Taller Next-Generation iPhone Front Panel Caught on Video

[elementskins]

This close to launch, be it Summer or Fall, I can guarantee you that Apple is not still developing the next iPhone, it's form factor and general design has been long since decided. At worst, they are still doing minor internal tweaks, and at best they are in the procurement stage and prepping for full scale manufacturing.

Apple has probably known what the next iPhone would look like prior to even releasing the iPhone 4S.

 

[Jimrod]

There's literally just one small aspect of all these mock-ups and samples that makes me think it might not be legit, and it's very small indeed. The rear camera: It doesn't sit right, it's not in the middle of the vertical space on that band and it's too far away from the side to follow the radius of the phone edge.

Ignoring everything else about ratios (and as a product designer I'm also big on Golden Ratio's as Apple are) there's no way I think Jony Ive would let that go. Look at the iPhone 4 and everything sits correctly in its space - the rear camera sits so it follows the corner radius, home button and ear speaker in the middle of their respective bands. I often have to compromise a design due to construction and tooling costs but Apple don't.

These little details bug me so I'm pretty sure they'd bug Jony Ive and that's the sole reason I'm sceptical that this leak may purely be to throw us off the scent (would also tie in with the upped secrecy comments from Tim Cook). I would more readily believe last year's mock-ups with iPad style back panel and small corner radii are the direction they'd be heading with their design regardless of screen size.

 

[elementskins]

There's literally just one small aspect of all these mock-ups and samples that makes me think it might not be legit, and it's very small indeed. The rear camera: It doesn't sit right, it's not in the middle of the vertical space on that band.

Ignoring everything else about ratios (and as a product designer I'm also big on Golden Ratio's as Apple are) there's no way I think Jony Ive would let that go. Look at the iPhone 4 and everything sits correctly in its space - the rear camera sits so it follows the corner radius, home button and ear speaker in the middle of their respective bands. I often have to compromise a design due to construction and tooling costs but Apple don't.

These little details bug me so I'm pretty sure they'd bug Jony Ive and that's the sole reason I'm sceptical that this leak may purely be to throw us off the scent (would also tie in with the upped secrecy comments from Tim Cook). I would more readily believe last year's mock-ups with iPad style back panel and small corner radii are the direction they'd be heading with their design regardless of screen size.

Couldn't agree more. These "leaked" images look like poor knockoffs to me, they just don't fit with Apple's design practices.

 

[charliecc]

Apple are stupid, they released the 4S after all, but they're not this stupid. The same design but with a taller screen, they know this won't cut the mustard in today's market. I think this has been "leaked" to throw people off the scent.

 

[gatortpk]

Does this make it 16 x 9 dimensions? Too lazy to look it up...

It's a simple calculation. Using another rumor, that fits, having a resolution of 1136x640 makes it a 4.01 inch screen (at 325.12 dpi, that is if the current display is exactly 75x50 mm) and 99.84% the same width as exactly 16:9. So yes, I would say the point is to make it 16:9 ratio. I do welcome this and the ease of the dimensions being divisible by 16 for GPUs, and it being the same width to hold with one hand. Many apps that scroll would adapt perfectly as the top and bottom buttons can be exactly the same, just more vertical real-estate.

Watching video is obviously going to fit perfectly now.

Though using the keyboard in landscape mode will leave less above it for the display (if it has the same proportions). At least, I never use the keyboard with the phone sideways anyway. (Perhaps, landscape keyboard will be disabled all together). More likely, they keep it only 960 pixels wide, or they allow more keys on the screen and having exactly the same space above, vertically in landscape mode. This keyboard being wider but not taller in landscape mode could be just like the iPad keyboard with the few extra keys. I would welcome that, but the layout would change depending on orientation and would only become unnoticeable after getting used to it. (It wouldn't be Apple's style to have a changing keyboard layout simply by changing the orientation, then again, having the current wider keys is very different anyway.)

 

[ThatsMeRight]

You don't lose picture quality (in terms of pixels) when you are watching something with lower resolution than the screen.

A 480p video blown up on a 100-foot diagonal screen will look fine if you are sitting at the right viewing distance.

But an iPhone doesn't have a 100-foot diagonal screen. You hold it up close to your face.

 

[Jarson]

It just looks so abnormal next to the iPhone 4/4S. I'll be skipping this iteration...: /

I think it is definitely too early to say such things. Since the new ratio rumors came out I am worried about development site and difficulties coming with it, especially that I'll be doing some programming stuff in nearly future. Despite the whole size issues I am looking forward to further news about new iPhone.

 

[Sonisk]

Like it or not, fragmentation of the displays has begun.

edit: why so many negative votes? There's a huge difference between simply doubling the resolution in both width and height and completely changing the aspect ratio. It doesn't matter much for apps like an address book but it's going to be annoying to code for a third device with some kinds of apps like games. iPhone and iPhone Retina at 3:2, iPad and iPad@2x at 4:3, iPhone 5@2x at 16:9... if that's not fragmentation I don't know what is. Just saying "it's not as bad as Android" is no excuse, it's fragmentation anyway.

This was my first thought aswell. Me and my friend are currently working on an iPhone game, and this new screen will prolly break what we have been working on so far.

 

[gatortpk]

The front glass isn't separate from the LCD display!

One problem with this, is that front glass isn't an actual replacement part!

The replacement parts have the front glass panel, digitizer, and LCD glued together for better optical properties. (Fewer reflective surfaces having no air between the glass and LCD panel)

If this is an actually replacement part, then the quality will go down with the LCD panel not being glued to the front glass! I don't see Apple going down this road just to make replacing the front glass easier to replace if it shatters. (I've just replaced an iPhone 4 front glass two days ago, and I'm looking at the old shattered piece. It does look otherwise nearly identical around where the rear camera matches up with the front glass.)

This could be a fairly good (convincing) mockup, but not an actual part!

----------

This was my first thought aswell. Me and my friend are currently working on an iPhone game, and this new screen will prolly break what we have been working on so far.

Wouldn't the API's at least allow for black side bars (in landscape mode) if you don't want to modify the app's display size. iOS 6 will automatically play the app fine by insetting black bars or stretching, a Settings option I would hope. (Just like HDTV's had the stretch setting, which I hated, I stick with the black bars)

I suppose, people will complain that your game won't fit the new screen nicely, but wouldn't you need to upgrade your game for a new A6 chip too anyway? (If you want to take advantage of more power of a possible quad core or a Cortex A15, or both.)

Shouldn't Xcode make the modification/additional ratio relatively easy anyway?

 

[Jynto]

With the iPhone becoming taller, that makes it more in line with the dimensions of the Monolith from 2001, which has a height:width:depth ratio of 9:4:1. Don't you see? This was part of Apple's plan all along, to turn the iPhones into Monoliths and guide us to the next stage in our evolution.

 

[Josh M]

🙁

I'd prefer a slight dip in PPI than just an expansion of height.
A little wider AND taller would be nice.
But I'm sure they know what they're doing better than I do, of course.

Excited to see what WWDC brings for iOS6 and the laptop lineup!

 

[Jimrod]

Watching video is obviously going to fit perfectly now.

Not really, while TV's are 16:9 ratio very few films are, which is why you end up still having black bars regardless - there's no single ratio adopted by all. TV programmes will generally be better unless shot in 4:3 still but this is uncommon now.

 

[juannacho]

Not really, while TV's are 16:9 ratio very few films are, which is why you end up still having black bars regardless - there's no single ratio adopted by all. TV programmes will generally be better unless shot in 4:3 still but this is uncommon now.

Televisions (which Apple are moving into) are 16:9, game consoles are 16:9, YouTube is 16:9... There's no denying the fact that our visual landscape is predominantly 16:9.

In fact, pretty much everything except films are 16:9 these days.

Apart, of course, from the iPad, but that's a whole different story!

 

[wkdtime]

Here's what I think.

The next iPhone will be taller and wider, sticking with the same aspect ratio.
There will be no Micro USB, will still be using the Apple proprietary connector.

I suspect these leaks are some sort of decoy or fakes.

I am, however willing to eat my words if it turns out im wrong, but what I most likely wont be doing is buying a taller iPhone (not saying never), they may aswell stick with the 3.5" if thats what they're going to do.

Needs to be taller and wider, in proportion.

 

[MonkeySee....]

I can just imagine Cook announcing the new iPhone and bringing this out, holding it for a few seconds then chucking it to the floor saying "Only Joking" and whips out the proper one.

The guy would be come an instant legend.

 

[Born Again]

redesigning non-game apps is probably easier... as most already adjust somewhat vertically, and also tend to use infinite scroll.

arn

Why do u close your comments with your own screen name?

Radio

 

[Gol27]

Maybe these are leaks for the remote control for the apple tv?

 

[CiccioAtSea]

china phone??

I can access the internet only form my working station (working onboard cruise ship) so I have no time to read all the posts, also because the connection here is terrible BUT...

nobody else thinks that MAYBE we are jus in front of some kind of new Chinese clone? 😎

too many leaks, all togheter and almost at the same time with Tim speaking about doubling down in security???

controlled fake leaks? just some chinese 99$ rubbish?
Even if I could accept the new screen ratio end everything I really find hard to believe that next will be the 3rg iphone gen in a line without any king of "MAJOR" aestethic changes... (IMO stretching the phone and changing the back plate is not a big revolution...)

What do you think??

 

[Aftershocker]

Changing the aspect ratio AND limiting the size increase to just 4" are both ridiculous. They simultaneously piss off developers AND people who want larger screen size more comparable to the market. And fragment their market more. Nice job on this. 🙄 If they wanted to change the aspect ratio, at least give us a 4.3" screen to give us some additional width.

No matter. I'm going SGS3 assuming we get a 64GB (internal) variant in the USA.

I agree, If the screen size stays the same width I see no compelling need to upgrade.

I won't jump ship to android though as I have to much invested in ios in terms off apps. However I really don't feel the need to upgrade (first time ever). LTE will be a non issue as it won't be operational over here in the UK until mid 2013. That's why I didn't even bother changing the Ipad this time around. Looks like a few quid saved this year for me lol

I did change from the 4 to the 4S last year and found it worthwhile in terms of responsiveness but its plenty zippy enough for me now...

As for graphics performance I don't give a damn, I don't want to play games on such a small screen.

 

[SerrQ]

This doesnt look like 7,7mm taller like some rumor said.

I really hope this is fake, I don't want a taller iPhone. If this is true, I'll be switching.

 

[justperry]

This should be what apples iphone 5 looks like

 

[rocknblogger]

Everything Apple makes is aesthetically perfect (or almost). From the small remote that comes with Apple TV to the Mini the MacBook and the Mac Pro, and especially the iPhone. Even the smallest iPods.

Every line, curve and surface is extremely well designed and gorgeous. And you're going to try to convince me that Apple, a company that stakes its reputation behind every product they release. A company that values design above almost all else, is going to release something as odd looking as all these leaked photos and videos?

I'm supposed to believe that Apple who value design as much as they do are going to compromise their integrity towards such design because they don't want to to piss off some developers? I'm supposed to believe this? Not to mention that they're going make such compromises on their flagship product? The one that brings in more money than anything else?

Absolutely no way unless we're on Bizzaro world. I think Sir Ive would rather quit and walk away from something like this than allow it to happen. Forget what Steve Jobs would do he's gone and it doesnt matter. But someone at Apple must have the balls to stand up and say, "No".

I'd be the first to say we need a larger screen. It's something I've been waiting for and expecting. But THIS...is not it.

 

[Rogifan]

Apple are stupid, they released the 4S after all, but they're not this stupid. The same design but with a taller screen, they know this won't cut the mustard in today's market. I think this has been "leaked" to throw people off the scent.

Not sure why this was down voted. 😕

 

[shurcooL]

If all Apple cared about was watching movies, they would have made the iPad 16:9. Look at how people use their phones and you'll notice that the majority of the time they are holding them in portrait and not landscape.

There will be NO aspect ratio change for the iPhone 5. These rumors are bogus.

A taller screen in portrait mode is actually pretty useful for non-movie-watching things. Just look at the examples in this article. It's the landscape mode that becomes potentially more poorly usable (aside from watching 16:9 movies, of course) when a screen becomes extended along its longer dimension (i.e. wider in landscape).

 

[Vantage Point]

I wanted slightly bigger with the same ratio, not taller. Anyway, these are just rumors