Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
New iPhone Form Factors Coming Soon?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Computers and phones isn't the same thing. I could see them doing it with the iPad since its a computer but I honestly can't see them doing it with the iPhone. Might they change the size of the screen for the next iPhone? Yes. Will they sell two models with different screen sizes? No.
You are saying that for everything apart from the iPhone, having more than one type of model is necessary. But, for the iPhone, it'll be doomed to failure?
Why?
I think that apple's past success in expanding their ranges, specifically with iPods, has been their ability to market different models slightly differently. Look at the ipod mini, essentially the same as the original iPod, only smaller, but marketed as a cool new apple product in different colours that is more affordable. I don't see any reason why this strategy cannot be applied to phones. They wouldn't really have to do very much at all for this to work apart from make a good quality product. New apple product = hype = sales. I think that this is more true now than it ever has been.
Apps all run in the same format and screen size. Even the new retina display is only an enlargement of the original format, but shown at the higher resolution. Apps running on the iPad run at the native format, or specifically for the iPad format, which is different code.
If Apple introduced a different sized screen, that would be a pain to the installed base and app developer. For this reason, I don't think it is true.
If Apple introduced a different sized screen, that would be a pain to the installed base and app developer. For this reason, I don't think it is true.
I'm not saying its a necessity I'm just saying Apple's curve of sales is going up while Nokia and other manufactures are losing sales with the model suggested in the article.
I'm not saying Apple couldn't pull it of, maybe they can I'm just saying I'm skeptical of this report. That's all
If Shaw Wu _ever_ gets a prediction about an Apple product right, the world will come to an end and the universe will implode.
Is it not possible that perhaps you could have a smaller screen with a higher pixel density than the 3G and thus the same resolution in order to prevent this issue?
I'm not saying its a necessity I'm just saying Apple's curve of sales is going up while Nokia and other manufactures are losing sales with the model suggested in the article.
I'm not saying Apple couldn't pull it of, maybe they can I'm just saying I'm skeptical of this report. That's all
You are pulling figures out of thin-air. Where is your proof that the reason Nokia and other manufactures aren't doing well is because they have more than one type of phone?
I vote for a iPhone shuffle you clip to your chest. When you receive a call, you just tap it to answer and it goes on speaker. When you want to make a copy, you tap it and with voice commands you can call someone from your call list. I saw a prototype used on a famous TV sci-fi series and it seemed to work really well.
Another idea is the tricorder iPhone series that is 7 inches and you can cram additional capabilities and include a strap to place around your shoulder. It could be light enough to hold with one hand and have the other hand free for a weapon.
Another idea is the tricorder iPhone series that is 7 inches and you can cram additional capabilities and include a strap to place around your shoulder. It could be light enough to hold with one hand and have the other hand free for a weapon.
I can see at least one good reason to have another model of some form:
As an excuse to do a model release halfway during the year.
Currently during the Jan-Jun period, iPhone buyers can only choose from a single model that's six to eleven months "old", with a fairly static price.
Compare that to say, Android buyers, who always seem to have a choice of getting the latest and greatest if they want, or even buy an older model with a possibly nice discount.
Last year, Android ate iPhone sales during the above period. No doubt it will happen again this Winter and Spring. That's a LONG time to be number two (or three) in sales each year. A second iPhone model could change that.
I'm not saying I think they will do this, but it makes sales sense.
As an excuse to do a model release halfway during the year.
Currently during the Jan-Jun period, iPhone buyers can only choose from a single model that's six to eleven months "old", with a fairly static price.
Compare that to say, Android buyers, who always seem to have a choice of getting the latest and greatest if they want, or even buy an older model with a possibly nice discount.
Last year, Android ate iPhone sales during the above period. No doubt it will happen again this Winter and Spring. That's a LONG time to be number two (or three) in sales each year. A second iPhone model could change that.
I'm not saying I think they will do this, but it makes sales sense.
Multiple screen sizes would throw a wrench into the simplicity of apps that fit one form factor.
I do think there will be potential to include some really awesome OLED screen tech that could increase visual real estate in the iPhone in the next few years, though.
I do think there will be potential to include some really awesome OLED screen tech that could increase visual real estate in the iPhone in the next few years, though.
A 4" iPhone would probably replace the 3.5" model so all the current apps would run on it no problem. It might require some tweaking for some apps but the upside is you get to update your app and sell it again.
If they build an iPhone with the same size screen as the iPod Nano then they could invite developers to develop mini-apps for that size screen to be used on the iPod Nano and iPhone Nano, creating a new AppStore category. Would be a huge market and very attractive to developers of news/info related apps.
If they build an iPhone with the same size screen as the iPod Nano then they could invite developers to develop mini-apps for that size screen to be used on the iPod Nano and iPhone Nano, creating a new AppStore category. Would be a huge market and very attractive to developers of news/info related apps.
Thats what I would think would be most likely if there was to be a smaller iPhone. As a developer, I just can't see Apple adding two new iPhone sizes. They can't just make the screen smaller as it may make some buttons/UI elements unusable. They could probably go to 4" and keep the same resolution, but at a loss of ppi. 3.5" is great because you can use it with one hand.
In my eyes a phone that has a screen as small as the nano would not be a great idea or success. Even making the screen slightly smaller introduces a real difficulty in regards to the keyboard. Even if the screen is the same resolution as the original iPhone, a smaller physical size would make typing extremely difficult. I would love to see some sort of physical keyboard implementation, say a slide form factor like the palm pre, but this is very non-apple and I would be astonished if they went down that route.
A smaller phone is however a very interesting proposition for me, I personally would like to go smaller not bigger as i have my iPad for anything that would be a pain on a small screen. Having had features like sat nav, music, Internet, email etc I couldn't forgoe these in the search for a smaller form factor though so a compromise between the two would be nice. Just my thoughts and probably as likely to come true as this Wu chap's predictions, ie guessing.
I hate analysts.... Always have... Always will.......
The fact that these morons are paid massive amounts of money and see shameful gain in bonuses every year for what??? Making **** up and putting it out in a press release and foolish rich people, aka "investors", actually listen to these ramblings....
Where's the PUKE button?
The fact that these morons are paid massive amounts of money and see shameful gain in bonuses every year for what??? Making **** up and putting it out in a press release and foolish rich people, aka "investors", actually listen to these ramblings....
Where's the PUKE button?
Okay... but look at the Android operating system... they ask developers to adjust their apps to every new Android phone that comes out, because the OS is slightly different depending on the phone. Asking them to change the resolution of their apps is not too big of a deal in comparison.
i welcome a diverse lineup
let's be honest, taking the 3GS out of the equation finally and replacing it with a lower-end or even just a smaller iPhone 4 with a larger size model would be nice change. a smaller model would appeal to many customers who are constantly outdoors, athletic, or would simply welcome the smaller size to fit in skinny jeans. plus a lower price point would make it accessible to many more customers who find the $199 and $299 just out of their reach. a larger iPhone 4 with a potential OLED screen, larger storage capacity, even better camera system (front, back, or both), higher quality and louder speakers, and maybe even a scaled down version of the iWork apps, would appeal to gamers, hardcore Apple fans, businessmen and women, families, and entrepreneurs. don't doubt the appeal of a little change in size...
let's be honest, taking the 3GS out of the equation finally and replacing it with a lower-end or even just a smaller iPhone 4 with a larger size model would be nice change. a smaller model would appeal to many customers who are constantly outdoors, athletic, or would simply welcome the smaller size to fit in skinny jeans. plus a lower price point would make it accessible to many more customers who find the $199 and $299 just out of their reach. a larger iPhone 4 with a potential OLED screen, larger storage capacity, even better camera system (front, back, or both), higher quality and louder speakers, and maybe even a scaled down version of the iWork apps, would appeal to gamers, hardcore Apple fans, businessmen and women, families, and entrepreneurs. don't doubt the appeal of a little change in size...
No no, I'm not saying that's why but thats their business model and its not working.
Because now Android with a range of sizes is eating iPhone sales.
Go into a Best Buy and look at all the Androids with larger screens, and some with smaller screens and lower prices. Apple needs to compete with that...
Off topic, but I've worked for Toyota for 13 years. I have a relative that has owned a BP station for several years. (Well, Marathon, now.) There is such thing a bad publicity.
But, I know, its a popular and almost true expression, I'm just being a butthead!