'My Galaxy Fold Display Is Damaged After a Day' (techcrunch.com) 66
After spending about 27 hours with Samsung's new rebooted Galaxy Fold, TechCrunch's Brian Heater noticed something unusual: "a brightly colored, amorphous blob [...] nestled between the lock screen's flapping butterfly wings." While it's nowhere near as severe as the blacked out screens many reviewers of the first wave of units experienced, "it's not a great look, considering that it wasn't dropped on concrete, dunked in water or stepped on," writes Heater. "And the placement smack dab in the center dampens the effect of a 7.3-inch screen." From the report: If I had to guess, I'd say it was pressing the display to close the device that did it. Samsung has since collected the device and will be taking it apart (likely in Korea) to find out what went wrong. We'll update accordingly. We can't say the company didn't warn us. As I noted the other day, Samsung issued a video prior to launch, advising users to "Just use a light touch," B/W the footnote, "Do not apply excessive pressure to it."
There was nothing inside the device while folded. I didn't get it wet or feed it after midnight, and there's no visible damage to the laminate layer, so I can't really say definitively what happened here. And while the screen is certainly still usable, I think I'd probably be irked if I had just paid $2,000 for a handset and had to deal with a large, rainbow colored blob in the exact center of the screen. Part of the white-glove service Samsung is rolling out here is a $149 screen replacement. We got a comment from Samsung on the matter, and it sounds like this particular issue might fall within normal use that wouldn't require an additional fee. Here's what the company has to say on the matter: "We have seen an enthusiastic response to the launch of the Galaxy Fold in several markets over the past few weeks, with thousands of consumers enjoying the unique experience it offers. The Galaxy Fold is a first-of-its-kind device, made with new materials and technologies that allow it to open and close just like a book. We encourage Galaxy Fold owners to read the care instructions included in the box and in the product manual available online. Products used within these guidelines are covered under warranty. If they have any questions, Galaxy Fold owners can consult with Samsung product specialists through the Galaxy Fold Premier Service any time, any day."
There was nothing inside the device while folded. I didn't get it wet or feed it after midnight, and there's no visible damage to the laminate layer, so I can't really say definitively what happened here. And while the screen is certainly still usable, I think I'd probably be irked if I had just paid $2,000 for a handset and had to deal with a large, rainbow colored blob in the exact center of the screen. Part of the white-glove service Samsung is rolling out here is a $149 screen replacement. We got a comment from Samsung on the matter, and it sounds like this particular issue might fall within normal use that wouldn't require an additional fee. Here's what the company has to say on the matter: "We have seen an enthusiastic response to the launch of the Galaxy Fold in several markets over the past few weeks, with thousands of consumers enjoying the unique experience it offers. The Galaxy Fold is a first-of-its-kind device, made with new materials and technologies that allow it to open and close just like a book. We encourage Galaxy Fold owners to read the care instructions included in the box and in the product manual available online. Products used within these guidelines are covered under warranty. If they have any questions, Galaxy Fold owners can consult with Samsung product specialists through the Galaxy Fold Premier Service any time, any day."
One question (Score:4, Insightful)
Why would anyone buy this? I get some things, but I don't get this at all.
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The tech press are buying it to break it intentionally to get clicks from talking about how it broke.
I have no doubt in my mind that this "Brian Heater" intentionally damaged it to get a story.
The device and idea are fucking shitty, but you shouldn't trust any claims of it still being super fragile until regular users, with no incentive to get attention for a broken one, report issues.
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"The tech press are buying it to break it intentionally to get clicks from talking about how it broke."
Damn, that was actually a really good answer. I honestly wasn't expecting a good one. Your post should have the 4+ Insightful instead of mine. ;-)
Re:One question (Score:5, Insightful)
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and this device will have no impact on the company that eventually succeeds.
You mean Apple, right? No need to mince around.
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Short version: Tech = flexible displays. They've been a thing for a little while now, but they haven't been used to their full potential yet. Galaxy Fold is a start on the way to making flexible displays a normal thing. The Galaxy Fold doesn't have to be the end design. It's just a start to the use.
As to the gains, financial is a big one. R&D costs money. Selling phones makes money. I don't know how much money
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". The tech itself will likely be a major change for mobile devices eventually, even if this version is less than ideal."
No, it won't.
Folding screens that actually work will probably never make sense.
Dual screens that come together without a visible seam are more realistic, but even those will fail due to grit.
The whole idea is a problem looking for a problem. Yeah, i wrote that right. No one needs this. It's just stupid. If you want to carry a tablet, get bigger pockets, or carry a purse.
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You do not speak for me and are only considering your own use case. I would consider getting one after the 1st generation when they work out the kinks.
It means I don't need a separate tablet to read digital comics or watch Netflix while I'm traveling. The rest of the time it remains a small form factor that fits in a pocket. I save weight and space in my carry-on.
My suspicion is that the tech will really shine when the folding phone picks up a 3rd role as a portable flat client. Throw in a folding dock, tra
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Why would anyone buy this? I get some things, but I don't get this at all.
I like my cellphone and its big screen, but I hate how cumbersome it is in my pocket.
So yeah, I do get the interest of a cellphone that you can fold in half...as long as it has the same specs and cost about the same.
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It seems to be an attempt at doing something new and different. It will probably be a bit of a failure but will lead to something that works better and sells better.
I like the thinking behind it, even if I won't buy one.
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But now it's twice as thick.
I'd rather have a super thin screen, like a flexible sheet of plastic that one could unscroll from the device, with two little arms that swing out to hold it in place. When done, arms swing, screen scrolls back up. Not possible today, but the tech is in the works.
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Why would anyone buy this? I get some things, but I don't get this at all.
For the same reason people buy McLaren's and other "Supercars" that are so low to the ground it would loose an axle if I even tried to get it in my driveway
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Why would anyone buy this? I get some things, but I don't get this at all.
For the same reason people buy McLaren's and other "Supercars" that are so low to the ground it would loose an axle if I even tried to get it in my driveway
Out of curiosity, do you have a lot of people in supercars come into your driveway or is this purely theoretical?
If the former, how much do you charge for a dime bag?
Re:One question (Score:5, Funny)
Why would anyone buy this?
As long as your workplace is paying for it, you might as well purchase the most expensive phone you can find.
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Let's see. For the past 15 years Slashdot users have been complaining devices are getting too big to fit in their pockets yet no complaints about the increased workspace they provide.
If you could afford a $2k phone, and like being a tech early adopter, why would you not buy it?
Incidentally your comment is exactly what was posted here originally about the iPhone. Why would someone buy a phone with a fragile sheet of glass and no buttons. It's insane isn't it!
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It almost never pays to be an early adopter of anything. Let other people figure out that it is a crap product first!
Curses! he found the detonator! (Score:2)
Quite obviously, to be the first to find the detonator.
This guy won . . . :)
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They put it on the market when it was obviously not fit for purpose the first time. That means they ignored whatever QA found or they told QA to not find anything (or else) except deviations from the norm. That indicates someone high in "management" wants this, no matter what. That person probably has something to compensate for.
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I think this because every project goes live with defects. All of them. Some are known due to being revealed during QA and the people in decision making capacities accept the risk they represent. It is almost certain that Samsung's QA revealed both the defects in the original version and the one this guy is writing about, but those defects were accepted. Something like "w
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Statistically nobody has worked in QA because corporations statistically don't do QA. They do only a trivial amount of inadequate testing, and/or don't pay attention to the results, which is effectively the same as not doing it at all except that it's a waste of money. There should be at least as many QA jobs as development jobs, but that's not how it works, is it?
If these devices are as crap as it seems, they will regret being first, because they will be remembered as garbage. Kind of like all the stuff th
Early Adopters FTW (Score:4, Insightful)
Better you than me.
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"Wait for Apple."
You're being so obvious, guy.
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"Just use a light touch" is the Samsung version . . .
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You are touching it wrong.
You can tell people that but they won't listen.
I've been married almost 20 years and still say that same thing every night.
Anybody buying this must have some mental issue (Score:2)
It is amply clear that the technology is not ready. It is also clear that they pushed out a "fixed" version purely for reasons of arrogance and management dysfunctionality. If they could do this, they would have gotten it nearly right the first time. They cannot do this at this time.
Be very gentle... (Score:2)
Samsung issued a video prior to launch, advising users to "Just use a light touch," B/W the footnote, "Do not apply excessive pressure to it."
Now we have a snowflake phone to deal with. Welcome to the real world, Samsung...
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Now we have a snowflake phone to deal with.
This is one more thing they've copied from the "You're holding it wrong"-iPhone.
Samsung, they steal everything.
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"You're folding it wrong".
—Samsung
Don't do this with your Fold ... (Score:4, Informative)
The Fold itself came with ample paperwork warning against:
- Excessive pressure
- Placing objects like keys on the screen before folding
- Exposing the Fold to water or dust
- Adding your own screen protector to the existing screen protector
- Keeping the device next to easily deactivated objects like credit cards and implanted medical devices
Okay, some of those seems appropriate, but don't put it next to "credit cards"? The Mythbusters did a segment about demagnetizing CCs and found it to be really difficult. I can't imagine a cell phone could do that and certainly not affect a chipped CC -- though, to be fair, I'm not sure I'd want my phone near a CC that has an RFID chip. (I drove a nail through the RFID chip in my last CC.)
And while modern implanted medical devices sometimes have RF capabilities, if your phone can screw with it, maybe don't get it implanted ...
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Also, don't wear leather or have a leather purse or backpack or breathe funny
New debit and credit cards will also break it.
This is a solution looking for a problem that it won't solve.
Solution looking for problem. (Score:2)
In the Fold's case, it's a Solution that is its very own giant pile of Problems.
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On a recent trip, my smartphone apparently demagnetized my hotel key, and I had to get a new one from the front desk. I presume this was because I had put my phone in my front shirt pocket, and the key right next to its front face. I hadn't heard of phones demagnetizing cards and didn't even think of it - a bit obvious in hindsight, I guess. So, I think it's a good idea in general to keep a little distance between any smartphone and any magnetized cards if possible.
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Credit cards are high coercivity. That means it takes a big magnetic field to demagnetize them. It can be done, but it takes some effort.
Hotel room cards are low coercivity, because they're cheaper, and it doesn't matter much if they get demagnetized; there's always someone at the front desk to reprogram it.
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Extremely difficult? I'm not sure about credit card demagnitisation since we haven't used the mag strip yet here this century but certainly phone easily demagnitised hotel keycards.
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Lawyers don't care about things being true or not. What they care about is liability. Anything with a magnet in it gets the standard copy/paste warning about cards, and if could possibly fit in your mouth it gets the one about swallowing too.
Not getting why you would buy this (Score:2)
Flip phones and hinge phones are way cooler and sexier.
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Flip phones and hinge phones are way cooler and sexier.
Until you get the skin of your nuts caught in the hinge.
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On second thought, I don't actually want to know.
DING DING DING !!! (Score:2)
ROUND TWO!
Samsung Galaxy Fold vs. Reality! /grabs popcorn
Folding is unfixable design--what to do instead... (Score:5, Insightful)
My take is they would do better to forget to foldable thing and just make something with two separate screens.
The two separate screens fold up for storage and when folded out for use, just meet more or less seamlessly in the middle.
The overall effect would be exactly what they're going for in the Fold, but this approach is one that can actually be implemented and would work.
I know you're going to have something of a line in the center especially in version 1.0, but that's an issue you can work on resolving more and more over time using a few techniques. But it would be usable and robust from day one and versions 2, 3, 4 etc could implement progressively better methods for hiding the seam.
In short, it's a problem but a solvable one.
Whereas I just don't think a hinge and a foldable exposed delicate screen is a problem that can be realistically fixed ever in a device that is going to live in the real world in pockets, purses, backpacks, etc. It just a basic, unfixable, unsolvable design flaw.
See JerryRigEverything's Samsung Galaxy Fold Durability Test at https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Samsung et al can make the royalty deposits straight into my bank account. Thank you.
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just meet more or less seamlessly in the middle.
Just imagine if we could eliminate the seam altogether!
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My take is they would do better to forget to foldable thing and just make something with two separate screens.
The two separate screens fold up for storage and when folded out for use, just meet more or less seamlessly in the middle.
The overall effect would be exactly what they're going for in the Fold, but this approach is one that can actually be implemented and would work.
How about a main, upper screen that slides sideways and then (slightly) down, revealing another screen? This would get you double the screen real estate, level and flush without (or with a negligible) seam.
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This is already a thing. Look at the LG G8X and others.
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I guess they are folding it wrong?
fixed it for ya....
Who would have thunk (Score:2)
I mean, what could go wrong?
Mixed feelings about the Fold (Score:4, Interesting)
On one hand Samsung seems crazy to push forward with the device. For an everyday item which will be used extensively by Average "I put my phone and keys in the same pocket because that's how I roll" Joe you just can't have a product that needs to be handled delicately with care. So this product will cause a ton of "my product does not work as advertised" returns, service requests and bad Samsung publicity.
On the other hand, this 1st gen product of a new technology is going to pave the way for something better, and without this round #1 we won't get to round #2. And I would like to see what this may lead to in the next 5-10 years.
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The problem is that nobody wants a phone that is delicate. Since day 1 phones have been made to be tough. Some phones were tougher than others,but for the most part they are very durable, or at least the manufacturers try. If the phone is made of a lot of glass, then most users will put a case on them to protect it. With the Galaxy Fold, even a good case won't protect it. They even want you to touch lightly on the screen. That has never been a thing on any phone I've ever owned.
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Honestly, I'd LOVE a phone that isn't delicate. But that's not what they make these days. Even phones that aren't this dumb about it are still too delicate to put into your pocket without a case.
I not only don't want a freaking folding phone, I want a phone that won't shatter into bits when I use it normally.
Misread as Ford Galaxy (Score:2)
Butterfly again? (Score:2)
Keyboards, wings, tornadoes... those damn bugs are more dangerous than we thought!
Samsung's Corporate Ego Strikes Again (Score:2)