[DireWolf]

Since I'm bored and with relatively some time, I decided to launch again the "niche" models design thread.
As nobody proposed any designs at the original, MIA thread, here's a very preliminar sketch of the overall shape and proportions of the phone, buttons and display, to get the ball rolling.
The dimensions are in millimetres. Bear in mind that it is to have a metal frame, so the buttons and screen can't go all the way to the edges. The keys are very spaced so that they're easy to press even with thick gloves (remember the target audience), and don't have corners in order to minimize the wear. Maybe the whole keypad will be one piece to avoid liquid infiltration, a bit like the one on the Nokia 1100. Also, because of the metal housing, the antenna will have to be external; a loop model perhaps, to minimize the number of things sticking out and to provide a way to be hanged.
What do you guys think? How can it be changed? Let's hear it!

[edit] Added the A12. The square things aren't buttons, but instead indicators of missed calls, new messages and network search. The oval thing is a "cancel". Don't forget that the M22 must be tough, the A12 must be easy to use and both must be cheap.

[Iver]

(notice that DW's first paragraph is about M22. He added A12 after an edit)

the sketches look good
Maybe M22 should have a bit smaller width? (Or is that width for a good grip of the phone?)
And those indicators on A12 are a bit big, imo

But let's focus on A12 first, as it that's the easiest one
Any opinions, guys?

(btw, it's strange about the first thread about A12 & M22. It mysteriously disappeared!)

[DireWolf]

Yeah, those indicators are just placeholders, because they'll have a more "friendly" shape like the arrow keys.

[Paeijho]

so it's the new one huh!
i can grab the purposes, but the M22 should've had a bigger screen ,since they're pretty cheap to made now.

[Iver]

But a bigger screen makes the mobile less robust and easier to break

Btw, you should put some rubber on the sides of the A12. That would make the phone easier to grab.

[Paeijho]

i knew you gonna said that!
but you have to remember the M65 and M75, they survived the "terror" test!
so why not putting a little bit bigger screen, not as big as M65/75 though, so it has more values.

[DireWolf]

Because the phone needs to be heavily armoured, but cheap too (or else it would't be an M22).

OK, here's a further evolution on the A12... only the shape of the case has changed yet.
The depressions on the sides are to make it easier to grab, and also to protect the side switches. They can have rubber too, but that will be on a later design stage.

[Paeijho]

cool, waiting for more updates!

so it's already developed so much before huh, and now it started all over again.

[Iver]

[DireWolf]

The first pic was already from Rhino, but just top view. And it's not starting all over again, because on the other thread there were no pics yet.

[Iver]

But there were many ideas that could help to make the models and the design of the phones.

[DireWolf]

Let's see...
IIRC, we agreed on the M22 having a full metal body, with a replaceable outer "skin" made of rubber. It would also have a flashlight, PTT and perhaps radio.
The A12 would have, besides the large display and keys, a loud dedicated speaker for ringtones, and a rotary switch (like those in photo cameras) to change audio profiles.
Anything else that I may be forgetting?

[DireWolf]

Here's another development (I hope I don't run out of attachment space with all these pics )...
I was thinking about putting the profile selector rotary switch on the top of the phone, like on a camera. But Iver suggested rotating it and placing it partially inside the phone... so what do you think? Camera, corner or middle?

[cristi12]

I think the one on the side looks good.
Plus with it being on the top, it could be accidentally triggered.

[DireWolf]

I don't think you understood well: all those alternatives are rotating selectors. The one at the top works like those in photo cameras: you turn it to select functions, in this case, the audio profile. The corner and middle ones are like on the early Sony phones and the Nokia 7110, and are also used to switch profiles.

[cristi12]

Oh, sorry, my mistake. In that case all of them are good and practical.
But i still like the side one

[DireWolf]

OK, the profile wheel has been mounted on the side.
Two other things: is this a Siemens or a BenQ-Siemens? The manufacturer is BQS, but the mobile division has gone insolvent... I want to know that before I can put the logo in the front and the emboss in the battery cover.
Also, what are the dimensions of a Nano Lumberg plug? I'm tired wating for SandStorm to send me my E71, so I don't know how much it measures, to put one on the A12.

That said, here's the current iteration...
Both sides are now rubberized. This makes the phone appear slimmer.
The side switch locks the keypad (it's unlocked in the pic).
The yellow message and missed call keys blink when a respective event occurs.
The battery button blinks from time to time to indicate network coverage, its colour depends on battery level (100-50%: green; 50-25%: yellow; 25-0%: red), and a long press on it turns on and off the phone.
The green and red keys act as "yes" and "no".
To do: print and carve the brand logo, add the connector, and put symbols on the profile selector wheel.

How's it going?

[SandStorm]

nano lumberg is a bit tinner than slim-lumberg.
about the name, do like i did on the stellar, call it nemesis.

[DireWolf]

Yeah, you're right! Nemesis it is, not BQS or just Siemens! But it's very late now, I'll work on it tomorrow or later.
And what about ideas for the aspect of the M22, does anyone have any? I know that you have a knack for drawing, SS, so you don't have an excuse...

[SandStorm]

you mean hand drawing? yes, i can do one, but now, my eyes are tired to design