As long as the edges are curved to the the perfect ratio.
People will be so jealous of me.
One question (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Many flagship phones have tap to wake and raise to wake, it seems to have negligible impact on battery life.
Re: (Score:2)
Does it have a power button, or do you just wait for the battery to go dead? Using the touchscreen to turn something on means the touchscreen needs to constantly be drawing power...
It has a power button, in the form of a pressure-sensing edge.
But there's Good News (Score:3)
It's a suppository!
It actually all makes sense to me! (Score:3)
Well here my post sits, way down at the bottom where it will never get read, but..
This device really makes sense to me. This is what I've thought would happen eventually ever since cell phones became a thing. In fact, they ought to go even further.
Right now, we're stuck on the idea that our screen, RAM, storage and OS have to be wedded together in one package. Want a better screen or newer OS? Is there a new network protocol? Gotta throw the whole thing away. That's crap!
I would LOVE to have a powerful, generic (and upgradable) processor/storage/radio package in my pocket, knapsack or attached to my belt or armband, with my own choice of wireless input/output devices. Sound will come and go from a bluetooth earpiece/headset. If I want to use a wireless touchscreen or heads-up glasses, I can purchase my choice from any vendor. Powergloves, if I'm so inclined. If I break something, I won't have to throw out the whole collection. If a wonderful new OS or display comes out, again I won't have to throw out the whole collection.
And my processor/storage module could plug into a desktop-sized workstation when I'm not on-the-go. If it's not actually performing the heavy work, it's carrying my identity or brokering the secure connection to it in the cloud.
You'll say "but that's all been done before!", true. But the industry has worked hard to keep us buying fondleslabs that are obsolete almost as soon as we buy them. Marketing has presented a false picture of reality (no surprise there). The devices' OS are crippled so that you have to purchase a service to do something the hardware could easily do on it's own (tell me again why I'm paying T-Mobile $15/mo to enable my own home wifi?).
And the crazy thing is, people will probably buy incremental upgrades even more often because they'll be cheaper, more-convenient investments than replacing their whole iOS/Android device regularly. The auto industry makes more money selling us tires and brakes instead of forcing us to replace the whole car when these things wear out.
Re: (Score:2)
I would LOVE to have a powerful, generic (and upgradable) processor/storage/radio package in my pocket, knapsack or attached to my belt or armband, with my own choice of wireless input/output devices.
The market spoke and thoroughly rejected that concept. While they continue to repeatedly fail to get any interest aside from a few nerds you won't be getting one.
And my processor/storage module could plug into a desktop-sized workstation when I'm not on-the-go.
This however is something that at least one big company continues to push: https://www.samsung.com/global... [samsung.com]
Re: (Score:2)
I would LOVE to have a powerful, generic (and upgradable) processor/storage/radio package in my pocket, knapsack or attached to my belt or armband, with my own choice of wireless input/output devices.
This will NEVER happen. Too many people are invested in you NOT having it. Back in the late 90s, I did design such a device. :)
Re: (Score:2)
Well is it cheaper? (Score:2)
If it doesn't have any of those things it oughta be cheaper .. am I right? Or is it like diet food where they give you less and charge you more for it?
Re: (Score:2)
It's certainly a style statement, got to give it that. If Steve Jobs was still alive, this product would have come from Apple, but he is not so it did not.
No notch (Score:2)
While this form factor is uninteresting to me due to lack of USB-C, headphone, sim card and micro-sd, I do appreciate the notchless bezel solution. I like the symmetry of equal sized bezel top and bottom, and who needs a gigantic front camera?
I hope this bezel/camera solution becomes a trend. Just can't get over the notch ugly factor.