What do you want apple to do with the screen of the next iphone?

Many people are annoyed by the small screen of iphone and it puts apple in a difficult position. All iphones and ipods have had 3:2 ratio screens which is why an iphone is wide enough to type comfortably even with a small screen. However with a bigger screen you dont need 3:2 ratio to have good portrait space.

The problem with 3:2 is that a phone with a 4" screen would get really wide and could become uncomfortable to use for many people.

The problem with a widescreen phone is that it fragments the ecosystem as all the apps before were made for 3:2 or 4:3(ipad) ratio which are close enough to each other but now you also have a widescreen device in the mix. Do you suppose it is really a big problem?

There is a currently a problem with android that phones are getting ridiculously big. If you want the best of the best in android you have to get a phone with a 4.7" screen which is just too big for many people. And if you want iphone you go down to a screen thats just too small. So for people like me who think 4-4.3" is the ideal size, we have to settle for the non-flagship android phones which are a step below the best.

What I really think apple should do is release multiple iphones with different screen sizes so everyone is happy? This is obviously not the apple way but dont you think it makes sense? It boggles my mind why samsung doesnt do this with their flagship phone even though they love making dozens of phones.

I mean imagine a 3.5", 4" and 4.5" iphone. That would be epic win. For those who just love their good ol 3.5" phone wont have a problem and those who want bigger will have 2 choices. They can also keep the aspect ratio as anyone who has a problem with the width of the bigger phones can atleast still have an iphone like before.

If apple release just one phone then 4" is the only logical choice I can think of but as I said a 4" 3:2 phone could put off some regular customers.

Ofcourse the iphone continues to grow so they may as well stick to 3.5", would you suppose that would be a good idea?

It's actually not that big a deal. Linkmusicalmac

Yes but widescreen causes fragmentation, you reckon it wont be a big deal?

Gambler_3

I think people make too big a deal about fragmentation. Apple has never had an issue with letting devs half-ass it in the past (iPhone app compatibility on the iPad, and now support for the iPad's Retina display), so there's no reason to think they won't apply the same strategy of "let's get the bare minimum for backwards compatibility working and just have the community shame devs into updating". Just throw on some black bars on the top and bottom of the screen for old iPhone apps and things will sort themselves out -- either devs will update or users will flock to other apps.

I think the bigger concern for Apple is whether to keep using wonky aspect ratios like 3:2 or 9:5 or to just bite the bullet and go to 16:9/10. Granted it's more an issue with the iPad, but one of the niggling issues with iOS devices is how poor the video playback experience is on account of their weird aspect ratios, so you have to wonder that if they're going to fiddle with the iPhone's AR either way maybe it's time to make the switch.

I think people make too big a deal about fragmentation. Apple has never had an issue with letting devs half-ass it in the past (iPhone app compatibility on the iPad, and now support for the iPad's Retina display), so there's no reason to think they won't apply the same strategy of "let's get the bare minimum for backwards compatibility working and just have the community shame devs into updating". Just throw on some black bars on the top and bottom of the screen for old iPhone apps and things will sort themselves out -- either devs will update or users will flock to other apps.

I think the bigger concern for Apple is whether to keep using wonky aspect ratios like 3:2 or 9:5 or to just bite the bullet and go to 16:9/10. Granted it's more an issue with the iPad, but one of the niggling issues with iOS devices is how poor the video playback experience is on account of their weird aspect ratios, so you have to wonder that if they're going to fiddle with the iPhone's AR either way maybe it's time to make the switch.

Slow_Show

But yes with 4" or more you really dont need that ratio anymore.

From the way you're constructively discussing the iPhone's future, you would think you're planning on purchasing one soon. I wouldn't be surprised. A few from your camp has already converted.

From the way you're constructively discussing the iPhone's future, you would think you're planning on purchasing one soon. I wouldn't be surprised. A few from your camp has already converted.

Kid-Atari

I could list a dozen things I dont like about iOS which you know them already I am sure. But thats not the point here.

[QUOTE="Kid-Atari"]

From the way you're constructively discussing the iPhone's future, you would think you're planning on purchasing one soon. I wouldn't be surprised. A few from your camp has already converted.

Gambler_3

I could list a dozen things I dont like about iOS which you know them already I am sure. But thats not the point here.

:) Loving mobile technology is the best way to be. I honestly would have picked a 4s if it had a 4" screen or greater so i think the market would benefit on an increase in screen size. As slow show stated a 16:9, 16:10 4.3" or greater would be the best move apple could do for their next phone, it would even be better than including LTE. DC-HSDPA is quite a solid ground for mobile internet currently. After i played with the One X i would never drop from a 4.7" unless its something amazing..mystic_knight

The problem with 4" remains that the android enthusiasts like you who have the latest and greatest of android dont want 4" they want bigger. :P

My friend with a galaxy nexus calls my nexus S a dwarf. :|

So really only way to satisfy most people is by offering 2 different sizes I think. But thats not the apple way and since they have dominated the market with such a small screen, they would do just fine with a bump to 4" I think.

I would have probably bought an iphone 4s versus a galaxy nexus if it had a bigger screen and better syncing with google products. But I ended up going with a nexus.

I'd probably get an iphone at my next upgrade if they get a bigger screen. 4.0-4.2 inches I think is best for a screen.

I recall seeing a very interesting post on gizmodo about how apple has stuck to the 3.5inch size specifically because it makes one handed operation easier, specifically that the average hand and thumb length can reach every part of the screen, or something like that. I imagine a mix of that and the sheer fear of alienating their base and causing fragmentation might be slowing apple here.

That said, lets look at the Atrix 4G, which is roughly the same size as the iPhone 4/4s (117.8x63.5x11 vs the 4S' 115.2x58.66x9.3), accomplished by simply shrinking the bezel to a far more managable size. If the iPhone cut the top and bottom bezel by a significant amount and made the phone just a hair taller, it could pull off a larger screen without sacrificing the compact size of the device, which I suspect is something considered to be more important to most than the tiny screen and wasted space.

For anyone whos interested, I've linked a comparison between the 4S, Atrix 4G, the Optimus 2X, Galaxy S1, T-mobile S2 and galaxy note, which cover the likely screen size that the iphone could grow to at different form factors/bezel sizes, plus two phone with considerably larger screens, both made more managable by shrinking the bezel, in order of total sizes of the devices. You may or may not need to adjust the screen size at the top to be your displays size.

http://tinyurl.com/7vja45e

As you can (hopefully) see, reaching the 4 inch size (or possibly even larger, if they really cut out all the bezel) is entirely feasible at the same form factor. The idea that a 4 inch screen phone is honking gigantic is more or less perpetuated by the phones like the SGS and 2X, which both have fairly sizable bezels (especially the 2X, I can speak as to how HUGE that thing was). The only real, reasonable thing I can see being a reason for concern is the home button, but that could be moved directly below and possibly slightly shrunken down. Quite honestly, I see absolutely no reason for the 3.5 inch screen to be continued in the next generation, and if they do, its past the point of being reasonable and more actively shooting themselves in the foot.

From the way you're constructively discussing the iPhone's future, you would think you're planning on purchasing one soon. I wouldn't be surprised. A few from your camp has already converted.

Kid-Atari

You remind me of the christian extremists across the street who, instead of ever trying to have an intelligent conversation or even contributing to a conversation, attempt to use the slightest possibilty to work in "jesus is so great and you should convert". They've even tried that same last line before.

The only real, reasonable thing I can see being a reason for concern is the home button, but that could be moved directly below and possibly slightly shrunken down.

semianonymous

I think in order to waste less space they should adopt a touch screen home button. My phone has it and it is great becasue the phone doesn't have to be as long height wise, and it can easily come back with a touch if I am watching a video on YouTube.

[QUOTE="mystic_knight"]:) Loving mobile technology is the best way to be. I honestly would have picked a 4s if it had a 4" screen or greater so i think the market would benefit on an increase in screen size. As slow show stated a 16:9, 16:10 4.3" or greater would be the best move apple could do for their next phone, it would even be better than including LTE. DC-HSDPA is quite a solid ground for mobile internet currently. After i played with the One X i would never drop from a 4.7" unless its something amazing..Gambler_3

The problem with 4" remains that the android enthusiasts like you who have the latest and greatest of android dont want 4" they want bigger. :P

My friend with a galaxy nexus calls my nexus S a dwarf. :|

So really only way to satisfy most people is by offering 2 different sizes I think. But thats not the apple way and since they have dominated the market with such a small screen, they would do just fine with a bump to 4" I think.

I think in order to waste less space they should adopt a touch screen home button. My phone has it and it is great becasue the phone doesn't have to be as long height wise, and it can easily come back with a touch if I am watching a video on YouTube.

verbtex

One thing which could attract me towards iphone is a comfortable 2 stage mechanical shutter button for the camera. Volume keys or on-screen buttons just dont cut it and neither apple nor android OEM's except sony seem to get it. There seems to be a race towards having the fastest camera WTF atleast give the basics if you wanna improve the photography experience and not some gimmicks like a few ms faster shutter. Apple could get rid of that useless silent mode button for a camera button.

Microsoft was spot on putting it a "requirement" for every windows phone to have a proper button.

One thing which could attract me towards iphone is a comfortable 2 stage mechanical shutter button for the camera. Volume keys or on-screen buttons just dont cut it and neither apple nor android OEM's except sony seem to get it. There seems to be a race towards having the fastest camera WTF atleast give the basics if you wanna improve the photography experience and not some gimmicks like a few ms faster shutter. Apple could get rid of that useless silent mode button for a camera button.

Microsoft was spot on putting it a "requirement" for every windows phone to have a proper button.

Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

One thing which could attract me towards iphone is a comfortable 2 stage mechanical shutter button for the camera. Volume keys or on-screen buttons just dont cut it and neither apple nor android OEM's except sony seem to get it. There seems to be a race towards having the fastest camera WTF atleast give the basics if you wanna improve the photography experience and not some gimmicks like a few ms faster shutter. Apple could get rid of that useless silent mode button for a camera button.

Microsoft was spot on putting it a "requirement" for every windows phone to have a proper button.

musicalmac

Why do you suppose apple put the volume button functionality in iOS 5? Why microsoft has that requirement? Touch photography is just annoying if you are doing alot of it. Unfortunately the volume buttons on iphone are not in the right place for photography and they are not 2 stage so they are only handy for self portraits which are impossible to do with touch.

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

One thing which could attract me towards iphone is a comfortable 2 stage mechanical shutter button for the camera. Volume keys or on-screen buttons just dont cut it and neither apple nor android OEM's except sony seem to get it. There seems to be a race towards having the fastest camera WTF atleast give the basics if you wanna improve the photography experience and not some gimmicks like a few ms faster shutter. Apple could get rid of that useless silent mode button for a camera button.

Microsoft was spot on putting it a "requirement" for every windows phone to have a proper button.

musicalmac

If you want to take a quick shot of, say, showing your boss how nice and organized your stock room is, touch screen controls are fine.

If you are wanting to take a lovely sunset picture over the local cliffs, touch screen controls completely fail compared to a dedicated button. It forces you to either move your thumb away from a stable spot, which can cause more shaking than most anti-shake tech can take care of.

Yeah, it works, but its hardly perfect.

[QUOTE="musicalmac"][QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

One thing which could attract me towards iphone is a comfortable 2 stage mechanical shutter button for the camera. Volume keys or on-screen buttons just dont cut it and neither apple nor android OEM's except sony seem to get it. There seems to be a race towards having the fastest camera WTF atleast give the basics if you wanna improve the photography experience and not some gimmicks like a few ms faster shutter. Apple could get rid of that useless silent mode button for a camera button.

Microsoft was spot on putting it a "requirement" for every windows phone to have a proper button.

semianonymous

If you want to take a quick shot of, say, showing your boss how nice and organized your stock room is, touch screen controls are fine.

If you are wanting to take a lovely sunset picture over the local cliffs, touch screen controls completely fail compared to a dedicated button. It forces you to either move your thumb away from a stable spot, which can cause more shaking than most anti-shake tech can take care of.

Yeah, it works, but its hardly perfect.

Actually a camera button can add more shake than tapping. If the camera button is too stiff, the force you use to press down actually causes the camera to shake. I have a dedicated camera button on my Samsung Focus and Motorola Atrix 2 and I don't use the camera button for either of them because of that problem. red12355

[QUOTE="red12355"]Actually a camera button can add more shake than tapping. If the camera button is too stiff, the force you use to press down actually causes the camera to shake. I have a dedicated camera button on my Samsung Focus and Motorola Atrix 2 and I don't use the camera button for either of them because of that problem. Gambler_3

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="red12355"]Actually a camera button can add more shake than tapping. If the camera button is too stiff, the force you use to press down actually causes the camera to shake. I have a dedicated camera button on my Samsung Focus and Motorola Atrix 2 and I don't use the camera button for either of them because of that problem. red12355

Link?

[QUOTE="red12355"][QUOTE="Gambler_3"]Yup thats why I said a "comfortable" camera button.

Gambler_3

Link?

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="red12355"] Oh, ok. FYI windows phones are no longer required to have 2 stage buttons.red12355

Link?

As a iPhone lover. I'm very eager to see the next iPhone that is iPhone 5. I would really love to see it in the same size but with retina display. I love to use it for playing games. williamharper14

[QUOTE="williamharper14"]As a iPhone lover. I'm very eager to see the next iPhone that is iPhone 5. I would really love to see it in the same size but with retina display. I love to use it for playing games. mystic_knight

[QUOTE="mystic_knight"][QUOTE="williamharper14"]As a iPhone lover. I'm very eager to see the next iPhone that is iPhone 5. I would really love to see it in the same size but with retina display. I love to use it for playing games. musicalmac

Calling it now: next iPhone will have a significantly reduced bezel with a 4" screen at iPad 1 (1024x768) res.red12355