Next-Generation iPhone to Use Thinner In-Cell Technology for Multi-Touch Display?

[d0vr]

No more iPhone rumors until all the new Macs are released.

Pah! I'm only here for iPod classic rumors! Bring on the new iPod classics...

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It will.

It better -.- Hehe.

 

[duffman9000]

Well, for me a handheld device suffers if it's too thin to hold comfortably, safely. Like the iPod touch for example. Thats just way too thin for my liking. not to mention Apple keeps using very slippery materials with very little grip.

Every time someone asks for a thinner iPhone I direct them to use an iPod touch. I swear that thing was designed to slip from your hands.

 

[Rogifan]

How is it that the iPad got thicker (I know it's barely noticeable) yet the iPhone is going to be thinner? Especially when there's a 99% likelihood the new iPhone will be an LTE phone?

 

[LaWally]

Pah! I'm only here for iPod classic rumors! Bring on the new iPod classics...

Now that would be sweet indeed ...

 

[iEnvy]

I just want to see the damn thing so I can drool

 

[CFreymarc]

I am afraid that the iPhone 5 will probably won't be available in May.

They are trying to get it out for Christmas. If all of these supply notices are true, then they signed off on the final production design and are building them for warehousing over the summer. Will be a fun one again!

 

[bushido]

i really dont get the trend of making everything thin thin thin. i rather have amazing features or improved battery life. isnt it thin enough as it is? the samsung galaxy s2 is already too thin for me, feels weird to hold but thats just me

 

[gri]

I just want to see the damn thing so I can drool

Here, start with drooling
http://wondrouspics.com/iphone-5-concept-leaked-expected-design/

 

[D.T.]

How is it that the iPad got thicker (I know it's barely noticeable) yet the iPhone is going to be thinner? Especially when there's a 99% likelihood the new iPhone will be an LTE phone?

Probably a combination of a lower powered LTE chip for the next iPhone as well as a less radical resolution increase (if any) both of which wouldn’t require a huge battery, which I understand is the reason for most (all?) of the iPad 3rd size increase.

 

[Moonjumper]

Every time someone asks for a thinner iPhone I direct them to use an iPod touch. I swear that thing was designed to slip from your hands.

I just tried holding my first gen iPod touch as a phone and it felt fine except for an overly sharp edge. The thickness was not a problem. Much more comfortable than my iPhone 4 without a bumper.

The iPod touch could perhaps do with a slightly textured finish for more grip, but that applies to most Apple products, especially their USB connectors.

 

[Ugg]

I just tried holding my first gen iPod touch as a phone and it felt fine except for an overly sharp edge. The thickness was not a problem. Much more comfortable than my iPhone 4 without a bumper.

The iPod touch could perhaps do with a slightly textured finish for more grip, but that applies to most Apple products, especially their USB connectors.

If it weren't for the case on my iPod Touch, it would be unusable. It's too thin and too slippery. I also dislike the sharp edge of the iPod Touch and the iPad. Jonathan Ive is way more interested in how they look as opposed to how user friendly they are. It will be interesting to see if usability continues to take a back seat to design.

 

[Pakaku]

Every time someone asks for a thinner iPhone I direct them to use an iPod touch. I swear that thing was designed to slip from your hands.

iPhones are no less slippery

 

[enfanteribl]

No where has it been stated what sort of difference this tech would make. 1mm? The new HTC and Panasonics are all about 7.5 mm, so very slim. With this slimmer screen, could the iPhone be less than 7mm?

 

[SBlue1]

Thinner? Bring it on!

 

[Moonjumper]

If it weren't for the case on my iPod Touch, it would be unusable. It's too thin and too slippery. I also dislike the sharp edge of the iPod Touch and the iPad. Jonathan Ive is way more interested in how they look as opposed to how user friendly they are. It will be interesting to see if usability continues to take a back seat to design.

I agree on the sharp edge and the slipperiness, but they may accentuate the problems with thinness. Take away those and the thinness might not be such a problem.

 

[iEvolution]

Not referring to just this article but I swear these days rumors on Apple products are pulled out of people's butt in order to gain a few cheap clicks to their site.

 

[mrfoof82]

I'm guessing the main benefit of this will be a further improved color gamut, contrast, and brightness since there's now one less layer for everything to pass through -- or at least that the layer is ultimately thinner.

Thickness reduction would be in fractions of a millimeter, and have no tangible effect on weight or creating volume for a larger battery.

 

[Rocketman]

I just hope they dont keep making them thinner for the sake of thinness. If the LCD is thinner, i just hope they put a larger battery.

What he said. They made the "new iPad" imperceptibly thicker and preserved the consumer apparent battery life despite LTE. Duplicate.

 

[badlandz]

Thinner = More Cracked Screens?

Thinner in general seems good, but isn't this moving the opposite direction as other phones move to Gorilla Glass?

 

[kevingaffney]

Shouldn't be long now till the first iphone5 gets lost in a bar or public toilet or whatever

 

[duffman9000]

iPhones are no less slippery

Maybe... , but I don't think it was designed to be slippery. I've tried to use the latest iPod touch one handed and dropped it on a table in an Apple store.

 

[iSayuSay]

I want to be able to slip my iPhone into the pocket of my shirt and not even feel its there.

One day!

Watchout though. It might actually be not there at all, while it was

 

[MacinDoc]

I'm guessing the main benefit of this will be a further improved color gamut, contrast, and brightness since there's now one less layer for everything to pass through -- or at least that the layer is ultimately thinner.

Thickness reduction would be in fractions of a millimeter, and have no tangible effect on weight or creating volume for a larger battery.

Agreed. I don't think we'll see a 1 mm decrease in thickness or any appreciable increase in battery size based on this innovation, but to have less material between the display and the surface of the phone can only improve the appearance of the display.

 

[fertilized-egg]

Every time someone asks for a thinner iPhone I direct them to use an iPod touch. I swear that thing was designed to slip from your hands.

Yes which is why I always have mine with the film on the back. It's so thin that it slips so easily into my pocket but still grip-y enough on my hand. iPod Touch is my favorite form factor among all portables in terms of portability vs. functionality and I really hope for a phone in that size. Unfortunately it's probably too small to be a good phone due to lack of space for battery.

Thinner = More Cracked Screens?

Thinner in general seems good, but isn't this moving the opposite direction as other phones move to Gorilla Glass?

iPhone already uses Gorilla...I mean Corning-made chemically strengthened aluminosilicate glass.
I think it cracks easily not because of its thinness but it's design. Other phones including iPhone 3GS have some frames running around the glass, adding that extra protection whereas iPhone 4/4S design exposes the glass edge directly. iPod Touch is much thinner but it's no more crackable than thicker smartphones.

 

[kdarling]

I'm guessing the main benefit of this will be a further improved color gamut, contrast, and brightness since there's now one less layer for everything to pass through -- or at least that the layer is ultimately thinner.

Yes, plus one more benefit that no one seems to have mentioned yet:

No need for that glue agent to dry, from yellow-straw colored to clear, between glass panels .