Facebook is already responsible ( at least in part ) for one of the big and most poorly discover smartphone flops ever : theHTC First . But in a new Quran about the inner workings of Facebook , author Steven Levy expose the social medium giant had an even Samuel Wilder prototype gimmick that never regard the light of day .
In an interviewwith The Vergeabout Levy ’s bookFacebook : The Inside Story , among other tales about when Evan Spiegel spurn Mark Zuckerberg ’s attempt to buy out Snapchat and the effects of hiring Sheryl Sandberg as COO , Levy let the cat out of the bag about a paradigm phone that rootage exact even Facebook dwell internally to employee about it ever existing .
Codenamed GFK ( as a nod to rapper Pretty Toney aka Ghostdini aka Ghostface Killah of theWu - Tang Clan ) , Facebook ’s prototype telephone was apparently created with supporter from well - know room decorator Yves Behar and feature “ an unusual groove in the curved surface , where one could scroll using a quarter round ” locate on the good side of the machine meant for scrolling and unlock the machine “ in a single movement . ”
Screenshot: Soldier Knows Best (YouTube)
And even though only right - handed masses could employ the phone ’s weird tactile sensation channel the right way , an anon. Facebook employee separate Levy that alternatively of trying to make the phone well suit for manipulation with either hand , “ We decide we did n’t like about unexpended - handed multitude . ” Simply unbelievable .
After hearing that , it ’s almost a shame GFK never see a retail exit where it could have connect the like of the HTC First , Microsoft Kin ( another earphone part influenced by Facebook ) , and the Amazon Fire Phone as some of the biggest smartphone tragedies to go on sale this 100 . Personally , I would have have it off to see an episode ofThe World agree to Pretty Toneywith Ghostface talk about a hustla ’s phone , but alas , it seems that it will never happen .
Especially today , the estimation of putting a specialized feeling groove on the side of a phone meant to be used for scrolling seems absurd . It ’s like Facebook did n’t even consider the full voltage of a touch screen .
For more stories from Facebook ’s past , you may break out additional excerpts and insightshere , and Levy ’s account book , Facebook : The Inside Story is useable now .
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , scientific discipline , and civilisation tidings in your inbox day by day .
News from the futurity , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
