Return of the Flip Phone

I absolutely loved my Motorola Razr and was heartbroken when the hinges finally gave out and I had to upgrade my phone.  I was more than a little excited when Motorola announced a reboot of the Razr and now Samsung is getting in the game with their Galaxy Z Flip.  The technology is still early and both phones are beyond my price range, but the return to retro is worth a watch.  

Not only do these phones trigger nostalgia, but the enable some interesting opportunities for app design.  Both models support split and full screen modes as well as an external screen when the phone is closed.  This enables state driven design and multi-app interaction beyond the obvious screen/keyboard split borrowed from tablets. 

Maps:

• Full screen - standard map view with navigation queues
• Split screen - map on top and directions on the bottom
• Closed - turn-by-turn navigation queues

Viewing Content with Split Screen:

• Anchor media to the top and allow scrolling through copy on the bottom
• Anchor the original article on top and open content links or share on the bottom

Entertainment:

• Who else thinks this is the perfect Battleship setup? Full screen transitions to an animation of sinking your opponent's Battleship.

I can't wait to see the creative ways designers and engineers capitalize on this opportunity.  I would love to work with others in this space to create a truly engaging experience.

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