The history of the smartphone, like any other learning history, is a collection of success stories and mistakes that have led to the technology we enjoy today. It's also funny to know how things work see the technology evolve, features that were promised great progress and that a few generations after their announcement eventually disappeared.
Let's give a little review of all those technology did not last, as well as explaining what they have achieved (in cases where they will get something) and how they have influenced the development of current technologies.
A touch of air
Air Touch History on Android is a comedy and travel story. Another product that made it very important was Samsung, who took advantage of the launch of the Samsung Samsung S4 to show how it is possible to manage a cell phone "hands-free". The show was very unsuccessful and the company never said that again in subsequent posts. In fact, it's been a long time since Samsung's mobiles do not include this technology. A moment to catch calls that could be hung with a hand slip.
Only LG and Google want to give this technology a chance some years later. Samsung itself, the promoters of this technology, gave it years ago
Despite the shallow technology, manufacturers such as LG have used something similar, AirMotion. It's an "on-air" body control system similar to the one suggested by Samsung, but limited to a few company models, making it an up-and-coming technology. Fortunately, Google has also chosen this technology for its Pixel 4, which allows for binding of phones, alarms and others with a touch of air. As we said, a history of humor and travel with technology that has become ubiquitous: its primary creators have abandoned it, and some manufacturers are trying to replace it.
Heart rate "sensor"
Heartbeat is one of the most revolutionary technologies that has promised so much and is eventually forgotten. This option was already available on HTC Magic, which can measure heart rate using a flash camera. Later, companies like Samsung came to use it over the same range as the Galaxy S5. This technology was never heard of again in addition to a few applications in the Google Play Store that promise to do this. Does anyone remember him?
Materials
Another promising technology that ended in extinction was after "self repair"
We will always blame it on mobile ¯_ (ツ) _ / ¯
Modular phones
In a few years a good number of gases
Google made us dream about Project Ara. A high end phone with flexible modules will arrive … sometime. It still looks amazing in later years
This item wasn't here, because Google has been announcing its best mobile phone, which has never been physical. The ARA project looks amazing, it sends as a high resolution device where we can convert modules of RAM, battery and even the screen and camera. The best idea is to keep the cellphone updated, which, unfortunately, did not survive.
Smart Lock
"That facial recognition was already on Android." Yes, but half. Smart Lock arrived in 2015 as one of Lollipop's innovations. From the start Smart Lock was completely hidden in settings and when to use it sent a notice saying it's not a safe way. In subsequent versions of Android, he hid more and more until he reached his current point, exile.
Smart Lock has served as the basis for many face recognition programs on Android
The good side of Smart Lock is that they work for manufacturers to implement their own face unlocking systems. Based on this technology but developing with their software, manufacturers have used various methods to unlock the phone with just one camera to complete this process.
3D recognition programs on Android
Smart Lock is forgotten after camera detection systems But what about advanced face recognition systems? Apple pioneered here with Video ID, a multi-facial recognition system in combination with additional security features with software. Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO have tried to emulate the system on their different Mi 8s, the Mate 20 Pro and OPPO Get the X, make two of the best face recognition systems on Android.
Despite the same good performance (even though he was still under facial ID), this technology would add to the list of newcomers to stay. Huawei is the only company that bet on 3D recognition, but only on Mt 30, the only family P40 bet with an infrared sensor. As for Xiaomi and OPPO, they were unable to replicate this type of programming.
Double opening
The dual launch has come to Samsung phones from the Galaxy S9, though this technology has only taken two years. The concept was fun since, on paper, the mobile was able to split the aperture between f / 1.5 or f / 2.4 depending on the light conditions. The reality became that this was not done as expected, so it did not offer the jump or upgrade of images that would be expected when a lens was opened too much.
Fortunately, Samsung has opted for larger sensors to get more light based on green power. Double opening was right on paper, not so much in character
Samsung's solution for capturing excess light into a high-power bet: increased sensory size. This solution seems to work better on both the S20 and S20 Ultra, which incorporate larger sensors than previous generations.
Piezo-electric noise
This may not sound like a piezo-electric sound, but you definitely remember the Xiaomi Mi Mix, which is a mobile phone. you are allowed to change the current design of Android phones (Summary of this description is that more than 16: 9 formats are accepted because Xiaomi convinced Google). Cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technologyThis was the name of the audio technology that included Xiaomi Mi Mix.
The Mi Mix system had a DAC, a piece that we find on almost all smartphones and is responsible for converting digital audio into analog, which transmitted that sound to a piezoelectric ceramic piece. This component was the most important as it was responsible for converting the DAC-generated power into mechanical power. In other words, the sound of the Xiaomi Mi Mix came without a speaker, a whole change considering we're talking about the 2016 mobile.
This technology, though interesting, joins the list, because it only took a year. In the next generation of Mi Mix, the sound was transmitted through the screen through the slider which resulted in a vibration to move the sound. Shocked technology has entered the market, but has shown us how far we can go to avoid the speaker.
Monochrome lenses for maximum contrast
Huawei is a great bet a monochrome sensor, even though this solution took only two years. It landed alongside the Huawei P9 and was commissioned as a technology for gather more information, improve contrast and sharpness, render "pure" mode black and white, etc. Practice did not show that this compatible sensor (large + monochrome camera) provided superior results in this competition and, with the advent of the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, we heard nothing of this technology.
Today another manufacturer incorporates low-level sensor nodes offering custom filteringBut this comes down to the idea of making the monochrome sensor a major player in the final photo results.
Instagram mode
One of the most interesting technologies introduced by Samsung is the Galaxy S10 Instagram mode. This was intended to minimize the significant differences in uploading photos and videos on Android compared to iOS, in conjunction with Facebook. For no reason, Samsung Samsung S20 no longer has this mode.
Sliding screen
Fashion slippery screens It's amazing too. Other manufacturers are joining it, such as Honor for Magic 2 which has never started in Spain. After this model, such an approach is no longer seen in the company. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 broke the tradition of the two previous models and chose this option. To the luck of the family's fans, Xiaomi has already confirmed that the Mi Mix is no longer in use, because now the Alpha family is taking over this position.
The latest model for betting on this technology has been the Samsung Galaxy A90 5G, the only member of its family with a sliding screen. It's a curious way to avoid a notch that, though it failed to be a name, it will remain in the memory of many.
Machine Cameras
In addition to the slippery tricks, it is on the list of amazing solutions to avoid the notch we find mehendi cameras. OPPO was one of the pioneering symbols here with OPPO Get X, a signal with a sliding-out camera that was operated by an automatic machine. The camera was located inside the body of the terminal, which allowed for good front use. Many years later, OPPO continued this tradition with OPPO Reno, mobile "sharks". Let's not take it personally it was fun and curious, but it wasn't the fastest way to open or take a selfie. Starting with OPPO Reno 3, the company bid farewell to the proceedings.
The pop-up camera lasted only a year, holes in the screens came as a more lucrative place
In 2019 again a year of pop-up cameras, popular mobiles such as Xiaomi Mi 9T or OnePlus 7 Pro have opted for these processes to achieve the benefits of a good screen and avoiding a notch. This technology has been lost so far in 2020, replaced by a (very cheap) hole in the screen. Also, a moment of silence for those cameras sprung from the body of the terminal illuminating and making the most Asian sound (deactivatable, Fortunately).
What happens with the phone lens?
Don't worry, the phone's lens is not dead, at least for the high premium range. However, it is replaced by questionable synthetic sensors such as macro sensors and deep sensors. Calls with a higher launch price such as the Xiaomi Mi 10 or OnePlus 8 remove the phone lens that we saw past generations reaping this kind of second sensation. Similarly in the middle grade the quad camera is made of the following democracy.
- More megapixel sensor with Pixel Binning
- 8MP wide
- 2 MP macro
- Depth of 2 MP
As always, a variety of materials are acceptable, although losing the lens lens in high-end models is not the best way, in our opinion, to improve the photographic category. Fortunately for the highest grade, the zoom battle is underway, with manufacturers such as Samsung or Huawei betting on telephoto lenses of various sizes.
Table of Contents
