Woz calls out apple for being arrogant with screen size!

[bearxor]

I was just thinking yesterday, oh the RAZR M is nice, it's 4.3", maybe I forget exactly how big a OneX or SGS3 is and I'm overestimating it in my head.

Walked past a AT&T booth and picked up a OneX and that idea went out of my head. Yes, it's only a half inch bigger but it makes a significant difference to me.

I should meet Woz. Since he's said that "(he) don’t see anybody having any trouble using the larger screens."

 

[cmdrdredd]

This time I think Woz is totally off base. IMO the sweet spot is somewhere between 4" and 4.3". That's the prime market, and Apple has smartly chosen to attack that market first. And they're selling a bazillion of them, because people want them.

If anything, it's the Android makers who are going down the wrong path, only making giant flagship phones, and saddling the 4" phones with 2nd tier specs. I don't know if that is arrogant, but it certainly is irritating. Most people don't want giant geek phones like the Galaxy S III. I had hopes for the Galaxy S III mini, but it has turned out to be a major disappointment.

Prime market? How many Galaxy S2 and 3's have sold?

Just cause you have some fetish for small screens doesn't mean that's the only market that matters. Sheesh...

Slightly larger is enough to make the device bulky. Your fingers are measured by centimeters, not feet. Add a few mm here and there and you can see why people are complaining about size. People have been making this claim forever. Oh a 4" phone is only slightly larger than a 3.7" phone. They kept doing this for 4.3" then 4.65" then 4.8" Fact is it's clearly a pretty recognizable size difference just LOOKING at the phone itself. It translates to a pretty hefty difference for your hands unless you have XL size hands. And sorry, as someone who has medium-large sized hands, I can certainly tell it's more difficult to manipulate a 4.8" device.

Your comment about the sales of the SGS3 is just as flawed as the iPhone statement. People don't buy iPhones for the small screen size? Well people don't buy SGS3s for the monstrous screen. I see plenty of girls using it and it's hilarious they need 2 hands to use. I see them dropping it too because it isn't something you'll carry 1 handed. They have it because there's no choice of a smaller SGS3... not without compromising the quality of the device significantly at least. Furthermore, you see plenty of people holding up phones at concerts, or when doing something fun. I held my camera out as I sat in the back of a scooter on some island in Asia. It takes 1 hand to manipulate the phone and it's clear with a 4.8" phone that's difficult and while it's an ergonomic phone, to manipulate it with 1 hand is difficult. It's much easier with my Nexus S.

1) I have never seen anyone drop a GS3
2) I have never seen anyone unable to use it with one hand
3) People buy it because it actually is the best android device on some carriers

You're like Eug... you just hate on anything bigger because you can't use it or just refuse to. Stop making your ideas out to be the only one that matters. SImple fact, GS3 is the best selling Android phone and most people I have asked about it say "it's easier to type on the bigger screen". So yeah, screen real estate matters.

 

[bearxor]

1) I have never seen anyone drop a GS3
2) I have never seen anyone unable to use it with one hand
3) People buy it because it actually is the best android device on some carriers

Come on though... Just because you haven't seen anyone doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The first two are totally believable. The third is definitely true though, ESPECIALLY if you're on Verizon.

 

[Blueychan]

Yes, because the SGS3 doesn't sell like hotcakes. And it's not like android doesn't have the larger domestic and international market share. Oh wait, they do.

way to miss the point to prove your own point

 

[Ravynmagi]

Apple has realized that one size of tablet isn't enough and I hope eventually they'll realize the same for phones.

 

[Phynaz]

Why do people use Woz's word as if he is some kind of authority of what is "right"?

He's just a guy with an opinion.

 

[ultimatebob]

I've dropped my GS3 already, but I'm a klutz! I dropped my iPhone and Droid X a few times as well.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Why do people use Woz's word as if he is some kind of authority of what is "right"?

He's just a guy with an opinion.

I doubt Woz would say he's an authority on what's right. He's just sharing his opinion because someone probably asked. And people talk about it because Woz is a geek at heart like the rest of us and usually he's echoing what many of us already are saying.

 

[openwheel]

I love Woz. He just calls like it is.

 

[bearxor]

I love Woz. He just calls like it is.

Calls it like it is, or calls it like he sees it?

 

[Zaap]

I don't understand why people assume screen size directly relates to device size. The 3.5" iPhone 4S is only slightly smaller than the 4.3" Razr M yet some people would consider the M to large just due to it's screen size. Likewise the 4.8" Galaxy S3 is only slightly larger than the 4.3" Galaxy S2 yet some people act like there is a night and day difference between the two.

It's also worth pointing out that the bestselling Android phone is the 4.8" Galaxy S3 so obviously the statement that people don't want phones like that is wrong.

It's also foolish to assume people are buying the iPhone because it has a smaller screen, they are buying it because that's the only size it comes in.

IMO 4" 16:10 is to small for me to type on the keyboard of a phone in portrait mode without having to be extra careful, I would need to file down the tips of my fingers to comfortably type on a 4" 16:9 screen.

^ What he said.

 

[kaerflog]

I have a One S right now and I just bought a GS3 for my wife as an anniversary present.
I put my sim card in the GS3 for a couple of days just to play around with it.
Its a nice phone indeed.
The big screen is nice.
Why wouldn't anyone want a bigger screen ??
I certainly do but its a device that is in my possession almost 24/7.
Its a device that I interact with constantly.
So after my 2 days with the GS3, while I do like it for the bigger screen, I like carrying my One S around with me more.
The One S is so darn thin that with a case on, its a perfect size for me and a perfect grip.
I can honestly say I'd preferred a 4.3" to a 4.8" screen, but damm give me a 720p on a 4.3" screen already.
Now if they can shrink the bezels in a 4.5" down to a 4.3" footprint, I'll gladly take the 4.5" phone.

 

[gus6464]

5.5" is the new 4", true story...

 

[badb0y]

So Android users, how big is too big? I am genuinely interested in this answer.

Please respond.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

most people want to be able to use their phone with one hand. if apple had put a larger screen on iphone they would have gotten far more complaints about the larger screen being awkward that they are getting now about the screen not being larger enough

 

[badb0y]

most people want to be able to use their phone with one hand. if apple had put a larger screen on iphone they would have gotten far more complaints about the larger screen being awkward that they are getting now about the screen not being larger enough

I think a lot of people forget that Apple has 1 phone with a 1 year release schedule compared to Android where you have ~10 devices per month coming in all shapes and sizes. Of course Apple can make different sized screens to accommodate everyone but that is not practical for a company like Apple that wants to have large profit margins as well as a greater brand recognition compared to competitors.

Just ask Motorola and HTC how releasing too many phones can lead to lower sales and customer dissatisfaction, Samsung seems to be the premier Android company now. I am not sure how much longer the other companies are going to stick around with Android if they don't make some serious cash.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

regular people only care about brand.
Apple is a brand
Droid is now what teenagers call their android powered devices.

Its all about brand.

 

[kubani1]

So Android users, how big is too big? I am genuinely interested in this answer.

Please respond.

If i were to buy a new phone just now, i would buy the HTC oneX or the SGSIII, because they are the best phones, best processors, best screens, best camera's, etc.

If however, HTC or LG or whoever built a premium device, with the best processor and a great camera and great resolution and the whole shabang, but put it in a phone the same size as the SGSII, I would go for that. If i could get the SGSIII inside the SGSII, that would be my ideal

i agree there should be various sized screens, but it is frustrating that the *best* android phones have the largest screens. I want that *best* experience in a mid sized phone.

and i know that the SGSIII is only slightly bigger than the SGSII, but the SGSII is really the ideal size for me, but I won't get it because the SGSIII is a better phone. Its hard to compare what people would ideally buy, the best phones have the biggest screens, it would be nice to see someone make the best phone with just a slightly smaller screen.

 

[ControlD]

most people want to be able to use their phone with one hand. if apple had put a larger screen on iphone they would have gotten far more complaints about the larger screen being awkward that they are getting now about the screen not being larger enough

Really? How do you know this? Honestly this forum is the only place in the world I have ever seen the people so concerned about using phones one handed. I have never talked to a person that even mentioned one handed operation as being a consideration for buying or not buying a phone. Most people I see texting around the office are doing so in landscape orientation with two hands whether it is a small screen like an iPhone or a monster like a SG3. I have yet to meet a single person that regretted moving to a larger screen and that includes the bulk of my colleagues, almost all of whom have moved away from the iphone to large sized Android devices (I am the lone iPhone holdout).

 

[Oyeve]

So Android users, how big is too big? I am genuinely interested in this answer.

Please respond.

I think the note 2 at 5.5 is too big. Not that I can't use it but because it looks ridiculous talking on it.

 

[kaerflog]

If i were to buy a new phone just now, i would buy the HTC oneX or the SGSIII, because they are the best phones, best processors, best screens, best camera's, etc.

If however, HTC or LG or whoever built a premium device, with the best processor and a great camera and great resolution and the whole shabang, but put it in a phone the same size as the SGSII, I would go for that. If i could get the SGSIII inside the SGSII, that would be my ideal

i agree there should be various sized screens, but it is frustrating that the *best* android phones have the largest screens. I want that *best* experience in a mid sized phone.

and i know that the SGSIII is only slightly bigger than the SGSII, but the SGSII is really the ideal size for me, but I won't get it because the SGSIII is a better phone. Its hard to compare what people would ideally buy, the best phones have the biggest screens, it would be nice to see someone make the best phone with just a slightly smaller screen.

You couldn't have put this any better.
A lot of us share this sentiment.
The SG2 is a perfect size for me also but give the choice to carry a SG2 or SG3 on a daily basis I would pick the SG3. It has the best specs.
Now if they put the specs on a SG3 on a SG2 body, I would easily choose the SG2.
Even better is if they can fit a 4.5 screen in a SG2 body, that would be ideal.

 

[eelw]

I wonder if Apple didn't push retina display and had to maintain that magical PPI, would they have increased screen size earlier?

 

[aylafan]

This time I think Woz is totally off base. IMO the sweet spot is somewhere between 4" and 4.3". That's the prime market, and Apple has smartly chosen to attack that market first. And they're selling a bazillion of them, because people want them.

If anything, it's the Android makers who are going down the wrong path, only making giant flagship phones, and saddling the 4" phones with 2nd tier specs. I don't know if that is arrogant, but it certainly is irritating. Most people don't want giant geek phones like the Galaxy S III. I had hopes for the Galaxy S III mini, but it has turned out to be a major disappointment.

Wow. Your statement is very bias. It's only praising Apple and ignoring how much Android devices has evolved over the years. You need to be more open-minded.

I happen to own both the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S3. I love both devices. They both have their strengths and flaws. iOS 6 on the iPhone 4S is very user-friendly and the camera takes great photos. I like the bigger screen size on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and I am impressed on how much Android has improved since Gingerbread. ICS/Jellybean and iOS 6 are very close in functionality and performance.

My friend owns the iPhone 5 and I do believe it is an upgrade over the iPhone 4S. You really can't go wrong with either the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S3 right now.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I wonder if Apple didn't push retina display and had to maintain that magical PPI, would they have increased screen size earlier?

Good point, however they could go the full 9 and go with a 1920x1200 resolution and believe me, there will be such phones before long. The other factor holding them back from larger phones is the ridicule there dear leader heaped on larger phones -- he designed the perfect sized phone and everyone must except that fact.

Apple will eventually expand there product line and include larger phones but it might be a while before that happens. But, if Apple was to release a larger phone, say 4.6 inches, many of the folks here that now scoff at larger phones would claim it the greatest invention ever perhaps even recommencing Apple file lawsuits against Samsung for coping the larger phones.


Brian

 

[QueBert]

Good point, however they could go the full 9 and go with a 1920x1200 resolution and believe me, there will be such phones before long. The other factor holding them back from larger phones is the ridicule there dear leader heaped on larger phones -- he designed the perfect sized phone and everyone must except that fact.

Apple will eventually expand there product line and include larger phones but it might be a while before that happens. But, if Apple was to release a larger phone, say 4.6 inches, many of the folks here that now scoff at larger phones would claim it the greatest invention ever perhaps even recommencing Apple file lawsuits against Samsung for coping the larger phones.


Brian

False, I'm not an Apple fan boy and I didn't buy my iPhone because of the name. I bought it for the screen size. While a lot of people I know did buy them because it's Apple, still a good half or more bought them for the screen size. I had 3 larger phones the Evo 4G, One X & Note. I ran back to the iPhone because I don't want a large screen. One handed use is super important to a lot of us. Until a 4" high end Android device comes out I won't even consider getting another. That won't happen, but iPhones probably will go 4.3 or bigger in a year or 2. I won't buy one. There's no brand that could ever make me want to use a larger screen phone again.