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Apple Acknowledges Consumers Want Larger and Cheaper Phones
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But 3.5" is very small, and I think a lot of people will still prefer 4". It'd be stupid for apple to discontinue the 4" model.
I agree, however if you remember correctly not many people did agree that 3.5" it was too small then! And I also agree that they should keep the 4" option.
Hey, don't knock practical and safe as well as fuel efficient. Love my Toyota Corolla.
But phablets are not practical for everyone, and they're certainly not safe or energy efficient.
There is a big difference between opening anew market which was dead - iphone
And not listening to the people who start using ur device- bigger screen
Once you open the new trend, you have to start listening to the people who use it. You can't always tell people what they want.
They tell you I like you idea, I like the new product, but after using it for 100 hours I need this and that.
You can't tell them otherwise.
This was jobs big failure, the lack of understanding that once people start to use the new product ten fold more then apple engineers they know better what they want.
Steve was stubborn, for example he didn't want an App Store, can you imagine that???
Apple has changed from a trendsetter to a follower. 
The first crack in the iPhone business was the iPhone 4S. People had waited 18 months for the fifth generation iPhone and got the same one with better internals. And then came the Samsung S3 and many people moved to Android as a result. Before 2012 it was the world of iPhone 4.
The first crack in the iPhone business was the iPhone 4S. People had waited 18 months for the fifth generation iPhone and got the same one with better internals. And then came the Samsung S3 and many people moved to Android as a result. Before 2012 it was the world of iPhone 4.
2 reasons:
1) price after subsidy.
2) full phone retail price point of most smartphones tend to at the end have a category line and I believe is around 300 for the high tier phones
Why does every other comment claim that innovation=bigger screen? Apple invented the modern smartphone, a tablet computer people wanted to use, and pushed an ultraportable notebook when everyone else held onto netbooks.
Ok. Innovation=6 inch screen. Wow. I'm blown away.
Ok. Innovation=6 inch screen. Wow. I'm blown away.
I think the times are changing, and that's exactly what these slides state.
Smartphones have become a commodity and personally I don't see any novelty in all post-iPhone-4's. It's more of the same with incremental improvements that don't solve the fundamental problems that I have when using a smartphone (limited bandwidth, high network latency, battery, can't use it abroad for surfing because of the obscenely high roaming costs, problems with synchronization of email etc.). And yes, the iPhone's screen is too small for web browsing in 2014.
So I'm not willed to pay more than let's say USD 300-400 for my next smartphone, and if Apple isn't able to deliver that I'm happy to get a Nexus, which is by no means worse than an iPhone.
Smartphones have become a commodity and personally I don't see any novelty in all post-iPhone-4's. It's more of the same with incremental improvements that don't solve the fundamental problems that I have when using a smartphone (limited bandwidth, high network latency, battery, can't use it abroad for surfing because of the obscenely high roaming costs, problems with synchronization of email etc.). And yes, the iPhone's screen is too small for web browsing in 2014.
So I'm not willed to pay more than let's say USD 300-400 for my next smartphone, and if Apple isn't able to deliver that I'm happy to get a Nexus, which is by no means worse than an iPhone.
failure of Apple
Obviously market research showed this, I just have two questions for apple:
1) Tim, did you wilfully disregard this, and would steve have taken so long to bring a product to market? Did you just follow his plan and not deviate from the normal time table even though the market landscape had changed?
2) Was the PR strategy to deny what your own research was saying and come up with spin such as 4 inches fits good in your hand?
Apple has always been slow because they only brought excellence to the table. However, Steve pushed people till the breaking point (according to literature). Under this new leadership, they are just another company.
Alas the decline of apple was inevitable.
Obviously market research showed this, I just have two questions for apple:
1) Tim, did you wilfully disregard this, and would steve have taken so long to bring a product to market? Did you just follow his plan and not deviate from the normal time table even though the market landscape had changed?
2) Was the PR strategy to deny what your own research was saying and come up with spin such as 4 inches fits good in your hand?
Apple has always been slow because they only brought excellence to the table. However, Steve pushed people till the breaking point (according to literature). Under this new leadership, they are just another company.
Alas the decline of apple was inevitable.
I am not Tim, but here is my opinion.
SJ was against a larger phone screen. His death meant that its awkward to suddenly bring out a larger screen, but they had to do something. let some time go by since the death. Make a larger screen that is not much larger and make it efficient in terms of production tooling, so instead of designing a new larger phone, extend an existing phone. And begin designing the proper larger phone, which we may see this year. Maybe that phone is both a larger screen and a good form factor by maxxing the bezel removal, perhaps removing the Home button and locating a mini Home button on the side to allow physical control should there be a need or lockup. Include a small soft home button at the bottom. The removal of the side and bottom bezel and the reduction of the top bezel may make a nicely improved screen size and capable form factor. I.e. much bigger screen real estate and slightly bigger physical body. While I am here.... forget making the phone as slim and light as possible. A bit of bulk and weight is fine, use that for double thickness battery, or slim the battery thickness and double it up.
I just want bigger and better
There seems to be very diffent markets in the "Apple community". For myself I can say that I need something like an pad mini with an ability to make phone calls, only one device for the road. However, I could use another present size iPhone as well. The quality has to be there; I would not be interested in the "cheap good enough maybe". I would suggest a simple product line combining the iPhones and iPads: iPhone S, iPhone M, and iPhone L, with increasing size, respectively. In my opinion Apple should not corrupt the brand by doing cheap and so and so, but, look, I'm only another "self employed armchair CEO".
There seems to be very diffent markets in the "Apple community". For myself I can say that I need something like an pad mini with an ability to make phone calls, only one device for the road. However, I could use another present size iPhone as well. The quality has to be there; I would not be interested in the "cheap good enough maybe". I would suggest a simple product line combining the iPhones and iPads: iPhone S, iPhone M, and iPhone L, with increasing size, respectively. In my opinion Apple should not corrupt the brand by doing cheap and so and so, but, look, I'm only another "self employed armchair CEO".
Yes, Apple. Make those large-ass phones for people who want them, and reposition the original size screen iPhone by lowering it's price. That will make us all happy.
Another question re screen size.
If Apple added a larger screen, or two, to the the 4", can I assume that those who do not want a larger screen will be quite happy/not care etc?
I can fully see if the 4" was replaced that would cause consternation, and I cannot see that happening based on Apple's well documented statements that 3.5 (and now 4) is perfect.
If Apple added a larger screen, or two, to the the 4", can I assume that those who do not want a larger screen will be quite happy/not care etc?
I can fully see if the 4" was replaced that would cause consternation, and I cannot see that happening based on Apple's well documented statements that 3.5 (and now 4) is perfect.
Even I know this and I'm a man too.
Very well said indeed.
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Well I'm wondering how they're going to spin this. Can't wait to see what the marketing department say that doesn't contradict their previous statements.
I don't think going cheap will happen, thats not Apples way. I can see a 6" iPad Mini with voice though, thats an easy option. And one extra iPhone 4.7 to add to the 4. iPhone 6 (4) iPhone 6X (4.7) iPadX (6) Or maybe produce the iPad Mini 6 and just call it an iPhone X
Everyone's happy. No cannibalisation as we all will buy the one device we want anyway. A COOL innovation is to find a way to have two iPhones that have two sims, that act as one. For those that will buy a 4" iPhone and a phablet
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
I think if 
is smart (which I'm certain they are ), they would relase the next phone as 4", 4.7", 5.5" - with the 5.5" replacing the current top model in terms of cost. Importantly, in a few refreshes time, apple may lose the 'nexus' steve created with IP1 - leaving only us die hard fans at empty queues on release dates!
Back in October, i went to Vodafone to buy an IP5S, some greasy teen tried his hardest to talk me into some motorola rubbish, i clearly stated i only wanted an iPhone, and was speechless by the 10minute ranting of this guy on the superiority of this particular android phone - he was acting as if his very life depended upon my purchase of this particular model of phone. After a monotonous and capricious series of nos, he suggested with a sigh, ok how about windows!!!!
From discussions with some of my uni friends who now work within the industry, i concur with what others have said in this post- that apples terms and high unit cost makes the iPhone rather unattractive for carriers, in the uk at least.
I think a small reduction in cost to reflect market changes and demand, juxtaposed with an increase in screen real estate for the top-end phones may see an accession of recently departed customers!
is smart (which I'm certain they are ), they would relase the next phone as 4", 4.7", 5.5" - with the 5.5" replacing the current top model in terms of cost. Importantly, in a few refreshes time, apple may lose the 'nexus' steve created with IP1 - leaving only us die hard fans at empty queues on release dates! Back in October, i went to Vodafone to buy an IP5S, some greasy teen tried his hardest to talk me into some motorola rubbish, i clearly stated i only wanted an iPhone, and was speechless by the 10minute ranting of this guy on the superiority of this particular android phone - he was acting as if his very life depended upon my purchase of this particular model of phone. After a monotonous and capricious series of nos, he suggested with a sigh, ok how about windows!!!!
From discussions with some of my uni friends who now work within the industry, i concur with what others have said in this post- that apples terms and high unit cost makes the iPhone rather unattractive for carriers, in the uk at least.
I think a small reduction in cost to reflect market changes and demand, juxtaposed with an increase in screen real estate for the top-end phones may see an accession of recently departed customers!
Idiotic...
I literally can't believe anybody could say something so idiotic...in what sense are you talking about anyway? When has apple not been the leader in tech? Are you referring to the newer samsung devices that have better "specs" but don't actually perform as well as Apple products?? Those products are released MONTHLY! Then at what point in time will your debate become, "You have to wonder why a company with such gigantic fortunes and staff can't revise every device every MONTH to jump ahead of the market instead of catching up to it."
You clearly just don't understand Apple culture. It is a marathon not a race my friend.
I literally can't believe anybody could say something so idiotic...in what sense are you talking about anyway? When has apple not been the leader in tech? Are you referring to the newer samsung devices that have better "specs" but don't actually perform as well as Apple products?? Those products are released MONTHLY! Then at what point in time will your debate become, "You have to wonder why a company with such gigantic fortunes and staff can't revise every device every MONTH to jump ahead of the market instead of catching up to it."
You clearly just don't understand Apple culture. It is a marathon not a race my friend.
