Do you want to see less wasted real estate (ie, a bigger screen) on the next iPhone

[wikoogle]

I don't understand why the black bars above and below the screen on the iPhone need to be so large, the screen could instead be longer. The home button could be made smaller or slimmer. The speakers could be shifted upwards.

Something akin to this...

or this (but less ugly)

In short, there seems to be little good reason why the iPhone screen couldn't have been made bigger/longer (or wider in landscape mode) for this upcoming hardware revision. The phone itself could've been made a mm or two wider if Apple wished to do this while keeping the screen proportions the same.

Software already knows to ignore touches at the very most edges of the screen because the iPhone OS software already knows that touches at the very most edges are from where your fingers are holding the phone.

It displays things on it perfectly fine and you could still use that space for gesturing. It just knows to ignore your finger tips when they've been stationary on that spot.

If your finger ends up there as part of a long gesture, it won't ignore it. It just ignores it if you finger is stationary somewhere at the edge of the screen. This already done for most of the software on the iphone. Try it out.

Perhaps someone should email sjobs@apple.com

 

[Small White Car]

Ok, but then the phone would have to be twice as thick.

I say it's not worth it.

 

[kdarling]

The HTC HD2 has a much bigger screen, yet it's thinner than the 3GS.

 

[wikoogle]

Why would the phone have to be twice as thick to have a slightly longer screen?

 

[DeusInvictus7]

Well my theory, which I just thought of, is that since the iPhone/iPod Touch are both kind of pegged as gaming devices, the black bars are kind of helpful when playing a game in landscape (ie. driving games and such)...I know I wouldn't want to be holding the phone by the chrome all the time.

Just my .02, thinking of it from the other point of view. While having an almost borderless screen would look nice, there has to be some reason why Apple has kept that design aspect.

 

[Small White Car]

Why would the phone have to be twice as thick to have a slightly longer screen?

I guess I read too quickly and didn't see the end of your post, I was under the impression that you were talking about removing the top and bottom but using the same size screen.

 

[sparrky]

I think the wasted real estate makes it look really outdated.

 

[doubleatheman]

Yes I would like more screen!

the home button is so large... doesn't need to be round...

 

[noah82]

I love that mockup...I really wish that was the next iPhone.

 

[F123D]

Apple probably did this on purpose just so they can release a new iphone next year with a larger screen so everyone upgrades again. All the 3G people this year will find the iphone 4 a signficant upgrade and all the 3GS people next year will find the next iphone a signficant upgrade.

 

[corriewf]

Amen!! It drives me crazy! I hate the black bars. I would rather have the phone shorter and do away with the black bars than to have them. Don't understand their need.

 

[darngooddesign]

I know that I cradle the phone in the palm of my hand in a way that, should the screen extend all the way to the side bezel, my finger tips and the other part of my hand would be in danger if registering inputs. My hands aren't particularly large, but I can see men with bigger hands having even more of an issue with it.

Also, screens don't go all the way to the edge of the physical display, and there has to be space for the mounting hardware or the phone would be too flimsy. So you can either have a smaller bezel and some black bars, or close to no black bars and a wider bezel.

As far as the top and bottom. If A didn't have that space to pack sensors, speakers the ear piec and all that hardware we'd end up with a thicker phone. Or a thinner one with a smaller battery.

 

[gloss]

Yes, I would absolutely love a phone that gives me no place to, you know, hold it. For a device that people will be playing games and watching video on, that would be disastrous. The current iPhone is perfectly-sized to be held sturdily in landscape mode with a thumb on either side of the screen. If you've got to hold the things with the tips of your fingers so as not to block off 30% of the image, the ergonomics are wrong.

 

[King Luis]

i think the current size of the iphone is just about right...if you make it too wide or tall it won't fit in someones pocket that well.

 

[Eso]

Why would the phone have to be twice as thick to have a slightly longer screen?

Behold, the logic of the fan boy.

 

[NorrisKillsKids]

Go read my post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/900454/

it's the most recent reply.

Discussion over.

 

[Eso]

Go read my post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/900454/

it's the most recent reply.

Discussion over.

This pretty much has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

 

[NorrisKillsKids]

This pretty much has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

Yeah it does. Because you see when the screen is utilized that way, the space isn't wasted at all. Me thinks you didn't read it. If the screen was bigger, what is described would not be possible.

 

[-aggie-]

Behold, the logic of the fan boy.

Exactly.

i think the current size of the iphone is just about right...if you make it too wide or tall it won't fit in someones pocket that well.

Yet, if Apple made it bigger, everyone would say it should have always been like that (just like they're doing with the found/stolen prototype).

Bigger within reason (not iPad size) is always better, IMO.

 

[dmx]

The next iPhone would be just about perfect with a larger screen. All the wasted space is annoying, especially when other manufacturers are stepping it up in terms of screen size.

 

[Eso]

Yeah it does. Because you see when the screen is utilized that way, the space isn't wasted at all. Me thinks you didn't read it. If the screen was bigger, what is described would not be possible.

No, DPI and screen size have nothing to do with each other. You can create a larger screen and retain the same DPI by adding more pixels, which increases the resolution.

You may be stuck on 960x640 and think it's because Apple wants a 300+ DPI screen, but it's probably because it's the easiest way to increase the display resolution and retain 100% compatibility with the app store through pixel doubling.

 

[wikoogle]

Software already knows to ignore touches at the very edges of the screen because the software knows that touches at the very most edges are from where your fingers are holding the phone.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I don't understand why the black bars above and below the screen on the iPhone need to be so large. The home button could be made smaller or slimmer. The speakers could be shifted upwards.

Something akin to this...

or this (but less ugly)

In short, there seems to be little good reason why the iPhone screen couldn't have been made bigger/longer (or wider in landscape mode) for this upcoming hardware revision. The phone itself could've been made a mm or two wider if Apple wished to do this while keeping the screen proportions the same.

Software already knows to ignore touches at the very most edges of the screen because the iPhone OS software already knows that touches at the very most edges are from where your fingers are holding the phone.

Perhaps someone should email sjobs@apple.com

This is still the best looking Iphone mockup. I love the Matte black and the screen covering corner to corner.

 

[skate71290]

i would kill for that Black Matte iPhone mockup, it is freaking awesome... make that damn phone Apple you have millions in reserves - MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

 

[Anthony T]

Yes, the iPhone is due for a bigger screen. I was pretty disappointed when these sites said the 4G prototype has a slightly smaller screen than the 3GS. I could MAYBE see keeping it the same...but smaller? That's ridiculous.