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

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Gah, I'm so mad!
sbh6vs.gif
 
May as well get a proper large-screened phone if you're going to have to switch to widescreen anyway.

/me whistles nonchalantly.
 
That leak is too perfect to be real.

I'm starting to wonder about this as well.

Sentry said:
Damn shame that this will end up being their response to the 4" market. It's a cop out answer imo, and they might as well stick with 3.5 if that's the way they go with it.

But oh well, the devs will deal with it and it'll become the norm within no time. Just very little hype for something so insignificant. This is what Jobs was heavily invested in? Really? Something that a fucking internet forum poster came up with in his free time weeks ago? Meh.

I highly doubt that the last phone that Jobs worked on, that this is all there is to it.
 
Really fail to see what the point would be of making it 16:9.. would be a big hassle for a marginal benefit that no one really needs. hoping not true.
 
At the expense of a good aspect ratio.

I'd rather them keep 3:2 and bump up the form factor a bit than go to a widescreen aspect ratio, this shit sucks.

Now you're just pouting. It's a fucking aspect ratio that's industry standard in electronics, even on the other products that Apple produces (other than the iPad, which could be revised as well at next iteration). Well, the Macbooks are 16:10, but 16:9 is pretty close.

And who knows if this is even the final thing anyway. Apple probably had a hundred prototypes months ago, but I'd guess they probably have it whittled down to 5 or so by now.. The blogs could have just heard about a couple of them. Also, it's just an aspect ratio, and they're going to make it work right and feel perfect in the hand.
 
I highly doubt that the last phone that Jobs worked on, that this is all there is to it.
Well then one or the other has to be right, they already put it off with the 4S, there's no way they'll put off that project again with such a simple redesign.

I'm just hope to hell the back doesn't end up looking like this (which came with the elongated screen source/leak/rumor);

newiphonedimensions.jpg


iphone_4in_front_back_ciccarese.jpg


May as well get a proper large-screened phone if you're going to have to switch to widescreen anyway.

/me whistles nonchalantly.
Worst part is I agree. :p Since i'm getting an iPad 3 soon I could easily jump to Lumia, but i'm not a fan of the overly simplified metro, and most android running feel like clusterfucks to me. So i'll probably be sticking with my original iPhone 4 for now, no reason to upgrade if this rumor pans out.
 
I just don't see any real usability benefit to a taller screen. sites that use small columns don't become easier to read. sites with multiple small hit targets next to each other still require the same level of zoom to use.

the only benefit is fitting a little more text on screen. but, really, how many people read through an entire page top to bottom before scrolling. myself and most people I see using smartphones (or computers in general) read a few lines or a paragraph then scroll to keep the text in a narrow band near the middle of the screen. that extra little bit of text is going to seem damn near useless.

then, the downsides are the need for letterboxing on older apps with fixed layouts (not apps with top and bottom bars then content in the middle. but apps - mainly games - that fill the entire screen with custom controls). and then rework by devs on this third resolution to accommodate it natively. seems like a pain for absolutely minor benefit of more screen space for text.

oh, and I will just assume that the landscape keyboard will be reworked because i find it hard enough as it is to reach the middle keys in that mode, using my thumbs. if they keep it the same (with no blank spots in the middle) then it'll be even harder to use than it is now.
 
Now you're just pouting. It's a fucking aspect ratio that's industry standard in electronics, even on the other products that Apple produces (other than the iPad, which could be revised as well at next iteration). Well, the Macbooks are 16:10, but 16:9 is pretty close.

And who knows if this is even the final thing anyway. Apple probably had a hundred prototypes months ago, but I'd guess they probably have it whittled down to 5 or so by now.. The blogs could have just heard about a couple of them. Also, it's just an aspect ratio, and they're going to make it work right and feel perfect in the hand.
16:9 is an absolute trash ratio for anything that's primary purpose isn't watching TV/Movies and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.
 
Hate the rounded edges in that mockup, Sentry. Looks like the phone has been eating cheese puffs. That would be a step back in design all the way to the original ipod.

Looks dated.

But.. I guess at this point Apple decides what's in fashion.
 
I just don't see any real usability benefit to a taller screen. sites that use small columns don't become easier to read. sites with multiple small hit targets next to each other still require the same level of zoom to use.

the only benefit is fitting a little more text on screen. but, really, how many people read through an entire page top to bottom before scrolling. myself and most people I see using smartphones (or computers in general) read a few lines or a paragraph then scroll to keep the text in a narrow band near the middle of the screen. that extra little bit of text is going to seem damn near useless.

then, the downsides are the need for letterboxing on older apps with fixed layouts (not apps with top and bottom bars then content in the middle. but apps - mainly games - that fill the entire screen with custom controls). and then rework by devs on this third resolution to accommodate it natively. seems like a pain for absolutely minor benefit of more screen space for text.

oh, and I will just assume that the landscape keyboard will be reworked because i find it hard enough as it is to reach the middle keys in that mode, using my thumbs. if they keep it the same (with no blank spots in the middle) then it'll be even harder to use than it is now.
Extra keyboard row in portrait mode.
 
Now you're just pouting. It's a fucking aspect ratio that's industry standard in electronics, even on the other products that Apple produces (other than the iPad, which could be revised as well at next iteration). Well, the Macbooks are 16:10, but 16:9 is pretty close.
It's not an industry standard for smartphones, and for good reason.
 
Chronic confirmed it so it's true.
He confirmed a bigger screen, not 16:9 rumor specifically. Or am I wrong? I don't follow the guy.

I can easily see Jobs prioritizing the overall form factor over the screen size.
If they manage to make the phone substantially thinner within the same form factor/physical dimensions, consider me surprised. I don't think it's that possible, tbh. However, as the case leaks showed, that widening version allowed for it to be a lot thinner, so I think that's the only real way. I'm not sure what could be considerably changed with the form factor if it's the same dimensions, tbh.

Now you're just pouting. It's a fucking aspect ratio that's industry standard in electronics, even on the other products that Apple produces (other than the iPad, which could be revised as well at next iteration). Well, the Macbooks are 16:10, but 16:9 is pretty close.

And who knows if this is even the final thing anyway. Apple probably had a hundred prototypes months ago, but I'd guess they probably have it whittled down to 5 or so by now.. The blogs could have just heard about a couple of them. Also, it's just an aspect ratio, and they're going to make it work right and feel perfect in the hand.
lol You're insane. It would never happen. You're comparing apples and oranges here (no pun), Mac line and the aspect ratio 30"-24" screens is hardly the same or comparable to 3.5"-4" ones..

They could have adopted this screen ratio from the get-go, or a long time ago, but didn't. There was a reason, and that reason is even more prominent with the iPad. It's ratio will never change to 16:9.
 
16:9 is an absolute trash ratio for anything that's primary purpose isn't watching TV/Movies and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.

For tablets, I agree 100%. They should be 4:3.

Phones, I think it's ok on phones to have a narrower ratio since its supposed to be held in one hand, and needs to be held to the ear comfortably.
 
For tablets, I agree 100%. They should be 4:3.

Phones, I think it's ok on phones to have a narrower ratio since its supposed to be held in one hand, and needs to be held to the ear comfortably.
I think it's ok as well, but not for an iPhone upgrade or a cop-out solution to providing a 4" screen in the most unintelligible way possible, while giving a headache to developers without any tangible benefits.

Extra keyboard row in portrait mode.
Oh thank god, what we've all be dying for! It'll all be worth it now.
jailbreakers can already do this, extra kb row is practically irrelevant to the screen height one way or another.
 
16:9 is an absolute trash ratio for anything that's primary purpose isn't watching TV/Movies and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.

Well a huge benefit that I didn't think was much of one until my wife got the 4S on Friday was that when you're typing in portrait view, you can see a lot more of the conversation since there is more vertical space. Lot more room to see the conversation, so that's a benefit. I don't see any downsides to it really, then again I've been using it for 2 years now so I'm very used to it.

Treefingers said:
It's not an industry standard for smartphones, and for good reason.

Actually, the majority of phones in the market are widescreen, but I wasn't speaking to that. I was just speaking of the Apple ecosystem itself.

As far as whether the next iPad would be widescreen, isn't it common sense that if they update the iPhone to be widescreen that the iPad would be as well? Brand uniformity and all that?

LCFiner said:
sure, but that could be done with the current screen. and/or implement a hold command for number keys on the keyboard.

I really wish they had that now. Hopefully in next OS revision.
 
Well a huge benefit that I didn't think was much of one until my wife got the 4S on Friday was that when you're typing in portrait view, you can see a lot more of the conversation since there is more vertical space. Lot more room to see the conversation, so that's a benefit. I don't see any downsides to it really, then again I've been using it for 2 years now so I'm very used to it.



Actually, the majority of phones in the market are widescreen, but I wasn't speaking to that. I was just speaking of the Apple ecosystem itself.

As far as whether the next iPad would be widescreen, isn't it common sense that if they update the iPhone to be widescreen that the iPad would be as well? Brand uniformity and all that?



I really wish they had that now. Hopefully in next OS revision.

No, just...no. No. That would be the opposite of common sense.

giga said:
I'm fine with this.

Yeah, that looks fine.
 
As far as whether the next iPad would be widescreen, isn't it common sense that if they update the iPhone to be widescreen that the iPad would be as well? Brand uniformity and all that?
Nope. Not only isn't it common sense, but it isn't any kind of sense. You realize that the iPad isn't 3:2 like the current iPhone, right? Or that the iPhone is 4:3? There has never been such conformity in that regard. Hell, even the MBA 11" and 13" have different ratios. It depends on the usability experience, not conformity.
 
I dunno I'm overreacting but I'm just kinda bummed cause I want more horizontal space as well. I guess I'm ok with 16:9 if they make the phone not look strange but for the cost of many apps and especially games being broken, I really don't think it would be worth it.
 
I guess we'll see.. I'm cool with whatever they decide as I'm sure they have their reasons for making changes to the aspect ratio for the iPhone, or not making changes to it.

If they were concerned with brand uniformity, the original iPad would have been 2:3 to match the iPhone 2 years ago. They chose 4:3 because it's more comfortable to hold and use in a tablet.

The iPhone changing now would have no bearing on how the iPad is designed.
 
That's the one thing I'm not fine with. Thankfully no rumors are pointing to that.

which means that the height of the iphone would need to be pretty tall. assuming that they keep top and bottom bezels symmetrical.

sentry, can you make some mockups in landscape with current games (or other rigidly defined apps) showing the letterboxing? or the size of the widescreen keyboard, assuming the same keybaord height?

on the flip side, you could show some movies on the screen showing the lone plus side of the widescreen AR.
 
I have a hard time believing Apple will change the aspect ratio of the new iPhone forcing millions of devs to update their apps to support it. Half the sexiness of the Retina display was that it was backwards compatiable with the previous display meaning devs had the option of updating their apps to take advantage of it or just let it scale on it's own.
 
Well maybe iOS6 will launch on the new iPhone and will (finally) force devs to start developing resolution independent apps. From a design/development perspective, switching from absolute to relative positioning and sizing is always a good idea, if it is achievable.
 
I have a hard time believing Apple will change the aspect ratio of the new iPhone forcing millions of devs to update their apps to support it. Half the sexiness of the Retina display was that it was backwards compatiable with the previous display meaning devs had the option of updating their apps to take advantage of it or just let it scale on it's own.
Not all apps would be affected, but I agree.
 
Well maybe iOS6 will launch on the new iPhone and will (finally) force devs to start developing resolution independent apps. From a design/development perspective, switch from absolute to relative positioning and sizing is always a good idea, if it is achievable.
Not happening.
 
Not happening.

iOS6 on new iPhone or res independent design? Also, because it's a stupid idea or because of some 'Apple philosophy'? Heh, it would earn them a bit less cash if a single purchase of an app would work and look great on both phone and tablet.
 
iOS6 on new iPhone or res independent design? Also, because it's a stupid idea or because of some 'Apple philosophy'? Heh, it will earn them a bit less cash if a single purchase of an app would work and look great on both phone and tablet.
Erm.. universal apps?
 
The next iPhone has already had its Home button leaked. It's just like the current one, so that won't fit.
Not to mention how feasible would it be to fit a bigger screen in the same form factor while possibly even making it thinner?

If they go with the elongated model, it'll probably be a bit longer, physically, giving more internal space that could allow them to make it thinner and fit in the "bigger" screen.
 
iOS6 on new iPhone or res independent design? Also, because it's a stupid idea or because of some 'Apple philosophy'? Heh, it would earn them a bit less cash if a single purchase of an app would work and look great on both phone and tablet.
The latter and the former.

Also, their are already plenty of universal apps.
 
one thing this might make more complicated, is universal apps. The apect ratio of ipad-iphone would diverge even more
 
The latter and the former.

Also, their are already plenty of universal apps.

Yes, I know there are plenty of universal apps which is why I would like to know why it's a stupid idea to force devs to design all their applications to adapt to whichever resolution they're running on...

Edit: I can see my original sentence wasn't clear enough. I meant if all apps were universal apps.
 
Extra keyboard row in portrait mode.

numbers without having to press a button first. Gamechanger.

why can't you browse in landscape? Surely larger is larger, not sure why it matters so much whether thats taller or wider.

And of course if this is true Apple will show lots of movies/TV shows and little web browsing.


I wonder if you took an ipad and shrunk it horizontally to make it 16:9, what diagonal would it have?
 
A longer screen would be better for games, but we'll have to wait and see what happens I guess.

Would be nice if they managed to keep the current aspect ratio without changing the overall size of the phone much.
 
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