iPhone 5 to Use a 4-Inch Screen?

[MattInOz]

Apple isn't going to change the aspect ratio. That will cause a poostorm of gargantuan proportions amongst app store developers.

Apps are already expected to allow for any number of changes to the length of screen as it is. So if the physical screen gets longer then apps won't get called upon to squeeze themselves up to allow for that stuff. The keyboard will seem like it takes less space. Lots of apps will need very little change, assuming Apple doesn't just reserve the space for system stuff like full time status bar or a mini dock (both in white on black, with red attention, I hope).

Hey if the Dev's aren't earning enough money to make a minor update like this maybe they rethink their product.

Although if they do kill the home button I hope they use a screen with a transmissive mode so the screen can still be visible without the backlight on.

 

[apolloa]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DON'T DO IT APPLE

I personally would love a 4" screen BBUUUUUTTTTTTTT it cannot be possible without making the phone larger.... AND I DON'T WANT A TABLET PC I WANT A PHONE.

4.2, 4.3, 4.5, Christ, may as well go to 5" screens on phones, why not. How about giving people something useful like a camera that works better, it's a hell of a lot more bloody useful then a big screen and therefore massive slab in your pocket.
Sorry but if the next one is 4" and therefore a bigger device I will not be buying it. 4" ONLY and I mean ONLY if the phone has the EXACT same measurements as the current iPhone 4.

I am reeeeeaaaaallllllyyyyyyyy getting seriously fed up with all these utterly pointless and stupid screen sizes and resulting massive slabs of a phone. The manufacturers have not got any Jo publics interests in mind, they are all just having one massive willy waving contest with each other, Super AMOLEDS this, Retina that, Reality the other etc etc etc etc.
PLEASE STOP IT.
Just remember it's a mobile phone, DON'T make a bloody tablet AND a massive mobile phone, what is the point?? And as for dual core, STOP IT THERE!!! Whilst tech is great, again it's a frigin phone note a device competing with an Alienware desktop!!! Keep all that quad core to the tablets, I like to have a battery so I can actually use my phone feature! Not get wasted in heat showing some way OTT interface or 3D screen powering some utterly pointless 2ghz quad core processor! My finger only swipes the screen so fast!!

Sorry for the rant but all I can see at MWC is totally and utterly pointless tech that has no practical uses what so ever. Keep it in the tablets, a phone is a phone, it may save your life one day and will never do it with the battery dying every 5 mins powering all this over powered tech.

 

[Thex1138]

Perhaps you are describing something like this? AKA 16x9 display.

I like the look, but I'm dubious.

Yes, that's what I mean... 16:9

It is a stretch but I doubt also they will move away from the current face configuration since the current face is winning buyers.
The idea is simply to remove the home button and replace with either an extended touch screen or active bezel.

Major generational design changes I would hazard after iPhone 5[G].

 

[DDustiNN]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DON'T DO IT APPLE

I personally would love a 4" screen BBUUUUUTTTTTTTT it cannot be possible without making the phone larger.... AND I DON'T WANT A TABLET PC I WANT A PHONE.

4.2, 4.3, 4.5, Christ, may as well go to 5" screens on phones, why not. How about giving people something useful like a camera that works better, it's a hell of a lot more bloody useful then a big screen and therefore massive slab in your pocket.
Sorry but if the next one is 4" and therefore a bigger device I will not be buying it. 4" ONLY and I mean ONLY if the phone has the EXACT same measurements as the current iPhone 4.

I am reeeeeaaaaallllllyyyyyyyy getting seriously fed up with all these utterly pointless and stupid screen sizes and resulting massive slabs of a phone. The manufacturers have not got any Jo publics interests in mind, they are all just having one massive willy waving contest with each other, Super AMOLEDS this, Retina that, Reality the other etc etc etc etc.
PLEASE STOP IT.
Just remember it's a mobile phone, DON'T make a bloody tablet AND a massive mobile phone, what is the point?? And as for dual core, STOP IT THERE!!! Whilst tech is great, again it's a frigin phone note a device competing with an Alienware desktop!!! Keep all that quad core to the tablets, I like to have a battery so I can actually use my phone feature! Not get wasted in heat showing some way OTT interface or 3D screen powering some utterly pointless 2ghz quad core processor! My finger only swipes the screen so fast!!

Sorry for the rant but all I can see at MWC is totally and utterly pointless tech that has no practical uses what so ever. Keep it in the tablets, a phone is a phone, it may save your life one day and will never do it with the battery dying every 5 mins powering all this over powered tech.

I feel the exact same way. The iPhone 4's size is perfect. Anything bigger is just annoying to have in your pocket. Therefore, if the physical size of the next iPhone is bigger, I will not be buying.

 

[apolloa]

I feel the exact same way. The iPhone 4's size is perfect. Anything bigger is just annoying to have in your pocket. Therefore, if the physical size of the next iPhone is bigger, I will not be buying.

When I got my iPhone 3GS it was at a push cause of it's size! I jumped at the iPhone 4 cause of it's better spec but also it's thinner frame, they are going backwards making it wider and longer!

 

[TroyBoy30]

They can fit a 4 inch screen into the current iPhone 4. They don't have to make the phone larger! I want!

 

[apolloa]

They can fit a 4 inch screen into the current iPhone 4. They don't have to make the phone larger! I want!

Their is no proof anyone can do that because every device that has a 4" plus screen has a bezel. Of course I hope you are right but I cannot see this being true.

 

[Icaras]

Well said.

Much like the "hi-res" display option on my 2010 15" MBP.

It's the typical Apple marketing drivel. The screen is _not_ hi-res by industry standards.

It's only _medium_ resolution.

Fortunately I was aware of that fact when I bought it. Just look at how many years it took Apple to try & catch up to PC's and they still haven't. That proves a good con man can sell anything.

Apple loves to puff out it's chest like some parrot, when spewing marketing claims of it's magical gadgets.

It's no big deal as long as you don't fall for it. It's the poor people that believe it, that makes me despise Apples practices. Apple will mislead them at every opportunity.

Just think of how admired Apple & Jobs would be if they were ethical.

It's marketing, but there is signficant merit to it and your seemingly avoiding the facts. If you want to compare the jumps in specs, the "retina" display is a much larger and much more drastic jump than your Macbook Pro's "high-res" display from (let's call it) "standard res". You're Macbook Pro's "high res" display only jumps to 1650 x 1050 from 1440 x 900. Compare that to the iPhone 4 coming from the 3GS. The 3GS has a resolution of 480 x 320 and a PPI of 163 while the iPhone 4 doubles both numbers by going to 960 x 460 with a PPI of 326. Much much more of a drastic leap compared to the different screens of the Macbook Pros.

I'd also like if you could please point to me to other mobile smart phone handsets that actually match the iPhone 4's resolution currently. Even better, can you also name any competing handset that had this high of a resolution when the iPhone 4 first launched?

Also, screen resolution isn't everything when it comes to measuring quality of a display. And I don't know where you get thinking or assuming that apple displays are actually inferior to competitor's in it's class. I mean...Really? People may argue that Apple displays are overpriced, but they are of excellent build and quality compared to the myriad of PC counterparts in the market.

Before you feel like going down the troll lane that you seem so well accustomed to so far on these forums, it's at least best to know a bit more of the numbers and facts before puffing like a parrot yourself.

 

[msb3079]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DON'T DO IT APPLE

I personally would love a 4" screen BBUUUUUTTTTTTTT it cannot be possible without making the phone larger.... AND I DON'T WANT A TABLET PC I WANT A PHONE.

4.2, 4.3, 4.5, Christ, may as well go to 5" screens on phones, why not. How about giving people something useful like a camera that works better, it's a hell of a lot more bloody useful then a big screen and therefore massive slab in your pocket.
Sorry but if the next one is 4" and therefore a bigger device I will not be buying it. 4" ONLY and I mean ONLY if the phone has the EXACT same measurements as the current iPhone 4.

I am reeeeeaaaaallllllyyyyyyyy getting seriously fed up with all these utterly pointless and stupid screen sizes and resulting massive slabs of a phone. The manufacturers have not got any Jo publics interests in mind, they are all just having one massive willy waving contest with each other, Super AMOLEDS this, Retina that, Reality the other etc etc etc etc.
PLEASE STOP IT.
Just remember it's a mobile phone, DON'T make a bloody tablet AND a massive mobile phone, what is the point?? And as for dual core, STOP IT THERE!!! Whilst tech is great, again it's a frigin phone note a device competing with an Alienware desktop!!! Keep all that quad core to the tablets, I like to have a battery so I can actually use my phone feature! Not get wasted in heat showing some way OTT interface or 3D screen powering some utterly pointless 2ghz quad core processor! My finger only swipes the screen so fast!!

Sorry for the rant but all I can see at MWC is totally and utterly pointless tech that has no practical uses what so ever. Keep it in the tablets, a phone is a phone, it may save your life one day and will never do it with the battery dying every 5 mins powering all this over powered tech.

Even though you did freak out a bit.. I completely agree with you about it all.

YES.. it's a damn PHONE. Why would anyone want a phone bigger than the current iPhone?? It blows my mind. The Droid is a joke, IMO. It's HUGE.

And as far as the dual-core, quad-cores... I don't get it either. It's cool for the geeks to brag about... but again.. it's a damn PHONE.

 

[supasubu]

because 1.27cm (0.5 inches) is really that big of a difference... c'mon people

As for phones, size does matter.

It is easy to see why when bumping up an Evo and an iphone together watching the same movie. Not that Netflix is on Android yet...

 

[Funkymonk]

I have a 4" phone and wouldn't even mind up to a 4.5" screen. Then again I do have huge hands. I guess I can see why people won't like it. The current iphone is too small for me now that I've been spoiled by my 4" super amoled galaxy s. Sold the iphone 4 on craigslist.

 

[apolloa]

Even though you did freak out a bit.. I completely agree with you about it all.

YES.. it's a damn PHONE. Why would anyone want a phone bigger than the current iPhone?? It blows my mind. The Droid is a joke, IMO. It's HUGE.

And as far as the dual-core, quad-cores... I don't get it either. It's cool for the geeks to brag about... but again.. it's a damn PHONE.

haha, thanks. I think the quad core is just looking towards the future of what they want phones to become, tablets won't last long. I guess the phone is not a phone anymore, but 4" screen in the current iPhone frame is more then enough.

 

[Vulpinemac]

A slightly larger screen on the iPhone than what it currently has would be nice. It'd make it a little easier to use.

How is adding a mere 1/2" to the display going to make it any easier to use? All it's going to do is change the aspect ratio of the display or make the phone wider as well as longer if the current aspect ratio retained. It's not really going to add that much usable real estate on the display.

While I don't argue the possibility of such a change, the reasoning expressed by some people makes no sense. The simple suggestion that they're doing it to compete with the Android models is far more logical, though Apple isn't known for doing a 'me too' modification unless it's likely to have a visible effect on sales.

Personally, I also disagree that a smaller form factor for the iPad is in the works, but perhaps a 5" iPod Touch might be a possibility. Yes, I know many people consider the iPad nothing more than an oversized iPod Touch, but there are still things the iPad can do that the iPod Touch doesn't. Honestly, even 7" is too small for the purposes I use my iPad. In fact, I'll be using my iPad more this year than I did last--as the database manager I'm using is getting a much larger collection of data than it had.

Smaller? Honestly, I don't expect it. Larger? Much more likely. Adding capability to existing devices? Very likely.

 

[LoganT]

To the people who say that the iPhone is just a phone, why do you even own an iPhone then? You can get much cheaper options if you want "just a phone". Like it or not the iPhone is a mini computer. If it was just a phone, what would be the point in buying one?

 

[chrmjenkins]

Here is a link for your reading pleasure. According to Digitimes the iPhone 5 will have the A5 while the iPad 2 will have an "enhanced" A4 chip.

Thanks. I read that on my own not long after I made the initial post. I find the rumor questionable though.

Apps are already expected to allow for any number of changes to the length of screen as it is. So if the physical screen gets longer then apps won't get called upon to squeeze themselves up to allow for that stuff. The keyboard will seem like it takes less space. Lots of apps will need very little change, assuming Apple doesn't just reserve the space for system stuff like full time status bar or a mini dock (both in white on black, with red attention, I hope).

Hey if the Dev's aren't earning enough money to make a minor update like this maybe they rethink their product.

Although if they do kill the home button I hope they use a screen with a transmissive mode so the screen can still be visible without the backlight on.

Changing the aspect ratio would require a fundamental change for apps. It's not a quick pixel doubling like the iPhone 4 (which didn't change aspect ratio). Supporting two aspect ratios would be a problem. It'd be like maintaining an iphone app and an ipad app (which have different aspect ratios), but they were both actually for phones. The app store has proven that ipad/iphone counterpart apps aren't always on the same schedule.

 

[Burnt_Toast]

my vote

I would much rather them make "the five" peril-sensitive, kind of like my sunglasses.

Wraps itself tight in adamantium right before it hits the ground, when it's in my pocket, or someone other than myself tries to remove the sim card.

If you could get right on that jobby jobs, that'd be greeeat.

 

[Sedrick]

I'm sure Apple engineers are smart enough to make this work without MacHeads getting all worked up about resolution, scaling of apps etc.

Thank you! 100% agree.

I would LOVE a bigger screen!! but I don't know if i want a bigger device like the droids.

Why is everyone assuming Apple is going to make a big, honkin' phone like the Droid X? It's a monster! Apple is smarter than that.

Sorry, but no thanks.

I think the Galaxy S and HTC Desire HD look ridiculous as phones, and remember that while they are pocket computers, they are a PHONE first and foremost.

Seeing people hold these things to their head which look more like small tablets is almost amusing, and no wonder so many owners of these larger phones I see are using hands free kits to take calls.

You realize you're talking about (in some cases) less than a 1/4" difference in size don't you. Please don't exaggerate. a 4" screen makes the phone almost imperceptibly larger.

To the people who say that the iPhone is just a phone, why do you even own an iPhone then? You can get much cheaper options if you want "just a phone". Like it or not the iPhone is a mini computer. If it was just a phone, what would be the point in buying one?

Exactly. Makes you wonder why they bought a "smart phone" in the first place if they're just using if for the phone. I guess to play their music on. Don't need a larger screen for that, but anything else (games/web/image viewing) is painful at 3.5".

 

[birch25]

because 1.27cm (0.5 inches) is really that big of a difference... c'mon people

I had an iPod Touch for years and then bought a Galaxy S phone (with a 4 inch screen). My iPod now feels very cramped to me.

Keep in mind, the difference between a 3.5 and 4 inch screen is proportionally greater than the difference between a 15 and 17 inch Macbook Pro.

 

[eah2119]

I doubt it. Half an inch doesn't make a difference to many people. But I suppose if they're going to add in some multi touch gestures, like exiting an app, in turn getting rid of the home screen button, then they'll have to have a larger screen because I can't imagine trying to slide 3 or 4 fingers out to exit an app.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I had an iPod Touch for years and then bought a Galaxy S phone (with a 4 inch screen). My iPod now feels very cramped to me.

Keep in mind, the difference between a 3.5 and 4 inch screen is proportionally greater than the difference between a 15 and 17 inch Macbook Pro.

I doubt it. Half an inch doesn't make a difference to many people. But I suppose if they're going to add in some multi touch gestures, like exiting an app, in turn getting rid of the home screen button, then they'll have to have a larger screen because I can't imagine trying to slide 3 or 4 fingers out to exit an app.

Half an inch equals 1.7 more sq inches for the same screen size. It's a big difference.

 

[EazyWeazy3]

I wouldn't mind a bigger screen.

 

[AgDon]

The existing iPhone screen looks a little small compared to my HTC G2 (@ 3.7) not to mention all the other larger screens out.
I think the 4" would at least make it equal with the competition. It would be nice if they fit it in the existing size and style, with the 4" screen, that and maybe iOS5 and making it available on TMO makes it worth looking at for me.

 

[MattInOz]

Half an inch equals 1.7 more sq inches for the same screen size. It's a big difference.

Or an extra 4 lines(~28words) of text on screen in portrait mode.

 

[04mach1]

I wouldn't mind a bigger screen also.

 

[vrokolos]

Can someone photoshop an iphone with 4" widescreen, without home button and put the multitasking taskbar always visible at the bottom of the 4" while keeping the app resolution the same?