6 ms·

Motorola to release phone with no bezel by end of year.

28 points by PostOnce 14y ago

raldi 14y ago
Where did the photo in this article come from?
- vinu76jsr 14y ago
  Iron Man probably.
  - option_greek 14y ago
    yup, Iron man 2.
dmishe 14y ago
What about accidental touches?
- huihe9849hjjgkg 14y ago
  Surely you can make a UI to deal with this.
  - Tagbert 14y ago
    Sure, just setup the UI so that no elements are within 1/4 inch of the edge of the screen so that your fingers don't activate something. Simple. /s
    - mtrimpe 14y ago
      Or just ignore the fingers that comes in all the way from the edge of the screen.
      - indiecore 14y ago
        Wait even better, we could put some kind of border around the screen that isn't responsive!
        cma 14y ago
        And send movie playback, which doesn't need touch, back to postage stamp territory!
vibrunazo 14y ago
One should note this is the first phone developed by Google under control of Motorola. When this is released, it will finally answer many questions about how much Google will influence them. This news about the lack of bezel is the first sign that Google might be willing to use Motorola as a test lab for weird innovation.
- indiecore 14y ago
  > This news about the lack of bezel is the first sign that Google might be willing to use Motorola as a test lab for weird innovation. I think this is more about avoiding Apple's design patents. I'm pretty sure that a rectangular bezel was one of them.
dexen 14y ago
While the microphone and buttons (if any) fit well on device's edges, I wonder how do they provide earpiece? Do they drill a hole through the display, or is it some sort of flat panel speaker? The later probably would be bad for privacy.
- stewartbutler 14y ago
  I can think of two ways to do it. First, you could put the piezo film (commonly used in speakers for cellphones, more efficient for smaller transducers but requires a special amplifier) directly below (but in contact with) the display and use the display as the 'diaphragm'. Makes the entire display a speaker, but would require some interesting sound cancelling tricks to avoid feedback with the microphone. Second, you could use a piezo below the display with an airgap and use something akin to the laser used in the power LEDs on the Macbooks to poke enough airholes to direct the sound toward the ear. A third method, which I'm not sure would work, is to suspend the piezo material between two ITO layers (like that used in the capacitive touchscreen) and put it above the display. Depends on if someone has found a transparent piezoelectric material yet; I haven't been keeping up with the materials science side of things.
- pkulak 14y ago
  Just put the mic and speaker on the sides too! http://i.imgur.com/zCzGe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zCzGe.jpg
belorn 14y ago
The one big question is not answered by the article. Will they get a design patent for it?
- molmalo 14y ago
  Most probably, and they will sue Apple if they ever use a similar design. Motorola is under Google's management now. So, they must do whatever it takes to protect the Android ecosystem and thattheir partners. Sadly, that mostly means to sue somebody these days.
  - fluidcruft 14y ago
    Well, that's the difference between deterrence and Thermonuclear War. Once the despots strike, there's no going back.
shimsham 14y ago
Whatever next? Flat loudspeakers!?! Telegraphic communication!?!?!
abruzzi 14y ago
I'm curious to see the usability. If I look at the way I usually hold my phone, about 5-7mm of the front are obscured. I'm not saying this is bad, but I'd have to see it in action.
chanux 14y ago
Remember the Nokia Aeon concept phone? http://www.nokiaaeon.com http://www.nokiaaeon.com PS: Also picked this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2nG9qy6vs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2nG9qy6vs) up from http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1921701 http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1921701

28 points by PostOnce 14y ago

raldi 14y ago

Where did the photo in this article come from?

vinu76jsr 14y ago
Iron Man probably.
- option_greek 14y ago
  yup, Iron man 2.

dmishe 14y ago

What about accidental touches?

huihe9849hjjgkg 14y ago
Surely you can make a UI to deal with this.
- Tagbert 14y ago
  Sure, just setup the UI so that no elements are within 1/4 inch of the edge of the screen so that your fingers don't activate something. Simple. /s
  - mtrimpe 14y ago
    Or just ignore the fingers that comes in all the way from the edge of the screen.
    - indiecore 14y ago
      Wait even better, we could put some kind of border around the screen that isn't responsive!
      - cma 14y ago
        And send movie playback, which doesn't need touch, back to postage stamp territory!

vibrunazo 14y ago

One should note this is the first phone developed by Google under control of Motorola. When this is released, it will finally answer many questions about how much Google will influence them. This news about the lack of bezel is the first sign that Google might be willing to use Motorola as a test lab for weird innovation.

indiecore 14y ago
> This news about the lack of bezel is the first sign that Google might be willing to use Motorola as a test lab for weird innovation. I think this is more about avoiding Apple's design patents. I'm pretty sure that a rectangular bezel was one of them.

dexen 14y ago

While the microphone and buttons (if any) fit well on device's edges, I wonder how do they provide earpiece? Do they drill a hole through the display, or is it some sort of flat panel speaker? The later probably would be bad for privacy.

stewartbutler 14y ago
I can think of two ways to do it. First, you could put the piezo film (commonly used in speakers for cellphones, more efficient for smaller transducers but requires a special amplifier) directly below (but in contact with) the display and use the display as the 'diaphragm'. Makes the entire display a speaker, but would require some interesting sound cancelling tricks to avoid feedback with the microphone. Second, you could use a piezo below the display with an airgap and use something akin to the laser used in the power LEDs on the Macbooks to poke enough airholes to direct the sound toward the ear. A third method, which I'm not sure would work, is to suspend the piezo material between two ITO layers (like that used in the capacitive touchscreen) and put it above the display. Depends on if someone has found a transparent piezoelectric material yet; I haven't been keeping up with the materials science side of things.
pkulak 14y ago
Just put the mic and speaker on the sides too! http://i.imgur.com/zCzGe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zCzGe.jpg

belorn 14y ago

The one big question is not answered by the article. Will they get a design patent for it?

molmalo 14y ago
Most probably, and they will sue Apple if they ever use a similar design. Motorola is under Google's management now. So, they must do whatever it takes to protect the Android ecosystem and thattheir partners. Sadly, that mostly means to sue somebody these days.
- fluidcruft 14y ago
  Well, that's the difference between deterrence and Thermonuclear War. Once the despots strike, there's no going back.

shimsham 14y ago

Whatever next? Flat loudspeakers!?! Telegraphic communication!?!?!

abruzzi 14y ago

I'm curious to see the usability. If I look at the way I usually hold my phone, about 5-7mm of the front are obscured. I'm not saying this is bad, but I'd have to see it in action.

chanux 14y ago

Remember the Nokia Aeon concept phone? http://www.nokiaaeon.com http://www.nokiaaeon.com PS: Also picked this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2nG9qy6vs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2nG9qy6vs) up from http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1921701 http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1921701