How will a larger iPhone screen affect developers

[jwillgoesfast]

As an app designer, having only one screen size to worry about makes things a lot easier. Apple has done a lot to preserve the sanctity of its app ecosystem and I believe that this is why iOS apps have better quality and quantity.

Obviously we are used to designing for multiple screens with android and even for iOS we have to make some minor adjustments based on retina vs non. and the taller screen (though most non game apps easily adjust to the taller 4" screen)

Does anyone have any good suggestions or speculations on how apple could increase the size of the iphone screen without creating a major headache for developers? For example if they simply went with a 4.7" 16:9 screen, how would the math work for developers to quickly and easily update their apps (while also supporting multiple sizes) without having to completely redesign and recode them?

 

[tardman91]

It sure wouldn't be seamless, which is a major reason I think Apple has resisted changing the size. I'd agree that their app ecosystem is excellent and they'd be very hesitant to muck up the user experience.

 

[Interstella5555]

As an app designer, having only one screen size to worry about makes things a lot easier. Apple has done a lot to preserve the sanctity of its app ecosystem and I believe that this is why iOS apps have better quality and quantity.

Obviously we are used to designing for multiple screens with android and even for iOS we have to make some minor adjustments based on retina vs non. and the taller screen (though most non game apps easily adjust to the taller 4" screen)

Does anyone have any good suggestions or speculations on how apple could increase the size of the iphone screen without creating a major headache for developers? For example if they simply went with a 4.7" 16:9 screen, how would the math work for developers to quickly and easily update their apps (while also supporting multiple sizes) without having to completely redesign and recode them?

One could easily argue this has already happened multiple times (switch to Retina, switch to 4" screen) and clearly devs haven't coped well as there are STILL apps that haven't been updated for Retina, let alone the 4" screen.

 

[chakraj]

I dont think the developers could do it, they will most likely just give up and decide to live from welfare if apple changes the screen size, I mean how can any human figure out how to do such a hard thing as change resolution of app. Might as well ask them to make an invisibility cloak or a teleporter while they are at it sheesh.

Give the poor slow developers a break, dont change anything ever.

 

[Mrbobb]

Does anyone have any good suggestions or speculations on how apple could increase the size of the iphone screen without creating a major headache for developers? For example if they simply went with a 4.7" 16:9 screen, how would the math work for developers to quickly and easily update their apps (while also supporting multiple sizes) without having to completely redesign and recode them

So what's new?

Since the dawn of computing screen resolutions is been going up consistently so surely, this is not something developers are grappling with just now.

U can minimize such headache by good planning, good programming methodology, make things easily scalable, never hard code anything unless you have to, blah-blah.

Sure, *sometimes* like with games and graphic intensive stuff, you have no choice but to redo some stuff to make them look best, but if you planned it, you old version will mostly adjust to the new resolution without major change, so u can say, "ready for iP6 when it releases" while leaving you extra time to release that "optimized" version.

 

[tjl3]

One could easily argue this has already happened multiple times (switch to Retina, switch to 4" screen) and clearly devs haven't coped well as there are STILL apps that haven't been updated for Retina, let alone the 4" screen.

Not really. The transition was pretty seamless. There are few if any (I don't know any off the top of my head) apps that are maintained and left at the old resolution or screen size. They aren't apps that are receiving updates or supported by developers.

I'd argue that there is some reason a bigger issue with getting developers to release an app for both the iPhone and iPad platforms. I see a lot of great apps that would be nice to have when I am using my iPad.

 

[AFDoc]

IF any developer whines about having multiple devices to build for, then maybe they shouldn't be a developer.... just saying.

 

[lordofthereef]

Not really. The transition was pretty seamless. There are few if any (I don't know any off the top of my head) apps that are maintained and left at the old resolution or screen size. They aren't apps that are receiving updates or supported by developers.

I'd argue that there is some reason a bigger issue with getting developers to release an app for both the iPhone and iPad platforms. I see a lot of great apps that would be nice to have when I am using my iPad.

On a slightly tangential note, it would be nice not to have to buy two versions if an app too. This is popular in the gaming section, with the letters "HD" representing the iPad version. Seriously? I can either have a pixelated mess if I load the iPhone version, or fork over some more cash for the iPad version?

 

[everythingfun]

this is something i don;t understand ...

TV also have many different sizes, and there is no problem for any TV programs, why is there problem for iphone?

 

[BlaqkAudio]

On a slightly tangential note, it would be nice not to have to buy two versions if an app too. This is popular in the gaming section, with the letters "HD" representing the iPad version. Seriously? I can either have a pixelated mess if I load the iPhone version, or fork over some more cash for the iPad version?

Although I won't argue that some developers just want more revenue, I will say that it might be their way of cutting down on app size. I imagine the graphics files for retina iPads take up a lot of space.

 

[Mrbobb]

this is something i don;t understand ...

TV also have many different sizes, and there is no problem for any TV programs, why is there problem for iphone?

If you are watching TV, really moving pictures, is not so critical that things look "right." Take the same HDTV and hook it up to your computer then you start to notice immediately the lettering are not sharp, there's coloration on the borders, black border bars, all of which is unacceptable to one accustomed to using a dedicated computer monitor.

Displaying computer content "right" more critical.

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Although I won't argue that some developers just want more revenue, I will say that it might be their way of cutting down on app size. I imagine the graphics files for retina iPads take up a lot of space.

Nothing can be done although some of the stuff can loaded from the cloud as needed, which will make Apple happy.

 

[siurpeeman]

this is something i don;t understand ...

TV also have many different sizes, and there is no problem for any TV programs, why is there problem for iphone?

the resolution of tv's these days is the same, 1920x1080 (it's hard to find 7200p sets these days). if apple decides to make a larger-screened phone, i can see them going this route of keeping the same number of pixels as the iphone 5 but making the pixels bigger.

 

[tjl3]

On a slightly tangential note, it would be nice not to have to buy two versions if an app too. This is popular in the gaming section, with the letters "HD" representing the iPad version. Seriously? I can either have a pixelated mess if I load the iPhone version, or fork over some more cash for the iPad version?

Or at least discount my second purchase!

 

[Abazigal]

It's also possible that Apple might introduce some super-retina display which simply doubles the pixels on each side (so 4xpixels for 2272x1280 resolution).

This should preserve all existing iphone5 apps, but I can only imagine the battery drain and GPU strain, not to mention the costs of sourcing for such panels.

 

[TC03]

It's also possible that Apple might introduce some super-retina display which simply doubles the pixels on each side (so 4xpixels for 2272x1280 resolution).

This should preserve all existing iphone5 apps, but I can only imagine the battery drain and GPU strain, not to mention the costs of sourcing for such panels.

Exactly. This is what Tim Cook was referring to, imo.

 

[EZB]

As an app designer, having only one screen size to worry about makes things a lot easier. Apple has done a lot to preserve the sanctity of its app ecosystem and I believe that this is why iOS apps have better quality and quantity.

Obviously we are used to designing for multiple screens with android and even for iOS we have to make some minor adjustments based on retina vs non. and the taller screen (though most non game apps easily adjust to the taller 4" screen)

Does anyone have any good suggestions or speculations on how apple could increase the size of the iphone screen without creating a major headache for developers? For example if they simply went with a 4.7" 16:9 screen, how would the math work for developers to quickly and easily update their apps (while also supporting multiple sizes) without having to completely redesign and recode them?

IOS 7 will probably support dynamic screen sizing, so then developers can write applications without screen size being taken into account. The iteration of iPhone AFTER dynamic screen sizing will be the one with a bigger screen.

 

[TyPod]

IOS 7 will probably support dynamic screen sizing, so then developers can write applications without screen size being taken into account. The iteration of iPhone AFTER dynamic screen sizing will be the one with a bigger screen.

This would be really nice and way more convenient. Hope this ends up becoming true!