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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
Maybe some people should get out their placards & protest outside tech manufacturers instead of constantly whining on the internet.
 

TopherMan12

macrumors 6502a
Oct 10, 2019
786
899
Atlanta, GA
No, the market didn't speak at all. The OEMs spoke, and we just took it without complaining. We have become conditioned to accept that a phone over 2 years old makes one an outcast or something so we must have the newest because 'newer is always better' and so on. We accept imperfection, mediocrity these days. The days of companies making a mistake that ends the company are long gone. We have become complacent with whatever the OEM, be it Apple or Android, throws at us, assuming 'they know best'.

The comsumers are supposed to dictate the demand, not the reverse. Comsumers want x, company produces x. Now it's company produces y, garbage or not, but if tech bloggers love it, and it has an Apple logo, people buy y. Doesn't mean it is a success, just that people fell for it hook line and sinker. If supply and demand worked properly, Apple would never have removed the headphone jack or made a screen larger than 4" since that wasn't the way the market trends were going. In fact they were still succeeding quite well the way they had been for years. No consumer said 'no' to an iPhone because it had a headphone jack, no sales were being lost for not having large displays...No one asked for removing the jack or asked for a larger screen. The companies are supposed to listen to the free market not the other way around. For Apple they just ran out of ideas for improving so the only thing to do was 'change for the sake of change' and all they could come up with was 'get rid of headphone jack and make huge screen and jack the price even higher'.

Another example. iOS 7's success. Was it really a success? I think not. Apple took away the ability to downgrade and the numbers went up. People likely had the update automatically install as I did, and didn't know it was going to be flat UI garbage. The numbers were artificially inflated. Now, if they gave the choice to downgrade, then I would bet the numbers for iOS 6 would be far higher than iOS 7, and flat UI would fail just as it did for Microsoft when they launched Windows 8.

Companies no longer care what the free market wants. If they did, Apple would have backtracked a ton, and so would Google. The fact they don't care what we think anymore is blind arrogance. It means they know people will buy anything with an Apple logo and if Apple is the only real deal available, the mindset of 'I must upgrade' takes over. It doesn't mean they are happy, they just tolerate what is offered since they literally have no say in the matter.

I will never understand it. I think it has a lot to do with the whole 'catering to the masses' mindset. Otherwise known as catering to the idiots and ignorant people. Smart people or geeks have literally become irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. No one is catering to our needs. Not even a niche that sells for three times the cost of an iPhone 12. You'd think a company would exist the same way Rolex and Lamborghini exists, to cater to the niche market...such as those of us who prefer sub-4" displays and one-handed use.

You keep saying "we". Is there someone there helping you type?

As far as all those "smart people" you want a sub-4" phone, you would think they would be smart enough to google and find that such niche companies do exist.

 

Ixon2001

macrumors regular
Mar 9, 2017
230
305
Wigan UK
Samsung had a spell few years ago making mini Android Phone's but the spec's where dire anybody the remember the S3 Mini, S4 Mini & the S5 Mini aswell?, the last small phone they made was the Galaxy Alpha which wasn't to bad spec wise but screen was pretty terrible being a 720p pentile AMOLED.

Sony also had a spell of making mini Android phone's with flagship spec's, but they also decided to stop making them after the XZ2 Compact in 2018.

In the Android world things have moved on from the Mini smartphone's, it's now all about media consumption be it Netflix's, Youtube, Gaming ect small screen's just don't cut it for most people these day's, hence we now see 6inch plus screen's.

I have a Note 20 Ultra with a 6.9inch screen, watching movies & some xbox cloud gaming on it is superb & i never played games on a phone or watch movies until i got this, because of the screen size on past smartphone's was to small to really enjoy any content on it.

I also have an iPhone SE 2020 which originally was my small use at work phone or when carry the Note 20 Ultra was to impractical, but as I'm using the Note 20 Ultra more & more each day the SE 2020 is being left unused, even at work I've started to take my Note 20 Ultra rather than the SE 2020 due to Covid 19, i take my break's in my car out of the way of other folk rather than use the Staff Canteen, & has been superb for passing that hour.

Apple knows past older iPhone users & some Android users still crave a smaller phone so that niche is covered for those that want a compact phone hence the iPhone 12 mini, which isn't that much bigger than the old iPhone SE from 2016 & smaller than the SE2020 while offering top spec's and a very decent screen to finally.

The major players in the Android market won't be making or returning to a Mini top spec android phone any time soon, so if you want compact you go Apple.
 

ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
Apple knows past older iPhone users & some Android users still crave a smaller phone so that niche is covered for those that want a compact phone hence the iPhone 12 mini, which isn't that much bigger than the old iPhone SE from 2016 & smaller than the SE2020 while offering top spec's and a very decent screen to finally.

The major players in the Android market won't be making or returning to a Mini top spec android phone any time soon, so if you want compact you go Apple.
There will always be niche markets to tap into. But at this point, only companies like Apple will have enough margins to invest into those niche markets. Majority of Android OEMs are operating at super thin margins. They cannot spend extra resources just for compact phones. Even Samsung, arguably the only healthily profitable Android OEM, is not interested.
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
You keep saying "we". Is there someone there helping you type?

As far as all those "smart people" you want a sub-4" phone, you would think they would be smart enough to google and find that such niche companies do exist.


The 'palm phone' isn't a standalone device. It's still going to require a 'master phone' to make it active, meaning I'd need both a brick flagship plus that palm phone. I wish it were a real 'Palm' aka WebOS device, since OpenWebOS still exists...oh well.

Whatever happened to tablets being the media consumption device? They were perfect for movies, tv shows, desktop level computing if you like that sort of thing (I prefer a real laptop for it). a smartphone over 6" is far too big to comfortably use as a phone or text messaging device, but too small for replacing a proper tablet. It's no different than being that oddball using a Sony Watchman for a TV set on the go. Too large for a pocket, but too tiny for comfortably watching TV without straining your eyes.
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
Apple knows past older iPhone users & some Android users still crave a smaller phone so that niche is covered for those that want a compact phone hence the iPhone 12 mini, which isn't that much bigger than the old iPhone SE from 2016 & smaller than the SE2020 while offering top spec's and a very decent screen to finally.

It's not 'mini' though. it's literally one decimal smaller than a Galaxy Note!!! What I want is a modern phone with features a'plenty, such as expandable storage, a headphone jack, a skeuo UI, IR blaster, removable battery (that last one reduces e-waste which hardly anyone seems concerned with these days) and a sub-4" display. So far I can only get that with a Galaxy S Relay from like 2012!!!

Maybe one day small and skeuo will return, and I can finally move to the future. Until then, I'll use what I like for my needs, and vote with my wallet, as useless as that seems these days. Either that or wait for the next smartphone revolution given how homogenized and bland the pickings are, even from Android, the king of 'choice'. Apple isn't doing 4" displays or smaller, and Android is king of the bricks and Zack Morris wannabes. All they need is a case that makes the Note 20 look like a Motorola DynaTAC 800TX from 1984...
 
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TopherMan12

macrumors 6502a
Oct 10, 2019
786
899
Atlanta, GA
The 'palm phone' isn't a standalone device. It's still going to require a 'master phone' to make it active, meaning I'd need both a brick flagship plus that palm phone. I wish it were a real 'Palm' aka WebOS device, since OpenWebOS still exists...oh well.

Not true. It does not "require" a "master phone". That is just an option. It can be used as a stand alone phone.

 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
It still requires an additional line, unless Verizon was lying to me the entire time?

Besides that, it's not a real 'Palm' aka WebOS device. I'm still surprised LG hasn't released a WebOS phone given they own the license...I miss it. It was doing multi-touch gestures long before it was cool. Skeuo done right as it were. Well ahead of its time :(

Might as well just get a cellular Apple Watch do accomplish what this 'phone' is trying to do (and doing badly btw). No expandable storage, no buttons, not even a slider keyboard to make the size even more correct. Essentially it's a downgrade over my S Relay. However, thanks for at least trying. I've been browsing sites all the time when I am able, but still haven't found a newer phone that works for me at all (not that I need one mind you)

Just stating (correctly) that calling this iPhone a 'mini' when it's larger by a huge margin to the iPhone SE 2, might as well just call the SE 2 the iPhone 12 Mini and be accurate. Otherwise Apple is just insulting the few of us left craving a smaller display. Kinda want to trade my Galaxy S5 that's aging badly for an S4 Mini just to spite it. Not worth the time or money though.
 

Oohara

macrumors 68040
Jun 28, 2012
3,050
2,423
[...]

Just stating (correctly) that calling this iPhone a 'mini' when it's larger by a huge margin to the iPhone SE 2, might as well just call the SE 2 the iPhone 12 Mini and be accurate. Otherwise Apple is just insulting the few of us left craving a smaller display. Kinda want to trade my Galaxy S5 that's aging badly for an S4 Mini just to spite it. Not worth the time or money though.

Screenshot 2020-10-24 at 23.06.08.png
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
So? the screen is smaller on the SE 2. I have a hard time telling the difference between it and the 6S. My stepdad has a SE 2, his previous was a 6S. Never understood why he 'upgraded' to basically a 2020 6S.

Plus, touch ID avoids the fingerprint smudges, and gestures are not forced on you. I never could get used to the gestures on an iPhone X.

Customers want a sub 4-inch display. Apple failed to deliver. that's a fact. Once again, everyone is just settling without doing anything about it. Apple sees what they assume is a success, and nothing will ever change. Shame. The companies are dictating the trends instead of listening to the market AGAIN.
 

michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
I think someone needs to fix their broken record player. I can't see Apple going to all the trouble of making a new product line to satisfy 3 people. Who would only find something else to complain about.

And there's no sense in banging on about products being less than 100% suitable because nothing is perfect. Nothing.

And who the **** can actually see smudges when the display is on and being used?
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
Well, currently my S Relay, and SIII are 100% fine for me, given no modern offering checks all my boxes yet. Especially size of the screen. There is far more than 3 people wanting smaller displays. It's easy to assume the market has spoken when the reality is that when you only make huge displays, but make NO smaller ones, there's no choice and no way to reall poll people. There's an analogy about a lobster in a pot that doesn't know he's being cooked because the heat is slowly turned up.

That's what happened here. We adjusted to 6"+ being the norm but all I see is this rehashed:

this_switch_mod_finds_a_use_for_your_sony_watchman.jpg
 

michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
You complain about the size of phones and then talk of using a phone the slightest bit smaller. Must be really difficult for you to see companies replacing useless thick bezels that do nothing and offering more screen real estate instead.

You don't half use the word assume a lot to describe other people who've done nothing of the sort.

Maybe stop complaining about everything all the time then if you're happy what you've got.
 

TopherMan12

macrumors 6502a
Oct 10, 2019
786
899
Atlanta, GA
It still requires an additional line, unless Verizon was lying to me the entire time?

Besides that, it's not a real 'Palm' aka WebOS device. I'm still surprised LG hasn't released a WebOS phone given they own the license...I miss it. It was doing multi-touch gestures long before it was cool. Skeuo done right as it were. Well ahead of its time :(

Might as well just get a cellular Apple Watch do accomplish what this 'phone' is trying to do (and doing badly btw). No expandable storage, no buttons, not even a slider keyboard to make the size even more correct. Essentially it's a downgrade over my S Relay. However, thanks for at least trying. I've been browsing sites all the time when I am able, but still haven't found a newer phone that works for me at all (not that I need one mind you)

Just stating (correctly) that calling this iPhone a 'mini' when it's larger by a huge margin to the iPhone SE 2, might as well just call the SE 2 the iPhone 12 Mini and be accurate. Otherwise Apple is just insulting the few of us left craving a smaller display. Kinda want to trade my Galaxy S5 that's aging badly for an S4 Mini just to spite it. Not worth the time or money though.

Sorry you can't find what you are looking for.
 
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dcpmark

macrumors 65816
Oct 20, 2009
1,036
834
One big reason why large phones are popular is that hundreds of millions of people only have one device: their phone.

Yep. No 65”+ TV in their living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, home gyms, etc., no iPads of varying sizes....just a single cell phone to consume all their media on.

I keep reading posts of people describing how comfortable/uncomfortable it is to hold their phone while watching a show or movie in bed......I have no idea how people live like that.
 

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
I'm not complaining about what I got, just offering corrections when I feel them necessary. Calling this a 'mini' is no different than calling the first Galaxy Note a 'mini'. Maybe if it were say the same size as the iPhone 4, perhaps. But I call foul as I see it.

I might not be finding what I'm looking for in the 2020 selection, paltry as it is, but thanks to Amazon I netted quite a few smaller devices just perfect for me that check all my boxes, despite being quite old. They still work fine, and get days of battery. Might not be Apple products but I hope to come across a 3GS one day. Just ordered a Galaxy S4 mini to replace my dying/aging Galaxy S5.

I'm plenty comfortable catching some YouTube or Netflix on my 10.1" Galaxy Note tablet, while enjoying music or texting my sweetie on my S Relay's full QWERTY keyboard on that nicely fitting 4" AMOLED display. A Tablet is a tablet and has its use and a phone has its use. Phone does best as a media player (iPod/MP3 player), phone, texting platform, quick web search, or camera. A tablet makes more sense to consume media, read books, or watch movies on while on the go. I don't understand converging the two. You end up with a very impractible phone that hardly fits into pockets (but perhaps will bring parachute pants back in style?) and with a screen too large to use comfortably one-handed, and a screen also too small to enjoy movies on without hurting your eyesight. If they get any bigger (say 8"+) we will relive the horror of folks using iPads as cameras at concerts again.
 

oVerboost

macrumors 68000
Sep 17, 2013
1,565
1,039
United Kingdom
You complain about the size of phones and then talk of using a phone the slightest bit smaller. Must be really difficult for you to see companies replacing useless thick bezels that do nothing and offering more screen real estate instead.

You don't half use the word assume a lot to describe other people who've done nothing of the sort.

Maybe stop complaining about everything all the time then if you're happy what you've got.

He’s a troll, and if he’s then wow. Go and have a look through his post history. He’s also wrong, on almost every detail he gives. Won’t listen to anyone giving him actual facts and needs to stop living in the past.

Tech changes and evolves, I’m pretty sure if he has a car it’s not a Ford Model T, although it likely is!

I’ve replied in the other thread regarding the Note II he quoted, and I’ll reply here regarding the Note 1 he is claiming is the same size...

Note height 147mm width 83mm and a thickness of 9.65mm

12 Mini height 131mm width 64mm and thickness of 7.4mm

So again, you’re wrong.
 
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nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
no, my car is NOT a Model T. It's not one of those fancy full of touchscreen nightmares with auto start-stop and push buttons to start the engine though. it's a 2005 Saturn.

Although collectors and classic car restorers do have Model Ts, and you just insulted them. Congrats.

What business is it of yours what era I live in? I'm not you, and you're not me. If you don't like my opinions, perhaps either use the ignore option or stop using a forum on the internet. I'm not stopping you from buying what you like. If I'm happy using older tech, then let it be.
 
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ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
What business is it of yours what era I live in? I'm not you, and you're not me. If you don't like my opinions, perhaps either use the ignore option or stop using a forum on the internet. I'm not stopping you from buying what you like. If I'm happy using older tech, then let it be.
I think the issue many are having is not about your choice, but about you posting the exact same rant on many different threads, and then within that discussion when there are facts about measurements and whatnot, you just keep circling back to your rant.

I guess it goes both way. I'm sure many people here don't actually have a problem with your choice. But at the same time, ranting about it on many threads made it seem like you are having a problem with the choice of others. So if you want others to respect your choice, maybe also respect the choice of others. And maybe minimize the rant so that we are not reading the same rant on every different thread. You can simplify your rant into a signature on your profile, if you want.

Just a thought. :)
 
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