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Apple Could Achieve a 4-Inch iPhone Display by Increasing Height Only
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Every app in Mac OS X can be run in just about any size window you want, and even Android doesn't have a problem with multiple aspect ratios. I don't see why iOS is any different.
Why should we care if developers have to alter their programs because the screen resolution changes?
Technology should be able to move forward without concern for software development.
Provide developers the tools they need in the APIs and let them redevelop. Engineer hardware to the best new technology level possible.
MR....stop giving Apple ideas on how to fudge things.
Technology should be able to move forward without concern for software development.
Provide developers the tools they need in the APIs and let them redevelop. Engineer hardware to the best new technology level possible.
MR....stop giving Apple ideas on how to fudge things.
I'm trying to figure out how this even warrants a post on MacRumors?
It doesn't sound like the source is purporting insider info, is he?
I mean, the hypothesis amounts to "hey, did you know that you can stretch the diagonal of a rectangle from 3.8 inches to 4 inches by only changing one of the dimensions? Oh look, I'll even diagram it for you!"
I mean honestly, Apple's made a big deal about keeping support for display resolutions simple. I'm a developer - and what they've done to implement retina support for iPhone and iPad is brilliant - allowing the higher resolutions but not breaking the older software, nor making it hard for devs to upgrade their support.
What's being suggested here flies seriously in the face of that - and I don't see them doing it.
[And yeah, I'd be seriously disappointed if they did].
Is it quite possible that iPhone 5 is bigger than iPhone 4/4S? Yeah, I'd say so. But I don't think they'd go *much* bigger - and in doing so, I don't think they'd increase the resolution at all - it would be the same pixels, just over a slightly greater area.
The apps would still look great (I'm sure even with a slightly lesser density it would still be retina grade, but I honestly haven't done the math, so I guess I don't know
).
And there would be no changes required to apps.
Anyway - just surprises me that this random, unfounded hypothesis even made it onto MacRumors...
<Rant off>
Paul.
It doesn't sound like the source is purporting insider info, is he?
I mean, the hypothesis amounts to "hey, did you know that you can stretch the diagonal of a rectangle from 3.8 inches to 4 inches by only changing one of the dimensions? Oh look, I'll even diagram it for you!"
I mean honestly, Apple's made a big deal about keeping support for display resolutions simple. I'm a developer - and what they've done to implement retina support for iPhone and iPad is brilliant - allowing the higher resolutions but not breaking the older software, nor making it hard for devs to upgrade their support.
What's being suggested here flies seriously in the face of that - and I don't see them doing it.
[And yeah, I'd be seriously disappointed if they did].
Is it quite possible that iPhone 5 is bigger than iPhone 4/4S? Yeah, I'd say so. But I don't think they'd go *much* bigger - and in doing so, I don't think they'd increase the resolution at all - it would be the same pixels, just over a slightly greater area.
The apps would still look great (I'm sure even with a slightly lesser density it would still be retina grade, but I honestly haven't done the math, so I guess I don't know
).And there would be no changes required to apps.
Anyway - just surprises me that this random, unfounded hypothesis even made it onto MacRumors...
<Rant off>
Paul.
So the direction that you can simply (and easily) scroll through with one hand is the way you want to increase screen size? Fail!
There's nothing wrong with the screen size. The resolution is fantastic. Leave the damn screen alone and make it a 10 hour battery. Girls hands don't fit 4" screens, but girls do talk a lot and Facebook a lot on phones. I bet they would love the extra battery. Guess what, that's 50% of the population, and around 50% of iPhone users. Android sausage-fest 4"+ screens are not thinking big picture here.
There's nothing wrong with the screen size. The resolution is fantastic. Leave the damn screen alone and make it a 10 hour battery. Girls hands don't fit 4" screens, but girls do talk a lot and Facebook a lot on phones. I bet they would love the extra battery. Guess what, that's 50% of the population, and around 50% of iPhone users. Android sausage-fest 4"+ screens are not thinking big picture here.
While I think the existing size is fine, and I'm absolutely opposed to any change which makes my phone physically bigger, and I think "yet another res" would be horrible for apps all around, this, this is a change I could actually support. Phone size would stay the same, just with less top/bottom bezel. And most standard-controls apps would need only minimal re-tooling to work properly. This I like.
I'll say I like it... and it doesn't have to be 4" exactly. If a true 16x9 aspect ratio is achieved (640px by 1138px), I think that would be ideal and right about 3.96" (do we assume that 1152 number is a standard?)
Use less space at the top for earpiece and less at the bottom for homebutton (what if that's removed??) and you're looking at a minimal increase in the height of the device but still cramming in more pixels... Developer wise, having a black bar at the top and bottom of the screen (It'd be less than 1/4" each side) is a good temporary measure and won't kill any existing apps - but I agree it would suck to have to develop apps for both - Except in the case of apps that currently just use whatever space is available to show as much of a "document" as possible. (as in the browser example).
I, like many others would welcome a larger screen but with minimal size increases to the phone overall. That seems to be most of the worry aside from the developer issues with more pixels. Keep the phone the same size (or real close, increase the screen size, and eventually everyone will be fine with it.
Use less space at the top for earpiece and less at the bottom for homebutton (what if that's removed??) and you're looking at a minimal increase in the height of the device but still cramming in more pixels... Developer wise, having a black bar at the top and bottom of the screen (It'd be less than 1/4" each side) is a good temporary measure and won't kill any existing apps - but I agree it would suck to have to develop apps for both - Except in the case of apps that currently just use whatever space is available to show as much of a "document" as possible. (as in the browser example).
I, like many others would welcome a larger screen but with minimal size increases to the phone overall. That seems to be most of the worry aside from the developer issues with more pixels. Keep the phone the same size (or real close, increase the screen size, and eventually everyone will be fine with it.
If they get rid of the ~1/8" border alongside the edge of the screen it would indeed get "taller" while the iPhone itself stayed the same width as before.
Same aspect ratio everyone is happy.
well its always in the eye of the beholder. i for one never use my iPhone with one hand its a lot faster to use both thumbs to type, at least for me.
they need to get rid of that useless homebutton and fill that space with screen and use gestures (there are already nice cydia tweaks) i havent used my half broken ass homebutton in ages
So we should use all Apple-native controls? Excellent. Someone better tell Apple, since they don't in their apps.
In any case, I'm not worried. Apple wouldn't change the aspect ratio of the new phone. That's just dumb.
iOS users don't spend much time thinking about Android at all, actually.
Unlike Android fan-boys who troll Apple sites displaying their insecurities.
If you don't like iOS, that's perfectly fine. Why don't you go to AndroidRumors (or whatever) and contribute positively there.
Whose life is really so empty that they seek validation by spending all of their time at the site of a product they hate attacking that product?
That was a rhetorical question.
Which means you don't have to answer it.
Its actually a huge disadvantage. Androids layout system is far superior and developers really don't have to do anything to make sure it works. It was designed for multiple resolutions in the first place. I have found very very very few apps that have issues with this. The layout system is very well thought out. You can even try it out for yourself with the android sdk's emulator. Make up any resolution you want. It will work.
Swipe gestures are fine for the iPad, not the iPhone. And it's nice that you use your phone 2 handed. Many people, myself included, don't. I agree the breaking home button is annoying, but I would rather they fix it (it never broke on my 3G) than get rid of it.
yep, i know what u mean. the way gestures work on the iPad would obvs suck on the iPhone because of the screen size but there are other ways to do this. its pretty neat.
The #1 thing that makes iPhone better is that they haven't fallen into the insane 16:9 craze that is awful for everything you do in mobile other than watching video. I would throw up if Apple came out with this abomination. Hell, Steve Jobs would throw up in his grave.
I would love to see a 4.5" and a 3.5" but I doubt they do that either. I would easily pick the 4.5".
I would love to see a 4.5" and a 3.5" but I doubt they do that either. I would easily pick the 4.5".
I feel like the iPhone is already pretty narrow... As long as it's going to get thinner and maintain or decrease existing weight, I think maintaining the aspect ratio and making it a little wider is fine.
In any case, it has to work one handed. "Oh wait, I need to check to see if this conference room is free... let me put everything I'm carrying down so I can use my phone." doesn't quite cut the mustard.
Technically you can do this with the iPhone too, just a lot of people put a lot of design work into their graphics to look "just so" on the iPhone. Android uses Java layout, so its pretty obvious it would work with various resolutions since Java applets don't have the same dimensions.
I'd be ok with that approach too, though I wished they had done 16:9 to start with.
If
If this were to happen, and I'm not saying I want it one way or the other, I think it may also be in Apple's thinking to increase the pixel density to the point that the resolution would be 720x1294 so that it could properly display 720p content. Not only would that increase the resolution and aspect ratio to a more optimal one for modern media, but also would cause the pixel density to skyrocket to a whopping 371 ppi, which would pummel any other screen on the market.
If this were to happen, and I'm not saying I want it one way or the other, I think it may also be in Apple's thinking to increase the pixel density to the point that the resolution would be 720x1294 so that it could properly display 720p content. Not only would that increase the resolution and aspect ratio to a more optimal one for modern media, but also would cause the pixel density to skyrocket to a whopping 371 ppi, which would pummel any other screen on the market.