Phandroid
The Bezeled Truth: are edge-to-edge screens practical for real-world use? [POLL]
Earlier this week we got our hands on the Sharp Aquos Crystal and its amazing “edge-to-edge” display. The specs of the phone are no more than a simple mid-range device, but the display alone has drawn a lot of attention. The “bezel-less” phone has been a dream for tech geeks for a long time. We’ve seen these devices on Star Trek and other sci-fi media, but they have eluded the real world.
The appeal of a device with no bezels is clear. As displays get bigger and bigger so do devices. If you could eliminate all the area around the display it would be much easier to hold. The Aquos Crystal is one of the closest devices we’ve seen to the bezel-less dream, despite having a big “chin” bezel. I’m still not sold on the idea. Are phones without bezels practical to use in the real world?
The big problem with a device that has no bezels is where your hand goes. If there is no bezel around the display you have to hold the device awkwardly in order to not accidentally trigger a touch. Some devices have deliberately been made with larger bezels in order to accommodate the way people will hold it. Those bezels are serving an important purpose. Imagine trying to play a game in landscape mode with nowhere to put your thumbs. This is a problem that some companies are already addressing.
Some phones with minimal bezel have a display that can detect when your hand is accidentally touching the display. When this happens it will ignore those touches so you can still interact with the device normally. This is great, but it doesn’t completely solve the problem. Your hand may not be triggering incorrect touches, but it’s still blocking something from your view. What good is a big bezel-less device if your hand and fingers are constantly blocking part of the screen?
I’m not ready to jump into the world of no bezels, but I know many of you are. Right now I think bezels serve a very important purpose. Some devices do come with a ridiculous amount of bezel (ahem, HTC One M8), but most devices do a good job of trimming it down. Do you have any of the same concerns that I do? Are you dying to buy a phone with no bezel? Let us know in the poll and comments below!
OnePlus manages to put on a respectable contest: share a photo and win 1 of 10,000 invites
OK, so OnePlus’s last contest didn’t quite work out the way they wanted. Sweep it under the rug, they shall. The broom they’ll use to sweep? Another contest — one with up to 10,000 invites to buy a OnePlus One up for grabs. On top of the fact this is a contest that isn’t limited to just a handful of people, it’s actually easy to enter and doesn’t teeter on lines of sexism and environmental irresponsibility. Here’s how you enter for a chance to win:
- Post a photo taken this summer with hashtags #summershots and #oneplus on Instagram (or, alternatively, do any of the other social actions listed here)
- Sit back and check out entries from other OnePlus fans
And that’s it. Refreshing, isn’t it? The contest runs from today through August 25th at 6am Eastern, and winners will be chosen at random and contacted August 27th. You can win up to 15 entries. Posting your photo to Instagram nets you the most, while the typical “stalk us on social networks” will get you 1 each. Here’s the full breakdown:
- Share your summer shots on Instagram – 5 entries
- Share your summer shots on Twitter – 3 entries
- Share your summer shots on OnePlus forums – 2 entries
- Follow on Instagram, Follow on Twitter, Like on Facebook, Follow on Google+ and Subscribe to YouTube channel – 1 entry for each of those actions
That gives you a pretty good chance to win if you haven’t already been able to buy a OnePlus One. Not much to complain or yell about here. Well, one guy did manage to dock points from OnePlus for putting up a massive contest when they could just sell the phones first come first serve, but that dead horse has already been beaten 10 times over. Go ahead and enter at their contest website right here.
[via OnePlus]
Coin delayed until Spring 2015, but a handicapped early access beta version is coming soon
Last week, the makers of Coin announced that they’d be emailing early backers this week, allowing them to claim their e-cards. Today, that email has arrived but it includes a few surprises we weren’t exactly expecting. Once the mobile apps have been released (iOS August 28th, Android September 25th), Coin backers will have the choice to either opt in for the beta version (launching as planned), or wait for the final 100% bug-free version which, as it turns out, has been delayed until Sprint 2015.
Here’s what Coin said to backers after claiming their Coin from the email:
“We realize that our devoted Backers and early supporters are anxious to get their Coins and we understand the desire to finally have Coin in hand. However, we also recognize the desire for a product that is 100% successful and offers all the features we’ve been developing and promised.
When you download your Coin app, you’ll have the opportunity to opt-in for Coin Beta, or opt to stick it out and wait for Coin. As always, we are grateful for our community in helping us to revolutionize the way we pay. Let’s do this.”
Coin backers will receive their shipping dates only after downloading the required mobile app and choosing either the beta or final version. Keep in mind that although opting for the Coin Beta version gets you non-delayed access to Coin, you’ll still have to purchase the final version later (although at a discounted $30). For those looking to get their hands on Coin as soon as possible, here’s what you’ll have to sacrifice in the beta version:
- 85% swipe acceptance
- No Left-Behind Alert
- Coin Beta users should carry a back up debit or credit card should they identify a machine that can’t yet accept Coin
- Not available for international Backers (US only)
As we’ve seen so many times in the past with crowd-funding projects like this, unforeseen issues during the manufacturing process typically pop up out-of-the-blue and delay a product’s release, sometimes substantially. It appears Coin wasn’t immune to this and even if it shouldn’t come as a surprise, we have to admit — we’re a little disappointed.
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