The term "Phablet" may have been coined to describe the Samsung Note, but that doesn't mean Samsung was the first one who released a large-screen smart phone. The Dell Streak was one of the first, and Windows Phone has the Titan I and II.
"that doesn't mean Samsung was the first one who released a large-screen smart phone. The Dell Streak was one of the first, and Windows Phone has the Titan I and II."
Since when did "Windows Phone" become the name of a manufacturer?
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.)
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.
"Apple seems very confident about the precise size and dimensions of the iPhone display: 3.5 inches, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Not 3 inches. Not 4 inches. [...]
The iPhone 4 feels like a major step toward an idealized iPhone form factor. What defines the iPhone, physically, is the 3.5-inch diagonal screen." [1]
"On These Rumors of a 4.6-Inch iPhone Display [...]
Sure, developers would get on board and support the new size. But why would Apple want to add another vector of fragmentation? For this reason and others, I say it’s bullshit." [2]
"Regarding a Smaller iPhone With the Same Pixel Count [...]
It’s a physical artifact, and the size of the display is what’s important. [...] I really don’t think we’ll see screen sizes other than 3.5 inches" [3]
"Color me skeptical that Apple would introduce another new screen size of any sort." [4]
Exactly and thanks. If I had the time and inclination I'd take a dive through HN's comments the last few years to find similar.
Truth be told, I welcome this change, Apple blew it with the iPhone 5, this is the bigger phone people want...but the user and pundit community absolutely drives me up a wall.
I actually feel the opposite about this whole phone size thing. I wish Apple would go back to the previous size. Also I've tried out other, larger, phones and they're just not as convenient for me to use.
> 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.
Nobody stands up and says, "boy, that phone is just the perfect size for my hand" at random. The reason size became an issue at all is because the competition made it an issue.
With that in mind, saying "perfect jeans pocket size" and later saying "perfect purse size" is not a contradiction. Each device manages to satisfy the user's needs and is perfect for them at that given time. That doesn't mean other screen sizes cannot also be perfect, but it is not reason enough to just dump what you have.
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.
There is some merit to this comment. I have a Samsung SIII. Perhaps, it is my stubby fingers or short thumb, but I find it difficult to fully use it with just one hand. My previous phone was the HTC Desire, and that was pretty good for using it with one hand.
Different strokes. I have a Nexus 4 and I wish it was a little bigger. I used to have a Desire and it was way too small for me. That's why I'm really glad we aren't all forced to use the same form factor.
> That's why I'm really glad we aren't all forced to use the same form factor.
I'm all for user choice, but unfortunately "choice" doesn't actually seem to be the way the market is trending...
I've been trying to decide what to do when my phone contract comes up for renewal, and want to stay with the same carrier (phone number, contact email, etc).
However, my carrier (au), despite offering 28 (I counted!) different smartphone models, seems to be going whole hog for giant-screen phones, and the smaller phones are all "budget" models with worse quality screens, heavier weight, etc. [The big exception is the iphone, but I want Android.]
The sense one gets is that they consider smaller existing models "leftovers" from the past, and that they'll be pumping up screen sizes even more once they get the chance...
[This is particularly absurd in Japan where hands are smaller on average, and far fewer people drive everywhere than the U.S. (small size and light weight are more important if you've got to carry your phone in your pocket all day as you walk around; if you're driving portability is a bit less of an issue)...]
Agreed. The Droid M is about the only recent phone that packs a decent amount of power into a smaller phone- and the fact that I'm describing a 4.3" phone as 'smaller' depresses me.
If you can, grab an HTC One S while they're still available - it's got decent specs and premium build quality with a 4.3" screen. It's also very thin, so handling is pretty much the same as my old 3.7" Desire.
It's not just you, I recently used a SIII and it is giagantic compared to my iphone 4 which makes it difficult to use. (And I don't have stubby fingers).
I don't think it's a product of screen size, I think it's more a product of what phone (form factor) you own/started with.
My first smartphone (late to the game) was a Motorola Droid Razr. It's a little smaller than the SIII, but being my first phone, I just became accustomed to the size.
I use friends' iPhones a lot and the first thing I notice (other than just one button) is how small it is. Those same friends struggle with the enormity of my device.
I think it's a similar context switch from Windows <==> OSX. I think people can grow to like either of them, but using one after years of using another makes it seem unwieldy.
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
I'm a guy, and I really hate large phones too, but come to think of it, I actually do carry a bag around all the time that could be reasonably called a "purse," and this doesn't seem particularly uncommon behavior for guys these these days...
The main reason I hate large phones is because they're awkward to use, and awkward to hold, particularly with only one hand (and that's important, as there are many situations like standing on the subway where a two-handed "like-a-tablet" approach isn't practical or desirable). The size when I'm not using it is less important, though smaller/lighter is always good, of course.
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.
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 like a better approach would have been to keep the 3.5" screen alongside the 5" Plus model, unless of course there's also an iPhone Mini in the works.
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.
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.
Makes sense and should come as no surprise. Lots of people enjoy the large screen, Apple may release a phone in that size arena to compete and join in on the action.
Samsung has proven that people like that screen size (S3). I live in Bolivia and the vast majority of people I've asked, "Why do you prefer the Samsung S3 over the iPhone?" answer "Because of the screen size".
How are larger, but lower-density screens getting your money's worth?
Oh well. This is why Apple keeps the iPad 2 on the market. Side-by-side, cheap sells and larger screens sell. Higher dpi and better calibrated displays don't sell.
1) It's easier to see and read. Especially for kids and elderly people.
2) Bigger is better right? Almost like a cultural thing. You can show off to your friends!
3) Now you don't have to pinch zoom in anymore because everything should be readable without any action. Save some time, especially when you're driving -- which also makes the GPS more feasible.
This really sucks. I've always enjoyed the small (compared to those out there now) size of iPhone 4. And now it's just slowly getting bigger and bigger.
Wished they'd ditch iPhone 5 size, but go ahead with the iPhone plus model, this way those that prefer small and nimble devices gets satisfied too (but then not sure how many of us are out there).
I feel like a 5-inch iPhone is actually too big. The 4-inch iPhone I think is actually on the smaller side. I'd love to see data of the screen size of the most purchased Android phones over the last 12 months.
How long until Apple makes something the size on an iphone with the screen size of a note? (With some sort of magic, like the thinkpad butterfly keyboard.)
All companies litigate, what does that have to do with speculation on future product details? It's also a pretty weak reason alone to change buying behaviors if you previous were a consumer of Apple products (their corporate tactics are not new).
Did you choose to ignore HN's approach to comments that sits right below the comment box?
Just wait until this stupidity [1] starts getting turned into lawsuits. Half the trendy clothing, soap and perfume stores on the planet look like this.
The larger screen of my Nexus 4 is a bit of a mixed bag. One-handed manipulation definitely takes some getting used to (you rest the phone on your finger pads, instead of gripping it), but the greater screen real estate is an absolute godsend for reading and web browsing. My old 3gs just feels nowhere near as useful as a web device when compared to the Nexus 4, so I can certainly see Apple releasing a competing product.
Its interesting to watch the conversation here. Whether or not Apple creates a new 'size' phone or ipad or ipod for that matter its really based on their idea that there is some segment of the market out there that hinges on a particular size. The only limit here is the cost to bring out a new SKU versus the expected revenue it will bring in over its lifetime. If that number crosses the threshold them bam! you get a new SKU.
A little as a year ago people were saying "There is no 'tablet' market, there is an 'ipad' market." Those people have, for the most part, stopped saying that but as a new market there is very little history to tell you what is and what is not important for consumers. That information is developed by releasing products and evaluating the reactions.
I want a smaller phone, to be less redundant with a tablet. Since I got a tablet I use my phone for audio, maps, calls, SMS, camera--all things I could do with an iPod nano-sized 2.5" display. A smaller phone would be clippable, lighter in my pocket.
But I think Marco might be right. I could deal with a bigger iPhone if it were cheaper and contract-free, I guess. But it's sort of disappointing to me how little interest there is in smaller screen sizes. Apple would be unlikely to issue a phone not compatible with any third-party apps, however.(3.5 inch screen with no bezel would be nice, too, and compatible with apps.)
I would understand phones tending to get bigger if the iPad had been a flop and tablets had not been able to prove they are relevant for consumers.
With tablets being superior on all aspects except for making calls and taking pictures, what I want is a minimalistic phone. Big enough that I can text, take pictures and make calls. And that I can plug to a tablet anytime to provide it with 3G connectivity.
And when I say "plug to a tablet" I mean that in the most meta sense you can imagine, what I want is somehow to be able to use my tablet using the same data plan as my phone, and that all my data can sync seamlessly from my phone to the tablet.
65 comments
[ 3.8 ms ] story [ 158 ms ] threadOr to put it another way, both your and GP comments are stupid.
Since when did "Windows Phone" become the name of a manufacturer?
Sigh.
It's completely OK to introduce new form factors if there's clear demand.
Gruber, for one:
"Apple seems very confident about the precise size and dimensions of the iPhone display: 3.5 inches, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Not 3 inches. Not 4 inches. [...]
The iPhone 4 feels like a major step toward an idealized iPhone form factor. What defines the iPhone, physically, is the 3.5-inch diagonal screen." [1]
"On These Rumors of a 4.6-Inch iPhone Display [...]
Sure, developers would get on board and support the new size. But why would Apple want to add another vector of fragmentation? For this reason and others, I say it’s bullshit." [2]
"Regarding a Smaller iPhone With the Same Pixel Count [...]
It’s a physical artifact, and the size of the display is what’s important. [...] I really don’t think we’ll see screen sizes other than 3.5 inches" [3]
"Color me skeptical that Apple would introduce another new screen size of any sort." [4]
[1] http://daringfireball.net/2010/06/4
[2] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/22/46-inch-iphone
[3] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/02/20/jin-kim-iphone
[4] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2013/01/08/pixels
Truth be told, I welcome this change, Apple blew it with the iPhone 5, this is the bigger phone people want...but the user and pundit community absolutely drives me up a wall.
http://dcurt.is/3-point-5-inches
It would be madness not to correct it.
With that in mind, saying "perfect jeans pocket size" and later saying "perfect purse size" is not a contradiction. Each device manages to satisfy the user's needs and is perfect for them at that given time. That doesn't mean other screen sizes cannot also be perfect, but it is not reason enough to just dump what you have.
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.
I'm all for user choice, but unfortunately "choice" doesn't actually seem to be the way the market is trending...
I've been trying to decide what to do when my phone contract comes up for renewal, and want to stay with the same carrier (phone number, contact email, etc).
However, my carrier (au), despite offering 28 (I counted!) different smartphone models, seems to be going whole hog for giant-screen phones, and the smaller phones are all "budget" models with worse quality screens, heavier weight, etc. [The big exception is the iphone, but I want Android.]
The sense one gets is that they consider smaller existing models "leftovers" from the past, and that they'll be pumping up screen sizes even more once they get the chance...
[This is particularly absurd in Japan where hands are smaller on average, and far fewer people drive everywhere than the U.S. (small size and light weight are more important if you've got to carry your phone in your pocket all day as you walk around; if you're driving portability is a bit less of an issue)...]
My first smartphone (late to the game) was a Motorola Droid Razr. It's a little smaller than the SIII, but being my first phone, I just became accustomed to the size.
I use friends' iPhones a lot and the first thing I notice (other than just one button) is how small it is. Those same friends struggle with the enormity of my device.
I think it's a similar context switch from Windows <==> OSX. I think people can grow to like either of them, but using one after years of using another makes it seem unwieldy.
> I've seen guys with Notes 2. I really hate them
I'm a guy, and I really hate large phones too, but come to think of it, I actually do carry a bag around all the time that could be reasonably called a "purse," and this doesn't seem particularly uncommon behavior for guys these these days...
The main reason I hate large phones is because they're awkward to use, and awkward to hold, particularly with only one hand (and that's important, as there are many situations like standing on the subway where a two-handed "like-a-tablet" approach isn't practical or desirable). The size when I'm not using it is less important, though smaller/lighter is always good, of course.
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 like a better approach would have been to keep the 3.5" screen alongside the 5" Plus model, unless of course there's also an iPhone Mini in the works.
Samsung has proven that people like that screen size (S3). I live in Bolivia and the vast majority of people I've asked, "Why do you prefer the Samsung S3 over the iPhone?" answer "Because of the screen size".
People like to get their money's worth.
Oh well. This is why Apple keeps the iPad 2 on the market. Side-by-side, cheap sells and larger screens sell. Higher dpi and better calibrated displays don't sell.
1) It's easier to see and read. Especially for kids and elderly people. 2) Bigger is better right? Almost like a cultural thing. You can show off to your friends! 3) Now you don't have to pinch zoom in anymore because everything should be readable without any action. Save some time, especially when you're driving -- which also makes the GPS more feasible.
my wife's iphone5 works much faster and more stable (plus ive $500+ content in itunes) once apple released big iphone i'll buy it right away
Wished they'd ditch iPhone 5 size, but go ahead with the iPhone plus model, this way those that prefer small and nimble devices gets satisfied too (but then not sure how many of us are out there).
Did you choose to ignore HN's approach to comments that sits right below the comment box?
http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85036990&caseType=SERI...
4" is marginally bigger in terms of screen size, but it's quite a lot more awkward to use with one hand only.
I also don't like the 16:9 aspect ratio of iPhone 5, it's too narrow in portrait and too short in landscape. 3:2 was so much nicer. I love iPad's 4:3.
Finally, it feels like there's too much bezel on the iPhone 5 (compared to say Galaxy S3 and Note 2).
Apple should go the iPod nano/Shuffle route with the iPhone. I practically don't use mine anymore now that I have an iPad.
Its interesting to watch the conversation here. Whether or not Apple creates a new 'size' phone or ipad or ipod for that matter its really based on their idea that there is some segment of the market out there that hinges on a particular size. The only limit here is the cost to bring out a new SKU versus the expected revenue it will bring in over its lifetime. If that number crosses the threshold them bam! you get a new SKU.
A little as a year ago people were saying "There is no 'tablet' market, there is an 'ipad' market." Those people have, for the most part, stopped saying that but as a new market there is very little history to tell you what is and what is not important for consumers. That information is developed by releasing products and evaluating the reactions.
I want a smaller phone, to be less redundant with a tablet. Since I got a tablet I use my phone for audio, maps, calls, SMS, camera--all things I could do with an iPod nano-sized 2.5" display. A smaller phone would be clippable, lighter in my pocket.
But I think Marco might be right. I could deal with a bigger iPhone if it were cheaper and contract-free, I guess. But it's sort of disappointing to me how little interest there is in smaller screen sizes. Apple would be unlikely to issue a phone not compatible with any third-party apps, however.(3.5 inch screen with no bezel would be nice, too, and compatible with apps.)
And when I say "plug to a tablet" I mean that in the most meta sense you can imagine, what I want is somehow to be able to use my tablet using the same data plan as my phone, and that all my data can sync seamlessly from my phone to the tablet.