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Making concept of a phone with physical keyboard
| Cool concept, OP. Do you do a lot of hardware design? Or will this be going past the concept stage at all?
| as a computer engineer i worked on projects like this before totally possible
suggestions
make it a case instead of a phone easier to use can take it off mass appeal cheaper to produce
use Bluetooth connection so that it can be used wirelessly and you can use it as an attached keyboard or you can seperate the keyboard so you can have more space to type when you feel like it
mostly though just have fun with it
| >>95244
Okay, let's break this down usability wise:
- Low-resolution screen
- Separate keyboard
- Small phone
None of these work together. If you're going for a small phone, go T9. QWERTY is never so optimized for tiny phones, and I definitely imagine that 640x480 won't be fitted in a 5" body.
I'd love to see a specific device (not a phone) with these specifications (minus the QWERTY), but a "phone" might need more.
| >>95246
I will make as detail concept as I can manage first. Then I want to look in to options if I could get some one to help me design internals for whatever specific specs would be best.
>>95355
I would like to make it as intuitive as possible with physical keyboard. Detachable sounds like a hastle but I can brainstorm more tomorrow on it.
>>95360
What more do you mean?
Other things like camera and such?
I would like qwerty personally and still unsure of resolution.
| >>95410
Let me rephrase my last word there: if I were to greenlight this project and make this a reality (for example), it would form less of a phone and more of a "device that looks like a phone."
My experience with landscape QWERTY has been nothing but horrible (G1, Captive Glide, Droid 2) and they all seem to fit your concept's framework.
You can make the phone bigger, but reach >5.5" and the thing would become unwieldy.
| >>95440
Word limit there, had to cut the post.
[...] You can make the phone bigger, but reach >5.5" and the thing would become unwieldy.
If the device is small, then the keyboard would be nigh-unusable (because obviously, the keys can't be /that/ big to fit the device's frame).
| Squishy and soft or hard and firm plastic or something like that? Soft × Hard
| The Balckberry had one but the keys were pretty small, still pretty nice phone
| Like the HTC Desire Z I once had? Or whatever phone my brother had that could slide open one way for a keyboard, another for a keypad? No seriously, I still don't understand what's really unique about your project aside from it running Linux.
| >>95440
I'm trying to make this as a small factor device. Think xperia x compact just thicker.
Also I'm merely a /burg/ so my hands are small. I wouldn't be going above 5". In a sense I'm trying to come up with a device that would be usable for more than just calls but with no unnecessary parts. I know it's all over the place so I will make a summary later.
I should consider other hand sizes though. Keyboard that unflips differently? I'm going to do some sketching from ground up
| >>95778 squishy would wear off faster.
>>96047
There is nothing unique at the moment. I merely put down a concept so I can take suggestions and incorporate it if people like it.
The main idea right now is a pocket device that has physical keyboard, Linux and can make calls. I know there is some dragon brand device or something that people can pre-order but that shit has astronomical prices.
| >>96052
How about this: make the keyboard a module instead of an integrated part of the device.
Case in point: The Moto Z.
Yeah, I know modularity is "not at its best", but because in theory, this is running Linux, you can even create an "Open Module Standard" for phones: a USB-like concept but for modules.
| This means that the keyboard is detachable (allowing a customized size), but it doesn't necessarily mean it is a Bluetooth-powered device either.
| getting this thing to talk to a cell provider for traditional calls is going to be hell. if i were you, i'd focus on getting mobile data up and running then just use a sip service for voice.
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| https://files.catbox.moe/84qctg.png
I'd like to make this work with hopefully linux OS or something other than android.
Would be also nice to get some ideas and suggestions.
I know I should have made something for scale.
In short I want to make this a small phone with possibly just a 640x480 resolution or something similar.
Even though I do want this to only display the limited colors as they used to be on old videogame donsoles it's probably a stupid idea.