The BenQ-Siemens Black Box concept phone that never was

by Cyrus Farivar posted Oct 1st 2006 at 2:54PM

You know, it's too bad that BenQ-Siemens' European operations had to go under before it managed to get this slick handset out the door. From what we can make out based on these photos spotted on a Czech website, BenQ-Siemens had developed a "Black Box concept phone," which took home some Chinese design award earlier this year. The idea apparently is to turn the phone into one large screen, and change function depending on whatever application you need at the time: a calculator, an FM radio, the phone itself (duh), and something that looks like a game involving a goldfish and possibly a bathtub drain (we're not really sure). You know, this reminds us a lot of that possible iPhone patent we spotted earlier this month -- hopefully Apple can pick up where BenQ-Siemens left off?

[Via Slashphone]

Tags: apple, BenQ, benq-siemens, black box, BlackBox, calculator, concept phone, ConceptPhone, czech republic, CzechRepublic

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Apple Directory @ May 25th 2008 7:16PM

Hi this is a message from Apple we will becoming out with this device about June of 2009 we all home it will meet your standards

APPLE

Highly Ranked

Obbsessed-with-phones. @ Jan 9th 2009 8:55PM

1. Apple is formal when writing and would say hello not hi.
2. This design is the property of benq and solely of benq.
3. Apple directory is not in any way linked to Apple co.
4. Don't lie like this it's just plain stupid.
5. Apple would never, correction no company would ever disclose information like that to the public on one blog. They would put it on their own website before they ever spoke a word about it on here.
6. Get a life of your own, instead of impersonating companies.

Neutral

tang @ May 27th 2008 10:10PM

I tested this camera for a client. I didn’t have the light running for more than 15 minutes. The battery lasted approximately 6 hours before recharging. The LCD, however, had a few dead pixels - never saw this before. Tried returning for exchange and had to put up quite a fight. Anyone else seen this? http://www.batteryfast.com

Neutral

laptop battery @ Oct 17th 2009 4:05AM

test xxxxx

Neutral

power-battery.com.au @ Oct 17th 2009 4:06AM

It's a neat design, but I agree with Scott. Fingerprints would be an issue. http://www.power-battery.com.au

Neutral

Ed W @ Oct 2nd 2006 2:28AM

Damn shame this isn't running; conceptually it looks absolutely fantastic and it would overcome all those annoying gimmicky solutions, such as Nokia's twist phone, and it would allow for different preferences in terms of the actual layout of key pads etc. potentially.

Only problem is if you have sweaty hands ...

Highly Ranked

Scott @ Oct 1st 2006 4:44PM

Great idea to some degree. Two things it really needs though is tactile feedback and a matte finish. With a glossy cover can you imagine the fingerprint disaster after even your first use?

Neutral

Nizam Rahman @ Oct 1st 2006 5:00PM

Chocolate anyone?

It's a koi btw.

Neutral

Dave @ Oct 1st 2006 5:49PM

The koi is probably a screen saver.

dave

Neutral

Shredsled @ Oct 1st 2006 6:59PM

It's a neat design, but I agree with Scott. Fingerprints would be an issue.

Neutral

enzo @ Oct 1st 2006 11:39PM

I'm pretty sure that's the future of mobile devices right there...

Neutral

Christian @ Oct 2nd 2006 12:17AM

I really like this phone. I wish they did make this or someone to pick up where they left off. I'd be more awesome if anyone can just program stuff for it too like make your own layout so it really is easier for the user to use. True that it'll have lots of fingerprint issue but I think all touch screen has this problem, correct me here if I'm wrong as I haven't researched enough for "fingerprint-less" touchscreen.

Neutral

Joe Alien @ Oct 2nd 2006 12:03PM

I wonder what Apple is up to these days? Hmmmm?

Neutral

Enzo @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:27PM

"Only problem is if you have sweaty hands ..."
Yeah, it'll take you a whole 2 seconds extra to wipe it on your shirt before putting it back in your pocket. What a pain in the ass! Am I right? Am I right?

...?

Neutral

Peter @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:23AM

I reallllly like the design here. If the whole front of the unit were a touchscreen of some kind, fingerprints would always be there, but I wouldn't care. I would love to own that phone. It's kindof like that OLED keyboard from ArtLebedev, which I believe is genius design. I really wish someone besides Apple would produce/sell it though. How about HTC making a phone like this? ITS MADE OF WIN, I TELL YOU!

Neutral

GamaFu @ Oct 9th 2006 1:40AM

"it's too bad that BenQ-Siemens' European operations had to go under before it managed to get this slick handset out the door."
Don't worry about it,
it's fully designed by BenQ, the Taiwanese company itself,
not involved Siemens,
check this out: http://webserver.ifdesign.de/beitrag_details.php?offset=1&sprache=1&award_id=118&beitrag_id=28233
BenQ really needs to make it true soon,
Nokia has the similar concept product called aeon.

Neutral

Tassos @ Nov 1st 2006 6:52AM

Just THE perfect design!
But we need more photos, specs and so on!
For example, how thin is? Who knows?
- Cosmos -

Neutral

Rahul @ Dec 2nd 2006 2:27AM

Its nice one
can i have it
whats price

Neutral

jukka @ Jan 14th 2007 6:24AM

iphone!

Neutral

ninjatickets @ Jun 30th 2007 4:26AM

Hey I just reviewed my iphone, from a business POV, check it out on http://blog.ninjatickets.com

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