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I would happily ditch the selfie camera for a full-screen phone

12 points by Liriel 7y ago

mytailorisrich 7y ago
This problem has been solved: Xiaomi has put the selfie camera behind the screen [1] [1] https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/6/5/18654365/xiaomi-camera-under-screen-no-notch-transparent-display-technology https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/6/5/18654365/xi...
shoganaiyo 7y ago
The selfie camera is useful for video chatting, but I do wish they could tuck it into the display or shrink it into the small bezels of the iPhone. Selfies were the near death of asking strangers to snap a group photo for you. I offer whenever I can, crack a lame joke to get the group smiling. It's sad to think how many things we've done that have inadvertently put up social walls with strangers.
gumby 7y ago
I think almost everyone has forgotten that the reflective Apple logo on the back of the original iphone was described by Apple as the selfie mirror. I doubt they used the word “selfie” which may not have been coined back then, but I can’t remember the exact phrase. I used to think that those cases with a hole to show the logo were for people who wanted that mirror but now I just wonder why.
jannotti 7y ago
There is no way mass-market phones are giving up on the camera that allows for video conferencing / FaceTime. Don't trivialize the utility by calling it the "selfie" camera. And don't claim you've confirmed it's useless by checking your camera roll.
something2 7y ago
The OnePlus 7 Pro (their new flagship phone) has a hidden selfie camera that extends out when in selfie mode. I'm like the author of the article and largely I don't need a selfie camera. It's useful to have in the rare cases where I need to video chat or need a digital mirror real quick. I'm actually very disappointed that the newer OnePlus 7T went back to having a camera notch but I suppose that means that enough of their customers didn't like the feature.
bottlero_cket 7y ago
Yeah “the notch” has been around for a long time now. Anyway, the notch is very functional and very useful. Without it, you can only handle the phone by its sides. With it, you can easily pass the phone by placing your thumb on the notch. A full screen phone would be very cumbersome especially with how big phones are nowadays.
cglong 7y ago
I've been thinking lately about why all PCs have a light that indicates when their cameras are in use but smartphones don't. My conspiratorial self can't help but wonder if that omission could be intentional.
pdimitar 7y ago
Xiaomi's 9T Pro[0] has a pop-up selfie camera. If I actually wanted an Android phone then I'd be all over that one in particular. [0] https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_9t_pro-9791.php https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_9t_pro-9791.php
- eddhead 7y ago
  Just bought the Xiaomi Mi 9t pro, excellent display and it's kinda interesting to see random camera popups (and collapse) of the selfie camera while using certain apps. The motor is activated when the camera APIs are called so you could tell if the app is shaping on your face easily. Snapchat is the worst offender and keeps the selfie camera on even on non camera uses
  - pdimitar 7y ago
    Do you have a way to disable apps' ability to pop up the camera?
RenRav 7y ago
I don't mind borders around the screen. Screens have been plenty big for the last 5 years anyway.
- noisem4ker 7y ago
  Especially considering borders help you handle the device without accidentally touching the screen and protect the glass. The borderless/curved screen trend is why I fear the day I will have to buy a new phone. Unfortunately, I don't see this trend reverting in the future.

12 points by Liriel 7y ago

This problem has been solved: Xiaomi has put the selfie camera behind the screen [1] [1] https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/6/5/18654365/xiaomi-camera-under-screen-no-notch-transparent-display-technology https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/6/5/18654365/xi...

shoganaiyo 7y ago

The selfie camera is useful for video chatting, but I do wish they could tuck it into the display or shrink it into the small bezels of the iPhone. Selfies were the near death of asking strangers to snap a group photo for you. I offer whenever I can, crack a lame joke to get the group smiling. It's sad to think how many things we've done that have inadvertently put up social walls with strangers.

gumby 7y ago

I think almost everyone has forgotten that the reflective Apple logo on the back of the original iphone was described by Apple as the selfie mirror. I doubt they used the word “selfie” which may not have been coined back then, but I can’t remember the exact phrase. I used to think that those cases with a hole to show the logo were for people who wanted that mirror but now I just wonder why.

jannotti 7y ago

There is no way mass-market phones are giving up on the camera that allows for video conferencing / FaceTime. Don't trivialize the utility by calling it the "selfie" camera. And don't claim you've confirmed it's useless by checking your camera roll.

something2 7y ago

The OnePlus 7 Pro (their new flagship phone) has a hidden selfie camera that extends out when in selfie mode. I'm like the author of the article and largely I don't need a selfie camera. It's useful to have in the rare cases where I need to video chat or need a digital mirror real quick. I'm actually very disappointed that the newer OnePlus 7T went back to having a camera notch but I suppose that means that enough of their customers didn't like the feature.

bottlero_cket 7y ago

Yeah “the notch” has been around for a long time now. Anyway, the notch is very functional and very useful. Without it, you can only handle the phone by its sides. With it, you can easily pass the phone by placing your thumb on the notch. A full screen phone would be very cumbersome especially with how big phones are nowadays.

cglong 7y ago

I've been thinking lately about why all PCs have a light that indicates when their cameras are in use but smartphones don't. My conspiratorial self can't help but wonder if that omission could be intentional.

pdimitar 7y ago

Xiaomi's 9T Pro[0] has a pop-up selfie camera. If I actually wanted an Android phone then I'd be all over that one in particular. [0] https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_9t_pro-9791.php https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_9t_pro-9791.php

eddhead 7y ago
Just bought the Xiaomi Mi 9t pro, excellent display and it's kinda interesting to see random camera popups (and collapse) of the selfie camera while using certain apps. The motor is activated when the camera APIs are called so you could tell if the app is shaping on your face easily. Snapchat is the worst offender and keeps the selfie camera on even on non camera uses
- pdimitar 7y ago
  Do you have a way to disable apps' ability to pop up the camera?

RenRav 7y ago

I don't mind borders around the screen. Screens have been plenty big for the last 5 years anyway.

noisem4ker 7y ago
Especially considering borders help you handle the device without accidentally touching the screen and protect the glass. The borderless/curved screen trend is why I fear the day I will have to buy a new phone. Unfortunately, I don't see this trend reverting in the future.