Go into the kitchen and grab a plate. Now hold it up to your ear.
Had to hold it by the little foot circle, since its diameter is 10" and my hand's span is only 9.5". Fell to the floor; shattered. Guess you were wrong. Thanks for offering such an easy way to prove it.
Do you think the upcoming PowerVR 6 will be implanted in the iPhone 6 ?
PowerVR Series 6 mobile GPUs are almost here, we go eyes-on with a test chip (video)
Imagination Technologies is on a high right now. Throughout 2012, the company's PowerVR graphics processors continued to monopolize the iPhone and iPad as well as appearing in (late 2011) Android flagships, the PlayStation Vita and even the first Clover Trail-powered Windows 8 tablets. But you know what? That's old news, because all those devices run current-gen PowerVR Series 5 silicon. Most new top-end devices in 2013 and 2014 will either contain the latest Mali GPUs from rival ARM, or they'll pack PowerVR Series 6, aka Rogue. This latter chip is currently being developed by at least eight different smartphone and tablet manufacturers and is expected to make a good bit of noise at CES next week. But who's going to wait that long if they don't absolutely have to? To get a fuller understanding of what awaits us in the coming weeks and months, we scoped out a Rogue test chip at Imagination's sparkly new HQ just outside of London, UK. The test silicon doesn't represent the true power of Series 6 because it's running on an FPGA board that severely limits its bandwidth, but it's still able to show off one crucial advantage: namely the ability to run OpenGL ES 3.0 games and apps. This API is all about improving mobile graphics through making smarter use of GPU compute, without annoying the battery, and the three exclusive demos after the break show just how it pulls that off.
Had to hold it by the little foot circle, since its diameter is 10" and my hand's span is only 9.5". Fell to the floor; shattered. Guess you were wrong. Thanks for offering such an easy way to prove it.
My response was in jest, but you really think that people actually hold their phones like that, don't you? Or are comfortable holding something in that manner by their heads…
It is user friendly because it is far easier on the eyes for me at least. My friend just got a Droid DNA by HTC which has a 5" screen but is very light and thin and easily fit in my pocket. The display is 1080P with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. It really is a gorgeous display and unlike the bulkier phones from the past easily passes the pocketability test. I have to believe that I am far from alone in wanting to stick with an iPhone and iOS but also wanting a big display.
Bingo. You nailed it. When I moved from the 3GS over to the original Samsung Galaxy 3 years ago, I knew I could never go back to a 3.5" screen. Now that I have a 4.65" screen (GN), I can't see going back to a 4". I still play around with the 4S though as I have a number of friends who have it and the build quality is quite nice but it is a bit heavy for me.
As for the "pocketability", I have wear Lucky Jeans fairly often and I can easily fit my Nexus 7 in my front pocket when I need to move around the house. So yeah, my 4.65" phone easily fits into my front pocket. My next phone will probably be int he 5" to 5.5" spot and while I recognize that not everyone wants a phone of that size, there are many who do. It is quite feasible to use once handed as well with the advent of Swype and other similar keyboards out there. Just thought I would share my views on the topic.
The design logic behind the 3.5 and 4 inch screen has always been that it could easily be used with only one hand. I think a 4 inch screen is already pushing the limits, if it changes that would really represent the end of Steve's Apple. Go away you 5 inch samsung fans.
The design logic behind the 3.5 and 4 inch screen has always been that it could easily be used with only one hand.
But that's like designing a hockey stick so it can be used with just one hand. First, while you do sometimes hold it in one hand, most of the time you're better off using two. Second, making it good for one hand reduces it's overall usability so it's self-defeating. Sure, there are some who prefer to keep one hand free for... whatever it is they do with that hand, but most people are perfectly happy to use two hands on the device. Most people I know with iPhones use two hands anyway.
The design logic behind the 3.5 and 4 inch screen has always been that it could easily be used with only one hand. I think a 4 inch screen is already pushing the limits, if it changes that would really represent the end of Steve's Apple. Go away you 5 inch samsung fans.
I'm a 5 inch iPhone fan. I think it would sell like hotcakes, just as the iPad Mini is doing. Both are easy market predictions.
However, you're right: iOS is stuck because it was not designed to be usable with one hand on a larger screen. This is because the BACK button for almost every app is at the upper left, which is too far from the RIGHT thumb that most people use.
(Apple's recent "Common Sense" ad about one-handed usage used a LEFT hand to show the thumb arc, because a RIGHT thumb wouldn't make it far enough to hit a upper left Back button without stretching. It was a very clever piece of misdirection, that most viewers did not notice. )
Anyway, the upshot is, iOS will need to either move the Back button or add a physical one, in order for a larger screen to stay pretty usable with one hand.
This is one of the things that drive me crazy about using the iPad while laying down... having to shift everything to reach way up to click Back.
(Apple's recent "Common Sense" ad about one-handed usage used a LEFT hand to show the thumb arc, because a RIGHT thumb wouldn't make it far enough to hit a upper left Back button without stretching. It was a very clever piece of misdirection, that most viewers did not notice. )
Do your fingers not bend or something? Come on. Enough with this nonsense.
Since the very first device, there hadn't been a cell phone that couldn't be used with only one hand. Until the Android nonsense started, that is.
But, as some of us keep trying to impress on the naysayers, IT'S NOT JUST A PHONE!!! It's a portable computer. For many (most?) of us, voice calls represent a fraction of what we do with the device. About the ONLY measure by which one might conclude one-handed use is preferable is holding it to the side of your head, which again, many of us don't do anymore anyway because we have headsets for that. For just about ANY other use, from navigation to typing, accuracy and ease-of-use increase exponentially with a larger screen.
So you're taking the position that an even larger iPhone screen would still be fine for one-handed usage?
I'm taking the position that there's a definitive size line to be drawn whereby at some point it's physically impossible to use a phone with one hand. We can bell curve the line if you'd like.
I think the issue of a larger phone has little to do with a "phone" per se. Many many people use their "phone" more as a "computer". The bigger screen has to do with the computer aspect. If you look at the phone as just an app, you see what I mean.
One still wants ease of carrying, so we can argue about the right size, but clearly more than 4 inches, perhaps 5 or 6.
Moral of the story: for many users, think of the phone as an app.
I think the issue of a larger phone has little to do with a "phone" per se. Many many people use their "phone" more as a "computer". The bigger screen has to do with the computer aspect. If you look at the phone as just an app, you see what I mean.
One still wants ease of carrying, so we can argue about the right size, but clearly more than 4 inches, perhaps 5 or 6.
Moral of the story: for many users, think of the phone as an app.
Even if we remove the phone from the equation completely there is still the total size limitation for the device. Note the 4" iPhone is smaller than the 3.5" iPhone.
I'm taking the position that there's a definitive size line to be drawn whereby at some point it's physically impossible to use a phone with one hand.
Fair enough. Do you think the iPhone has reached that size limit?
As I noted, the size limit (either large or small) also depends on the UI and input method(s). As for input, we got away with small screens for years because of cursor keys and trackpads. The same solution works for larger screens.
As for touch-only UIs, the key is primary control placement. The cardinal rule of touch UIs is that the most often used controls should be at the bottom, partly so your hand doesn't cover the screen. The trouble with iOS is that Back is used more often than its designers planned.
Android and WP get away with larger screens partly because of not placing the Back at the upper left, which is inconvenient for most users. Android doesn't get a total freebie here though. It defaults to tabs at the top, just to be different from iOS.
Do you think the iPhone has reached that size limit?
The low end of it, yes.
The trouble with iOS is that Back is used more often than its designers planned.
Source? How could they have not planned it to be used exactly as often as it is used? It's the only way to go back. Pretty dang sure they know how often it's being used.
Comments
Originally Posted by v5v
Go into the kitchen and grab a plate. Now hold it up to your ear.
Had to hold it by the little foot circle, since its diameter is 10" and my hand's span is only 9.5". Fell to the floor; shattered. Guess you were wrong. Thanks for offering such an easy way to prove it.
PowerVR Series 6 mobile GPUs are almost here, we go eyes-on with a test chip (video)
Video:
http://www.viddler.com/v/cd62cde
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Had to hold it by the little foot circle, since its diameter is 10" and my hand's span is only 9.5". Fell to the floor; shattered. Guess you were wrong. Thanks for offering such an easy way to prove it.
Originally Posted by v5v
image
My response was in jest, but you really think that people actually hold their phones like that, don't you? Or are comfortable holding something in that manner by their heads…
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwmac
It is user friendly because it is far easier on the eyes for me at least. My friend just got a Droid DNA by HTC which has a 5" screen but is very light and thin and easily fit in my pocket. The display is 1080P with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. It really is a gorgeous display and unlike the bulkier phones from the past easily passes the pocketability test. I have to believe that I am far from alone in wanting to stick with an iPhone and iOS but also wanting a big display.
Bingo. You nailed it. When I moved from the 3GS over to the original Samsung Galaxy 3 years ago, I knew I could never go back to a 3.5" screen. Now that I have a 4.65" screen (GN), I can't see going back to a 4". I still play around with the 4S though as I have a number of friends who have it and the build quality is quite nice but it is a bit heavy for me.
As for the "pocketability", I have wear Lucky Jeans fairly often and I can easily fit my Nexus 7 in my front pocket when I need to move around the house. So yeah, my 4.65" phone easily fits into my front pocket. My next phone will probably be int he 5" to 5.5" spot and while I recognize that not everyone wants a phone of that size, there are many who do. It is quite feasible to use once handed as well with the advent of Swype and other similar keyboards out there. Just thought I would share my views on the topic.
The design logic behind the 3.5 and 4 inch screen has always been that it could easily be used with only one hand. I think a 4 inch screen is already pushing the limits, if it changes that would really represent the end of Steve's Apple. Go away you 5 inch samsung fans.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dnd0ps
The design logic behind the 3.5 and 4 inch screen has always been that it could easily be used with only one hand.
But that's like designing a hockey stick so it can be used with just one hand. First, while you do sometimes hold it in one hand, most of the time you're better off using two. Second, making it good for one hand reduces it's overall usability so it's self-defeating. Sure, there are some who prefer to keep one hand free for... whatever it is they do with that hand, but most people are perfectly happy to use two hands on the device. Most people I know with iPhones use two hands anyway.
Originally Posted by v5v
But that's like designing a hockey stick so it can be used with just one hand.
It's nothing like that.
Since the very first device, there hadn't been a cell phone that couldn't be used with only one hand. Until the Android nonsense started, that is.
No.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dnd0ps
The design logic behind the 3.5 and 4 inch screen has always been that it could easily be used with only one hand. I think a 4 inch screen is already pushing the limits, if it changes that would really represent the end of Steve's Apple. Go away you 5 inch samsung fans.
I'm a 5 inch iPhone fan. I think it would sell like hotcakes, just as the iPad Mini is doing. Both are easy market predictions.
However, you're right: iOS is stuck because it was not designed to be usable with one hand on a larger screen. This is because the BACK button for almost every app is at the upper left, which is too far from the RIGHT thumb that most people use.
(Apple's recent "Common Sense" ad about one-handed usage used a LEFT hand to show the thumb arc, because a RIGHT thumb wouldn't make it far enough to hit a upper left Back button without stretching. It was a very clever piece of misdirection, that most viewers did not notice. )
Anyway, the upshot is, iOS will need to either move the Back button or add a physical one, in order for a larger screen to stay pretty usable with one hand.
This is one of the things that drive me crazy about using the iPad while laying down... having to shift everything to reach way up to click Back.
Originally Posted by KDarling
(Apple's recent "Common Sense" ad about one-handed usage used a LEFT hand to show the thumb arc, because a RIGHT thumb wouldn't make it far enough to hit a upper left Back button without stretching. It was a very clever piece of misdirection, that most viewers did not notice. )
Do your fingers not bend or something? Come on. Enough with this nonsense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
It's nothing like that.
Since the very first device, there hadn't been a cell phone that couldn't be used with only one hand. Until the Android nonsense started, that is.
But, as some of us keep trying to impress on the naysayers, IT'S NOT JUST A PHONE!!! It's a portable computer. For many (most?) of us, voice calls represent a fraction of what we do with the device. About the ONLY measure by which one might conclude one-handed use is preferable is holding it to the side of your head, which again, many of us don't do anymore anyway because we have headsets for that. For just about ANY other use, from navigation to typing, accuracy and ease-of-use increase exponentially with a larger screen.
Originally Posted by v5v
For just about ANY other use, from navigation to typing, accuracy and ease-of-use increase exponentially with a larger screen.
Whoops. You forgot to replace "a larger screen" in your copy-pasted argument with "two hands". Shame.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Do your fingers not bend or something? Come on. Enough with this nonsense.
So you're taking the position that an even larger iPhone screen would still be fine for one-handed usage?
Originally Posted by KDarling
So you're taking the position that an even larger iPhone screen would still be fine for one-handed usage?
I'm taking the position that there's a definitive size line to be drawn whereby at some point it's physically impossible to use a phone with one hand. We can bell curve the line if you'd like.
I think the issue of a larger phone has little to do with a "phone" per se. Many many people use their "phone" more as a "computer". The bigger screen has to do with the computer aspect. If you look at the phone as just an app, you see what I mean.
One still wants ease of carrying, so we can argue about the right size, but clearly more than 4 inches, perhaps 5 or 6.
Moral of the story: for many users, think of the phone as an app.
Even if we remove the phone from the equation completely there is still the total size limitation for the device. Note the 4" iPhone is smaller than the 3.5" iPhone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
I'm taking the position that there's a definitive size line to be drawn whereby at some point it's physically impossible to use a phone with one hand.
Fair enough. Do you think the iPhone has reached that size limit?
As I noted, the size limit (either large or small) also depends on the UI and input method(s). As for input, we got away with small screens for years because of cursor keys and trackpads. The same solution works for larger screens.
As for touch-only UIs, the key is primary control placement. The cardinal rule of touch UIs is that the most often used controls should be at the bottom, partly so your hand doesn't cover the screen. The trouble with iOS is that Back is used more often than its designers planned.
Android and WP get away with larger screens partly because of not placing the Back at the upper left, which is inconvenient for most users. Android doesn't get a total freebie here though. It defaults to tabs at the top, just to be different from iOS.
This whole discussion has been very informative. I hope that Apple designers think about things in this kind of depth.
This is a big issue for Apple, and I appreciate the talents and insights of those who contribute to AI.
Originally Posted by KDarling
Do you think the iPhone has reached that size limit?
The low end of it, yes.
The trouble with iOS is that Back is used more often than its designers planned.
Source? How could they have not planned it to be used exactly as often as it is used? It's the only way to go back. Pretty dang sure they know how often it's being used.