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Don't Super-Size My Smartphone!
New submitter Steve Max writes "Editor Paul Ockenden wonders, 'Has anyone else noticed what's been happening to top-end smartphones recently? They've started to get big – really big. But do people really want that at the expense of carrying around such a huge, heavy lump of tech in their pocket?' The trend for bigger and bigger screens is clear, but is it what consumers want? Is it what you want?"
...they wouldn't buy them.
My wife got an HP Veer specifically because it's smaller than a credit card. Most of her clothing doesn't have pockets big enough to fit an iPhone, so she got a dead-end phone with an antiquated OS because she's not going to carry a giant phone around. Her friends all think it's fantastic.
Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
I personally like the larger screen devices that are going on the market. Being a male of above average height and hand size, these kinds of phones are just as easy for me to carry, and offer a better visual experience (after all why have such a powerful smartphone if you are limited to 3.5" of screen space). Surely the larger phones aren't for everyone, and to that end there are still smaller screened phones you can buy, no one is making you buy a large screen phone. Choice is good!
I use monthly about 4-5 minutes air time on my phone. Rest of time is maps, browsing, reading and games. Phablets are prefect for me. I keep telling people that I don't have a phone but a small tablet with a phone app.
They are small computers with phones built in. Anymore, people use Bluetooth headsets to talk, so hold a big thing up isn't a big deal. And when they text, which people do far more than talk anymore, on average, people want big screens and keyboards. Same goes for web browsing, pictures, etc. So, the trend is to provide a smaller portable computer and communication (and tracking, depending on who you listen to) device.
The focus has shifted.
Nobodies Prefect
Tidbits for Techs Technology Blog
Perhaps your prefect phone needs a better spell check.
There Can Be Only One...
I like big phones. I buy big phones.
The whole debate is dumb: There's no shortage of choice at the small end; there's just more choice at the bigger end.
How is more choice a bad thing?
You got that from my head! You nailed it! The debate is dumb. Just look at the numbers...Samsung sold millions of the Galaxy Note in a few months.
And guess what: I am waiting for the next version. I spend little of my time making calls. To me, what matters is that big screen and I have come to love it.
Why are we even complaining about this? You can buy anything from a dumb-phone to a Galaxy Note. Pick what you like and leave people alone.
Apple only sell one size.
This is their astroturf, like that asinine "Google doesn't get packaging" Slashvertisement earlier.
I like big phones
...and I can not lie,
You other brothers can't deny,
When Tim Cook walks in with a white plastic case,
And puts a round corner in your face --
You get sprung!
iPhone 4/S - 326 ppi
HTC Rezound - 342 ppi
HTC One X - 312 ppi
LG Optimus LTE - 329 ppi
LG LU1400 - 333 ppi
Nokia E6 - 328 ppi
Galaxy Nexus - 316 ppi
Samsung Galaxy S3 - 306 ppi
Samsung S8000 Jet - 300ppi
Sony Xperia S - 342 ppi
Sony Xperia ion - 323 ppi
Toshiba Portege G900 - 313 ppi
CheShA: Manchester Breakcore / Drill and Bass Yes I'm a s
I believe you've hit the nail on the head. This is an iPhone concentric view point.
There is no shortage of smart phone models to choose from. People can have the size they want from any of 6 more manufacturers, in any platform except IOS. You often see people drawing a line in the sand that suggest 4.3 inch screens are the absolute maximum size they would ever buy, and a year later they post about 4.7. In the mean time they saw 4.6 and fell in love with it.
There is no reason for a blogger to jump into this fray. The market is deciding quite nicely.
(Actually it seems there was no fray until Ockenden decided to create one to garner readership, so I stand corrected, there apparently was a rather self serving reason for him to jump in).
I can't imagine a worse situation than having phone development directed by bloggers.
When large phones go unsold in favor of small ones the market will know exactly what is too big. The "Samsung Note" sells well. But not well enough for many others to enter that niche. The smallest smartphones are selling as well. But again not as well as the flag ship phones from all the big manufacturers.
So Ockenden, please just butt out and vote with your wallet like the rest of us.
Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.