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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 complete

by Geee 14y ago

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.

Kylekramer 14y ago
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.
- rayiner 14y ago
  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.
eCa 14y ago
> Who said it was perfect? 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 http://daringfireball.net/2010/06/4 [2] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/22/46-inch-iphone http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/22/46-inch-iphone [3] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/02/20/jin-kim-iphone http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/02/20/jin-kim-iphone [4] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2013/01/08/pixels http://daringfireball.net/linked/2013/01/08/pixels
- bane 14y ago
  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.
  - sarvinc 14y ago
    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.
tree_of_item 14y ago
> 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 http://dcurt.is/3-point-5-inches
- bane 14y ago
  which of course is made even more fun since the thumb coverage area isn't even the same in the two diagrams.
  - ocean12 14y ago
    I don't understand why, even in the face of justifications, it's wrong for Apple to admit they made a competitive mistake...and correct it. It would be madness not to correct it.

by Geee 14y ago

Kylekramer 14y ago

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.

rayiner 14y ago
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.

eCa 14y ago

> Who said it was perfect? 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 http://daringfireball.net/2010/06/4 [2] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/22/46-inch-iphone http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/22/46-inch-iphone [3] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/02/20/jin-kim-iphone http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/02/20/jin-kim-iphone [4] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2013/01/08/pixels http://daringfireball.net/linked/2013/01/08/pixels

bane 14y ago
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.
- sarvinc 14y ago
  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.

tree_of_item 14y ago

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

bane 14y ago
which of course is made even more fun since the thumb coverage area isn't even the same in the two diagrams.
- ocean12 14y ago
  I don't understand why, even in the face of justifications, it's wrong for Apple to admit they made a competitive mistake...and correct it. It would be madness not to correct it.