How well does it work? Do people use it?
When I see people with 5''+ android phones they mostly use them two-handed, especially when typing.
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iPhone 6 to Support 'One-Handed Mode' to Address Usability on Larger Screens
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When I see people with 5''+ android phones they mostly use them two-handed, especially when typing.
Don't know how big your hands are but I can't access anything in the top 1/5th of my note 2 (especially the stuff at the far left) unless I'm using two hands or keeping the phone supported by other means. That includes the call logs and phone toggles in the phone app. Any app icons in the top row. And most importantly, the notification bar. Any attempt to reach the top portion of the screen single handedly weakens my grip considerably.
As bad as the idea for a "single handed mode" sounds, it's an absolute necessity for phones with screens bigger than 5 inches. Maybe some of you giants don't need it I for one welcome any feature which allows me to use the phone single handedly without loosing my grip.
And those of you claiming apple is copying samsung/android, in my 18 months with note 2 I haven't found a single thing worth copying as far as one handed use modes are concerned. Yeah, you can shrink the keyB and move it closes to one side of the phone but it requires you to go into the settings, one handed operation and then tick the keyB option. Again, not something you can do easily one handed (shortcut to settings is in notif bar.... at the top of the screen). And to turn it back to normal size, you have to follow the same procedure again. That's a half assed solution.
I really hope if apple puts in such half asses measures as well, they do get used by samsung. They'd deserve it!
You really must have huge hands (atleast compared to me). I can't reach the other end of the screen without loosing my grip completely.
keyboard is not everything. I have no experience with android phones but on ios you often need to reach all the way across diagonally to get to some UI elements (in Mail, Safari, itunes, notification center etc). All of this would have to be redone if the goal is to maintain full one-handed operation without some special mode. I don't see it. I think it's pretty much a choice between a bigger screen and a complete one-handed operation and you have to sacrifice one or the other.
Well, it's not a necessity for us with both of our hands still functioning. I'd wager that amputees and other one-armed buyers are such a small minority that it doesn't make much sense to cater specifically for their needs. It is a shame for those people, no doubt, but the business just ain't there.
I see the smart phone as a hub for all sorts of needs. If at a particular moment I need one handed use I could see the option as being a very useful mode. I always see such dramatic responses from these forums as if this wasn't a rumors site and treating all of the articles as fact! Give Apple a moment to show what they will do, I personally think they have a track record of taking their time and doing it right.
Also, if it's an option, just don't use it! It's like not liking cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving and being pissed it's on the table because other people may want to have it.
Also, if it's an option, just don't use it! It's like not liking cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving and being pissed it's on the table because other people may want to have it.
I've never used it on either my Note 3 or my S5 (apart from having a look at it when I first got the devices) - personally I think it's gimmicky and unnecessary - I can make / take calls one handed and anything else is far easier two handed anyway
I'm disappointed about even having the 4.7-inch screen, but that's the limit for me. Even the 4-inch is oversized to me; I LOVED the 3.5-inch. That was the perfect size for a phone. Just today I saw someone talking on one of those giant-ass Samsung phones and it looked absolutely ridiculous.
All I can think of when I see those things is Steve Jobs' Macworld demo of podcasting in Garageband. "The next iPod is going to be HUGE! An 8-pounder with a 10-inch screen":
And 7-8 years later, that joke that everyone laughed at is now close to reality.
Junk like what? Something you haven't even seen or tried yet, may or may not exist, and is likely optional?
Junk like a "one-handed mode". If you need a special mode just to make the device usable, that's a giant fail. This isn't an "answer to Apple's own previous criticism of large-screen phones", as the OP says; it's actually confirmation of it.
I'm disappointed about even having the 4.7-inch screen, but that's the limit for me. Even the 4-inch is oversized to me; I LOVED the 3.5-inch. That was the perfect size for a phone. Just today I saw someone talking on one of those giant-ass Samsung phones and it looked absolutely ridiculous.
All I can think of when I see those things is Steve Jobs' Macworld demo of podcasting in Garageband. "The next iPod is going to be HUGE! An 8-pounder with a 10-inch screen":
Image
And 7-8 years later, that joke that everyone laughed at is now close to reality.
Junk like a "one-handed mode". If you need a special mode just to make the device usable, that's a giant fail. This isn't an "answer to Apple's own previous criticism of large-screen phones", as the OP says; it's actually confirmation of it.
I wish Apple would make 3 versions of the iPhone to please everyone. Sony seems to have got it kinda right since they have the compact Z line which has top tier specs in a mid sized phone.
Mad Mac Maniac
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This is exactly the type of thing I imagined when I read this article. I can't really imagine Apple changing much else in the UI for "one handed mode" besides rearranging the keyboard.
Don't know how big your hands are but I can't access anything in the top 1/5th of my note 2 (especially the stuff at the far left) unless I'm using two hands or keeping the phone supported by other means. That includes the call logs and phone toggles in the phone app. Any app icons in the top row. And most importantly, the notification bar. Any attempt to reach the top portion of the screen single handedly weakens my grip considerably.
As bad as the idea for a "single handed mode" sounds, it's an absolute necessity for phones with screens bigger than 5 inches. Maybe some of you giants don't need it I for one welcome any feature which allows me to use the phone single handedly without loosing my grip.
And those of you claiming apple is copying samsung/android, in my 18 months with note 2 I haven't found a single thing worth copying as far as one handed use modes are concerned. Yeah, you can shrink the keyB and move it closes to one side of the phone but it requires you to go into the settings, one handed operation and then tick the keyB option. Again, not something you can do easily one handed (shortcut to settings is in notif bar.... at the top of the screen). And to turn it back to normal size, you have to follow the same procedure again. That's a half assed solution.
I really hope if apple puts in such half asses measures as well, they do get used by samsung. They'd deserve it!
You really must have huge hands (atleast compared to me). I can't reach the other end of the screen without loosing my grip completely.
Damn, it sounds like I may need to grab someone else's hand for comparison. I'm a goalkeeper and I've always had smaller hands than most other keepers. I guess their hands must be just freakishly huge then
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That's a good point. iPhone's only have a home button. Android devices have ever-present back buttons at the bottom of (or below) the screen, which differs in the case of iOS apps which are usually placed at the top left of the screen.
Good shout. Didn't think about that.
This may be true but because Apple just never copies someone but makes it even better..
I don't think they will just increase the phone size...they will add something else to make that size comfortable to everyone.
BUT I also believe there will be many these rumors around features are going to be wrong...
I don't think they will just increase the phone size...they will add something else to make that size comfortable to everyone.
BUT I also believe there will be many these rumors around features are going to be wrong...
How so? I'd think it'd be worse for one handed use. And it doesn't address limited reach.
Personally, I think the custom keyboard will be a bust. Android desperately needed it and even then only a small percentage of users installed them. The iPhone keyboard was always pretty good out of the gate so I don't see it being a popular feature long-term unless somebody comes out with something that's an order of magnitude better than Apple's.
I believe the swipe to go back feature was introduced in ios7 (one of my favorite features, btw) in anticipation of larger screen iPhones. No need to awkwardly move your thumb to the lower or upper corner of the screen to hit a small target. Just swipe anywhere from the left side of the screen to the right... Feels so much more natural.
This won't solve all the issues, but it helps with one of the more frequent actions.
I don't use the phone and drive. I really don't care to kill a person, ruin my car, lose my insurance, etc.
Wait, did you miss the entire concept of swiping on the left edge of the screen in iOS 7 to go back in Mail, Safari and iTunes so you wouldn't have to extend your reach to the top left corner of the phone?
iOS 7 was already built with a bigger iPhone in mind.
back button is not the only thing that sits in the top left corner (I never mentioned it btw). "store" in itunes", "directions" arrow in Maps, "Groups" in Contacts and so on are all in that corner. this is present in almost every app.
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Luckily I am 6'8" and my hands are large. So the 5.5 should feel for me like the 5S on a normal person.
When I saw this comparison picture, I thought the iPhone 6 would come in 3 sizes. It would be the perfect solution. No one would be whining. I'd take the 4" variant.
Oh, and it's also not just about using with one hand. I also want to put it in and take it out of my side pocket easily.
Oh, and it's also not just about using with one hand. I also want to put it in and take it out of my side pocket easily.
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I played with my coworkers Note 3 today. Huge phone, for sure. I don't think I will even consider the 5.5" iPhone. 4.7" seems good to me.
For me, one handed use with his phone was really hard, but the issue wasn't really the size of the screen and ability to reach the buttons, but it's because I couldn't hold on to the damn thing. Seems 2 hands are needed just to hold it, and not drop it.
For me, one handed use with his phone was really hard, but the issue wasn't really the size of the screen and ability to reach the buttons, but it's because I couldn't hold on to the damn thing. Seems 2 hands are needed just to hold it, and not drop it.
What About Prices?
I suspected that 4.7" iPhone will remain the same price at $649 unlocked or $199 subsidized. For the 5.5" version if it happens, the price maybe over $100 higher. I'm pretty positive that it'll be at least $349 (not $299 as speculated) for the cheapest version (may pump to 32GB or still 16GB). So here is my predictions:
4.7" version:
16GB/32GB/64GB- $649/$749/$849 or $199/$299/$399 subsidized.
5.5" version (if happened):
16GB/32GB/64GB- $799/$899/$999 or $349/$449/$549 subsidized
And predicted price for the old ones:
5S version:
16GB/32GB- $99/$199 subsidized.
5C version:
16GB only - $0 subsidized.
Bottom line, Apple would not break $1000 barrier for a unlocked phone.
I suspected that 4.7" iPhone will remain the same price at $649 unlocked or $199 subsidized. For the 5.5" version if it happens, the price maybe over $100 higher. I'm pretty positive that it'll be at least $349 (not $299 as speculated) for the cheapest version (may pump to 32GB or still 16GB). So here is my predictions:
4.7" version:
16GB/32GB/64GB- $649/$749/$849 or $199/$299/$399 subsidized.
5.5" version (if happened):
16GB/32GB/64GB- $799/$899/$999 or $349/$449/$549 subsidized
And predicted price for the old ones:
5S version:
16GB/32GB- $99/$199 subsidized.
5C version:
16GB only - $0 subsidized.
Bottom line, Apple would not break $1000 barrier for a unlocked phone.
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