Samsung Galaxy Folder: Samsung bringing back flip phones?

[Crono]

http://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/0...ictures-leaked-looks-like-a-sweet-flip-phone/

Back in mid-July, a rumor out of Asia was getting tossed around that Samsung was working on a flip phone. But wait, who the heck cares about a flippin’ flip phone? Well, the supposed Galaxy Folder isn’t a normal flip phone. The Folder runs Android 4.2.2, sports two 3.7″ AMOLED touch-screen displays with resolutions of 800×480 (one front and back), a Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4G LTE connectivity and a battery of 1,820mAh battery.

I know, it sounds like a product designed 5 years ago, but apparently it's a real phone. The specifications aren't particularly impressive - and the form-factor isn't exactly a fresh innovation - but dual screens on any smartphone is an interesting concept. It's almost like the Microsoft Courier (man, I wish that were actually made) of smartphones in that regard. I would assume that this is priced to compete against other low-end smartphones, where flip phones have been sitting at for a few years now.

Does this interest anyone? I think one advantage it could have over modern conventional smartphone design is durability in folded mode. I remember my old Motorola RAZR - the original one - being practically indestructible.

This has to be a niche product and not for the mainstream Note/Galaxy markets, but it's actually good to see companies still working on alternative, kind of out-there or retro (relatively speaking) designs.

Here's a similar phone, the W2013, made by Samsung last year (yes, that is Jackie Chan sporting it):

 

[88keys]

If you're going to bring back a flip phone, it needs to flip horizontally to reveal a qwerty keypad for those of us who still don't like typing on touchscreens.

To do it any other way would just be gimmicky retro nonsense.

 

[openwheel]

For a lot of people, a flip phone is still a must. I am about to sign a business phone account with all flip phones even though smart phone is a much better deal at just $10 more per line. If the users want flip phone then that's what they will get.

 

[88keys]

I suppose one advantage of going back to flip phones might be to reduce the possibility of broken screens.

 

[SAWYER]

I used to think I needed a keyboard(bb user) but I think I am as faster if not faster with on screen