In a recent interview with TechCentral, Steve Wozniak laments Apple's decision to build just a taller iPhone 4S.
Part of me wishes that Apple had not been so kind of arrogant and feeling we're the only one with the right clue. I wish they had made a small and a large version of the iPhone; that would have been great for me. Keep the aspect ratio the same, horizontal and vertical the same, but just grow it in the other way.
I think Apple tricked itself and said 'oh you could reach everything with one thumb' and I don't see anybody having any trouble using the larger screens. Apple said that as a defensive move because when the other phones came out they all had larger screens. Apple is now trying to run with that defence, saying 'we are right' and really there's a mix of people. Not all people want the same thing and a lot of people really like the big screens.
Notably, Woz believes Apple made the right choice with the size of the iPad.
Here's where it bothers me. I walk into my phone stores: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and I see all these modern smartphones. Big, big, big, big, and there's the iPhone. If you compare the screen size right there in front of you, whether it means much or not, it may be fewer pixels, less information on the screen, but you get a feeling you're getting more with a larger screen.
And that talk doesn't apply to the iPad though. The iPad always had a great price for the size of the screen. Why would you want to buy the smaller screen devices? They looked a lot more like copies than any of the phones did.
What do you think? Should Apple have just built a larger iPhone with the same display ratio? You can listen to the full interview at the link below...
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Comments (40)
Comments are closed for this article.
0
Lov3 - October 13, 2012 at 3:16am
Woz, you are outdated. Taller is our new design because Market already have many larger phone. We no need copy and follow them , we just do our jobs. They will follow us because they are copy cat. Samsung galaxy s 3 mini 4 inch screen...;(
0
Copperhead - October 12, 2012 at 5:22pm
You can, by getting Skype and a Skype online number which costs $30 per year and then get a Clear WiFi device - and voila ..!! iPad becomes iPhone ...... It's easy.
0
Simon Tay - October 12, 2012 at 5:06pm
iPhone 5 is the international phone that suits most hands. I see many struggle with those giant smart phones in the public bus and train using one hand.
0
Guest - October 13, 2012 at 9:16am
At least not in Asia. Ppl in Asia don't have that much budget $$ to get a tablet, laptop, desktop, and a mobile phone. All they have is only one device and they use it to do anything. Having a bigger screen can do much more. If u were there 2 years ago, everyone was carrying iphone4 but now u see galaxy s3, note or big screen android phone there.
0
Jayzee - October 11, 2012 at 6:57pm
Any larger stops being a phone...
0
Nuno Maia - October 11, 2012 at 4:44pm
What about a new pair of glasses for Mr. Woz?
0
vinasky - October 11, 2012 at 2:37pm
this guy never say anything good accept this comment heehehe. apple need to get bigger screen. i love apple products
0
MikeB - October 11, 2012 at 2:01pm
I went from a larger HTC screen to the smaller iPhone 4S size and love it but I would love for apple to manufacture the 2 different screen sizes. Very good for Wozniak to do this. Another marketing strategy. This way he sees how people respond to his ideas.
0
GPV - October 11, 2012 at 1:53pm
I agree with Woz, I wanted a larger screen.
0
Annoyed - October 11, 2012 at 12:17pm
Why bother. Stocks are at a all time high.
0
AppleUser - October 11, 2012 at 11:07am
Stop the megalomania. 4 Inch are big enought.
Luckily builds apple yet small handy device, as opposed to the competition.
When Wozniak needs a brick to the phone, then he should buy an Android.
0
Guest - October 11, 2012 at 10:07am
No one wants a small screen less than the 4.5 inches in Asia. 2 years ago everyone was carrying an iPhone 4 but now flooded with galaxy s3 and note. Many of my friends moved to android and they love the big screen. It is difficult to move back to the small iPhone screen after getting used to a big one. I think Apple shouldn't be so arrogant and think they are always right, that's everyone want. I guess they can release 2 version of iPhone with a bigger and smaller screen. why only 1 version? iPod has so many different model!!
0
Simon - October 11, 2012 at 2:47pm
The answer is very simple. It would be hell for developers to support all of those different screen sizes. Just look at the android apps. There are dozens of screen sizes yet only a few are supported in the marketplace. The rest either stretch or put black bars to fill the screen. Apple doesn't want this to happen.
0
Ridgewalker - October 11, 2012 at 9:03am
I'm gonna give apple one more.... shot with the iPhone 5 then i may go over to the dark side with jelly bean feels more alive over there
0
Rene Kunz - October 11, 2012 at 7:26am
The size of the iPhone 4 was/is still fine for me.
No need of a bigger screen, if i need one i take my MacBook with me.
0
samlecturer - October 11, 2012 at 6:59am
why this man always complain about apple product all time he must leave apple and produce his own product to see how is easy to think of something like apple did
0
Apple fan - October 11, 2012 at 6:02am
Agreed! Let me have a 5in or a 6in screen!!!
0
thevmax - October 11, 2012 at 11:13am
Hey why stop at a 5" or 6" screen ?
Why not put the "phone guts" from the iphone into an iPad!
Just imagine holding THAT up to your head when you get a call! LMAO!
0
Tinas - October 11, 2012 at 5:53am
Why didn't he say that earlyer in the design stage. Now is to late...
0
iDood - October 11, 2012 at 6:00am
Maybe he wasn't invited to R
0
www - October 11, 2012 at 5:38am
Bcos Samsung already have a larger S3... didn't you think first. Small and Big screen, nice options.
0
Anino - October 11, 2012 at 5:25am
You people do not know who is Steve Wozniak, read the wikipedia about him. He knows what he is talking about because he initiated the way apple products should be, and Apple still consider him as an employee and is still paying him more than 100k/year though he doesn't "actually work" there anymore, that is why he is a lot better than all of you (who thinks that Wozniak is a nobody).
0
Jakontil - October 11, 2012 at 5:33am
He gets paid but it doesnt make him anyone
0
Tiny - October 11, 2012 at 5:22am
I am getting tired of the world saying the iphone needs to be bigger! No, not from my point of view. 4'' is big enough and if you want something bigger get a mini tablet. All the bigger phones look like bones and not sexy. At the end we are talking about phones, even if they can do so much more now.
0
iDood - October 11, 2012 at 5:51am
Couldn't agree more with you on this topic. I think when a phone starts getting bigger and wider due to screen size, the wow and cool factor deminishes.
0
Jakontil - October 11, 2012 at 4:39am
Please steve wozzy u obviously dont use your iphone all the time... I'm quite happy for the usage right now... And dont want anything bigger ... It is a smartphone not a computer phone for a reason
![iFixit Teardown: AirPods Max 2 Features Same Design, No Fixes for Old Problems [Video]](/images/news/100439/100439/100439-160.jpg "iFixit Teardown: AirPods Max 2 Features Same Design, No Fixes for Old Problems [Video]")
