asked 2015-08-15 11:50:30 +0200
I wander as I just found out there is stereo speakers on the tablet but not on the two short sides, so it will only giver stereo sound held in portrait mode which made me curious why? Or better ask what is it for?
Especially when the tablet was also demoed in landscape mode all the time...
Please enlighten me!
answered 2015-08-16 17:15:11 +0200
As an answer: They are used for listening audio in portrait orientation ;)
and to contribute into the discussion: I agree they could have been placed much better, as additional to the orientation, the audio is now directed away from the user. Additionally, when device is laying down on table, they are against the table... In which case the device needs a stand / something under it.
I hope Jolla picks a better speaker placement for possible future models, following the principles of Finnish Design on which the usability is often in a key position. For example having three speakers in corners, selecting left/right channels for each by the orientation of the device, would have been something unlike and also something nobody else has yet.
@Anna, don't forget there are Taiwanese designers involved that have a major say about the under the hood configuration. Jolla designs the case, chooses options to be included on the MB, then Taiwanese manufacturer will tell them the layout possibilities and compromises for the given case thickness.
vandersmash ( 2015-08-20 11:30:26 +0200 )editanswered 2015-08-15 13:27:53 +0200
Personally, I never use portable devices to watch video; I'm only listening to music or podcasts. And normally, I do so only in portrait mode, as that generally seems more convenient (for browsing the web or reading documents)... So portrait-mode stereo works perfect for me.
I don't think stereo image make sense with channels ~6cm from each other. Our ears are many times further away so this would only result in a mixed mono-ish sound for a human being. It's like placing two small computer speakers next to each other, doesn't it?
Macilaci457 ( 2015-08-15 14:14:33 +0200 )editHonestly, if I really want good stereo separation (and sound quality) out of a portable device, I plug in a headphone or an external pair of speakers. :) I just don't think there's that much improvement in placing speakers seven inches apart rather than five inches apart...
Copernicus ( 2015-08-15 14:20:41 +0200 )edit@Copernicus You are correct. What I want to understand is the engineering conception behind it, because I can not see why would one made it like this. I try not to look it as wrong in general, but want to know what point I am missing.
Macilaci457 ( 2015-08-15 17:27:25 +0200 )editHmm. I dunno exactly what the engineering might be behind it, but (at least for tablets) it seems a popular choice, when I check around a bit. For example, Apple: the iPad didn't have stereo speakers until the iPad Mini and iPad Air, but both mono and stereo have always been located at the bottom of the portrait orientation (link to picture showing this). So far as I can tell, all Samsung tablets have their speakers at the bottom of the portrait orientation, except for their 10.1 inch tablets. Nexus tablet speakers are at portrait bottom. The larger Asus tablets have speakers at landscape bottom, as do the Microsoft tablets...
My guess is, smaller tablets are meant to be held in the hand in portrait mode (as I usually see the Jolla Tablet displayed), and larger tablets are meant to be set somewhere in landscape mode (ala Microsoft Surface). And, therefore, the speakers follow this intended orientation.
Copernicus ( 2015-08-15 18:12:05 +0200 )editlandscape speakers were requested: https://together.jolla.com/question/63676/request-jolla-tablet-front-facing-stereo-speakers/
rgrnetalk ( 2015-08-15 19:47:37 +0200 )editanswered 2015-08-17 11:32:28 +0200
Tablets of this size are often designed to be operated in portrait mode. See e.g. the Nexus 7. So the placement of speakers makes sense if you look at it that way.
I see now it is popular. But it does not make sense just because others do it too.
Macilaci457 ( 2015-08-17 17:36:30 +0200 )editeven if you use a device mainly in portrait mode, you do not need stereo sound in most cases. Even if you listen to music via the built in speakers (and why would you do that?) you most likely wouldn't hold the tablet in front of your face. Watching Videos is the only use for stereo speakers in a mobile device that comes to my mind and that I would most likely do in landscape mode. That said i wouldn't use the built-in speakers anyway
michel ( 2015-08-17 18:24:27 +0200 )editMakes sense, since the display res is 1536 pixels wide, one can even watch non down scaled HD video's in portret mode :)
vandersmash ( 2015-08-20 11:32:11 +0200 )editAsked: 2015-08-15 11:50:30 +0200
Seen: 1,286 times
Last updated: Aug 17 '15
