Apple Acknowledges Consumers Want Larger and Cheaper Phones

[Boston007]

Then just put it in your front pocket... A lot of women put their phones in their bags and I am sure they can't feel it. It doesn't make it easier to break.

You make it sound like have a smaller and lighter phone is a bad thing when there are multiple ways to get around it. Apple is not the only one making the bezel smaller and lighter, everyone else is it. The reason for bigger Android phones is the screen size, not because they want you to feel it when it is in your back pocket.

I think you need to read my original reply. The user was talking about wearing the phone in his pocket that he would "not feel" and "forget it's there".

I told you why I thought it was a bad idea. Anyone can wear whatever type of pants they want, and put whatever the hell they want in it - small or large phone.

I was merely offering my opinion.

 

[samcraig]

Every company reacts to the market around it. That's obvious. I'd still like to know what Apple has done in the past 2-3 years that you could peg as a specific reaction to Samsung.

As far as time limit, based on many comments here Apple's reaction time is too slow.

I'm not trying to peg anything as a specific reaction to Samsung.

But the iBookstore was, in part, a reaction to Amazon and the success of the Kindle. And it made perfect sense if you're releasing a media consumption device.

iAds was in response to Google and other companies profiting off of in-app ads.

None of these are an issue with me. I'm not one that gets hot and bothered over who is first or who is better. I choose what's best for me and I don't really question what works for someone else since I don't walk in their shoes.

 

[Vtwo]

This might be true, but Apple HAS offered the world the iPhone and it's been wildly popular. Customers seem to be saying 'this is great! But can you make it with a bigger screen?' If the competition says yes to that, but apple say no for the sake of saying no, that's a stupid move.

Why is following feedback like 'give us multitasking', 'give us better notifications', or even 'give us cut and paste' allowed, but 'give us a bigger screen' is not?

Actually, the thing that made the iPhone (and smartphone in general) take off was from customer feedback. Remember iPhone 1.0 with web apps?

The reason for the dramatic rise in popularity of the smartphone is the apps and 90% of time people use their phones for is the apps. Could you imagine if we were still using web apps?

 

[samcraig]

Actually, the thing that made the iPhone (and smartphone in general) take off was from customer feedback. Remember iPhone 1.0 with web apps?

The reason for the dramatic rise in popularity of the smartphone is the apps and 90% of time people use their phones for is the apps. Could you imagine if we were still using web apps?

I remember quite well. I also can't imagine that Apple didn't forsee the ability to a) lock people into their ecosystem and b) make a nice profit from creating an app store.

Also one (perhaps not the biggest) of the reasons Jobs was on his anti-Flash crusade.

 

[iluvmac2013]

Just funny to read how 4" fanboys will never buy a larger iPhone. And that's just fine by me.

Keep your 4" iPhone for a few more years and when it will no longer work you'll always have the option of gettin' one of 'em cheap Walmart 4" prepaid phone.

This way at least you won't loose your dignity by givin' in to change iLOL!

PS: I wonder how die hard Motorola Razr V3 flip phone users are doing in their fight against smartphones

So true. I'm accused of being a fanboy - but I acknowledge we need change! But Apple won't do it. Don't you find it worrying we haven't really seen any real concrete leaks regarding the iPhone 6? That's because they won't change! They just won't!

 

[Vtwo]

I think you need to read my original reply. The user was talking about wearing the phone in his pocket that he would "not feel" and "forget it's there".

I told you why I thought it was a bad idea. Anyone can wear whatever type of pants they want, and put whatever the hell they want in it - small or large phone.

I was merely offering my opinion.

Yes, you were saying that having your phone bigger was an advantage because you can feel it. So why are vendors trimming the bezel and making phones lighter?

Phones before smartphones were a LOT smaller and lighter and that is what people preferred. When it comes down to thin and light and 'being able to feel it so you don't forget', light and thin wins out for most customers. So yeah, screen size is the only reason vendors make their phones bigger.

I am sure if you can make a phone that is smaller than the iPhone but when used, can make the screen 5-6" with minimal fuss, it would outsell everything on the market now.

 

[Boston007]

Yes, you were saying that having your phone bigger was an advantage because you can feel it. So why are vendors trimming the bezel and making phones lighter?

Phones before smartphones were a LOT smaller and lighter and that is what people preferred. When it comes down to thin and light and 'being able to feel it so you don't forget', light and thin wins out for most customers. So yeah, screen size is the only reason vendors make their phones bigger.

I am sure if you can make a phone that is smaller than the iPhone but when used, can make the screen 5-6" with minimal fuss, it would outsell everything on the market now.

Lighter and bigger are two different things. If it's bigger and lighter you will still feel it, larger area versus smaller area.

 

[bradgfromboo]

It doesn't even have to be the far corner. Even with a 4" screen I had hard time reaching the top bar for notification after pushing the home button without repositioning my hand. With my larger phones, it was impossible without sliding the phone up and down in my palm. I settled with a 3.8" screen after numerous phones for this very reason.

Wait... on an iPhone you have to reach all the way to the top to pull down notifications? I'm guessing you cant change that to be any gesture of your choosing? EEKK, small things like this add up, and it's no wonder apple is losing ground fast...

 

[samcraig]

Irony: All those that complain that they don't want a larger phone and insist that Apple doesn't listen to their customers.

 

[maflynn]

I can't say this news story is a revelation, of course consumers want more for less. That's the whole basis of consumerism. Apple has been marketing itself as a premier device, well less people want to pay premier prices.

Apple needs to be a bit more dynamic and increase its selection if they want to continue to cater to the consumer.

 

[LordVic]

Irony: All those that complain that they don't want a larger phone and insist that Apple doesn't listen to their customers.

Well, I thoery they're not listening to their customers at all.

They're listening to Samsung's customers....

 

[thekeyring]

Actually, the thing that made the iPhone (and smartphone in general) take off was from customer feedback. Remember iPhone 1.0 with web apps?

The reason for the dramatic rise in popularity of the smartphone is the apps and 90% of time people use their phones for is the apps. Could you imagine if we were still using web apps?

Exactly. Customer feedback IS needed... Surprises and secret innovation aren't always the answer.

Sometimes solving a customer's problem leads you to be innovative.

 

[brianvictor7]

Lighter and bigger are two different things. If it's bigger and lighter you will still feel it, larger area versus smaller area.

I get your point. I once put an Otter box around my iPhone 4S and weight aside it felt like a foamy brick in my pocket. I could barely get at my wallet. I've tried dropping my wife's Galaxy S4 in my pocket and it definitely feels bulky. I suppose I could get used to it though.

 

[Jett0516]

Larger? Yeah Apple can do that.
Cheaper? Yeah don't really think so.

 

[linuxcooldude]

iAds was in response to Google and other companies profiting off of in-app ads.

I think iAds were more for the developers of apps to make alternative revenue then to Apple directly. It still might be a side benefit too.

But the iBookstore was, in part, a reaction to Amazon and the success of the Kindle. And it made perfect sense if you're releasing a media consumption device.

Amazon first success was in starting in books before moving on to other avenues. While Apple is trying to break into the book market, they tend to at least break even money wise as far as the iTunes store is concerned. Which is really an opposite to what Amazon is doing, using its Kindle & Kindle fire to sell its products & services.

Any content they provide is more to support their hardware sales then to make the bulk of their profits.

 

[CalWizrd]

Why not put a phone chip in the iPad Mini and be done with it? I still prefer a phone that fits in my pocket and can be used with one hand.

I think this option would be a great addition to the iPad line, contingent upon the engineering capability of fitting the required components into roughly the same size, and a reasonably small price increase. It would certainly quiet all of those clamoring for bigger and bigger.

I, for one, would like a minimal boost in the current iPhone display width, leaving the height as it is.

 

[barkomatic]

I interpret the slides as Apple leaning toward lesser quality, bigger screened phones. While I think it may be worthwhile for Apple to offer a less expensive alternative, I certainly hope they don't abandon making premium smartphones. The HTC M8 clearly shows there is still a strong market for a high quality smartphone.

 

[hansonjohn590]

And it took them until Android beat them in marketshare to realize this?

 

[linuxcooldude]

And it took them until Android beat them in marketshare to realize this?

People are still stuck on Android market share? When all manufactures still have to "Share" the profits, which tends to be much smaller.

yes, yes, cheaper phones...

If people want larger screens on an iPhone, it will make it more expensive. At least for the largest sizes then the standard models.

 

[Tech198]

yes, yes, cheaper phones...


...and better support for and/or keeping customers happy.

This is my first email to Tim cook, hopefully they'll be more. Its all backwards...

Apple should be treating users right by following up with them, not the user having to chase it all up.

 

[bbeagle]

Apple seems to no longer be in innovative mode but compete mode.

Seems like Samsung has been in compete mode, but not innovative mode for a long time (internal document at samsung presented at trial):

#1 priority is to beat Apple, NOT listen to customers. ok.

 

[TheMTtakeover]

Fragmentation in the Android world is a real issue. But its nothing to do with screen sizes, res is scaleable in Android. Its that many phones are made with many different components such as CPU, GPU, the various chips, etc. So you cannot just make Android to work for everybody as everybody uses different parts. Apple uses a minimal set of components. When the iPad split to two different sizes, that never seemed to cause an issue

What you are saying is true but your post is lacking details as to why. Understand that When the iPad split into two sizes that the first iPad mini used the exact same resolution as the older iPad 2. This made it so developers didn't need to update their apps because it would function exactly the same as it did on the iPad 2 screen.

You are correct screen size doesn't cause the fragmentation problem that is Android. But understand that Android handles scaling much better (IMO) than iOS does. So a bunch of different screen sizes COULD cause a lot of problems if iOS doesn't adopt a better scaling option for developers to take advantage of. Although if they are only introducing one new screen size then they may just expect develops to update their apps for that display. Depends on what they are planning.

 

[Vtwo]

Lighter and bigger are two different things. If it's bigger and lighter you will still feel it, larger area versus smaller area.

Both size and weight makes you 'feel' it. Even if we are just talking about size, if being bigger wasn't about the screen size. Then we should see Samsung make their 4" phones have the same size footprint as the S5 and Notes? But they don't do that, right? Everyone is trying to make their bezels thinner and thinner for a reason.

 

[Ries]

Seems like Samsung has been in compete mode, but not innovative mode for a long time (internal document at samsung presented at trial):

Image

#1 priority is to beat Apple, NOT listen to customers. ok.

So they want to be trendsetters, what wrong with that?

 

[kupkakez]

"...Apple acknowledges that "consumers want what we don't have"..."

HELLO.

This is exactly why I went Android a couple of months ago. I can't keep waiting around hoping Apple "might" give me what I want in a phone.