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Apple Could Achieve a 4-Inch iPhone Display by Increasing Height Only
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That simplistic view only applies to UIKit-heavy, utility apps loke Mail, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Not every layout can be made to automatically work (let alone look good) on any aspect ratio. Especially games and other apps that rely on custom, non-scalable graphics.
In the android world, however, settling for the 'black bars' seems to be the norm.
"9:5" ? I doubt Apple would make something with a screen size ratio that reminds people of their gruesome desk job. 
Seriously though, I like the iPhone how it is with a little place to rest your thumb while holding the thing while your little finger is against the bottom speaker.
Making the phone bigger would be wrong in my opinion. If you want something bigger, get that 7" iPad that's supposed to come out. I need something that fits in every pocket and that I can work with my (small) hands. Now it you wanna shave off a few millimeters of the edge, that's totally fine.
Seriously though, I like the iPhone how it is with a little place to rest your thumb while holding the thing while your little finger is against the bottom speaker.
Making the phone bigger would be wrong in my opinion. If you want something bigger, get that 7" iPad that's supposed to come out. I need something that fits in every pocket and that I can work with my (small) hands. Now it you wanna shave off a few millimeters of the edge, that's totally fine.
I don’t want fragmentation (although some is needed—occasionally—or nothing would progress). I don’t care much about longer lists/documents or wider videos, and the only widget I want is already there in Notification Center, nicely hidden until I swipe. Black bars on old games would annoy me, even if the resulting view is still the same 640px that I’m used to now.
But I would LOVE to have one more row of apps in each folder, and I’d love to think the iPhone won’t bloat out and get wider. So, bring it!
But I would LOVE to have one more row of apps in each folder, and I’d love to think the iPhone won’t bloat out and get wider. So, bring it!
just because its inconvinient for devs doesnt mean it should always stay the same ... otherwise we'd still all be playing snake 2 on our "awesome" 1 inch screen
i know people with 3.5, 4.0 and 4.7 screens and the apps all seem to work just fine on each? how can android do it and not apple ... Serious question, i have no clue. Java 1 was already hard enough for me at uni
Android uses typical scaling algorithms and basic relative layouts, nothing complicated. On iOS Apple wants developers to make things pixel perfect, so scaling is out of the question. So if you have a popular android device, things look fine, but on others some elements will be relatively blurry in comparison.
As a dev this vertical increase is actually a bit interesting. They could display non-length-optimized apps in normal 3:2 centered and they would look exactly the same, meaning you could still use old, no longer updated apps. Would work well for normal apps, for game developers it would be annoying having to support a new aspect ratio though.
Honestly, why is the iPhone's screen all of a sudden too small? What's wrong with the 3.5 inch screen?
Seeing as this (or any kind of 4-inch screen) simply means apps have to provide a bigger window into content, this wouldn't be bad for developers.
Most apps, like Twitter, won't need to be re-coded. We've only one example of iOS on a bigger-than-3.5-inch screen size and that's iPad. It just so happens Apple put in a big of extra code so the apps don't stretch out full screen (like the results gained from Android tablets). It doesn't mean they couldn't for a bigger iPhone screen.
Most apps, like Twitter, won't need to be re-coded. We've only one example of iOS on a bigger-than-3.5-inch screen size and that's iPad. It just so happens Apple put in a big of extra code so the apps don't stretch out full screen (like the results gained from Android tablets). It doesn't mean they couldn't for a bigger iPhone screen.
Not a good option for developers. Honestly why such a hatred of just making the screen bigger to 4.3" and using the same 264 dpi as the new iPad? 264 dpi is really good.
In the end it is the option that makes the most sense since Apple can use the same LED sheets from the iPad and cut out smaller chunks for the 4.3" iPad. LED manufacturers only need to produce a single display for apple which should help production and maybe cut costs for apple.
It also keeps developers happy, keeps users happy who can continue using the 4 billion apps already out there without any compromise at all, keeps the users who want a larger screen like their Droid user friends happy.
The only people who may not like it are those who insist on using a smaller phone and those who insist they can tell the difference between 326 dpi and 264 dpi.
In the end it is the option that makes the most sense since Apple can use the same LED sheets from the iPad and cut out smaller chunks for the 4.3" iPad. LED manufacturers only need to produce a single display for apple which should help production and maybe cut costs for apple.
It also keeps developers happy, keeps users happy who can continue using the 4 billion apps already out there without any compromise at all, keeps the users who want a larger screen like their Droid user friends happy.
The only people who may not like it are those who insist on using a smaller phone and those who insist they can tell the difference between 326 dpi and 264 dpi.
NEVER gone happen, it would also look stupid, an iPhone as wide as the current one but a good few CM longer! Hardly be single hand user friendly! I am still going to state they will keep the 3.5" Retina screen, the massive record sales prove they don't need to change it for one.
I've made a thread with very similar thoughts recently:
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https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1353403/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1353403/
Apple has been marketing the term Retina and the current dpi since they introduced the iPhone 4. There is no way in hell they are going to lower that number in any way.
If they're going to change the resolution, they should make it 16:9 exactly. That's the new standard in screen resolution, and I'd like to see it across all devices, TV's, MacBook Pros, iPhones, iPads. At least the iPad is the old standard in screen resolution at 4:3. I don't like these "somewhere in the middle" screen resolutions.
iPhone app developers have been spoiled by the consistent screen size. The ones that bitches about the 2x resolution display making their resources too big was pathetic. If you used the Cocoa form objects right and did the right gravity on your controls, you will be fine. Enough have done this writing app for iPhone and iPad. Just heightening the display is a great idea.
If you hard-coded coordinates for your controls, you will pay for it now in a maintenance release. Stuff like this is how outsource outfit cash in. Lowball the initial development and once you are the only ones that knows the code well, charge a premium for upgrades and maintence.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
I only went through the first two pages, but I'm surprised I haven't seen this argument.
Can you imagine how difficult it would be for people with below average sized hands to access the notification panel while still having their hand comfortable enough to hit the home button? This is the real downfall.
Initially I actually liked the idea. I don't know why there seems to be so much hatred about it... I think it makes sense in a lot of ways when you think about it, but ultimately wouldn't work.
edit: when I first started reading the article my first thought was that Apple could add a permanent screen element (widgets??) and keep all the apps, etc using the same space as they do now.
Can you imagine how difficult it would be for people with below average sized hands to access the notification panel while still having their hand comfortable enough to hit the home button? This is the real downfall.
Initially I actually liked the idea. I don't know why there seems to be so much hatred about it... I think it makes sense in a lot of ways when you think about it, but ultimately wouldn't work.
edit: when I first started reading the article my first thought was that Apple could add a permanent screen element (widgets??) and keep all the apps, etc using the same space as they do now.
No, it wouldn't or shouldn't blow anyone's mind. That's normal and not what people refer to when they talk about fragmentation.
The bigger concern with platform fragmentation has to with which versions of the OS are shipping on new devices. iOS has 1, Android there are many different versions on NEW devices. The problem with it is, that people who buy a NEW device, may not be getting all the NEW features they thought they were, because it's an older version of the OS. And that their new phone may not support the latest versions of apps.
I like the iPhone screen exactly as it is. I don't need a bigger screen. If I want a bigger screen I have the iPad and the MacBook Pro. I still want the iPhone to fit in my pocket.
Why does everyone want the iPhone to be bigger and the iPad smaller? I don't get it.
Why does everyone want the iPhone to be bigger and the iPad smaller? I don't get it.
This is pretty obviously the only way Apple would increase the screen size to 4 inches. The display is already almost as wide as the device, so increasing the display width would increase the size of the device, which is already quite big anyway, and I certainly find it big enough as it is for a phone. On the top and bottom, however, there's still plenty of space for the screen to grow.
Apps that don't get updated would run with a small black filler bar at the top and bottom, and it would look exactly as the old iPhone, while many apps would already be able to increase the content size.
Apps that don't get updated would run with a small black filler bar at the top and bottom, and it would look exactly as the old iPhone, while many apps would already be able to increase the content size.
Because people have been duped by the carriers into thinking that larger is somehow better on mobile devices. It wasn't too long ago when everyone was trying to out "miniaturize" everyone else. Today, mostly due to 4G chipset sizes and the power they suck, OEMs have had to make larger devices to accommodate the larger batteries and multiple chips needed.
The need for this will end this Fall when they move to 28nm. This will make them much less power hungry and allow both data and voice integrated onto one chip. Only afterwards will this "trend" for larger phones reverse.