That is a different issue entirely.
Every major car manufacturer offers navigation systems now. If you want to lobby for car manufacturers to do away with anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road, be it navigation systems, HVAC controls, radio controls, etc, be my guest.
Well, I'm an 'old person' (62) and I certainly use my phone for more than phone calls and texting. In fact I rarely make calls. And the majority of my friends are the same. And yes, they are mostly 'old people'. Best be careful with stereotypes, you'll find you are wrong much of the time. Remember, it's us 'old people' who actually started the tech you currently use. We wrote the original code, did the original engineering, etc. Punch cards anyone??
As for me, I have a Lumia 920. The 4.5" screen is a sweet spot for me. I can use it pretty much one-handed and I'm a small woman. I'm also a small-purse woman so I don't like the really big phones.
One truth about most old people is that we do appreciate a larger screen because it's easier to see. The current iPhone is unusable for me because the screen is too small. I can easily surf, see and use my mapping app, etc on the 4.5" screen. The 920 is a bit heavy but that's mostly due to the wireless charging (which I really love and will probably be a 'must' for me from now on).
If Apple makes a larger phone I might actually consider one (especially if they include wireless charging, but we've heard no rumors towards that so far).
Those systems are usually well integrated in the cockpit and have ergonomic commands (more or less). Not like a smartphone somehow fixed on the windshield ...
What is your argument? Is it that people should keep their eyes on the road or is it that people should be using factory navigation systems as opposed to aftermarket ones?
The iPhone (and presumably other smarthphones as well) has a far superior user interface compared to all factory navigations systems I have ever used. For one, iOS understands and parses voice commands such as "directions to Central Park".
No thanks!!
iPhone 5 is perfect.
I think Apple should make 2" phones out of spite.
I feel like a phablet would just take away the need for people to buy an iPad Mini. I don't think larger displays for iPhones would really be necessary.
My point is that you don't really need a big display for a car navigator, bacause you should listen to voice indications rather than watch at the screen...
Sorry if I sounded offensive, I was just joking! What I was trying to say is that the only real appeal of such a big phone is that text/elements are bigger thus easier to see for those who have bad eyesight, which in itself doesn't really justify all the people saying that Apple need to make a bigger iPhone, I doubt so many people have bad eyesight.
And many people I know who do use the famous giant Samsung phones only use it for this one reason, and they don't even care about its features/design/etc... Which means that the phone will be successful with many people, even though it's not well designed and might not work as smoothly as it could.
Could you define me an "old person" at 42 ? Probably not, since I have a perfect visus , but surely I'm part of that generation who started all of this (not punch cards, but I started coding in assembler on Z80 class CPU ).
I just think you used a bad example for what a smartphone should be, since Nokia 920 is very huge and bulky for a 4.5" display.
You define an iPhone as "unusable" and you are perfectly happy with a display that is only marginally larger (0.5") ?
I could have understood you if you were speaking about a Note ...
I appreciate Nokia Lumia's. Actually I've got two (a 700 and a 620). I just said that the 920 is too big for such a "small" display. There are several 5" smartphones that are smaller (and lighter) than Lumia 920.Any definition of what a smartphone should be is subjective. You may not appreciate the Lumia and it's size but I assure you that extra .5" makes a huge difference in the experience. Yes, it's hefty and I originally thought it would be too heavy but it's not. It feels good on the hand. Sides are rounded making it easy to hold yet my thumb can reach every part of the screen so I do use it one-handed most of the time. The Note is too large for my preferred purse size.
I happen to agree with some here that bigger is not always better. Please note that I did say that 'for me, 4.5" is my sweet spot'. And I said the iPhone is unusable "for me". If you're going to quote me please don't take something out of context.
As for the definition of 'old' once again different people have their own ideas of 'old'. Personally I don't feel old nor think of myself as old but I'm quite aware that to anyone under 45 or so I seen old and to anyone under 30 I'm ancient. Sometimes I find it rewarding to remind the young that the current tech devices they all use didn't spring to life in 2007 when the iPhone came out. And that just because their parents/grandparents aren't familiar with the current tech not everyone of that generation is a Luddite.
I do have a habit of calling out people who use wide brushes to paint stereotypes. In my experience, those wide brushes are never very accurate.
Sorry if I sounded offensive, I was just joking! What I was trying to say is that the only real appeal of such a big phone is that text/elements are bigger thus easier to see for those who have bad eyesight, which in itself doesn't really justify all the people saying that Apple need to make a bigger iPhone, I doubt so many people have bad eyesight.
I appreciate Nokia Lumia's. Actually I've got two (a 700 and a 620). I just said that the 920 is too big for such a "small" display. There are several 5" smartphones that are smaller (and lighter) than Lumia 920.
I can't see how 0.5" could dramatically change your concept of what is usable and what is unusable, but I'm not going to argue your experience.
If I have to carry with me a device so hefty, I would like to have a bigger display to make a real difference. But my point is that I don't want such an huge device in my pocket
I really hope apple will be capable to fit a good 4.5-4.7" display in a body comparable with the actual iPhone (maybe just a tad larger).
It would be perfect for me.
Pleeeeeeeease make new software features to take advantage of the new screen size / resolution.
Nobody? Don't be stupid plenty of people want (and would buy) a bigger iPhone. I know I would for one. Even if they do make a bigger iPhone it will be an addition to and not a replacement for the current iPhones. So you can still have your 4" iPhone if you want and others can have a 4.9" iPhone if they want.
It makes sound business sense to diversify their iPhone range given how important it is to Apple. Half their revenues and profits come from the iPhone. They can't afford to drive away potential customers into the arms of their competitors. The future of Apple depends almost entirely on the future of the iPhone.
The only people who don't want Apple to make a bigger iPhone are Samsung and people with cainotophobia.
After 3-4 years with iPhones, this fall I didn't go on with the 5S, but went for an Xperia Z1 because I wanted a bigger screen and (first of all) because I wanted a better way to enter text, for me that is by using Swype.
After two months experence, I will say that the phone size is OK or just a bit too big: That is: I would have preferred a 4,7" screen, I think. (But rather 5" than 4", if only those sizes were the options.)
The main satisfaction is that Swype (and SwiftKey) option (set as default) is so much better for me as a keyboard for text input. IMO, that was the main drawback of the iPhone, in addition to the 4" screen being a bit too small for my liking.
If Apple will manufacture an iPhone with a 4,7" screen and also opens up for using for instance Swype as a default keyboard in the next iteration of the iPhone, there is a chance that I will return to an iOS unit.
Wait, one more thing...
The option of using a micro-sd card is so convenient. It's really a shame if Apple continues the policy of not having this option in future models either.
PS If they do decide to make a phablet who's to say they won't simply make a 6" iPad Nano or a bigger iPod.
I blame market data for this crap. Everyone is asked "do you want a bigger screen" and they always say yes immediately without thinking exactly what that means.
I for one wouldn't welcome a larger iPhone.
That depends on the market I suppose. Here in the North-East USA the iPhone has become the standard. Unless you're one of the gaming kids or live in the ghetto where bigger with more bling still seems to be better.
As a business tool the iPhone has replaced the Blackberry around here. Simple as that. And let me tell you: as such I still miss my little Blackberry. Not that the iPhone hasn't it's advantages but a few things are quite annoying. Large size/form factor being one of them. I had preferred a 4s if it had been fully compatible with T-Mobile.