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Larger iPhone 6, 'iPad Pro' and iWatch Could Tap New Display Sizes in Development
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I never said that. I merely stated my personal preference. Obviously, choice is a good thing for the consumer. However, if they were marketing to me solely, I would prefer they put their effort into minimizing the form factor rather than increasing the screen size.
Of course it's marketing BS. But it explains why things are a certain way. I'm not saying this is all great, but it helps in understanding why Apple doesn't do X and why product Y doesn't support Z.
No doubt. I understand the money aspect and having multiple sizes would probably be an expensive manufacturing exercise. If they do go larger, I guess I can stay with the 5S for as long as possible, but do know that somewhere down the road it is most likely inevitable I will have to go to larger size if that is Apple's future for the iPhone.
I just so like the size right now of the 5 & 5S. Nice pocket and hand size for someone smaller in stature.
...at times. It isn't a blanket statement that covers everything they do for every reason they have. Like in our current screen size situation, the major reason why I believe we're not seeing a larger iPhone is because Apple relies mostly on bitmaps for their GUI, and would require developers to have a specific layout with a specific set of icons for every screen size, which would end up being too much work for everyone making iOS apps for multiple devices.
This is the one thing MS does better with Metro than Google does with Android, and Apple does with iOS. Metro uses vectors for everything, which means its near infinitely scalable to any screen size. While there's still some work involved getting the best user experience for every sized device, it doesn't require comparatively as much work to do it.
Apple might have vectors figured into the future, though. I think it might be the one major reason why they've gone flat, as simpler, bold colored icons are easier to design with vectors.
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Which leads back to my original statement. If I like most things Apple does over the competition, but not everything, why can't I voice my opinion about the things I don't like?
Here is what apple needs to look at :
* Satisfying its extremely large user base
* Growing in established apple strongholds
* Entering newer markets
* Growing in emerging markets
The apple user base is also not united..There are plenty of folks i know that would like a larger form factor..and may perhaps switch to other OEM's if not given one by the time their iphone 5 replacement cycle comes around. Then their are others (that you refer to the majority ) that are perfectly happy with the current size and just want a refreshed design that upgrades the technology inside..
Even in markets such as the US where apple has a stronghold, the smartphone market is constantly evolving and growing in scope (if not also in size)..Newer products from different OEM's offer different expereinces and people's taste, expectations and requirements often change over time and so does their distribution of time on their various devices..We are seeing a shift from PHC's to tabs and Phones for example..This shift will continue to gain momentum. As this happens user habbits will change and so will their expectations. Its always advisable for OEM's to keep a tab on the pulse of the market and see where it is heading..in fact they are supposed to be a couple of steps ahead and predict the direction the market is going to take years down the road.
As apple enters new market it of course has to see how to sell its products over there and also what sort of expectations that market has from its electronic devices. If the market is large and lucrative enough (such as the one in CHINA) then apple must cater to it, either by incorporating their requirements into its existing designs or offering newer stuff that is more catered to their demands and preferences.
Having said that, Apple has traditionally been a company that has not looked at consumers in the same way as others..Their approach as been to see what the public and consumer base would really WANT ( which at times is different from what they say they want)..Go on and develop the breakthrough technology required for it and then show the customers and win them over...Your average consumer could probably not predict the way the IPAD would shape his/her life until they made it, showed it and until he/she bought it..That consumer would probably have been asking for a cheaper laptop or a more impressive phone if you took a poll
... Those that are invested in the back end, in technology and know where technology trends are headed have that ability to predict more accurately than your average consumer..For us the iWatch may seem like a niche product given how little people wear watches now..However we may change our mind if we actually see what R&D efforts apple has going on and what features they are incorporating into the actual device..I may not want an iWatch based on what i see from competition, but if apple blows me away with features that i would actualy benefit from, i'd spend the cash and buy one..Thats what happened with the tablet or the iPod. So in my opinion its not about what apple thinks their customers want interms of screen size that drives them, but what CAPABILITY and EXPEREINCE they can deliver at a larger screen size that will get their customers to run and accept the added real estate on their device...Crack those feature sets and forms and apple would have become the 1 phablet maker in the world..and in doing so "Lit" up the entire phablet category and added a substantial customer base for its mobile devices.
Their is no reason apple needs to ditch the sub 5 inch form factor..a 4 inch or 4.5 inch phone can perfectly co-exist with the iPhab..
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Wait..... so your question is- why doesn't Apple source the EXACT identical screen in both size and resolution as what will then be Samsung's last gen phone???
Ummm... if indeed serious, the answer is: because they have an ounce of creativity.
Vectors wouldn't have been practical on the original iPhone hardware. Apple got a headstart by making some compromises.
But the use of bitmaps only complicates things when it comes to screen density. If those new devices don't go over 324 PPI, the same bitmaps/buttons can be used.
The problem holding the release of a larger iPhone as more to do with resolution (and thus size) than PPI.
What held Apple up is the lack of auto-layout APIs until iOS6, and the fact that many devs don't even use them now as they were used for many years to deal with a limited number of fixed size screens on iOS.
It was an advantage for developers and helped the Appstore flourish since they didn't have to care about making flexible layouts, but it's become a problem now for many reasons (Apple won't stay at 3.5"/4"/7.9"/9.7" forever)
I think this year will be the ultimate push in that direction and we may even see those devices unveiled at WWDC as an incentive to developpers to make use of those APIs.
I have been waiting for a bigger screen for ages, but it begs several questions.
How will Apple take advantage of the extra screen real-estate? With a 12-inch iPad on the way, hopefully iOS8 will bring some large screen advantages such as multi-screen apps or live previews of apps on the home page.
Also, this is the year we will finally see iWatch in person and I cannot wait!
How will Apple take advantage of the extra screen real-estate? With a 12-inch iPad on the way, hopefully iOS8 will bring some large screen advantages such as multi-screen apps or live previews of apps on the home page.
Also, this is the year we will finally see iWatch in person and I cannot wait!
Because your idea of a phone would ruin the experience of those who prefer
smaller screen sizes, even though alot of people here think it won't.
People get defensive about that stuff. But seriously fragmentation sucks, I assume you think it's something that sucks on android. Why would you want apple to bring that to their devices.
Oh, my bad...
Gosh, you must NOT be a troll. I mean.... sure you just started name-calling after a SINGLE reply from me & sure that reply was based on your pompous and douchey "thanks" post that you had, pretending like you didn't understand the previous poster's sarcastic "have fun" reply to your also pompous & douchey brag post about your Android phone which you love so much, lol.
You are a joke that writes itself! =) thank you!!!
agreed
I have a friend who has a Moto X. It is only very slightly larger than my 5S yet has a much larger screen. Apple can put a larger screen on without making the phone physically huge. I don't like the curved back on the X (I'm a frequent table typer) but it seems like a nice phone, especially in the screen size / physical size ratio.
I have a friend who has a Moto X. It is only very slightly larger than my 5S yet has a much larger screen. Apple can put a larger screen on without making the phone physically huge. I don't like the curved back on the X (I'm a frequent table typer) but it seems like a nice phone, especially in the screen size / physical size ratio.
Agreed! I thought it was exciting there was a company that got a FDA approved case for the 4S that would record an irregular heartbeat.....
Now, what if your iWatch could do that?
If apple has "still got it" then their seriousness into wearables seems to suggests that their are ready to take over this market and blow the expectations..Not many would believe in the 90's that apple would be so large based on a Portable Music player and One phone (device)..That is of course if apple still has that ability to develop amazing products that light product categories on fire..2014 promises new category launches for apple..and shareholders, investors and markets are all eager to see whether apple's still has that touch
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Hardly. According to Google's Android Developer Dashboard, 78% of Android devices run using the "Normal" screen size range of 3.5 inches to 4.3 inches.
Couple that with the best single selling smartphone world wide being Apple's flagship iPhone and iPhone total sales topping 150M units last year, then I would say that you are in the majority when it comes to screen size preference.
Hard to stomach? It's barely noticible and doesn't affect the portablity much at all.