Samsung Galaxy Fold

An Interesting Start

  Samsung definitely is making what I would call Sony-headway here.  They're not the first to make a dual-screen folding phone, but the name of the device seems to suggestion that it was a serious rush to get it to market as soon as possible.  It is neither polished nor beautiful, but it is at least an interesting start.

Features

  Many features are touted in this debut, probably to keep the customer from noticing the odd fold when the phone is closed.  That fold of the screen is awesome in concept, but in implementation it probably has several iterations to go.  The screen cannot be folded flat as of yet and because it appears that Samsung does not want the phone to be extra bulky, the folded phone has a triangle shape.  I can't help but think that some users will not be able to get this odd shape out of their head.  I feel that it may either be a sticking point for me or I will ignore it completely.  My initial thought was, " I can't wait until this flop-of-a-phone is available on the second-hand market so that I can have it for < $500 and claim that I was one of the crazy, first-iteration buyers." 

It is clear from the debut demo that Samsung intended for this to be a combo phone+tablet.  In a sense the flagship-ness of it could, if successful make it the new Galaxy Note.  The focus was on the tablet of the phone.  The presentation twice shows the capacity of the new phone to perform three tasks simultaneously, Video, Chat and Google search. As far as being a productivity or social ideal, I think they may have well stepped into a new realm.  But what remains to be seen is how people use it. 

Use-Case

I like the concept for a fold out phone, but how will users use it?  One of the key mentions in the demo was in regard to keeping the weight down.  The battery in particular had been split up in the device, but still maintains its longevity.   Personally, I do not like using a device with a screen that is larger than 8-inches.  It eventually becomes too hard to manipulate in my hands and with higher weight devices, my hands become tired.  I have never had this issue with my Pixel XL, it is just small enough and light enough to not encumber my uses.  However, it's screen size isn't large enough.  Although I have tried larger phones, like the Galaxy Max, this phone is almost too large for my pocket and so I have not continued in it's use.   The Galaxy Fold however, may fit the bill for the size of most pockets.  The Galaxy Fold may well be the perfect size to accommodate  both pockets and tablet use. 

Conclusion (for now)

I look forward to getting my chance to use this phone, even if it's just in a Mobile Store.  The price tag is a bit steep, even for a 24-month, interest-free payment plan [est: $83 / month].  I also look forward to the next 2 to 3 iterations of this phone, presuming it finds a market.  

It is truly a good first step.

Watch the Unveiling via CNET

Emergency Calls to Report the Milky Way

Up There In the Sky...

Apparently it is possible to live on this planet in a place where the Milky Way cannot be seen at night.  You'd think I would know about this, having been born to it.  But my fascination with the sky began at an early age and I was made aware of the this sight early on.  However, my fellow Los Angelinos were not.

In 1994, January 17th at 4:30 AM, shortly after the Northridge earthquake shook people of Southern California out of their beds, many people called in to Emergency Services reporting a bizarre sight.  A sort of cosmic event was overhead.  This cosmic scene surely combined with the recent earthen event was probably enough to give some people a mighty fright. 

The earthquake had knocked out most of the power in many of the cities in the area and this being the dead of winter the Sun would not rise for another few hours, making it likely the darkest part of night.

After decades of the night sky being blotted out by the ground light sent upward, the some of people of Southern California had never been in the presence of what someone in the wilderness could have easily recalled. It was to them a foreign or unfamiliar visage. What odd lights and formations dotted the sky, which before was always black or rarely dotted with the brightest stars, but mostly only aircraft.

Surely some people had seen the twinkling lights and occasional planets in the land where Hollywood Stars originate, but the ominous mid-section of the galaxy that we call home, may have been a awe-strikingly new concept.

Alas, what would our ancestors have said to us for responding so ridiculously to the stars in the night sky? ... "OMG is that the new iPhone!?"

Source: TimeLine