Samsung's foldable prototype can transform from a phone into tablet

Samsung and Google reveal new Android phone that can unfold to become a 7.3-inch tablet (but will only say you’ll be able to buy one ‘in the coming months’)

Samsung debuted its futuristic phone that transforms from a phone to a tablet at its developer conference
It features an ‘Infinity Flex Display’ that allows the 7.3-inch screen to be flexible
Unclear how much the phone will cost, but slated to launch in ‘coming months’
Android is releasing software modified for ‘foldables’ as part of the launch

Samsung has finally taken the wraps off its futuristic folding phone.

The Korean tech giant unveiled a prototype version of the device today at the 2018 Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco, which it says is due to arrive in the ‘coming months.’

It boasts an Infinity Flex Display, which enables it to transform into a phone or a tablet when it’s opened and closed.

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Justin Denison, Samsung’s senior vice president of mobile product marketing, unveiled the firm’s first folding phone onstage at the 2018 Developer Conference in San Francisco. It features a 7.3-inch screen that can transform into a phone or tablet

Samsung says the 7.3-inch ‘Infinity Flex Display’ can be folded ‘hundreds of thousands of times’ thanks to the display’s thinness and flexibility. The screen has a protective layer, giving it the same finish as a photo, that’s both flexible and tough

SAMSUNG’S FOLDING PHONE SPECS

Infinity Flex Display

7.3-inch screen

45% thinner display than previous models

Android software optimized for folding format

Multi-active window enables up to 3 apps to run at once

There’s a small screen on the outside of the phone and another, larger display that reveals itself once the device is unfolded.

Samsung says the 7.3-inch screen can be folded ‘hundreds of thousands of times’ thanks to the display’s thinness and flexibility.

‘Users now have the best of both worlds: a compact smartphone that unfolds to reveal a larger immersive display for multitasking and viewing content,’ Samsung explained.

‘The app experience seamlessly transitions from the smaller display to the larger display as the device unfolds.

‘In addition, users can browse, watch, connect and multitask without losing a beat, simultaneously using three active apps on the larger display,’ the firm added.

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Google revealed new Android support for ‘foldables’ before Samsung had the chance to debut its own folding phone. Android will now support devices that are half-phone, half-tablet with a high-tech, wraparound screen

However, the firm didn’t reveal too many details about the device, hoping to keep the design safe from competitors.

‘There’s a device inside here,’ Justin Denison, Samsung’s senior vice president of mobile product marketing, said on stage. ‘And it is stunning.’

The screen has a protective layer, giving it the same finish as a photograph, that’s both flexible and tough.

‘For this display to be foldable, it had to be thinner than any other display we’ve ever made,’ Justin Denison, Samsung’s senior vice president of mobile product marketing, said on stage.

When users open the phone, their apps move seamlessly from the outside of the device to the interior screen. Users can have up to three apps running at once on the tablet-sized screen, using what Samsung calls its Multi-active window feature

Samsung put its proprietary Infinity Flex Display technology in its new foldable phone. It’s likely that this device won’t be hitting the shelves any time soon, however, as Samsung hasn’t yet given it a name, price tag or release date

The display is 45 percent thinner than Samsung’s other smartphone models.

On top of that, Samsung says it has some other high-tech screen technology up its sleeve.

It’s also working on rollable and stretchable displays – though it’s unclear when these will come to fruition.

When users open the phone, their apps move seamlessly from the outside of the device to the interior screen.

Samsung didn’t reveal too many details about the device, hoping to keep the design safe from competitors. There’s no price tag for the product, or a release date, although Samsung said it expects to begin mass production of the device soon

As part of the launch, Android also unveiled a new software format specifically modified for ‘foldables.’ Android will now support devices that are half-phone, half-tablet

Users can have up to three apps running at once on the tablet-sized screen, which Samsung calls its ‘Multi-active window’ feature.

‘Apps you were using when the device was closed are right there waiting for you when its open,’ Denison said.

Samsung says the 7.3-inch screen can be folded ‘hundreds of thousands of times’ thanks to the display’s thinness and flexibility. The device was teased ahead of the event on Wednesday

It’s likely that this device won’t be hitting the shelves any time soon, as Samsung hasn’t yet given it a name, price tag or release date.

That said, Denison said Samsung expects to begin mass production of the device ‘in the coming months.’

As part of the launch, Android also unveiled a new software format specifically modified for ‘foldables.’

Android will now support devices that are half-phone, half-tablet with a high-tech, wraparound screen.

‘It’s an exciting concept and we expect to see foldable products from several Android manufacturers,’ Dave Burke, vice president of engineering for Android, told a Google conference on Wednesday.

‘In fact, we’re already working closely with Samsung on a new device they plan to launch early next year,’ Burke said.

When users open the phone, their apps move seamlessly from the outside of the device to the interior screen. Users can have up to three apps running at once on the tablet-sized screen

The announcement was made Wednesday at Google’s developer conference, Android Dev Summit, in Mountain View, California.

Making matters slightly awkward, the move was announced as Samsung hosted its own developer conference in San Francisco.

Google is partnering with Samsung to develop software for foldables.

VP of engineering Dave Burke said Google is ‘enhancing Android to take advantage of this new form factor with as little work as necessary.’

In teasing the software capabilities, it also revealed that Samsung’s foldable phone would be launching next year.

WSTale.com

Samsung’s foldable prototype can transform from a phone into tablet

Samsung and Google reveal new Android phone that can unfold to become a 7.3-inch tablet (but will only say you’ll be able to buy one ‘in the coming months’)

SAMSUNG’S FOLDING PHONE SPECS

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