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Samsung Galaxy Note Edge: The Gimmicky Shape of Things To Come

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Samsung Galaxy Note Edge: The Gimmicky Shape of Things To Come

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge might look like a gimmick but this device is our first proper look at what’s coming in the near future


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At IFA yesterday Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, which, as it happens, is the world’s first commercially produced smartphone with a wrap-around display. In a few years time (perhaps sooner) all of our smartphones will feature flexible displays, enabling foldable devices and phones that roll up, for instance. But for now we have the Note Edge. 

But here’s the thing, calling the Note Edge’s screen a “wrap around display” is a tad misleading, as it implies the display wraps around the entire phone–or at least both edges – when this really isn’t the case. As you can see in the image below, the panel on the Note Edge wraps only around the right-hand side of the handset. 

Still – no other phone on the planet has this feature. Samsung is once again first out the blocks with a smartphone that utilises next-generation screen technology. And because there’s nothing else quite like it in the public domain it really does have that whole shock and awe-thing going for it. This is a phone you could imagine Tony Stark using – and that’s the point. 

But putting looks on hold for a moment, the Galaxy Note Edge is also an immensely powerful phone, featuring a 5.6-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED display at a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. That’s a pixel density of 525ppi –– 25 more than the Galaxy Note 4. And if you’re wondering what the “+” means, it refers to the extra 160 rows of pixels used on the curved aspect of the display.

In addition to the crazy display specs it’s got a 16MP rear camera and a 3.7MP front camera. With Qualcomm’s quad core 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage, it’s packed full of some of the best components you could want.

Features for a 160 Pixel Screen 

But lets put internal specs aside and get back to the big “wow” feature of the Edge–its wrap-around display. Just the curved edge part of the Note Edge’s display has a resolution of 2560 x 160 pixels. Though you might be tempted to assume it’s just a thin separate display bonded on to the edge of the main display, it is in fact one sheet of glass that curves at the end. However, the edge is clearly segregated from the main part of the display via its software.

So what does this sliver of curved edge display do? Samsung gave many examples at launch, but the primary use at present seems to be as an application launcher. In this use case scenario you could be in virtually any app and quickly launch another one by simply tapping its icon on the curved display edge. No need to return to your home screen.

Another scenario is the edge becomes a sort of toolbar fixed in place for third-party apps. Imagine a photo app. Now it can relegate its editing command buttons to the edge of the screen, giving you more space on the main display to see the photo you are working on.

A third scenario is the edge being used as a ticker/alarm clock. Indeed, Samsung allows the edge of the display to show the time when your phone is hibernating. This means it could be resting on your nightstand and you can simply glance at its edge without even needing to pick it up to see what time it is. Similarly, this type of notification centre could show a news or stock ticker, your Twitter feed, and notification alerts from various apps.

What About The Lefties?

Look, Samsung deserves some credit for building a beautifully designed phone with a killer-looking screen. But the thing is, it’s mostly gimmick. Yeah, the curved display looks cool as hell, but it’s not all that practical or useful. The Galaxy Note Edge is a proof of concept, an indication of what’s to come in the mobile space during the next couple of years.

But like all proof of concepts the Galaxy Note Edge’s display is more for show than anything else. I mean, seriously, are you going to buy a phone just so you can turn your head in bed and see a tiny clock reading on the edge of your phone? No.

Are you using that many apps with big complex toolbars that are taking up valuable screen space? It’s possible, sure, but then Adobe (or whoever built the app in question) would have to issue a huge update in order to make use of this extra bit of display, which doesn’t seem very likely given that the Edge is just one phone in a sea of thousands.    

And for the love of all that is decent, Samsung, what about the lefties? A smartphone with a curved edge on only the right side makes the feature incredibly hard for lefties to use and makes holding a phablet even that much more difficult. 

Samsung did indeed release one of the best phones it ever has yesterday. It’s just not this one –– it’s the Galaxy Note 4. The Galaxy Edge is still a beauty, though, but the curved display is more an indication of where things are going than something you REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW.

And that’s okay, because in the not too distant future handsets and tablets, thanks to work from companies like Samsung, will look like this: 

Kudos, Samsung! Welcome back to the party. 


Michael Grothaus

16:00, 4 Sep 2014

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge may seem like a gimmick however this gadget is our first correct take a look at what's coming within the close to future

News

At IFA yesterday Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, which, because it occurs, is the world’s first commercially produced smartphone with a wrap-round show. In a number of years time (maybe sooner) all of our smartphones will function versatile shows, enabling foldable units and telephones that roll up, as an example. But for now we have now the Note Edge. 

But right here’s the factor, calling the Note Edge’s display a “wrap round show” is a tad deceptive, because it implies the show wraps across the complete telephone--or at the very least each edges – when this actually isn’t the case. As you possibly can see within the picture under, the panel on the Note Edge wraps solely round the appropriate-hand aspect of the handset. 

Still – no different telephone on the planet has this function. Samsung is as soon as once more first out the blocks with a smartphone that utilises subsequent-era display know-how. And as a result of there’s nothing else fairly prefer it within the public area it actually does have that entire shock and awe-factor going for it. This is a telephone you can think about Tony Stark utilizing – and that’s the purpose. 

But placing appears on maintain for a second, the Galaxy Note Edge can also be an immensely highly effective telephone, that includes a H.S-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED show at a decision of 2560 x 1440 pixels. That’s a pixel density of 525ppi –– 25 greater than the Galaxy Note A. And in case you’re questioning what the “+” means, it refers back to the additional one hundred sixty rows of pixels used on the curved facet of the show.

In addition to the loopy show specs it’s acquired a 16MP rear digital camera and a A.7MP entrance digital camera. With Qualcomm’s quad core P.7GHz Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage, it’s packed filled with a number of the greatest elements you would need.

Features for a one hundred sixty Pixel Screen 

But lets put inner specs apart and get again to the large “wow” function of the Edge--its wrap-round show. Just the curved edge a part of the Note Edge’s show has a decision of 2560 x one hundred sixty pixels. Though you may be tempted to imagine it’s only a skinny separate show bonded on to the sting of the primary show, it's in truth one sheet of glass that curves on the finish. However, the sting is clearly segregated from the primary a part of the show by way of its software program.

So what does this sliver of curved edge show do? Samsung gave many examples at launch, however the main use at current appears to be as an software launcher. In this use case state of affairs you possibly can be in nearly any app and shortly launch one other one by merely tapping its icon on the curved show edge. No have to return to your own home display.

Another state of affairs is the sting turns into a type of toolbar fastened in place for third-social gathering apps. Imagine a photograph app. Now it could relegate its modifying command buttons to the sting of the display, giving you extra space on the primary show to see the photograph you're engaged on.

A third state of affairs is the sting getting used as a ticker/alarm clock. Indeed, Samsung permits the sting of the show to point out the time when your telephone is hibernating. This means it might be resting in your nightstand and you may merely look at its edge with out even needing to select it as much as see what time it's. Similarly, this sort of notification centre might present a information or inventory ticker, your Twitter feed, and notification alerts from numerous apps.

What About The Lefties?

Look, Samsung deserves some credit score for constructing a superbly designed telephone with a killer-wanting display. But the factor is, it’s principally gimmick. Yeah, the curved show appears cool as hell, however it’s not all that sensible or helpful. The Galaxy Note Edge is a proof of idea, a sign of what’s to return within the cellular area in the course of the subsequent couple of years.

But like all proof of ideas the Galaxy Note Edge’s show is extra for present than anything. I imply, critically, are you going to purchase a telephone simply so you'll be able to flip your head in mattress and see a tiny clock studying on the sting of your telephone? No.

Are you utilizing that many apps with huge complicated toolbars which might be taking over useful display area? It’s potential, positive, however then Adobe (or whoever constructed the app in query) must situation an enormous replace as a way to make use of this additional little bit of show, which doesn’t appear very probably provided that the Edge is only one telephone in a sea of hundreds.    

And for the love of all that's respectable, Samsung, what concerning the lefties? A smartphone with a curved edge on solely the suitable aspect makes the function extremely exhausting for lefties to make use of and makes holding a phablet even that rather more troublesome. 

Samsung did certainly launch probably the greatest telephones it ever has yesterday. It’s simply not this one –– it’s the Galaxy Note A. The Galaxy Edge continues to be a magnificence, although, however the curved show is extra a sign of the place issues are going than one thing you REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW.

And that’s okay, as a result of within the not too distant future handsets and tablets, because of work from corporations like Samsung, will seem like this: 

Kudos, Samsung! Welcome again to the get together. 

Michael Grothaus sixteen:00, A Sep 2014
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