Razr foldable phone

[frahse]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Cool phone, outrageous price!

Yes, yes, and indeed yes.

But we are getting closer to something "good."

[frahse]

Originally Posted by tomsem

It’s good to see the folding concept is improving, for those who want such a thing. For me it doesn’t even rise to level of ‘nice to have’, but I can see it would have advantages for some people (screen is protected when it’s put into a pocket or purse with other objects).

If you are going to have even near such an expensive object to use in the forest, the hills, or the shore, the more protection you have is worth almost any price.

Particularly I want to know what the "wet proof trials" showed.

[bookyboy]

If it were about half that price I’d be all over it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by frahse

Yes, yes, and indeed yes.

But we are getting closer to something "good."

What will be released will be 100% GARBAGE!

The Motorola Flip phone should have been made as it was without being a smart ass phone and make it with the buttons. The thing is, there are a lot of people who would buy it if it was like it used to be.

Heck, if it was like it used to be, I would get one for my father who doesn't do smart phones.

This new version is a mistake. I hope it tanks big time.

[sun surfer]

My first mobile phone was a Razr and I loved it. In fact they’re the only type I had until I switched to an iPhone smart phone. This new one looks interesting and I think larger, foldable protected screens like this could be the future of smart phones. But I don’t like the dimensions of the screen on this one- it’s too long! The extra length just feels like it’d be useless extra screen space because of the odd dimensions.

[binaryhermit]

Given that this doesn't even have a flagship processor... Not to mention the tiny-ass battery.
(Shades of "No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame." perhaps?)
EDIT: reference to https://slashdot.org/story/01/10/23/...-releases-ipod

[misling]

I read some of the design articles about it. The small battery is because otherwise it would be too thick when folded. And the lesser processor is to keep the battery life OK with the smaller battery.
I think the specs are OK. It's a novelty at this point anyway, if people buy it it will be for the coolness factor. And how many people really NEED the top of the line processor? Not many, unless they are gamers or something like that.

Consider it a proof of concept project "folding phones can work", and wait for the tech to get cheaper and more powerful if interested.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by misling

I read some of the design articles about it. The small battery is because otherwise it would be too thick when folded. And the lesser processor is to keep the battery life OK with the smaller battery.
I think the specs are OK. It's a novelty at this point anyway, if people buy it it will be for the coolness factor. And how many people really NEED the top of the line processor? Not many, unless they are gamers or something like that.

Consider it a proof of concept project "folding phones can work", and wait for the tech to get cheaper and more powerful if interested.

Exactly.
The tech needs to prove its long term durability and they need to ramp up production at a reasonable pace. A million phones failing at once serves no one.
It'll be a couple years before the price comes down and by then those specs will be appropriate for its market.

[Uncle Robin]

As plausible as some of the stated justifications of the mehdiocre specs are, it's still a hard thing to pitch, "give us premium dollars for so-so specs". Assuming the target demographic is bleeding-edge must-have early adopters, price is less of a problem for them than specs. The only real marketing edge might be the "made in the USA" thing for those to whom that matters, especially if bolstered by nostalgia for for the Razrs of old

[JSWolf]

The Motorola Razr should be made like it was when it was last made before smartphones. I think it would sell especially at a reasonable price.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Motorola Razr should be made like it was when it was last made before smartphones. I think it would sell especially at a reasonable price.

99% of the people who were attached to the razrs have moved on to smartphones. After all, they were at the leading edge in their time.

You may get people buying the new phone for nostalgia and the cool factor, but nobody except old people, drug dealers, and Tony Stark use flip phones anymore.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Barty

You may get people buying the new phone for nostalgia and the cool factor, but nobody except old people, drug dealers, and Tony Stark use flip phones anymore.

...I still use a flip phone; but then, I'm an old people

[tch65721]

Originally Posted by Barty

You may get people buying the new phone for nostalgia and the cool factor, but nobody except old people, drug dealers, and Tony Stark use flip phones anymore.

And that is a shame. It struck me while filtering through phone reviews, attempting to find something I'd actually buy that the reviewers were yammering on and on about the camera, screen, apps etc. but absolutely nothing about signal strength or voice quality, the essential attributes of a PHONE. It seems that the extraneous crap has somehow gained more importance than the intended function. It may be just me but I found that very odd.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by tch65721

And that is a shame. It struck me while filtering through phone reviews, attempting to find something I'd actually buy that the reviewers were yammering on and on about the camera, screen, apps etc. but absolutely nothing about signal strength or voice quality, the essential attributes of a PHONE. It seems that the extraneous crap has somehow gained more importance than the intended function. It may be just me but I found that very odd.

I think for the most part, that is because in the major markets, the phone network has been built out to a point that signal strength isn't really an issue anymore. Back in the day, when the iPhone just came out, there was a cool Android app that plotted the cell tower there were within range on a map and gave the signal strength of each tower.

I suspect that if you looked at phone usage, you would see a small group of people who talk on the phone a lot, and a big group of people who text and use social media far more than they actually call someone.

[4691mls]

Where I live signal strength is highly variable due to topography. I would love to find a review of current phones that actually mentioned the quality of the antenna. I don't make many phone calls (I use the phone more for emails than calls) but if I were to need to call AAA for roadside assistance it would be good to know that my phone had a decent chance.
I think most reviewers are probably based in big cities where this is not an issue.