[tcm1969]

So, I'm watching a YouTube video on the amazing screen of my One X. The only problem is that the speaker is facing AWAY from me! If I cup my hand just right I can reflect the sound toward me but, really? It's the 21st century, right?
Smart phones are being released more and more as entertainment devices yet they are designed again and again with this fatal flaw. Why? I get "design", I do. But look at the One X. You can't tell me that in the 21st century the large front "earpiece" speaker couldn't double as a loudspeaker somehow.
Ok, I'm going to go back to my YouTube video, cranked all the way up with my "hand sound deflector" doing its best to deflect the sound TOWARD me!
Does this "modern smartphone design" bother anyone else?

Sent from my HTC One X

[Kevin O'Quinn]

So, I'm watching a YouTube video on the amazing screen of my One X. The only problem is that the speaker is facing AWAY from me! If I cup my hand just right I can reflect the sound toward me but, really? It's the 21st century, right?
Smart phones are being released more and more as entertainment devices yet they are designed again and again with this fatal flaw. Why? I get "design", I do. But look at the One X. You can't tell me that in the 21st century the large front "earpiece" speaker couldn't double as a loudspeaker somehow.
Ok, I'm going to go back to my YouTube video, cranked all the way up with my "hand sound deflector" doing its best to deflect the sound TOWARD me!
Does this "modern smartphone design" bother anyone else?

Sent from my HTC One X

I think it goes back to face down speakerphone use, which I'm not sure anybody actually does anymore.

[tcm1969]

I think it goes back to face down speakerphone use, which I'm not sure anybody actually does anymore.

Exactly! For all of the advancements this one major flaw gets overlooked again and again!

Sent from my HTC One X

[jean15paul]

And there's no reason that you can't do face-up speakerphone.

[Jezz_X]

Heh I was just thinking of coming here and posting the same thing it fustrates the crap out of me
Seems samsung might be getting the idea when it comes to tablets, would be nice to get a stereo speaker on the front of a phone, one where the mic input is and one where the ear output is I'm sure the space could double

[SamOliver]

The most annoying part is that sometimes the tiny speaker on the back of my GNex will get completely covered up if I don't place it screen side down. This means that my alarm will be so muffled that it won't wake me up. Also, sometimes my hand will cover the speaker while I'm holding it and you can't hear anything. Front facing speakers need to start becoming standard!

[ThePurpleAndroid]

I love external speakers that plug into the headphone jack. I also use a radio transmitter adapter when I'm in the car for my music.

~°~HTC Evo Design~°~

[tcm1969]

The most annoying part is that sometimes the tiny speaker on the back of my GNex will get completely covered up if I don't place it screen side down. This means that my alarm will be so muffled that it won't wake me up. Also, sometimes my hand will cover the speaker while I'm holding it and you can't hear anything. Front facing speakers need to start becoming standard!

Your right, there is no reason in this day and age that the speaker needs to be on the back of the phone, it's crazy! Are you really telling me that the earpiece speaker in the loudspeaker couldn't somehow occupy the same space? Even if it meant the grill had to be a little bit bigger on the front of the phone, that would be a worthwhile compromise. Again, look at the earpiece grill on the HTC One X, 2/3 of it is fake and could easily hide a loudspeaker.

Sent from my HTC One X

[tcm1969]

And there's no reason that you can't do face-up speakerphone.

It would be like buying a flat screen TV with the speaker on the back, facing the wall. They blah blah blah all day long about how fast the processors are which make video extraordinary, but apparently they don't want you to hear the sound that goes along with it!

Sent from my HTC One X