Its still natural, but doesn't mean that people want bigger phones for other reasons.
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Why does Apple get a free pass on backflips?
- Thread starter Krimsonmyst
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I don't get why people keep flogging this dead horse.
1. This was said at a different time in the industry, when calling and texting were far more important than media consumption.
2. It isn't actually an incorrect statement, the smaller phones ARE easier for most (not all, but most) people to use with one hand. I see the constant argument that Apple was wrong like a wrong thing, but they always seem to focus on what people 'want' and ignore the fact that most of what Apple said was correct, with the exception of Steve Jobs' proclamation that people wouldn't use big phones. Jobs is well known for being brilliant but arrogant and yeah, he was wrong. He's not here to defend himself, though, so it'd be nice if people let it go.
3. The market has changed and evolved, requiring adaptation from Apple in the form of bigger screens + Reachability, an innovation that resolves the very problem that they were worried about.
I don't really think it's as big a deal as people keep making it out to be.
I see this, not as a backflip, but as Apple finally recognizing the trend and embracing it. Steve Jobs is gone. He's the one that INSISTED on the dimensions of the iPhone. I see that decision as something like his "hockey puck mouse" decision with the original iMac. It was simply a bad call. Was Apple supposed to ignore the consumer trend towards bigger screens forever? Out of sheer stubbornness?? How much did it cost them already? Apple is way late to the big screen party, but better late than never!
It's not a dead horse, it's very valid.
Apple made a mistake, simple. Their response was, we don't do this so it's wrong.
That's essentially saying I'll never do something, than doing it later.
By the way I ordered a 6 Plus, as I did order a 5S, 5, 4S, 4, etc.. I still think it was a stupid statement by Apple.
It's not that Apple gets a free pass that amazing me, it's that people are surprised.
There's basically two points that you have to remember:
1. Companies are run by human beings, who make decisions based on their current perceptions of the world around them. Those perceptions change. The world changes. And sometimes, those decisions are wrong to begin with. This is a simple consequence of human beings not being omniscient. We tend to admire those who hold firm to a position, but there's nothing commendable about not being able to change your mind when the situation changes.
2.The human beings who run companies want to make money by convincing people that their product is better than everyone else's. Of course they will say that what they are doing NOW is best, but when the world or their perception of it changes and they adapt, then the new thing will be the best even if it's the opposite of the old thing. What else would you expect them to say or do?
There's basically two points that you have to remember:
1. Companies are run by human beings, who make decisions based on their current perceptions of the world around them. Those perceptions change. The world changes. And sometimes, those decisions are wrong to begin with. This is a simple consequence of human beings not being omniscient. We tend to admire those who hold firm to a position, but there's nothing commendable about not being able to change your mind when the situation changes.
2.The human beings who run companies want to make money by convincing people that their product is better than everyone else's. Of course they will say that what they are doing NOW is best, but when the world or their perception of it changes and they adapt, then the new thing will be the best even if it's the opposite of the old thing. What else would you expect them to say or do?
Apple didn't make a mistake, they did what they wanted and needed to sell the phones they wanted to make. Now they are doing what they want and need to sell more newer phones. And they keep on selling them like crazy every time. No mistake there.
Bill Gates once said no one would ever need more than 64k RAM. Even the brightest of people cannot predict the future, they can only tell you what they believe at that time. At the time the Note really did look ridiculous, but like that frog in the heating pot we got used to it.
It is a dead horse. The guy who was so adamant about the phone size is dead (and since he had a hand in the making of the iPhone 5 before he died, it should be clear he'd changed his mind) and can't defend himself, they've now made an even bigger phone while at the same time using software to account for the valid shortcomings involved with using bigger phones. Like I said, Jobs was the only one who made a "mistake" in stating that people wouldn't use bigger phones.
The only reason people keep bringing it up is because they want to go 'hahahaha Apple'. And I mean, if that's important to you and to others, fair enough, but I just don't get it. Should Apple users continue pointing out that a top exec in Motorola predicted the iPhone would fail in 2007? That Steve Ballmer said the same? Don't we all have better things to do?
Average consumer is a sheep and as with beats. Before apple owned them, many said they were junk. Now, without any model or manufacturing change. Just because they are part of Apple. Some will buy who once wouldn't. Anyway, not that serious to me. I still stand by what I said though.
Welcome to corporate marketing strategies.
They are not there to tell you why the other companies product are better than theirs, they are there to sell you their product.
Watch the unboxing event for the Samsung GN4 and compare if to the iPhone 6/6+ event. Listen to the verbal language between the two. Apple is so much better at selling you on their products than Samsung is during these events.
You clearly didn't read the statement. Consumer preferences change over time. Let that sink in and rethink your post. What was good yesterday might not be good for today.
Apple has always had the strongest crowd of apologists. That said, I'd still prefer a smaller phone.
Lets all be honest, "It's the money stupid". Apple is first and foremost a business, once phablets started eating into their bottom line they were forced to say me too.
The whole apple watch is also a result of that sentiment. I'm a long time Android user, and first time iPhone buyer, thanks to the 6+. Apple got me, they got what I wanted, because they saw so many of us Note 3, or LG g2, users.
The only way to get a company to change its staunch ideals is to show that their competitor is catching up/making more money.
IT WAS A BUSINESS DECISION.
The whole apple watch is also a result of that sentiment. I'm a long time Android user, and first time iPhone buyer, thanks to the 6+. Apple got me, they got what I wanted, because they saw so many of us Note 3, or LG g2, users.
The only way to get a company to change its staunch ideals is to show that their competitor is catching up/making more money.
IT WAS A BUSINESS DECISION.
I love Apple. I'm almost a fanboy. So I say this with that in mind.
Apple creates a "reality distortion zone" around its products. It's annoying because it's amplified by all the fanboys. Apple ignores what others are doing, and even some standards (like 1920x1080) and comes up with its own marketing spin (retina anyone?) to blunt the fact they lag their competitors in SOME areas.
It's sad, really. The "we don't compete on specs" mantra. Of course you don't. You'd get slaughtered.
The sad part is that this campaign of "reality distortion" is completely unnecessary. Take it from an ex-Windows guy. Apple has created an amazing ecosystem of hardware, software, and services that is unmatched. It's not perfect, but it's the most comprehensive and only real game in town. If you own a Mac, an iPhone, an iPad, and iCloud, these things are working together to provide us with an amazing experience. That's fact. No reality distortion required.
But when they poopoo things like MP3 and HD and USB and all the other things they could embrace but don't in an attempt to strengthen their position, it saddens me. There's no need. You already have the best collection of products working together. You don't need to be so difficult. Can I please attach a DocstoGo file to an email reply? Pretty please?
That said I'm sticking with Apple. Android just doesn't offer that combined experience. But every time I have to switch to my Nexus so I can do something that requires access to the file system, like uploading a simple file, Apples "walled garden" (more like prison) chafes me.
Apple creates a "reality distortion zone" around its products. It's annoying because it's amplified by all the fanboys. Apple ignores what others are doing, and even some standards (like 1920x1080) and comes up with its own marketing spin (retina anyone?) to blunt the fact they lag their competitors in SOME areas.
It's sad, really. The "we don't compete on specs" mantra. Of course you don't. You'd get slaughtered.
The sad part is that this campaign of "reality distortion" is completely unnecessary. Take it from an ex-Windows guy. Apple has created an amazing ecosystem of hardware, software, and services that is unmatched. It's not perfect, but it's the most comprehensive and only real game in town. If you own a Mac, an iPhone, an iPad, and iCloud, these things are working together to provide us with an amazing experience. That's fact. No reality distortion required.
But when they poopoo things like MP3 and HD and USB and all the other things they could embrace but don't in an attempt to strengthen their position, it saddens me. There's no need. You already have the best collection of products working together. You don't need to be so difficult. Can I please attach a DocstoGo file to an email reply? Pretty please?
That said I'm sticking with Apple. Android just doesn't offer that combined experience. But every time I have to switch to my Nexus so I can do something that requires access to the file system, like uploading a simple file, Apples "walled garden" (more like prison) chafes me.
I don't need to rethink my post. The selling point on the small screen was that it fit the hand and thumb, not that that was the consumers' preference.
If they'd said, "Not enough customers want a larger screen" that would be one thing. They made a completely different argument. That's the point.
We don't know if Cook is going in different directions than Jobs. It takes years to make these phones. These things don't happen over a 1 year period LMAO! It takes awhile.
I am not saying this to claim anyone copied another, but are you aware that similar/same features are available on Samsung devices?
It's curious that this was out of the question only a year ago...
That's fine and they've come up with a way to adequately address their usability concern. Secondly the consumer doesn't care about one handed usability now as much as it Apple claimed to several years ago. Consumer tastes changes and Apple seeing how people are using their phones will also change their opinions on usability to the better opinion. That's the bottom line. Also note technology has progressed to the point that Apple can make a phone so thin it has a smaller footprint even at a 4.7/5.5 inch screen size.
Duh. Show me where I made the argument you are "addressing."
Of course they are going to paint the best picture they can. I've never contested that. The point is that they abandoned their initial position -- this size fits the hand and thumb; it's better than a bigger screen -- despite the fact that human hands are the same size now as they were then. And that they would have legions of people ignore or "forget" that the reason for the size of the phone was the size of the hand and rationalize their change in position. So, thanks for being yet another example of that.
Humans have evolved over the years to have longer thumbs. I will try and find the Nat Geo article for you.
It was reasonable rationale at the time. However, it's not reasonable rationale anymore as people are used to smart phones and understand the trade offs of having a bigger phone. Most people now appreciate the additional screen real estate. However, using a phone as a phone was much more prevalent so screen size was a non issue. Apple should not force itself to stick with an idea that's no longer relevant anymore. If they had used your rationale, they never would've made an iPhone or iPad or iPod in the first place.
I don't take anything salespeople say seriously, and Apple are the best salespeople in the business. So when Apple flip on something, I just roll my eyes and get on with it.
After 25+ years of Apple products, you get a bit hardened to their BS. They do make good looking kit though and it usually works smoothly when they do finally get something out the door.
After 25+ years of Apple products, you get a bit hardened to their BS. They do make good looking kit though and it usually works smoothly when they do finally get something out the door.
Given the humongous bezels, I'm not sure that hyping Apple's ability to create a smaller footprint for a given screen size is all that persuasive.
For probably the third time, I'm glad they finally put out some substantially larger screens. That's a good thing. My point, and the point, I believe, of the OP, is more about the Apple fans than about Apple per se.