Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I really hope the screen size doesn't get bigger, but many people seem to be falling for "bigger is better." Apple probably needs to increase the screen size to "compete," which is unfortunate for two reasons:

1: I don't want to carry a brick around in my pocket.

2: Dustin Curtis makes a good point about the screen size and usability of 3.5" vs bigger screens (http://dcurt.is/2011/10/03/3-point-5-inches/):

Image

With a 3.5" screen, your thumb can reach across the whole screen, thus the iPhone is a "one hand" device. When the screen size increases, you need to use two hands to reach the entire surface.

that dude must have some tiny hands I've handled a GSII and I can easily reach most of the screen with my thumb (even more so than that guy can with his tiny hands on an iphone screen)
 
I really hope the screen size doesn't get bigger, but many people seem to be falling for "bigger is better." Apple probably needs to increase the screen size to "compete," which is unfortunate for two reasons:

1: I don't want to carry a brick around in my pocket.

2: Dustin Curtis makes a good point about the screen size and usability of 3.5" vs bigger screens (http://dcurt.is/2011/10/03/3-point-5-inches/):

Image

With a 3.5" screen, your thumb can reach across the whole screen, thus the iPhone is a "one hand" device. When the screen size increases, you need to use two hands to reach the entire surface.

You don't know how big my thumbs are? I'm offended. Sadly I actually have embarrassedly small thumbs and my family makes fun of me all the time.
 
The report notes that the start of production seems to be coming several months ahead of last year's schedule, indicating that Apple could be targeting a launch well ahead of last year's October debut of the iPhone 4S.

Not necessarily. Given has utterly failed to meet demand at every iPhone launch... perhaps they are looking to launch with something approaching sufficient supply this year. An extra 2-3 weeks to build up inventory to meet that initial demand bubble would reduce the lines and substantive scalper factor that seems accompany every iPhone launch.

Indeed, one of Samsung's current ad is based on clowning folks blowing their life off to sit around in line waiting for something show up. It has been a cute marketing gimmick to line up customers outside of stores every year, but at some point it should sink in to more customers that they are being pimped out for free when this happens year after year after year ......
Folks who keep drinking the Apple kool-aid of "Aw shucks we had no idea we were going to run out of product" should start to ring hollow.

The problem keeps getting worse every year, so it shouldn't become obvious that they aren't trying to solve the problem at all. Doing a longer run-up to build inventories before launch would partially solve the problem.
 
It would make zero business sense to release a new iPhone or updated model before next fall. The posts about waiting for the new iOS and then a release a few months later, IMO, is directly on point. Also a new ipod touch does seem feasible, but again different form factor, screen sizes, etc... Just seems a bit unlikely, however if Apple is going to shake things with their screen size it does make sense to start on the iPod, give the Dev teams time to adapt, and then roll out a iPhone later. I love my Retina display; however would not mind a little bit larger screen size, but if image quality is compromised forget it.
 
Sooner the better I say. Just not sure if the needed technology is available yet.

The other thing is, most of us that upgraded for the iPhons 4S are not eligible for an upgrade yet.
I wonder if AT&T will move eligibility up like they did when the iPhone 4 came out? Sure would be nice.
 
I really hope the screen size doesn't get bigger, but many people seem to be falling for "bigger is better." Apple probably needs to increase the screen size to "compete," which is unfortunate for two reasons:

1: I don't want to carry a brick around in my pocket.

2: Dustin Curtis makes a good point about the screen size and usability of 3.5" vs bigger screens (http://dcurt.is/2011/10/03/3-point-5-inches/):

Image

With a 3.5" screen, your thumb can reach across the whole screen, thus the iPhone is a "one hand" device. When the screen size increases, you need to use two hands to reach the entire surface.

I go over my iPhone 4s' screen and still have thumb for more. Doesn't that depend on the size of the hand. :confused:
 
I'm okay with an iPhone 5 summer release, as long as the carriers are willing to work with us that got the iPhone 4S in October. I mean, the iPhone 4S was basically a filler. I love my 4S. The only reason I got it was because I wanted a white iPhone. My 4 was doing just fine.

It'll be interesting to see what the carriers do on that. I get the impression from the ATT and Verizon earnings reports that they are taking a bigger hit than they would like buying iphones for $600 and selling for $200. Accordingly I think they will think hard about requiring 2 years before subsidizing upgrades. ATT was willing to subsidize yearly upgrades when they were exclusive, to build market share, etc., but now that the iphone isnt exclusive .....

I bought the Verizon iphone 4 the week it was announced (in Feb 2011) and I have my doubts that they will sell me a subsidized iphone 5 in July or October or any time in 2012. They will sell them anyway; why cut the two year requirement at this point?
 
I think one good hint will be if we see an iOS 6 announcement event in March/April...without that then I think iPhone 5 will be in the fall and iOS 6 will be announced at WWDC. I cannot imagine them announcing an entirely new iPhone (essentially from the ground up) without a fresh new version of iOS to go along with it.
 
Summer Weather Release is much better

Launching products in the Fall is terribly cold for Apple fans waiting in line. A summer release would be much better. I stood in line for the 4s last October and I was like freezing still in spite of layers of clothing I was already wearing.
 
Aw, I was looking forward to the tear-drop. Really easy and comfortable to hold, but also easy to pick up off a table (try picking an iPhone 4/S off the table).

I agree.

The 4/4S looks fantastic but I miss how the 3GS felt in my hand, it was more ergonomic. Also, you guys really shouldn't be ragging on this guy. Didn't you read the Steve Jobs biography? Jobs and Ive said in there that they made the edges of the iPad 2 more rounded and smooth so that it would be easier to pick up, or even scoop up, off a table.

Was kind of hoping that the 5 would look and feel more like the newer iPod Touch.

Its definitely time for the iPhone screen to get bigger. 3.5" is so 2007. I don't know about you, but I hate watching Netflix on a 3.5" screen. It was soooo much better on my 4.3" S2. And the S2 was sooo light to have a 4.3" screen. Heck, it felt better in my pocket than the 4S.

It's a phone, not a tablet, computer or television. Of course watching a movie on it is going to be small.

It's a freakin' telephone.

Maybe you should get this:

11410662-tablet-phone-ad-002.jpg
 
Last edited:
Its definitely time for the iPhone screen to get bigger. 3.5" is so 2007. I don't know about you, but I hate watching Netflix on a 3.5" screen. It was soooo much better on my 4.3" S2. And the S2 was sooo light to have a 4.3" screen. Heck, it felt better in my pocket than the 4S.

Heck, just wait til you see Netflix on a 55" screen! You're gonna hate watching Netflix on that S2. And you're gonna be needing some BIIIIIIIGGG pockets to carry around a TV! :rolleyes:
 
Teardrop never made sense to me—nor anything asymmetrical, like having a larger margin below vs. above the screen. Symmetry is nicer for landscape usage. Screen size? I would tolerate larger (a little, not a lot, please). But I don’t want it—I like the 3.5 size I have now. LTE phones (not all Android phones, mainly LTE ones) went bigger to hide the giant batteries needed! Next-gen LTE shouldn’t have that problem... fingers crossed.

As for picking an iPhone up, I’ve never had a problem. But here’s a tip: form a sucker-mouth like a seagoing lamprey, and suck the iPhone up by the center. Easy!
 
Am I the only one who thinks it's not going to be called iPhone 5?

Think about it... the previous versions have been:

1. iPhone
2. iPhone 3G
3. iPhone 3GS
4. iPhone 4
5. iPhone 4S

Why would the next one be 5?

Just sayin'! ;)
 
If Apple release the next iPhone in the summer, what will they announce in the fall?
iPods are no longer significant enough on their own, to warrant a standalone event.
Here's how I see the mobile rollout strategy:

Spring: iPad.
Summer: WWDC & new iOS.
Fall: iPhone and iOS release(feat. iPods).

NO NO NO!!!, you got it all wrong

Spring: iPad
Summer: WWDC: Show of iPhone and iOS
Fall: APPLE 42" TV!
Then rinse and repeat :D
 
God, I hope they go back to the summer release. That would definitely be nice.
 
Agreed that it won't be released until Fall...

And please - Stop calling it the iPhone 5! It would be a stupid name for the 6th iPhone...

this ^
why the 6th generation iPhone with 4th generation wireless tech (LTE) would be called the iPhone 5 is beyond me
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

I think the 4S delay was deliberate to shift the iPhone release to Fall. With the iPod waning in popularity, Apple needed a new device for the holiday season. Plus, with a March release for the iPad, they have a good 6 months to engineer the new iPad features into the smaller iPhone.

These are my thoughts as well. I think they pushed the iPhone release date to coincide with the holiday season. I wish it weren't true though because my 3 year contract ends in July and I want to sign a contract for the iPhone 5 and negotiate a better plan with retentions. I can't negotiate if my contract ends in July and the iPhone is released in October though :(
 
I really hope we see a bigger screen.. the 3.5" isn't enough anymore.. especially since now everyone uses phones to consume media..
 
Think about it... the previous versions have been:

1. iPhone
2. iPhone 3G
3. iPhone 3GS
4. iPhone 4
5. iPhone 4S

Why would the next one be 5?

Just sayin'! ;)

The first iPhone was edge only I believe.
The second one was 3G. Thus the name.

The iPhone 5 "could" be called the iPhone 4GLTE I suppose but that doesn't make sense.
 
In Adam Lashinsky's book 'Inside Apple' there was a passage about apple paying people (in China) to leak bogus stuff. I'll have to look for the exact passage and I don't remember the context but it gave the impression there were leaks by design.
 
Its definitely time for the iPhone screen to get bigger. 3.5" is so 2007. I don't know about you, but I hate watching Netflix on a 3.5" screen. It was soooo much better on my 4.3" S2. And the S2 was sooo light to have a 4.3" screen. Heck, it felt better in my pocket than the 4S.

Dude, 4.3 inch is so 2011. I don't know about you, but I hate watching Netflix on a 4.3" screen, it's so much better on my projector and 100" screen. Heck, when I throw my projector into my backpack and roll up the screen and carry it under my arm, I can take it everywhere I go!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.