That black notch ruins the movie experience!!!

[Vermifuge]

For the majority of the movies out there the notch is a non issue. Assuming you are watching a movie recorded in a 16:9 ratio. Another way of defining 16:9 is the HD resolution of 1920x1080 (or 1080p) (1080i, 720p and even 4k exist but for the majority of films this is the resolution.) This just happens to be the same resolution of the iPhone Plus series. The only Phone in Apples lineup that you can watch a video edge to edge without getting some distortion or loss in video resolution.

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Here you can see the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus (1920 x 1080 or 1080p) in comparison to the higher resolution iPhone X. At 1125 pixels. The iPhone X has a few pixels to spare across the top and bottom. Probably just enough to eliminate any edge distortion caused by the curvature of the glass screen along the edge.

Forcing a movie to fill the screen can only be accomplished by two methods.

1. Stretch the video to fill the screen horizontally. This can be done another of ways but all of them require smearing the left and right edge causing it to look distorted similar to stretched out silly putty
2. Zoom the video so the left and right edge of the film meet the left and right edges of the display (with or without the notch.

Zooming the screen in either case will cause you to loose some of the top and bottom of the movie. If it was full frame (4:3) like an old tv show you will only be left with narrow strip of the original video. Here are some of the ways you guys have recommended using the whole screen you will see that when it comes to 16:9 video they ALL cut off the edges in some way.

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[Zune55]

Well, obviously the notch is going to be there, there's no getting rid of it. But its intrusion into your user experience is wildly overstated by those who just don't like the design.

Vertically, the notch is what it is. It's a question of style preferences as to whether you like it or not, but it's not going to have an impact on the screen. In landscape mode, it becomes more of an issue. Video is cropped to 4.7" size, so the notch disappears into the black bars on either side (those black bars still being thinner than the bezels on any other iPhone).

However, if playing games that utilise the entire screen, it will intrude over the display. If surfing the net in landscape mode, side bars will appear (although I'm not sure whether that's to accommodate the notch or just an aspect ratio thing). That's really not great. How big a deal it is to you will depend on how regularly you do those things.

In a nutshell, the notch really isn't such a big deal. The reaction is a little hysterical.

Thanks for your reply, the bars looks ugly even on s8+ without cropping the video in landscape mode using YouTube. That's why i crop the screen with the given onscreen menu from samsung. Some videos adjust automatically which are not cropped and they also look fantastic. Honestly black bars on the sides kills the purpose of edge to edge display. Either i watch cropped or the ones automatically adjusted by samsung or google's software. There's not much to lose watching cropped videos. This notch is killing the purpose of edge to edge display after experiencing black bars on side it on s8+. if you get chance try it on BestBuy etc...

 

[Vermifuge]

Honestly black bars on the sides kills the purpose of edge to edge display. Either i watch cropped or the ones automatically adjusted by samsung or google's software. There's not much to lose watching cropped videos. This notch is killing the purpose of edge to edge display after experiencing black bars on side it on s8+. if you get chance try it on BestBuy etc...

*

*For you: for many its a non issue because they prefer to watch the original video and not a modified one.

Please see my previous post directly above yours for examples of how much video you are sacrificing when zooming a 16:9 video. Because the middle of the screen on an iPhone X can easily fit an FULL HD 1080p / 1920x1080 video without loss or distortion, it is suitable for MOST people. All you have explained is that you have specific needs and are willing to sacrifice the source material for an edge to edge viewing experience.

 

[Zune55]

*

*For you: for many its a non issue because they prefer to watch the original video and not a modified one.

Yeah i can understand that maybe they are buying X because of its looks. Definitely in looks there maybe no phone better than iphone X and i guess it must be worth $1000, we know apple's build quality its top class in all its devices.

 

[Vermifuge]

Yeah i can understand that maybe they are buying X because of its looks. Definitely in looks there maybe no phone better than iphone X and i guess it must be worth $1000, we know apple's build quality its top class in all its devices.

There it is! You just proved to the thread you are only an internet troll and have no vested interest in this discussion.

 

[Ralfi]

Yeah i can understand that maybe they are buying X because of its looks. Definitely in looks there maybe no phone better than iphone X and i guess it must be worth $1000, we know apple's build quality its top class in all its devices.

You need to consider that not many people will be watching a lot of films on their phones, therefore this isn't going to be a major issue for them.

We all have different uses. Most of my phone usage is in Portrait mode for eg. So the extra screen for that scenario, in a small design, is what appeals to me.

 

[Zune55]

There it is! You just proved to the thread you are only an internet troll and have no vested interest in this discussion.

Internet troll, Really? That's what your insight tells me about my posts? You are really something......
[doublepost=1505725120][/doublepost]

You need to consider that not many people won't be watching a lot of films on their phones, therefore this isn't going to be a major issue for them.

We all have different uses. Most of my phone usage is in Portrait mode for eg. So the extra screen for that scenario, in a small design, is what appeals to me.

Yes the OP is concerned about movie experience and then i wanted to tell him if he's a movie watcher then its better he buys big LED TV haha

 

[Ralfi]

Yes the OP is concerned about movie experience and then i wanted to tell him if he's a movie watcher then its better he buys big LED TV haha

Speaking of, when I bought my big screen TV as an addition to the home theatre system, I expected black bars when watching Blu-rays & would never distort the movie by stretching it to full screen.

& I have the same mentality with films on phones...I'd rather have it naturally letterboxed than miss out on video around the edges.

 

[Vermifuge]

You need to consider that not many people won't be watching a lot of films on their phones, therefore this isn't going to be a major issue for them.

We all have different uses. Most of my phone usage is in Portrait mode for eg. So the extra screen for that scenario, in a small design, is what appeals to me.

Double negative. Can you clarify the first part of your statement?

 

[Zune55]

Speaking of, when I bought my big screen TV as an addition to the home theatre system, I expected black bars when watching Blu-rays & would never distort the movie by stretching it to full screen.

& I have the same mentality with films on phones...I'd rather have it naturally letterboxed than miss out on video around the edges.

I also want to watch movies/videos on every device in original format but its just S8+ and maybe X on which i want to watch media in full screen. I never liked stretched/cropped versions but for some reason it looks ok these new phones.

 

[MjWoNeR]

I watch a lot of 16/9 shows on my Plus too, which has a huge 16/9 display. I know I'll be downgrading with the X when it comes to this, but it will be interesting to see how I manage with the letterboxing.

 

[Ralfi]

Double negative. Can you clarify the first part of your statement?

Thanks. Corrected.

 

[Vermifuge]

I watch a lot of 16/9 shows on my Plus too, which has a huge 16/9 display. I know I'll be downgrading with the X when it comes to this, but it will be interesting to see how I manage with the letterboxing.

pillar-boxing
[doublepost=1505726342][/doublepost]

Thanks. Corrected.

OK yeah. I agree. I only ever watch movies on the airplane and even then i try and use my iPad. Given my iPad is 4:3 and i have to watch most content letter boxed....

 

[MjWoNeR]

pillar-boxing

True. Pillar-boxing is the correct term for this situation. Curious to see what I think about it after I live with the X for a while.

Now that I think of it though, pillar-boxing is soon going to be standard in most phones since they get longer and away from the 16/9 ratio.

 

[Vermifuge]

True. Pillar-boxing is the correct term for this situation. Curious to see what I think about it after I live with the X for a while.

Now that I think of it though, pillar-boxing is soon going to be standard in most phones since they get longer and away from the 16/9 ratio.

Think of it like a 21:9 aspect tv. You don't always get to take advantage of it but the option is always there.

 

[Ralfi]

pillar-boxing
[doublepost=1505726342][/doublepost]

OK yeah. I agree. I only ever watch movies on the airplane and even then i try and use my iPad. Given my iPad is 4:3 and i have to watch most content letter boxed....

Yeah it's the opposite with my iPad - at least 95% of usage is in landscape. iPhone though, portrait for near that 95% also.

 

[ascender]

Is this officially a "gate" yet? Notch-gate has a certain ring to it doesn't it and I don't think we have any other candidates for a good gate with the iPhone 8 and X launch do we?

 

[Vermifuge]

Is this officially a "gate" yet? Notch-gate has a certain ring to it doesn't it and I don't think we have any other candidates for a good gate with the iPhone 8 and X launch do we?

No. Apple are not hiding any facts about the notch. The notch has no impact on the operation of the phone. Besides that I hate these gate references.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

I think the more important thing to know is how the X will handle YouTube videos and other online video content.

I, along with others, watch those more often than full-on movies.

 

[ascender]

How much of a movie "experience" can you get on a mobile phone? There's always been limitations around this due to the different aspect ratios as others have pointed out and you can make vids play on the X without the notch showing?

If watching movies on the go is a big thing for you, I'd go for a Plus model of phone as that seems like the ideal one to buy unless you carry an iPad around with you.

 

[Vermifuge]

I think the more important thing to know is how the X will handle YouTube videos and other online video content.

I, along with others, watch those more often than full-on movies.

From a developer standpoint. It's all the same, you use one of apples librarys in Xcode such as AVPlayerViewController. It uses apples media player so video playback is standardized across all ops.

 

[iScone]

I think the more important thing to know is how the X will handle YouTube videos and other online video content.

That's a much greater concern, yes. I never watch movies on the phone. I assume the same principle will apply - shrinkage to a 4.7" equivalent with thin black bars either side and on top.

I can live with that. I'd rather a slightly smaller video on a better screen.

 

[Vermifuge]

That's a much greater concern, yes. I never watch movies on the phone. I assume the same principle will apply - shrinkage to a 4.7" equivalent with thin black bars either side and on top.

I can live with that. I'd rather a slightly smaller video on a better screen.

The math was done in another thread.

iPhone (non plus) 4.7"
IPhone X 5.0" for 16:9 / 1080 p videos
IPhone Plus 5.5"

 

[donster28]

Nice try but no. And entirely too long winded.

"sigh"...ok, whatever you think...thanks for chiming in.

 

[iMi]

Apple should give users an option to turn off the notch and make it "disappear" by filling in the top part of the display with a black bar and scaling the screen down, so the top of the display looks exactly as it has on previous iPhones.