this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2023
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Apple's new iPhone 15 is an underwhelming 'slap in the face,' say disappointed fans::Apple unveiled its new iPhone 15 models this week, and some fans say they lack innovation.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting. Personally I was planning to buy a phablet for my next phone but they've gone out of style it seems and been replaced with folding phones.

I would be interesting to see something with a rolled up slide out display like the Global communicator from Earth: Final Conflict, basically a slim stick of a phone with a larger display rolled up inside that can be pulled out as much as necessary for the desired screen size.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sci-fi phones are the best. I like the slide ones alright, but I was always a huge fan of the mid-air projections. Seems like we are decent way off from either right now.

Also, I keep hoping we get a short term pair of glasses or ultra light weight VR/AR goggles before we figure out projection anywhere tech.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Very cool idea. Yeah real holographic projection is still a ways off, especially from a portable emitter. AR however is much closer. There's an increasing focus on AR tech and making it smaller and cheaper- I saw a glasses the other day for $400 that projects a real 1080p screen onto your field of view and can talk to a phone. That stuff will only get better. The key is making it lightweight, have a long battery life, and fashionable. You also need some kind of separate input device, if you assume the phone remains in the pocket as a compute module. Or for those willing to accept a larger watch, perhaps the watch becomes the phone rather than an accessory to one. There's of course issues of size, weight, battery life, etc; but as tech improves those will get better. And in theory, the main reason you don't have the watch as the main phone is lack of screen size; if an external AR display was common that problem goes away.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

perhaps the watch becomes the phone rather than an accessory to one.

I was hoping for something like this when the Apple Watch came out, but they were clearly very against the idea.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Screen and battery weren't there for it. Still aren't I don't think unless you significantly increase the size of the watch to either be a real hockey puck, or more likely stretch it out to be both thicker (probably about 1/2" to 3/4" thick) and wider (I'm thinking 3-4") it's gonna be an option anytime soon.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

more likely stretch it out to be both thicker and wider

I think there would be a large market for a wide device that needed two wrist straps to hold it in place. Hard to tell sometimes though. It would either become super trendy or only for super nerds. Either way, I would probably scoop it up.

In any case, I am pretty sure the phone companies want us to have a watch also, not instead, and will suppress any development that changes that mentality.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I dunno. I think it's the same issue with Google Glass, AR kits, and Bluetooth headsets. The vast majority of people aren't interested in being quite so openly nerdy as to wear that constantly, and then a lot of the people who do wear it act like douchebags so then nobody else wears it because they don't want to look like douchebags. That happened to Bluetooth headsets- what SHOULD have been an easy 'wear always' thing became a 'I'll act like a douchebag and yell into my headset in public places' thing and then nobody wants to wear one when not on a call lest they be grouped in with the douchebags.

I like the concept of a 2-strap watch/phone, but I don't see it having common appeal. That will also be heavy, and even a basic phone's current weight will be felt a LOT more on the wrist than on the belt / in a pocket. Plus a watch gets exposed to a lot more damage as the user goes about their day so it will need to be a lot better armored (increasing bulk and weight) and also easy to repair.

You may though be right about the device makers wanting us to have two gadgets rather than one...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There are a lot of good points here. There would definitely be a weight and fragility issue. Maybe I am just too attached to the idea.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Oh don't get me wrong, I love the idea too. I remember back in the early 00s there was a watch that was like 3-4" wide, only single strap, but had a big display that, while segmented, still showed a lot of stuff. I just don't think most 'normies' would go for it though.