[Zeppu]

Is 1280x1920 on a 4" screen even possible now?

I'm fairly certain it isn't, but I'm just pointing out the gist of a several other threads where screen size was discussed.

[numble]

I'm fairly certain it isn't, but I'm just pointing out the gist of a several other threads where screen size was discussed.

Which threads? I seem to have a different memory of those threads. I think most people said that the PPI would fall, but still be acceptable within Apple's Retina math formula.

[Tobor]

The only theory I found plausible is that they will maintain 640 as the horizontal resolution, and increase the length. That way, the screen is 4 inches, the phone is no wider than it is now, and it's still Retina.

Old apps will run letterboxed.

[Greyface]

That is bogus. No way they change the aspect ratio as drastic as that iLounge rumor is saying.. I think they have many options in front of them and certain models/prototype ideas are getting leaked.

How Apple Could Make a 4-Inch iPhone
★ Tuesday, 10 April 2012

“Modilwar”, in a well-illustrated piece on The Verge forums: But then last week, while watching the Vergecast episode 24, came the Eureka moment. A caller named Colin (apologies if I got your name wrong) mentioned how he thought apple could increase the iPhone screen size without effecting the external form factor or pixel density. […] Colin’s idea was to keep the shorter side of the iPhones screen the same, i.e. 640 pixels at 1.94 inches. With that in mind how much would the longer side need to increase so the that diagonal measurement was 4 inches. The answer, derived using simple algebraic rearrangement of Pythagorus’s theorem, 1152 pixels and 3.49 inches. That leaves the the diagonal length measuring a little over 3.99 inches, I’m sure Apple PR could round this 4. For those of you who are good with numbers I’m sure you’ve noted that 1152 × 640 has an aspect ratio of 9:5 and the 1152 pixels is and increase of 192 from 960 and that’s 20% more than on the iPhone 4 and 4S. Methinks “Colin” wasn’t merely guessing or idly speculating.

[RubxQub]

Sometimes it feels like we love hating on the competition more than we enjoy usin our own phones...

I don't care about screen size if it feels good in use and doesn't awkwardly fit in my pockets.

The more fun argument to have will be the "Is it Retina" conversation we have if there isn't a res bump to go with it.

[numble]

The only theory I found plausible is that they will maintain 640 as the horizontal resolution, and increase the length. That way, the screen is 4 inches, the phone is no wider than it is now, and it's still Retina. Old apps will run letterboxed.

Hmm. I forgot about that discussion, sounds interesting. But a 6th row of icons?

[Utako]

Probably the best thing - one of the many great things - about an iPhone with a larger screen would be the enhanced typing experience.

Either larger keys, or the addition of more keys like "dismiss keyboard."

[SimleuqiR]

If this ever comes to pass, let me be the first to thank Apple for making 4+" screens popular with the common folk. Thank you Apple!!

[macuser1of5]

The more fun argument to have will be the "Is it Retina" conversation we have if there isn't a res bump to go with it.

is the kitchen appliance still around?

[XMonkey]

I wish we could save the '4" will make the phone tooo big' comments for when it's actually revealed and you can see it in person.

[Cheebo]

is the kitchen appliance still around?

iirc he got banned for his Apple trolling.

[Sentry]

How Apple Could Make a 4-Inch iPhone ★ Tuesday, 10 April 2012

I remember reading that. I call bullshit. I can't see Apple doing something like that which jeopardizes a huge amount of their apps and in many cases entire UI. We'll see, though.

[kurtrussell]

Goddamnit. I'm 100% convinced they'll never top the iPhone 4 design and this news just cements that fact.

You mean the one where you lost mobile signal if you held it wrong? That one?

[macuser1of5]

I wish we could save the '4" will make the phone tooo big' comments for when it's actually revealed and you can see it in person.

apple magic means it will feel and act like 3.5".

[Foliorum Viridum]

Same here. I have big hands, though. The original Xbox controller was the perfect size for me.

Ah see, I have small hands and hated the original Xbox controller!

Proof you can't really stereotype people who like certain screen sizes.

[Zeppu]

Which threads? I seem to have a different memory of those threads. I think most people said that the PPI would fall, but still be acceptable within Apple's Retina math formula.

Well a bunch of people here were arguing that there's no way they'd increase screen size and let the DPI fall to below 'retina display' standards (or change aspect ratio) and my suggestion to triple the original iPhone res was deemed unacceptable. To be fair we were all talking about a potential 4.6" screen.

[Tobor]

I remember reading that. I call bullshit. I can't see Apple doing something like that which jeopardizes a huge amount of their apps and in many cases entire UI. We'll see, though.

How would it jeopardize apps? Older apps would run letterboxed. Problem solved.

[SmokyDave]

You mean the one where you lost mobile signal if you held it wrong? That one?

The one that I've been using for more than a year without a single dropped call?

Yeah, that one.

[Sentry]

How would it jeopardize apps? Older apps would run letterboxed. Problem solved.

You don't call that jeopardizing apps? I can't imagine Apple not looking at that as jeopardizing apps.

[numble]

Well a bunch of people here were arguing that there's no way they'd increase screen size and let the DPI fall to below 'retina display' standards (or change aspect ratio) and my suggestion to triple the original iPhone res was deemed unacceptable. To be fair we were all talking about a potential 4.6" screen.

Ah well, there have been other threads about 4" screens, from back before the 4S announcement.

[Tobor]

You don't call that jeopardizing apps? I can't imagine Apple not looking at that as jeopardizing apps.

iPhone apps have run letterboxed on the iPad for years. They're hardly averse to it.

[big_z]

if they can make the bezel smaller and the phone thinner it'll be okay. the cases that showed up in stores and got pulled just before the 4S launch were for an iphone that wasnt too much bigger. if the design remains the same it im okay with it.

the case design that got pulled was for something like this.



on the other hand i hope they dont go too big. lately i've seen a bunch of people with white samsung phones that are nearly the size of a bluray case. it's fucking ridiculous.

[Zeppu]

Removing the bezel completely isn't such a good idea IMO since the inner part of your hand could easily touch the edge of the screen when reaching the other edge of the screen like that. 2-3mm of bezel is probably best.

Ah well, there have been other threads about 4" screens, from back before the 4S announcement.

Fine. But you can easily seen that many people (perhaps less realistic than you) are still claiming that sub-300dpi and/or different aspect ratio are totally unApple-like or whatever.

[Greyface]

iPhone apps have run letterboxed on the iPad for years. They're hardly averse to it.

... That doesn't mean the problem was solved. I seriously cannot believe any iPad/iPhone fan would honestly consider letterboxes apps to be an acceptable solution.

The problem will be solved by developers updating their apps to fit the new resolution. Which I don't doubt that they would be scrambling to do asap.

[JBuccCP]

I've had an iphone, an Inspire (4.3"), and a Galaxy Nexus (4.65" or something like that). I thought the Inspire was about perfect. Right around 4" is the sweet spot imo.

And I think Apple will just make a 4 inch iphone. No resolution or aspect ratio changes. According to math at 4" and the current res that's still 288 ppi, and they'll use the same excuse as with the new ipad that the bump in size means you hold it farther away thus still retina. Refrigerator will bitch, no one else will care, it will still look great.

[moniker]

Sure hope not. 3.5" is perfect for me.

[Tobor]

... That doesn't mean the problem was solved. I seriously cannot believe any iPad/iPhone fan would honestly consider letterboxes apps to be an acceptable solution. The problem will be solved by developers updating their apps to fit the new resolution. Which I don't doubt that they would be scrambling to do asap.

I assumed that was obvious.

[Greyface]

I assumed that was obvious.

Well then shouldn't you have written "problem not solved"?

[Sentry]

iPhone apps have run letterboxed on the iPad for years. They're hardly averse to it.

Are you seriously comparing iPhone apps running on an iPad to iPhone 4 apps running on an iPhone '5'? It's hardly synonymous.

[Tobor]

Well then shouldn't you have written "problem not solved"?

I have no idea what problem you think I'm talking about. This solution solves my problem.

[LCfiner]

How would it jeopardize apps? Older apps would run letterboxed. Problem solved.

can't agree with you here. I don't think letterboxing is an elegant solution. your fingers would end up sliding to areas of the screen that have no controls on them.

I also don't think iphone apps running on the ipad is particularly elegant, either, but I suspect Apple made sure iPad 1 could do that as way to hedge their bets as they didn't know how the ipad would be received.

stretching the screen vertically could work for the basic apps that have nav on top, tab or controls on bottom and content in middle. the content window becomes longer but no controls need to change (although that upper left corner nav icon just became harder to hit...) But apps that customize the screen space in other ways would be messed up.

if they have to increase screen size, I would prefer they kept the same AR and drastically reduced side bezels on the phone to keep the shape small.

[Boogalogist]

on the other hand i hope they dont go too big. lately i've seen a bunch of people with white samsung phones that are nearly the size of a bluray case. it's fucking ridiculous.

That's the Galaxy Note. A lot of people are actually quite surprised by its popularity.

[Graphics Horse]

Are you seriously comparing iPhone apps running on an iPad to iPhone 4 apps running on an iPhone '5'? It's hardly synonymous.

Oh no I've got black borders on my black borders!

[D.Lo]

Goddamnit. I'm 100% convinced they'll never top the iPhone 4 design and this news just cements that fact.

Agree, I honestly can't imagine a more beautiful and perfect design. And this is no fanboy thing, iPads, iPod Touch, 3GS etc are also uglier and worse designs than the iPhone 4, along with every other phone (most Android phones have pretty much been based on the 3GS design).

[CorrisD]

I could go with a bit f a bigger screen, I've never had problems with the size of the screen of my iPhone 4 so it isn't that much of a big deal to me.
I can see the thumb reach argument, can't say I've ever had problems reaching anything on the screen, but my thumb reaches a bit further out so I would be fine with a size increase.

My mum however will be happy if they make the iPod touch line screens bigger, she constantly tells me she prefers her iPod Touch over her Android phone for general stuff but that the screen is too small, lol.

Personally I hope they keep the iPhone 4/4S look, I think it's a beautiful phone.

[U n i o n 0015]

Agree, I honestly can't imagine a more beautiful and perfect design. And this is no fanboy thing, iPads, iPod Touch, 3GS etc are also uglier and worse designs than the iPhone 4, along with every other phone (most Android phones have pretty much been based on the 3GS design).

The only way it could be better is if it was thinner. But the size is perfect, fits just well enough in your pocket. My friend has a generic HTC and the thing is the size of a bible.

[Good Job Bob]

Agree, I honestly can't imagine a more beautiful and perfect design. And this is no fanboy thing, iPads, iPod Touch, 3GS etc are also uglier and worse designs than the iPhone 4, along with every other phone (most Android phones have pretty much been based on the 3GS design).

The iPhone 4 design will be a classic of industrial design, no doubt about it.

It really is a marvel.

[tino]

What will hardcore Apple fans do if the new screen is 4.1"? Eat crow or stick with old 4S? Or come up with new theory why the new iOS is designed for larger screen?

[artist]

Samsung redeemed.

[Greyface]

I have no idea what problem you think I'm talking about. This solution solves my problem.

You said that letterboxing would solve your problem... *i'm confused* *shrug* carry-on

[AbsoluteZero]

The iPhone 4 is the perfect size. A great looking screen that still fits in your pocket.

Hee's hoping a "iPhone Nano" is offered in case they go too ridiculous.

[LCfiner]

What will hardcore Apple fans do if the new screen is 4.1"? Eat crow or stick with old 4S? Or come up with new theory why the new iOS is designed for larger screen?

we'll have to bite down hard on the pillow

[Zaptruder]

Personally, I hope for the sake of Apple fans, apple sticks with 3.5" screens.

[sikkinixx]

Ugh, just more bulk in the pocket. Better not be much bigger.

[Zeppu]

Why not start slowly buying new pants with slightly bigger pockets in preparation. Make a thread about it so it'll be publicly known too. That way you can just say: "Luckily the bigger-pocket trend hit the fashion industry mid 2012. Apple is awesome at fashion."

You could possibly avoid most of the crow that way :D

[Angst]

If you feel that the current 3.5" screen is perfect, why are you afraid that the new iPhone will be bigger? Do you absolutely need to buy the latest model? Why not just stick with the (then) old model?

[giga]

I, for one, welcome larger keyboard keys and/or 'move cursor' buttons.

[Vyer]

Somewhere around 4" screen would be a nice jump. I doubt they'd go too extreme and get closer to 5, but I guess we'll see.

[macuser1of5]

we'll have to bite down hard on the pillow

and use two 4s' to wedge our asscheeks apart.

[Zeppu]

nm.