Abstract:
Behind Apple’s first foldable screen phone, iPhone Duo, there is a history of technological exploration that can be traced back to 2011. Apple CEO John Ternus recalled in a recent interview with Time magazine that he and five other engineers submitted a patent application for flexible electronic devices to explore the design of batteries, circuit boards, etc. required for foldable devices. He believed at the time that OLED screens would eventually develop to a stage where they could be bent. Patent records show that the application was filed in September 2011 and Ternus is listed as one of six co-inventors.
However, the patent application can only prove that the Apple team has been researching flexible devices at that time, but it does not mean that iPhone Duo has been continuously developed as a specific product for 15 years. Ternus said in the interview that he thought the early folding screen products on the market at the time "looked a little cheap and crude." Apple later chose to wait for the technology to mature and invest more time in the display, hinges, materials and software experience, rather than accept unresolved design compromises in order to be first to market.
Richard Ding, Apple's vice president of product design, recalled that the team discussed whether to use surface materials similar to competing products; he believed that the solution at the time was still flawed, but it might be "enough." Ternus encouraged the team to keep polishing. Ultimately, Apple worked with suppliers to develop a custom polymer nanotextured surface that covers the screen. Apple said that the hinge of iPhone Duo contains more than 100 precision parts; the software and hardware team also designed a display engine that can smoothly switch between internal and external screens, and adjusted the iOS interface layout to adapt to the large-screen operation after unfolding.
Apple has released iPhone Duo in September. Pre-orders will start on October 16 and will go on sale on October 23. The device is equipped with a 7.6-inch internal screen when unfolded and a 5.4-inch external screen when closed. The body is made of grade five titanium and is equipped with an A20 Pro chip. Apple positions it as a device that can be put in your pocket and provide a close-to-tablet experience when unfolded; Time also pointed out in the report that it is still unclear whether the product can open up the folding screen market, and its price of more than US$2,000 may make some consumers hesitate.
The interview also covered Ternus’ views on Apple’s product strategy. He does not believe that Apple must independently manufacture every component of its products, but advocates focusing resources on key links that can bring differentiation. When it comes to the Screen Time feature, he said he had used the tool to manage his children's devices and found the early experience "good, but not good enough" and that recent improvements have made it more useful.
In terms of artificial intelligence, Ternus reiterated that Apple’s advantages lie in privacy protection and ecological integration. He believes that a large amount of information in users' lives is concentrated on their mobile phones. If Siri AI can use these personal contexts, it can help users accomplish things that are difficult to do with other services. Despite the expansion of AI capabilities, he believes physical devices will not disappear because people will still want to talk to others, view photos of friends and family, and capture images.
Ternus also spoke about supply chains and government relations. Facing doubts about Apple considering purchasing Chinese-made processors and memory, he called memory supply constraints "absolutely a crisis" and said the company believed all options should be considered. He also confirmed that he had met with members of the current U.S. government, saying the purpose was to jointly handle related matters; former CEO Tim Cook will continue to serve as executive chairman, and Ternus said that Cook is willing to help when needed.
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