Live data from Hacker News

A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

marco.org

31–40 of 66 posts

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#33
post #6

Buyers wanting a small phone or better one-handed operation could still buy a 4” iPhone, and people who want a large screen would finally have an iPhone as an option. If this is the case, why would Apple have increased the screen size for the iPhone 5 to 4"? It's obviously not big enough to satisfy people who want a huge screen, but it is big enough to make the phone (more) awkward for people with small hands. Seems…

The 5's size was to maintain the 326ppi of the display and ensure a smooth transition for developers. A 3.5 and a 5 inch screen would have made app developers have to create 2 separate layouts, whereas this approach means that developers 2 similar layouts for 4-class phones (3:2) and 5-class phones (16:9), which should ideally mean less work for the developers

Sure, of course they want to minimize fragmentation. But developers have been making apps for the 3.5" (3:2) form factor since 2008. So continuing to make a 3.5" (3:2) phone alongside a 5" phone (either 3:2 or 16:9 or anything else) wouldn't make any more work for developers than they've already made.

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#34
post #12
post #3

If this comes out, the sound of all those years of just I cations and excuses (perfect screen size, perfect jeans pocket size, etc.) Will only be drowned out by the new justifications and excuses (perfect purse size, etc.) Sigh.

Who said it was perfect? I think most agree that about 4 inches is the one-size-fits-all. That means it's best on average, not best for everyone. It's completely OK to introduce new form factors if there's clear demand.

> This is an example of one of those design decisions that you don’t usually notice until you see someone doing it wrong. It’s one of the things that makes Apple products Apple products.

http://dcurt.is/3-point-5-inches

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#35
post #3

If this comes out, the sound of all those years of just I cations and excuses (perfect screen size, perfect jeans pocket size, etc.) Will only be drowned out by the new justifications and excuses (perfect purse size, etc.) Sigh.

I think the justification is: "if you're going to have only one size of phone, you'll appeal to the most people by going with a smaller size" not "the smaller size screen is the only one anyone could ever want."

Based on my family's reaction to my Lumia 920 (skepticism from my parents, outright ridicule from my wife), I think Apple put smart money on their choice of screen size.

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#36
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do not understand phablets. I really don't. My Galaxy Nexus is already pushing the limits of what is comfortable to use with one hand, and there is something else that never seems mentioned: Phablets start to get too big for your winter coat pocket, your jean pockets, etc. They simply become uncomfortable to carry, even if you do use them with both hands.

You're supposed to put a phablet in your purse, not your pocket.

I've seen guys with Notes 2. I really hate them, but Samsung is on to something.

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#37
post #4

Personally - I've used 'large' phones, and I much prefer the size of the iPhone 5. Its big enough but not so big that I can't used it with 1 hand.

I do not understand phablets. I really don't. My Galaxy Nexus is already pushing the limits of what is comfortable to use with one hand, and there is something else that never seems mentioned: Phablets start to get too big for your winter coat pocket, your jean pockets, etc. They simply become uncomfortable to carry, even if you do use them with both hands.

The Galaxy S3 is too large to type with one hand. Whenever I hold it, I have to kind of 'shake' the thing further down my hand to click on buttons in the top corners.

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#38
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who said it was perfect? I think most agree that about 4 inches is the one-size-fits-all. That means it's best on average, not best for everyone. It's completely OK to introduce new form factors if there's clear demand.

Not many said perfect, but there is the classic example of Dustin Curtis' article which claimed the original iPhone size was "one of the things that makes Apple products Apple products" and got a hell of a lot of traction here and elsewhere. Even this article cops to insulting the Note.

I read Curtis's article as saying "one of the things that makes Apple products Apple products" is that the screen size was chosen to appeal to the maximum number of people, not that it was the perfect screen size for everyone.

Re: A crazier prediction: iPhone Plus is real, and huge

#40
post #6

Buyers wanting a small phone or better one-handed operation could still buy a 4” iPhone, and people who want a large screen would finally have an iPhone as an option. If this is the case, why would Apple have increased the screen size for the iPhone 5 to 4"? It's obviously not big enough to satisfy people who want a huge screen, but it is big enough to make the phone (more) awkward for people with small hands. Seems…

I don't think Apple made the iPhone 5's screen bigger to appeal to people who wanted a big screen. I think they did it to appeal to people who wanted a 16x9 screen for watching movies. The extra size is a side-effect of moving to a 16x9 ratio while maintaining the same width as the iPhone 4.
Post reply on HN