Ditto. I know at least a dozen people that did not even know what Android was a few months ago but now have a 3.7-4" phones because they are flooded on carriers now. These are the type of people that aren't techy at all. The only thing that matters to them is they can install/buy apps on a touchscreen phone that has a large screen. It also helps that many of these devices are going for dirt cheap or even free.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Can't have Retina on 4" Display
- Thread starter Sedrick
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Ditto. I know at least a dozen people that did not even know what Android was a few months ago but now have a 3.7-4" phones because they are flooded on carriers now. These are the type of people that aren't techy at all. The only thing that matters to them is they can install/buy apps on a touchscreen phone that has a large screen. It also helps that many of these devices are going for dirt cheap or even free.
Read none of the thread.
"Retina Display" is but a vapor marketing term. I think it's disgusting how much it's thrown around on these forums. It's bad and you all should feel bad for using it.
"Retina Display" is but a vapor marketing term. I think it's disgusting how much it's thrown around on these forums. It's bad and you all should feel bad for using it.
If Apple was going to increase the screen size the iPhone 4 was the best opportunity. In the iPhone 4 Apple changed the resolution and the size/shape of the iPhone for the first time, what a better time to change screen size?
I think if Apple did not changed the screen size then they are not going to do it any time soon. Besides Jobs once said they wanted to keep the iPhone small (aka if it gets a larger screen it can eat into the iPad market).
And the one that said retina display is a marketing term is spot on. There is no medical or technical definition for a "retina display". It is all marketing like Airport Xtreme, Magic Mouse, Cinema Display, etc.
I think if Apple did not changed the screen size then they are not going to do it any time soon. Besides Jobs once said they wanted to keep the iPhone small (aka if it gets a larger screen it can eat into the iPad market).
And the one that said retina display is a marketing term is spot on. There is no medical or technical definition for a "retina display". It is all marketing like Airport Xtreme, Magic Mouse, Cinema Display, etc.
Bolshevik.
I have had many iPhone users comment about how much nicer it is to have a larger screen after using my evo, even for just a short while. It's hard to go back to 3.5 after using anything larger.
Now, if only they would make a LED retina display...
Don't you mean amoled? The iPhone is already LED.
Everyone seems to be assuming there can only be one iPhone model at a time. I don't see any reason Apple couldn't sell a ~4" iPhone 'HD' or whatever alongside a 3.5" model. There's clearly a strong market for both form factors.
If Apple can offering a wide array of choice in screen size and form-factor (essentially power vs. weight) in laptops why not in their other product lines? It would be trivial for Apple to put the same iPhone internals into a bigger case with bigger screen (and hopefully bigger battery)
If Apple can offering a wide array of choice in screen size and form-factor (essentially power vs. weight) in laptops why not in their other product lines? It would be trivial for Apple to put the same iPhone internals into a bigger case with bigger screen (and hopefully bigger battery)
The "Retina Display" term is used primarily as a marketing tool. Put it this way, which sounds better. A 300PPI High Resolution LCD IPS Display, or Retina Display? I as a self-confessed geek love technical terms and prefer the first naturally Retina Display is also used in reference to the human eye, and the term is generally used because it is easy to remember.
As for the display for the next iPhone, I believe Apple should go for 4", as the current screen size is too limiting especially for web browsing. Plus a 4" screen could also be used for marketing term (Bigger Screen Bigger Fun - I should have worked in advertising ). Android and Windows 7 phones use 4" screen sizes (only comparing screen sizes). Now, I know the PPI rating may have to be altered to fit within the 4" screen size, and a screen size change will render most "unofficial" add-ons incompatable, but I think the added screen real estate is worth it.
Retina Display is also used in reference to the human eye, and the term is generally used because it is easy to remember.As for the display for the next iPhone, I believe Apple should go for 4", as the current screen size is too limiting especially for web browsing. Plus a 4" screen could also be used for marketing term (Bigger Screen Bigger Fun - I should have worked in advertising
). Android and Windows 7 phones use 4" screen sizes (only comparing screen sizes). Now, I know the PPI rating may have to be altered to fit within the 4" screen size, and a screen size change will render most "unofficial" add-ons incompatable, but I think the added screen real estate is worth it.I don't know what Apple will do but I think the most likely scenario would be to elongate the screen by adding half the current length. So definately keeping the same high dpi (Apple won't go backwards on dpi) the 960 devided by 2 is 480, add that to the 960 and you get a 1440 x 640 screen. This would still fit inside the current form factor so long as Apple got rid of the home button, which is inevitable.
Current apps just wouldn't fill to the edges of the length, so not too big of a deal.
Current apps just wouldn't fill to the edges of the length, so not too big of a deal.
Slowly but surely phones are getting more compact. I really don't think it's impossible for Apple (or other manufacturers) to eventually fit a 3.8-4.0" screen into a form factor at least the size of the 3G. I don't see it happening this June but perhaps in a year or 2. I've had an Evo (4.3") and now an Epic (4") for work and the extra real estate does make a difference in web browsing and videos.
Let me break it down for you
iPad held at longer distance from eye therefore ppi not as high is ok.
Apple wont bump the res of the iPad2.
Totally late on this response, but any comments you have received by your friends are totally trumped by market research and existing product sales. The vast majority of iPhone users are not the sort of tech enthusiast that is willing to trade off a larger screen for a larger device in their pocket.
And I have never met an iPhone user who agrees with you. I know of only a few people who like a screen this size, and they actually hate Apple anyway. They're Windows programmers and own Android devices. They wouldn't have bought the iPhone even if it came with a screen this size. But once more, my personal impressions matter littleit is the mass market that dictates the value of a move like this.
I'd very much like Apple to widen the screen. See post a few above this to see what i mean (post#36)After having that i wouldn't want to go back.
Think of how much bigger text would be when you zoom in in landscape...much easier to read in many cases. Apple would be absolutely mad not to widen the screen.
What you write here represents, to some small extent, the disconnect between tech enthusiasts and the general consumer. You are happy to exchange some of the iPhone's relatively comfortable form factor for some extra capabilities (such as extra height; for most others, extra height and width) while, for others, those extra capabilities are near useless but the size matters very much. Additionally, we are kidding ourselves if we think Apple hasn't tested and evaluated these other sizes. If they thought these products would offer a meaningful return they would be released.
(Your idea also won't happen, I'll wagerApple probably won't be wandering away from the current iPhone resolution for any reason given current technology. You would understand those black bars, but many would find them unsightly. Also, it would fragment future app development.)
This doesn't explain all the 4" phones from all the other manufacturers out there. Sure there's a market for it. Apple probably did all their market research back when they built the original iPhone. It doesn't take a genius to realize the market has changed and 4" phones are hot.
I know it's your personal mission to debunk any interest in 4" screens, but the demand is there and you can't change that. If Apple chooses to ignore this demand, it's up to them. They'll sell a billion phones either way.
You are implying that the iPhone has been on 3.5" because of Apple's marketing research. While that may be true, but I think it's not the reason. Jobs always says that they create devices that they think consumers want, not the other way around. All of my co-workers got Android phones because of a bigger screen. They have never commented on the Android OS, how fast the processor/RAM is, whether it has an SD card slot, etc... And in the era of smartphones, I think most consumers have already sacrificed portability, meaning that they don't mind carrying a bigger device for those bigger features. A whole new argument/thread can be discussed on how a larger screen on the iPhone will affect App developers, but as far as the demand for a larger screen, I think it is higher than you think.
Well said. At this point it doesn't matter what apple decides to change. With Verizon hopping on board everyone and their mom and their grandma will have an iPhone.
I would vote no
I really dislike the form factor of the Evo/ Droid X
If they offer it as an option fine but that is unlikely to happen
I would never use an Evo/ Droid X sized phone
I browse plenty of websites and apps but think 3.5" is perfect for that. For video than I would want a bigger screen but in that situation I am likely to have an ipad or something which is infinitely better for video. Very rarely am I in a situation where I have enough time to watch a movie and not have an ipad or laptop.
If they could bump it up to 3.7 like the incredible without increasing the width than I'd be fine with that.
Also I'd say the main reason someone owned a droid phone was hatred for ATT service or Apple itself or both not the big screen.
I really dislike the form factor of the Evo/ Droid X
If they offer it as an option fine but that is unlikely to happen
I would never use an Evo/ Droid X sized phone
I browse plenty of websites and apps but think 3.5" is perfect for that. For video than I would want a bigger screen but in that situation I am likely to have an ipad or something which is infinitely better for video. Very rarely am I in a situation where I have enough time to watch a movie and not have an ipad or laptop.
If they could bump it up to 3.7 like the incredible without increasing the width than I'd be fine with that.
Also I'd say the main reason someone owned a droid phone was hatred for ATT service or Apple itself or both not the big screen.
You know what, here's my .02 cents on the larger screen.
Before the iPhone I had an iPaq that did have a larger screen. In fact, before I was interested in the iPhone, that was one of the things I mocked the iPhone for (the smaller screen).
After getting the iPhone (Long train of reasoning that got me to change my mind), I noticed how much easier it fit in my purse and I really didn't miss the larger screen. It was quite usable at that screen size. It was well worth the down size in screen. So don't say that I just have never used a bigger screen.
I don't want to go back. I don't want a larger screen (unless they can do it without increasing the size or compromising usability. The phone does have to have usable edges that I don't accidentally touch the screen or that would get frustrating as well). The EVO for example looks way bloated in size. If I had gone android, I'd eliminate it just for that (I'd be more interested in the much more reasonably sized Incredible). The iPhone's size is a perfect blend of easier to fit in my purse (or rather size) vs. usability. Small phone = good.
Before the iPhone I had an iPaq that did have a larger screen. In fact, before I was interested in the iPhone, that was one of the things I mocked the iPhone for (the smaller screen).
After getting the iPhone (Long train of reasoning that got me to change my mind), I noticed how much easier it fit in my purse and I really didn't miss the larger screen. It was quite usable at that screen size. It was well worth the down size in screen. So don't say that I just have never used a bigger screen.
I don't want to go back. I don't want a larger screen (unless they can do it without increasing the size or compromising usability. The phone does have to have usable edges that I don't accidentally touch the screen or that would get frustrating as well). The EVO for example looks way bloated in size. If I had gone android, I'd eliminate it just for that (I'd be more interested in the much more reasonably sized Incredible). The iPhone's size is a perfect blend of easier to fit in my purse (or rather size) vs. usability. Small phone = good.
I made this image for a previous thread. Apple could go to 4" w/o increasing the size or reducing the DPI... but they would have to widen the aspect ratio.
It's all just shows why we need multiple versions to choose from.
I usually like medium sized screens, but lately I find myself often showing off photos and videos to friends and family. The bigger the screen, the better, in that case.
It's almost like you need more than one phone, just as with clothes or even watches or jewelry.
Perhaps one day phones will be sold in boxed sets with styled submodels. A black and gold slim one for fancy parties, a medium silver one with keys for work, and a rugged camo bigger screen model for family meetings or camping. A ring with RFID on your finger would serve as the "SIM", so whichever one you were holding, becomes your primary device.
I usually like medium sized screens, but lately I find myself often showing off photos and videos to friends and family. The bigger the screen, the better, in that case.
It's almost like you need more than one phone, just as with clothes or even watches or jewelry.
Perhaps one day phones will be sold in boxed sets with styled submodels. A black and gold slim one for fancy parties, a medium silver one with keys for work, and a rugged camo bigger screen model for family meetings or camping. A ring with RFID on your finger would serve as the "SIM", so whichever one you were holding, becomes your primary device.