I personally thought people looked like douches when the first smartphones came out. We got used to them then and we'll get used to them getting bigger again.
I was going to type the same thing! Who cares what you look like? If it works for the person using it, that's all that matters.
Within any of the comments here, no one has stated why Apple shouldn't create a larger iPhone. It's not like they don't have the expertise or the financial wherewithal to at least try it. If it tanks... it tanks. Big deal.
It's not a zero-sum "for ever and ever" ballgame as many of you like to think. If it fails to meet the numbers that Apple expects... they can always can it later. However not trying, that could be dangerous... even IF the iPhone 5 is "the perfect size" for the majority of users. Without trying, Apple will never know what users prefer.
With that said... I'm also of the opinion that they will make the right decision.
*BTW: that little thing called the iPad Mini isn't doing half bad sales-wise, considering many posters here were vociferously against it. Profit-margin be damned... but at least they have a margin, unlike certain other un-spoken manufacturers!
So, I guess you do? Where do you people come from? Apple has never done anything with the idea that it'll be anything other than a better product than the competition. ... Like I said, the Mac has never been anything but a niche product from the day it was launched, and it still is a niche product.
First, anyone who thinks the Mac is today a niche product has no idea what he's talking about. But, leaving that aside, "the idea that it'll be anything other than a better product than the competition," and if we assume, simply for the sake of argument, that the Mac is a "niche product", none of that equals chasing niches.
These analysts have a good point. Apple is leaving money on the table. In fact, I will go farther. Apple should not only launch a larger screen smartphone, they should launch tablets with graduating sizes: 4.5", 5", 5.5", 6", 6.5", 7", 7.5", (7.85"), 8", 8.5", 9", 9.5" and (9.7"). After all, they have already *copied" Samsung's strategy by launching a small tablet. So why not go all it and copy the Samsung's marketing strategy of covering every half inch from Lilliput to Brobdingnag.
The fact that "analysts" said Apple should do it, is reason enough to ignore it. Most of these "analysts" are crackpots. Their track records are horrible. Let me think... they ignore Apple's financial guidance, and get all bent when Apple's guidance is correct. These "analysts" are all a joke. Don't listen to them Apple.
Same people said Apple was "leaving money on the table" when netbooks came about. All I have to say is WHEN Apple releases an "iMessage" for voice calls, it will shift the market. Yes I know VOIP apps have been around for a long time, but as with anything with Apple, they do it right and roll it out to all devices. Image for moment all iOS devices from 2010 and newer including macs, being able to voice call. The idea of a "phone" is changing very quickly and in 5 years will no longer be the same thing we think of it today. Mark my words.
Just like they did with the new maps? Just like they did with Siri? Siri was a better product that did a lot more before Apple bought it.
Apple has had a habit of making marketwide changes because their product is absolute. When the PC world was hesitant to adopt USB, the Mac went 100% USB across the board, obsoleting the ADB, and forced hardware makers to make USB products, as a result. The result is that the PC world got widespread USB adoption. When they moved from NuBus to PCI, same thing happened. When Apple moved to Thunderbolt...well... it hasn't quite taken off yet. Displayport was better received, but even it didn't become universal.
Personally, I don't see VOIP doing all that much. The internet only has so much bandwidth, and crowding it even more will make it slower, not to mention telecoms and wireless providers crying about their bandwidth and wanting to control it.
Apple missed this a year ago. Now Cook says they have the perfect form factor with the iPhone 5 and have no intention of changing that. Denial not just a river in egypt. Apple completely missed the boat here. If no larger iphone in 2013 they are going to fall even further behind. If apple does do a larger iphone late this year or next year samsung will already have their S5 and S6 out leaving the slower moving apple further behind. Sad to see things stall out so fast in Jobs absence.
According to Google's Android Dashboard "normal" looks to include a little over 4.5" phones which I wouldn't just large but huge. I've added red lines to denote about where 5" and 6" would be on that graph.
I'd rather see something disruptive to phablets than joining them. It's true some would prefer them. IMO phablets market is banking on ever increasing screen sizes. It suggests innovation limit after a certain screen size will be reached soon. Then what do you do next? There's a pattern emerging from phablets and my guess is everyone is racing towards smaller margin to compete in the same phablet space. Good for consumers? Not really. Those lower margins is going to mean lower quality builds. I've seen some phablets while in Taiwan in January. My own anecdotal sampling of what people use in subways is about 60/40 in favor of phablets over iPhone. Besides the screen size, I think lower price was attractive. But the people I talked to told me there have been some quality issues already like chipping paint revealing plastic, easily cracked screens and faster general wear and tear. Based on this unscientific (probably as accurate as analysts) evidence, I think the market will get saturated fast by multiple phablet makers competing and driving down price and quality. This will turn a growth market into a low margins business in the long run. I don't think Apple wants to join in that business given its ability to still sell 30-50 million units per quarter on significantly higher margins. I do believe "the money left on the table" is actually less than what they already earn using their current design and business strategy. There's no need to react by doing what analysts suggest. Not dipping into the netbooks but instead creating the tablet business turned out to be the right choice. Analysts were clamoring for Apple to make netbooks then. Instead, they created a disruption to a trend that doomed itself eventually. Time to work on another.
First, anyone who thinks the Mac is today a niche product has no idea what he's talking about. But, leaving that aside, "the idea that it'll be anything other than a better product than the competition," and if we assume, simply for the sake of argument, that the Mac is a "niche product", none of that equals chasing niches.
Buahahaha... A niche product is one that doesn't have universal appeal. Last I looked, even though Windows 8 is a bust, it still has nearly 90% of the market, making the Mac a niche product. Apple has been, currently is, and will continue to chase niches. It's not that the products are bad. To the contrary... But some of you Johnny-come-lately to Apple people just seem to think this company is some magical entity that makes the worlds greatest everything and knows better than anyone else. I've seen the highs when the Apple II was everywhere, to when I had to do so many workarounds on my Mac because software didn't exist on the Mac side for something, or was incompatible or whatever, to where I walked into my local Apple store and just about dropped my jaw at how many people were in there looking. I even told the Genius that I was using Apple products when you wouldn't see 10% of those people in there. So, don't tell me what Apple is about. You know nothing. I've been with Apple from the Apple II when Mike Markkula was CEO, through John Sculley, Michael Spindler, Gil Amelio, Steve Jobs, and Tim Cook. I've seen the introduction of the Mac, the first color Mac, the clones, the iMac, yadda yadda yadda. Spare me your arrogance... Apple has made some bad mistakes in the past, and history repeats itself.
I've had nothing but iPhones since 2007, but I have to say when I held my friends Galaxy SIII I was a bit jealous of that large screen.
I too wouldn't mind a screen the size of an Galaxy 3, but it would take more than that for me to switch. My father-in-law has one and outside of the screen size I am not that impressed. The iPhone experience and smoothness is still first rate. If they come out with a larger screen than my IP5 with the same battery life and smoothness I would be interested. I do think a phone the size of the Galaxy Note is excessive, but something the size of the G3 would be nice.
I think this is a great strategic move by Apple to release a bigger iPhone. They could dominate many of the Android offerings by releasing a phone with a similar size and also gives the consumer a choice on screen sizes. Personally I love the idea of a bigger iPhone because I tend to browse the web and text more than using the phone to make phone calls.
If apple doesnt have a big screen when my contract expires, i am buying a nexus phone. And i am not alone
Yes, me too! I have no contract any more and I still have my old iPhone 4, which is perfectly functional by the way. But I can promise you, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER IPHONE with a 3.5-4 inch screen!!! NEVER!!! Either you give me a 4.7-5.5 inch iPhone or BYE BYE Apple! And don't give me that crap talk about Apple should ignore me bla, bla, bla! Just try to ignore me! Just try it! But you know what? I don't think Tim Cook is that stupid.
Don't get me wrong. I like it and I plan on buying one in Retina, when available. But I think if Apple announces an iPhone + or even the cheaper iPhone, it's a pretty clear sign they're listening to the investors/analysts.
No, it isn't a clear sign of that. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Apple would be responding to ever changing market conditions, if they make a larger phone it will be based on factors in spite of what analysts want, not because of it. If Apple feels like it is the right decision and the product has enough reason to exist, thats what will happen. Personally, I'm much more open to it than I was even a year ago. I do think their iPhone line can handle 2 sizes, not more of course. I woulg go so far as to say it can simply be a bigger phone with the exact same resolution, which would cause absolutely no fragmentation in terms of apps. It would cause fragmentation in the ecosystem (accessories, cases, etc) but Apple makes so few accessories for the phone itself that relies on its physical size, so I dont think its an issue. current DPI is high enough to make the screen larger without the need to touch the resolution. I believe there is merit in saying many would benefit from or prefer an iPhone with larger hit targets and text sizes.
Comments
I was going to type the same thing! Who cares what you look like? If it works for the person using it, that's all that matters.
Within any of the comments here, no one has stated why Apple shouldn't create a larger iPhone. It's not like they don't have the expertise or the financial wherewithal to at least try it. If it tanks... it tanks. Big deal.
It's not a zero-sum "for ever and ever" ballgame as many of you like to think. If it fails to meet the numbers that Apple expects... they can always can it later. However not trying, that could be dangerous... even IF the iPhone 5 is "the perfect size" for the majority of users. Without trying, Apple will never know what users prefer.
With that said... I'm also of the opinion that they will make the right decision.
*BTW: that little thing called the iPad Mini isn't doing half bad sales-wise, considering many posters here were vociferously against it. Profit-margin be damned... but at least they have a margin, unlike certain other un-spoken manufacturers!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ruel24
So, I guess you do? Where do you people come from? Apple has never done anything with the idea that it'll be anything other than a better product than the competition. ... Like I said, the Mac has never been anything but a niche product from the day it was launched, and it still is a niche product.
First, anyone who thinks the Mac is today a niche product has no idea what he's talking about. But, leaving that aside, "the idea that it'll be anything other than a better product than the competition," and if we assume, simply for the sake of argument, that the Mac is a "niche product", none of that equals chasing niches.
These analysts have a good point. Apple is leaving money on the table. In fact, I will go farther. Apple should not only launch a larger screen smartphone, they should launch tablets with graduating sizes: 4.5", 5", 5.5", 6", 6.5", 7", 7.5", (7.85"), 8", 8.5", 9", 9.5" and (9.7"). After all, they have already *copied" Samsung's strategy by launching a small tablet. So why not go all it and copy the Samsung's marketing strategy of covering every half inch from Lilliput to Brobdingnag.
Quote:
Originally Posted by drewyboy
Yawn,
Same people said Apple was "leaving money on the table" when netbooks came about. All I have to say is WHEN Apple releases an "iMessage" for voice calls, it will shift the market. Yes I know VOIP apps have been around for a long time, but as with anything with Apple, they do it right and roll it out to all devices. Image for moment all iOS devices from 2010 and newer including macs, being able to voice call. The idea of a "phone" is changing very quickly and in 5 years will no longer be the same thing we think of it today. Mark my words.
Just like they did with the new maps? Just like they did with Siri? Siri was a better product that did a lot more before Apple bought it.
Apple has had a habit of making marketwide changes because their product is absolute. When the PC world was hesitant to adopt USB, the Mac went 100% USB across the board, obsoleting the ADB, and forced hardware makers to make USB products, as a result. The result is that the PC world got widespread USB adoption. When they moved from NuBus to PCI, same thing happened. When Apple moved to Thunderbolt...well... it hasn't quite taken off yet. Displayport was better received, but even it didn't become universal.
Personally, I don't see VOIP doing all that much. The internet only has so much bandwidth, and crowding it even more will make it slower, not to mention telecoms and wireless providers crying about their bandwidth and wanting to control it.
Apple missed this a year ago. Now Cook says they have the perfect form factor with the iPhone 5 and have no intention of changing that. Denial not just a river in egypt. Apple completely missed the boat here. If no larger iphone in 2013 they are going to fall even further behind. If apple does do a larger iphone late this year or next year samsung will already have their S5 and S6 out leaving the slower moving apple further behind. Sad to see things stall out so fast in Jobs absence.
According to Google's Android Dashboard "normal" looks to include a little over 4.5" phones which I wouldn't just large but huge. I've added red lines to denote about where 5" and 6" would be on that graph.
Obviously it is there for a 'rainy day.
Yes they will regionalize their devices more, but a 5" will negatively cannibalise both ends of their own market.
Phablets will explode this year and next and Apple will be forced to release their own at some point.
I expect a 5" iPhone by next year.
It don't take any new pies to tell you everyone seems to want a Nexus 4.
If it was or becomes 5.2" it would still have have had Noteworthy acclaim.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anonymouse
First, anyone who thinks the Mac is today a niche product has no idea what he's talking about. But, leaving that aside, "the idea that it'll be anything other than a better product than the competition," and if we assume, simply for the sake of argument, that the Mac is a "niche product", none of that equals chasing niches.
Buahahaha... A niche product is one that doesn't have universal appeal. Last I looked, even though Windows 8 is a bust, it still has nearly 90% of the market, making the Mac a niche product. Apple has been, currently is, and will continue to chase niches. It's not that the products are bad. To the contrary... But some of you Johnny-come-lately to Apple people just seem to think this company is some magical entity that makes the worlds greatest everything and knows better than anyone else. I've seen the highs when the Apple II was everywhere, to when I had to do so many workarounds on my Mac because software didn't exist on the Mac side for something, or was incompatible or whatever, to where I walked into my local Apple store and just about dropped my jaw at how many people were in there looking. I even told the Genius that I was using Apple products when you wouldn't see 10% of those people in there. So, don't tell me what Apple is about. You know nothing. I've been with Apple from the Apple II when Mike Markkula was CEO, through John Sculley, Michael Spindler, Gil Amelio, Steve Jobs, and Tim Cook. I've seen the introduction of the Mac, the first color Mac, the clones, the iMac, yadda yadda yadda. Spare me your arrogance... Apple has made some bad mistakes in the past, and history repeats itself.
I too wouldn't mind a screen the size of an Galaxy 3, but it would take more than that for me to switch. My father-in-law has one and outside of the screen size I am not that impressed. The iPhone experience and smoothness is still first rate. If they come out with a larger screen than my IP5 with the same battery life and smoothness I would be interested. I do think a phone the size of the Galaxy Note is excessive, but something the size of the G3 would be nice.
You do realize, of course, that you can increase the size of text on your iPhone?
Settings - Accessibility - Large Text and set the size to whatever you want. I did that and it works great.
Ya know, if Apple did make a phablet (hate that name so badly) I would probably buy it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by herbapou
If apple doesnt have a big screen when my contract expires, i am buying a nexus phone. And i am not alone
Yes, me too! I have no contract any more and I still have my old iPhone 4, which is perfectly functional by the way. But I can promise you, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER IPHONE with a 3.5-4 inch screen!!! NEVER!!! Either you give me a 4.7-5.5 inch iPhone or BYE BYE Apple! And don't give me that crap talk about Apple should ignore me bla, bla, bla! Just try to ignore me! Just try it! But you know what? I don't think Tim Cook is that stupid.
Quote:
Originally Posted by allenbf
I thought the same thing until the iPad mini...
Don't get me wrong. I like it and I plan on buying one in Retina, when available. But I think if Apple announces an iPhone + or even the cheaper iPhone, it's a pretty clear sign they're listening to the investors/analysts.
No, it isn't a clear sign of that. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Apple would be responding to ever changing market conditions, if they make a larger phone it will be based on factors in spite of what analysts want, not because of it. If Apple feels like it is the right decision and the product has enough reason to exist, thats what will happen. Personally, I'm much more open to it than I was even a year ago. I do think their iPhone line can handle 2 sizes, not more of course. I woulg go so far as to say it can simply be a bigger phone with the exact same resolution, which would cause absolutely no fragmentation in terms of apps. It would cause fragmentation in the ecosystem (accessories, cases, etc) but Apple makes so few accessories for the phone itself that relies on its physical size, so I dont think its an issue. current DPI is high enough to make the screen larger without the need to touch the resolution. I believe there is merit in saying many would benefit from or prefer an iPhone with larger hit targets and text sizes.
Originally Posted by pedromartins
Would you lose something if Apple creates another iPhone model?
Apple would. That's why they don't.
Originally Posted by ruel24
…even though Windows 8 is a bust, it still has nearly 90% of the market…
No, it has roughly 1/10th Apple's marketshare.
Apple has been, currently is, and will continue to chase niches.
That's not for whom they make products, so the argument here is invalid.