WSJ: Apple to increase iPhone screen size to 'at least' 4-inches

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Do people really think they would make this change just to add another row of icons, or make widescreen movies take the full screen? Those are two features that no one has ever asked for. The only reason they would make a change like this is if they have a clear, probably OS-wide use for the new space. That's what we should be trying to figure out, not arguing endlessly on mostly useless numbers (even though I know that's GAF's favorite pastime.
 
Do people really think they would make this change just to add another row of icons, or make widescreen movies take the full screen? Those are two features that no one has ever asked for. The only reason they would make a change like this is if they have a clear, probably OS-wide use for the new space. That's what we should be trying to figure out, not arguing endlessly on mostly useless numbers (even though I know that's GAF'd favorite pastime.
Yep!

Haven't most of you been crying for widgets for years now? GUESS WHAT.
 
At this point in time, you have to think that there are multiple models that they're testing, no? One could be this, the other could be a proper 4" display. Seems way too early for this to be the set direction if it is real.

Production is going to have to start next month. It's cruch time. My guess is we're getting all these leaks now because they've pulled the trigger on a design.
 
Yup, it's called space.
No. Imagine that the useable screen area remains exactly as it is now, and the only reason the iPhone is taller is because they are adding an extra half-inch or whatever of space unusable to devs for widgets or some shit.

I'm not saying I like that idea but it would work and that's probably what he's talking about. A designated space for widgets or buttons that doesn't obscure the actual screen. Apps would stay the exact same size and resolution as they are now but all the buttons or whatever would move off to the sides, clearing the view.
 
Production is going to have to start next month. It's cruch time. My guess is we're getting all these leaks now because they've pulled the trigger on a design.

Sure, but I'm just saying it's early enough that any part leak could be from either prototype at this point which means whatever we're seeing now could go either way rather than it being set in stone at this point in time.
 
No. Imagine that the useable screen area remains exactly as it is now, and the only reason the iPhone is taller is because they are adding an extra half-inch or whatever of space unusable to devs for widgets or some shit.

I'm not saying I like that idea but it would work and that's probably what he's talking about. A designated space for widgets or buttons that doesn't obscure the actual screen. Apps would stay the exact same size and resolution as they are now but all the buttons or whatever would move off to the sides, clearing the view.
So that's what the webOS notification guy has been up to!
 
I'm calling BS on the larger screen. I think Apple will stick with the 3.5" screen. It's rather silly to assume that just because the Android, WP7 and BB phones have migrated to larger screens that it will somehow force Apple follow suit. Apple is a trendsetter, not a trend-follower.

I'm currently using a Samsung Focus so no, I'm not a blind Apple Fanboy. Just a Apple Fan!
 
Production is going to have to start next month. It's cruch time. My guess is we're getting all these leaks now because they've pulled the trigger on a design.

This would make sense.

Sentry, are you trying to be Coperdickus but for Apple threads?
 
Just throwing this out there: what if the screen technology is better and they have a pure black/white area that blends in with the bezel that never changes? It just always looks like an extension of the phone unless you're watching a video or something. Widgets, multitasking stuff, notifications, whatever. It would take some of the WebOS bezel swiping ideas.
 
The one reason the bigger screen makes sense is that there's really nothing else to excite people about the iPhone 5

Better hardware specs? Who cares. Better screen? Can't get any better than retina. Redesign? I know a lot of people who were disappointed because they thought the 4S was just Siri and a better camera even though the 4S is a huge hardware upgrade over the 4
 
I'm calling BS on the larger screen. I think Apple will stick with the 3.5" screen. It's rather silly to assume that just because the Android, WP7 and BB phones have migrated to larger screens that it will somehow force Apple follow suit. Apple is a trendsetter, not a trend-follower.

I'm currently using a Samsung Focus so no, I'm not a blind Apple Fanboy. Just a Apple Fan!

It's not the first time Apple has followed in a feature/functionality though. Apple doesn't always set the trend. A significant amount of functionality over the last couple of years was them being late, not trend setting.


I know a lot of people who were disappointed because they thought the 4S was just Siri and a better camera even though the 4S is a huge hardware upgrade over the 4

The hardware upgrade hasn't amounted to much in the real world though. I can't think of anything outside of maybe a game or two that my iPhone 4 feels slow on when it comes to apps. So I agree another hardware upgrade isn't going to mean much here either but I also think it didn't mean much then either. We're already what, 3/4th of the way through before the next iteration? Hasn't made a difference IMO.
 
Just throwing this out there: what if the screen technology is better and they have a pure black/white area that blends in with the bezel that never changes? It just always looks like an extension of the phone unless you're watching a video or something. Widgets, multitasking stuff, notifications, whatever. It would take some of the WebOS bezel swiping ideas.

Could be interesting..

I'm sure the regulars in these threads will dismiss this immediately, but I saw a news item a bit ago that Samsung has flexible OLED displays hammered out and ready for mass production and that they're going to be producing them en masse shortly. They didn't give out the name, but it's inferred to be for the next iPhone. Bye bye cracked screens once those make their way to phones.
 
The one reason the bigger screen makes sense is that there's really nothing else to excite people about the iPhone 5

Better hardware specs? Who cares. Better screen? Can't get any better than retina. Redesign? I know a lot of people who were disappointed because they thought the 4S was just Siri and a better camera even though the 4S is a huge hardware upgrade over the 4
This nails down why I think the bigger screen isn't just for its own sake, but because it is the base for some serious software updates.

Rather than Siri last year which everyone felt was artificially kept from the iPhone 4, the bigger screen this year will support software changes that can't be done on the old phones.
 
This nails down why I think the bigger screen isn't just for its own sake, but because it is the base for some serious software updates.

Rather than Siri last year which everyone felt was artificially kept from the iPhone 4, the bigger screen this year will support software changes that can't be done on the old phones.

I'd be all for this. They need to move away from IPS and use something else for better black levels though.
 
This nails down why I think the bigger screen isn't just for its own sake, but because it is the base for some serious software updates.

Rather than Siri last year which everyone felt was artificially kept from the iPhone 4, the bigger screen this year will support software changes that can't be done on the old phones.

Siri is good but the latency due to the shitty OWA connection makes it seem so slow. If they built simple commands in to the phone then it would alot more useful. I agree if they do change the screen size it would be for a software feature, since i'm sure they can milk the 4's design another gen by making it thinner or lighter.
 
This nails down why I think the bigger screen isn't just for its own sake, but because it is the base for some serious software updates.

Rather than Siri last year which everyone felt was artificially kept from the iPhone 4, the bigger screen this year will support software changes that can't be done on the old phones.

Could be.
 
I'm calling BS on the larger screen. I think Apple will stick with the 3.5" screen. It's rather silly to assume that just because the Android, WP7 and BB phones have migrated to larger screens that it will somehow force Apple follow suit. Apple is a trendsetter, not a trend-follower.

I'm currently using a Samsung Focus so no, I'm not a blind Apple Fanboy. Just a Apple Fan!
I know right they skipped over 4g and went to 4s. Can't wait until android copies them and brings out 4s phones. The s stands for super which is obviously better then 4g which stands for good.
 
This nails down why I think the bigger screen isn't just for its own sake, but because it is the base for some serious software updates.

Exactly. The hardware update will serve the software update.

Honestly, the only purely hardware upgrades I'd like to see are a better (or no) home button (the one on my 4 is getting flakier all the time), a better FaceTime camera, and waterproofing. Any rumors on the last?
 
I'd be all for this. They need to move away from IPS and use something else for better black levels though.
LOL

What would you suggest? OLED?

Black levels are great with IPS - not perfect like OLED but that comes at the sacrifice of literally every other color and especially white.
 
Are you suggesting the black levels are good with the current IPS screen?
No, I didn't suggest; I straight up said that they're great:

Black levels are great with IPS

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Is their room for improvement? Most definitely, and I'm sure there'll be some improvements on that front.

And again, what do you suggest they use as an alternative?
 
No, I didn't suggest; I straight up said that they're great:

Is their room for improvement? Most definitely, and I'm sure there'll be some improvements on that front.

And again, what do you suggest they use as an alternative?

How can you state they're great and then show a chart that shows Apple is behind most of the other phones?

For what Liu Kang was suggesting, IPS is not going to cut it.
 
Just throwing this out there: what if the screen technology is better and they have a pure black/white area that blends in with the bezel that never changes? It just always looks like an extension of the phone unless you're watching a video or something. Widgets, multitasking stuff, notifications, whatever. It would take some of the WebOS bezel swiping ideas.

kinda like the Samsung Continuum?


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They're going to use the same IPS screens. One of the major benefits of keeping the pixel density the same is that they can cut the screens from the same sheets they've been producing for the last two years.
 
They're going to use the same IPS screens. One of the major benefits of keeping the pixel density the same is that they can cut the screens from the same sheets they've been producing for the last two years.

There is also IGZO, I have a strong inkling that by this time next year all of their products (pretty much all, if they keep the classic it won't be updated, and the nano might not be worth the upgrade this year) will have transitioned to that sort of display technology.
 
man, and i was sure they'd go 1440 x 960 @ 4" and people said they'd never do that because it would cause devs more work... but at least my idea kept the same AR!
 
They're going to use the same IPS screens. One of the major benefits of keeping the pixel density the same is that they can cut the screens from the same sheets they've been producing for the last two years.

Hopefully the new iPhone has the wonderful color accuracy of the new iPad. I don't want want it to be exactly the same as the 4S as far as quality goes.
 
Who else thinks they are going to use the extra screen real-estate to have a small row of widgets permanently on screen at the lock screen?
 
PS! Am I the only one super excited about the (rumored) built in NFC and iWallet system? That's a big draw for me.
 
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Most ludicrous thing I've read this month.
What's ludicrous about it? The iPhones aspect ratio has always been 3:2; it stands to reason that if they ever increased the screen size they'd maintain that aspect ratio for consistency's sake.

But nope, they take a half-assed route and moderately lengthen the screen for no discernible reason other than to follow to the herd.

For shame.
 
PS! Am I the only one super excited about the (rumored) built in NFC and iWallet system? That's a big draw for me.
No, I'm also quite excited about that as well.

I wonder, if they show off iOS 6 at WWDC next month, and it's super integrated with the taller screen, will they have to reveal the phone as well? Or will they just show off iOS 6 as it would appear running on current/older hardware as to not give anything away?

(Actually now that I've typed that out it seems pretty obvious it'll be the later). So WWDC would show off maps and iWallet I guess.

Edit: GJB, I think it may be a bit early to say its half assed, especially with some of the ideas people have web coming up with in this thread. Also, how is making a 16:9, tall, skinny phone following the herd? What herd? Every phone I've seen has been a fat rectangle with a 4-inch diagonal, not a thin one with a 4-inch length. (Or however the screens are measured, but they are quite clearly different)
 
What's ludicrous about it? The iPhones aspect ratio has always been 3:2; it stands to reason that if they ever increased the screen size they'd maintain that aspect ratio for consistency's sake.

But nope, they take a half-assed route and moderately lengthen the screen for no discernible reason other than to follow to the herd.

For shame.
Calling it a faux 4" display is ludicrous. If a display measures 4" diagonally, it's a 4" display. It's not that hard.
 
What's ludicrous about it? The iPhones aspect ratio has always been 3:2; it stands to reason that if they ever increased the screen size they'd maintain that aspect ratio for consistency's sake.

But nope, they take a half-assed route and moderately lengthen the screen for no discernible reason other than to follow to the herd.

For shame.

Even Apple is a sheep now, amazing times we live in.
 
No, I'm also quite excited about that as well.

I wonder, if they show off iOS 6 at WWDC next month, and it's super integrated with the taller screen, will they have to reveal the phone as well? Or will they just show off iOS 6 as it would appear running on current/older hardware as to not give anything away?

(Actually now that I've typed that out it seems pretty obvious it'll be the later). So WWDC would show off maps and iWallet I guess.

Edit: GJB, I think it may be a bit early to say its half assed, especially with some of the ideas people have web coming up with in this thread. Also, how is making a 16:9, tall, skinny phone following the herd? What herd? Every phone I've seen has been a fat rectangle with a 4-inch diagonal, not a thin one with a 4-inch length. (Or however the screens are measured, but they are quite clearly different)

Every developer preview of iOS has omitted anything that is related to subsequent hardware. Siri (iOS 5), Retina flash 3axis gyro(iOS 4), compass video (iOS3)
 
Edit: GJB, I think it may be a bit early to say its half assed, especially with some of the ideas people have web coming up with in this thread.
Possibly, but if it is just a stretched screen than it's half-assed.

Also, how is making a 16:9, tall, skinny phone following the herd? What herd? Every phone I've seen has been a fat rectangle with a 4-inch diagonal, not a thin one with a 4-inch length. (Or however the screens are measured, but they are quite clearly different)
A bit different, but nothing really worth noting compared to how the difference would've been if they'd stuck to 3:2.

Calling it a faux 4" display is ludicrous. If a display measures 4" diagonally, it's a 4" display. It's not that hard.
I think you're taking it a bit too literally, dear.
 
Honestly, this is one of those things where if Jobs was still alive he would have veto'd the fuck out of this. He would stick to 3.5" period.
 
Possibly, but if it is just a stretched screen than it's half-assed.

A bit different, but nothing really worth noting compared to how the difference would've been if they'd stuck to 3:2.
I'll agree with your first point, but I'm taking a more wait-and-see attitude with the second. If Apple has some neat innovative use for the extra space then more power to them, but if they'd just gone with a normal 3:2 larger screen, then we would have just had a ... bigger version of what we have now, but not big enough to be an iPad.

Honestly, this is one of those things where if Jobs was still alive he would have veto'd the fuck out of this. He would stick to 3.5" period.
Except that all reports say that Jobs worked very closely on the design of this iPhone so that whole idea is moot. If this iPhone is tall and has widgets and whatever other shit in the extra space it's because of him. Do you really think he just stopped working, designing, and thinking of things after Siri and the 4S? Don't be ridiculous.
 
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