The Problem with the iPhone 6 Plus

[HiRez]

From what I understand, Xcode has made it much easier for developers to transition to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sizes. I think it's called "auto layout" or something like that.

Autolayout helps for apps that use standard UI elements (scrolling lists, navigation bars, etc.). Where it's difficult is for apps that don't use those, mostly this means games. For that both new iPhones can involve some considerable work (although it really depends on the app). It's definitely not an impossible burden, but it's not necessarily trivial either. Autolayout is not a magic bullet that always works perfectly on whatever device you throw it on.

 

[Bobo03]

Not at all. There is ALWAYS a delay between a hardware release and apps catching up to it. Right now, Apple has a sizable backlog of apps waiting for approval. This also happened with the launch of retina screens in the iPhone, the move to the 4" screens in the 5, and the iPad Mini launch.

There is nothing "rushed and half baked" about the 6, just gotta let the App Store catch up to the backlog of apps.

I guess we will have to disagree.

Apple could have done something great with the 6 plus, instead they just slapped on a bigger screen, added OIS, and allowed the home screens to display in landscape mode.

The split screen that is on the Note is amazing, I use it all the time. It is a benefit of having a large screen. Apple needs to work their magic and create something that makes having a large screen worthwhile.

The bezels look awful, the phone is too tall, etc etc. The other problem I have with the 6 plus is the longevity. I don't see it lasting too long. I would compare the 6 plus to the 1st gen iPad (which I own). Apple ended up perfecting the iPad and I think it is a great product, buy my 1st gen was rushed to the market obviously. It can't run anything higher than iOS 5, etc. The 1st gen ipad is limited by the components, and I feel that the same will happen to the 6 plus 1st gen.

 

[booksbooks]

Just to take stock: I've read through all the posts now in this thread. Someone on page 1 mentioned a 5.2" device. That's more what I was thinking. I believe Apple has made a mistake introducing two different screen sizes here. They should have kept it simple and released just 1 new iPhone.

Here's my take.

It's for fanboys to get out of their delusions and realize that Apple - Tim Cook - has been riding on the coattails of Steve Jobs since he died. Nobody, nobody can say whether Tim Cook is right for Apple, and that Apple will go in the right direction.

For me, the tweener 6 Plus that I own is feeling like a bizarre device. What would Steve have done? And don't ******** me that nobody should ask what Steve would have done because some idiot journalist wrote an article years ago about that that everyone vomits up. You should ask that right now because Steve is the only reason Apple even exists today and made the products they did.

He would have said, "Focus. One new phone. Not two entirely different screen sizes. Slice those bezels, make it as small physically as possible but with a perfect jump in screen size".

What would he be saying about Beats Audio? "Why the fxck did you do that? You're selling another brand under the Apple brand? That's confusing firstly."

What would he say about the iOS 8.0.1 update? "You should hate yourselves."

What would he say about the massive delay in the Apple TV that he had apparently cracked years ago? "What the fxck are you waiting for?"

Look, what I see is a loss of focus at Apple. Forget the watch Apple, get your crown jewel right first. Right now, the iPhone 6/6 Plus are blowing up pretty much every App out there and the experience is crap. None of this stuff is acceptable.

The 5.2" phone is the Moto X. I think it's too thick but very cool and with their ear piece and Moto 360 watch and Android L, I'm seriously considering defecting over to Android and getting the Moto X, Moto 360, and ear piece. All of that combined would be cheaper than the iPhone 6 Plus 128 GB that I have!

 

[TrueBlou]

I think being creative with changed real estate is something that great interface designers get paid to do. Based on significant time with both iOS and Android it is my belief that the top UI/UX designers tend to still focus on iOS apps.

So...

Until proven otherwise, I will choose the more optimistic of the plausible outcomes and give benefit of the doubt to these folks who have earned it: In other words, I anticipate the best UI/UX designers in the world will continue to be just that and handle this new design with success just like their proven track records have shown in the past.

Exactly this.

Speaking as a developer and an iPhone 6+ owner (well we have all of them going back to the 3Gs but the 6+ is my new toy.)
The scope for enhancing apps is huge. I'm not claiming to be a world class UI designer, I'm not but I am improving all the time. This is the most excited I've been, from a development standpoint, with the iPhone in quite a while. Already I am working on improving apps with features that I have honestly wanted to do for years but couldn't because there just wasn't enough room on screen.

There are just so many things that are possible with the larger screen real estate that up until now have only been possible on an iPad.
It's very early days so there are naturally not going to be many apps to take advantage of the 6+ yet, the same thing happened when the switch from the 3.5" screen to the 4" screen happened.

I'm just one tiny little insignificant developer, but I'll guarantee this, if it's got a nobody such as myself so excited and brimming with ideas already then you can bet that the big developers will have some stunning improvements and unique features for their apps that will quite simply only be possible on the iPhone 6+.

Hope that makes sense, my morphine is kicking in so I do tend to ramble on, sorry.

 

[Sanlitun]

Personally I find the Plus a little large (although I have it and I love it for many reasons). But the 4.7" doesn't seem like quite enough screen for me. Quite frankly, 1920x1080 is overkill, I seriously doubt most people could tell the difference watching video, and most games are not going to render natively for the Plus screen anyway, they will scale up.

What I really want is something in-between the 2 models they've given us. What I wish they had done is (taking into account power efficiency and developer scale factors):

Small: 4.5" screen at 1334x750 @2X (340 ppi)
Large: 5.2" screen at 1472x828 @2X (325 ppi)

A lot of those who have bought the 6+ have come over from Android phones, and I myself am included there. I think this is part of the reason for the very positive sales figures so far.

I feel if the screen had not been 1080 or if the PPI had been lower I would not have bothered. My other phone is a LG G3 where I was watching Youtube in 1440p and video was spectacular. Netflix and Youtube on the 6+ are terrible as it is, lowering the PPI or going for another weird resolution would be disappointing.

I'm still on the fence about keeping my 6+ and I will give it as much time as I can before deciding on a return. It has some very positive aspects but I wonder if I will see it in the same light in a few days after the novelty wears off.

 

[booksbooks]

A lot of those who have bought the 6+ have come over from Android phones, and I myself am included there. I think this is part of the reason for the very positive sales figures so far.

I feel if the screen had not been 1080 or if the PPI had been lower I would not have bothered. My other phone is a LG G3 where I was watching Youtube in 1440p and video was spectacular. Netflix and Youtube on the 6+ are terrible as it is, lowering the PPI or going for another weird resolution would be disappointing.

I'm still on the fence about keeping my 6+ and I will give it as much time as I can before deciding on a return. It has some very positive aspects but I wonder if I will see it in the same light in a few days after the novelty wears off.

Sanlitun:

Please return here and let us know what your decision ended up being. Thanks.

Also, can you give us more color on that LG G3? What's it like in comparison to the 6 Plus. I mean, is it close or better than the 6 Plus?

 

[dmccloud]

I guess we will have to disagree.

Apple could have done something great with the 6 plus, instead they just slapped on a bigger screen, added OIS, and allowed the home screens to display in landscape mode.

The split screen that is on the Note is amazing, I use it all the time. It is a benefit of having a large screen. Apple needs to work their magic and create something that makes having a large screen worthwhile.

The bezels look awful, the phone is too tall, etc etc. The other problem I have with the 6 plus is the longevity. I don't see it lasting too long. I would compare the 6 plus to the 1st gen iPad (which I own). Apple ended up perfecting the iPad and I think it is a great product, buy my 1st gen was rushed to the market obviously. It can't run anything higher than iOS 5, etc. The 1st gen ipad is limited by the components, and I feel that the same will happen to the 6 plus 1st gen.

So that's your opinion, not fact. You also have grossly oversimplified the improvements made with the 6 plus ( you left out improved camera sensor, faster auto focus, and other camera improvements for starters, and that's just on the camera.) You make no mention of Apple Pay, the new A8/M8 processor stack, display improvements, or any of the other new features of the 6 series, opting instead to make a vague and unproven claim about lack of longevity.

Once Apple catches up on app approvals and we see more examples of how devs are taking advantage of the new phones, then you'd have more information on which to properly evaluate these phones. But it's far too early in the product cycle to make such sweeping generalizations as you have and attempt to pass them off as anything other than your opinion.

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A lot of those who have bought the 6+ have come over from Android phones, and I myself am included there. I think this is part of the reason for the very positive sales figures so far.

I feel if the screen had not been 1080 or if the PPI had been lower I would not have bothered. My other phone is a LG G3 where I was watching Youtube in 1440p and video was spectacular. Netflix and Youtube on the 6+ are terrible as it is, lowering the PPI or going for another weird resolution would be disappointing.

I'm still on the fence about keeping my 6+ and I will give it as much time as I can before deciding on a return. It has some very positive aspects but I wonder if I will see it in the same light in a few days after the novelty wears off.

Um, YouTube has no 1440p resolution for video. They have SD resolutions, 720p, and 1080p. There are some 4k videos there, but that's a significantly higher resolution than 1440p would be if it even existed.

 

[Bobo03]

So that's your opinion, not fact. You also have grossly oversimplified the improvements made with the 6 plus ( you left out improved camera sensor, faster auto focus, and other camera improvements for starters, and that's just on the camera.) You make no mention of Apple Pay, the new A8/M8 processor stack, display improvements, or any of the other new features of the 6 series, opting instead to make a vague and unproven claim about lack of longevity.

Once Apple catches up on app approvals and we see more examples of how devs are taking advantage of the new phones, then you'd have more information on which to properly evaluate these phones. But it's far too early in the product cycle to make such sweeping generalizations as you have and attempt to pass them off as anything other than your opinion.

This forum needs valium.

Of course it is my opinion. I was excited about the plus, then I went to check it out and TO ME it is still a beta. I'm sure Apple is going to do great things with the 6 plus, but it isn't as great as I wanted it to be.

 

[kinster]

Make yourself feel better by having a go at the 6 Plus. Just move on and be happy with your 6 or whatever.

 

[Sanlitun]

Um, YouTube has no 1440p resolution for video. They have SD resolutions, 720p, and 1080p. There are some 4k videos there, but that's a significantly higher resolution than 1440p would be if it even existed.

I watch all of Marques Brownlee's vids in 1440p, such as:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSf33i8njNU&list=UUBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ

etc.

If your Android phone supports it you can watch in 1440p. All the movie trailers and other vids I watch are at least 1080p and the only time I will watch something as low as 720p is if it is a clip from broadcast TV (Tonight Show etc.)

So coming from this on the G3 has been a big letdown as far as video playback is concerned. I know 1080p Youtube is coming for the 6+, but will it come in time for me and will it look as crisp and fluid.

In a general sense using the G3 and the Apple apps that are native for the 6+ (Email) the legibility of the two displays is about the same. The 6+ has pretty much the best 1080 display I have seen. But when you play video there is a huge difference in favor of the G3.

Just have to wait and see what the native 6+ 3rd party apps will look like.

 

[Bobo03]

Make yourself feel better by having a go at the 6 Plus. Just move on and be happy with your 6 or whatever.

Discussion aren't allowed on a discussion board? Odd.

I'm giving my thoughts on the 6 plus. The reasons why I passed on it. I left iphone at the 4 and swore to come back when the screen size was increased. I didn't like the elongated 5/5s screen. I thought the 6 plus was my next phone but it simply isn't. Too long, huge bezels, nothing optimized foe the big screen, no split screen, etc. To me it is beta, I'm sorry if that offends you. It is a stupid phone and this is my opinion. I think the plus will be great in 2016.

 

[lordofthereef]

I have no doubt about this. I think the question just becomes whether apple allows iPad apps to run on the phablet and the iPad apps adapt to run on the smaller screen or if apple continues to just allow iPhone apps to run on the 6+ and the iPhone apps adapt to take advantage of the larger screen. Either way adaptation will happen and we'll start to see some pretty cool apps soon

This.

I don't see any reason for Apple not to allow this, but they've made stranger decisions before lol .

 

[sportello]

From what I understand, Xcode has made it much easier for developers to transition to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sizes. I think it's called "auto layout" or something like that. Additionally, many apps have iPad versions, so elements from that can be brought over for the Plus. I think the majority of my dad-to-day apps will be updated by Thanksgiving. The major annoying issue for me is that legacy apps have taller keyboards, which means I get thrown off when I switch over to type something in Tweetbot, for example.

Yup. My thoughts exactly.

Between AutoLayout (hobbyist dev-in-training, don't know much about this except for what I've heard) and a little patience, most major apps should be better in a matter of weeks. Until then, you have the privilege of getting to try out these brand new, very different phones... These growing pains come with the territory.

I will say though, I do think the majority of landscape-view apps are half-assed and will probably remain that way as long as this is the only Apple device of this size.

 

[troop231]

From what I understand, Xcode has made it much easier for developers to transition to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sizes. I think it's called "auto layout" or something like that. Additionally, many apps have iPad versions, so elements from that can be brought over for the Plus. I think the majority of my dad-to-day apps will be updated by Thanksgiving. The major annoying issue for me is that legacy apps have taller keyboards, which means I get thrown off when I switch over to type something in Tweetbot, for example.

Autolayout is crap to work with and is generally a headache. I avoid it like the plague when I'm writing apps and just do specific frame sizes.

 

[sportello]

Autolayout is crap to work with and is generally a headache. I avoid it like the plague when I'm writing apps and just do specific frame sizes.

It's my understanding that it may be the basis for universal apps across various iPhone and iPad sizes, once the rumored larger iPad comes out. What then?

 

[troop231]

It's my understanding that it may be the basis for universal apps across various iPhone and iPad sizes, once the rumored larger iPad comes out. What then?

What then what? Autolayout isn't something you're forced to do/use.

 

[sportello]

What then what? Autolayout isn't something you're forced to do/use.

No, I know. But, could you see it being improved and more useful in the future, when you have to deal with multiple screen sizes and dimensions that may continue to change?

 

[Killeroy]

I love the sillyness of the new iPhone critics. If you don't like the phone then why did you buy it? If you bought it and don't like it, return it and get a Android phone. People need to realize that there are people on these sites by design to discredit the iPhone. It is almost a business practice anymore. I say you buy what you like and enjoy it.

 

[ihonda]

I find it amazing that apps like alien blue (reddit) and buzzfeed and PINTREST. Have updated yet facebook (who knew damn well about the phone) and the banks who are part of apple pay couldn't get their stuff together and push app updates out. I'm all about being patient for the smaller apps but these big companies have entire departments working on apps and they have zero to show for it.

Facebook, eBay, Amazon, chase, Twitter, espn --these updates should ALREADY be out.

 

[sportello]

I love the sillyness of the new iPhone critics. If you don't like the phone then why did you buy it? If you bought it and don't like it, return it and get a Android phone. People need to realize that there are people on these sites by design to discredit the iPhone. It is almost a business practice anymore. I say you buy what you like and enjoy it.

I definitely agree there are people hired to troll. But, that doesn't mean those of us who are legitimate owners of the phone shouldn't be able to voice the things we notice with our purchases. People wait for reviews to dissect every little nuance of each new iteration; why should we be criticized for pointing out the quirks we notice?

 

[Bobo03]

I love the sillyness of the new iPhone critics. If you don't like the phone then why did you buy it? If you bought it and don't like it, return it and get a Android phone. People need to realize that there are people on these sites by design to discredit the iPhone. It is almost a business practice anymore. I say you buy what you like and enjoy it.

People do buy what they want, and I hope they enjoy it.

I'm here because I like technology/gadgets/cellphones, and I want to discuss that with other like-minded individuals.

Praise and criticism should be fine for discussion. Some members here act like any criticism towards is a personal attack.

Just in the past year I have used: Note 3, Lumia 1020, BB Q10 and Z10, Galaxy S3, and I think I am missing one.

I like playing with the different operating systems for a couple of months. They all have pros/cons. I had high hopes for the 6 plus and I was let down. It is that simple.

 

[sportello]

I find it amazing that apps like alien blue (reddit) and buzzfeed and PINTREST. Have updated yet facebook (who knew damn well about the phone) and the banks who are part of apple pay couldn't get their stuff together and push app updates out. I'm all about being patient for the smaller apps but these big companies have entire departments working on apps and they have zero to show for it.

Facebook, eBay, Amazon, chase, Twitter, espn --these updates should ALREADY be out.

Right?

Facebook, etc. are comically gigantic on the Plus. Doesn't make them less useable though, so I'm fine with it for the time being.

 

[Killeroy]

I definitely agree there are people hired to troll. But, that doesn't mean those of us who are legitimate owners of the phone shouldn't be able to voice the things we notice with our purchases. People wait for reviews to dissect every little nuance of each new iteration; why should we be criticized for pointing out the quirks we notice?

Sorry if you don't like what I said. But it is still Silliness.

 

[OneMike]

That's the problem: the screen isn't big enough for that either. It's its own category and needs unique designs. This, I predict, is going to be a huge problem and nobody's really talking about it.

Phone hadn't even been out a week yet. Do you not remember when the iPhone 5 was launched. Give it some time.

 

[sportello]

Sorry if you don't like what I said. But it is still Silliness.

I agree that it's stupid if you're actually stressed by these things. It's just needlessly aggressive to imply that early adopters who are really looking out for the community in a sense are actually trying to discredit the thing they just paid hundreds of dollars for. You feel?

I bought the top tier Plus. My (minor) concern is that if it's slightly bent now, which it is, it could be worse in a few months. And then I'm still on contract for the remainder of two years.

Also, Android is no alternative. I couldn't stomach the lack of privacy and just awkward design. I'd like Apple to take a critical look at its own flaws and improve, at least for the future if not now.