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Developer Marco Arment Shares Thoughts On iPhone X's Notch (marco.org)

Posted by msmash on from the this-is-normal dept.

Developer Marco Arment writes about the infamous notch on the iPhone X, which Apple has told developers to embrace rather than ignore: This is the new shape of the iPhone. As long as the notch is clearly present and of approximately these proportions, it's unique, simple, and recognizable. It's probably not going to significantly change for a long time, and Apple needs to make sure that the entire world recognizes it as well as we could recognize previous iPhones. That's why Apple has made no effort to hide the notch in software, and why app developers are being told to embrace it in our designs. That's why the HomePod software leak depicted the iPhone X like this: it's the new basic, recognizable form of the iPhone. Apple just completely changed the fundamental shape of the most important, most successful, and most recognizable tech product that the world has ever seen.

9 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 5, Funny

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    Please note:
    I have an iPod, iPhone, Mac mini and Apple TV. This is not a troll, only the truth that can be seen even by Apple users.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  2. Who is 'Developer Marco Arment'? by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And why should we care?

    Has Apple trademarked 'the notch'?

    At times in the past, Apple has chosen to blatantly 'wear' mistakes they have made. Will this be the same? Will there be further generation 'notces' even when the notch is even less necessary?

    Will 'screen protector' stickers with a darkened 'notch' area on one side become the trendy thing to stick on your older Apple Gadget?

    1. Re:Who is 'Developer Marco Arment'? by Anubis+IV · · Score: 5, Informative

      Marco Arment was the original developer behind Tumblr, the original developer behind Instapaper (i.e. the first big "read it later" service on mobile), is currently the developer for the Overcast podcast app and service, but is probably most well-known in Apple tech circles these days as a blogger and podcaster (he hosts a few podcasts, the biggest one being the Accidental Tech Podcast with John Siracusa and Casey Liss).

      As for why you should care? You shouldn't. Mind you, I read his blog and regularly listen to his podcasts, so I'd lump myself in as a fan of the things he has to say (which isn't to say that I agree with them, just that I like hearing them). I was fine with Slashdot covering his blog entry last year when he railed against the quality of software that Apple was putting out, because even though he later regretted having made that post, it still did an excellent job at coalescing and reflecting a broader sense of dissatisfaction among Apple users at the time. But his random thoughts on the shape of the iPhone X? Even I don't think that warrants Slashdot coverage. It was something I enjoyed reading yesterday, but it doesn't warrant reposting here.

    2. Re:Who is 'Developer Marco Arment'? by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And why should we care?

      I care about this for the same reason I care about the headphone jack: I fear that other manufacturers will copy this shit from Apple.

  3. mark of quality ! by swell · · Score: 4, Funny

    Isn't it obvious? The 'notch' screams QUALITY so loud that even non techies are eager to part with their $1,000. Combined with the clearly identifiable Apple Watch, these proud owners will turn their noses up at the rest of us unwashed common folk.

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
  4. Re:Not worse than the headphone jack by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Removing the headphone jack is about waterproofing.

    Why couldn't Apple figure out how to make a waterproof device with a headphone jack? Other devices have been managing it for years.

  5. Re: In real use that will almost never matter. by TimMD909 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You people who don't rotate end up shooting videos vertically. You are the root of all that's evil in this world and YouTube. Rotate your damn cell phones.

  6. Duct tape by goombah99 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just put a piece of duct tape over my old Iphone 6 so everyone will think it's an iphone X

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  7. Re:Seems like non-Apple people care more about loo by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I thought Apple people were the ones who cared about superficial looks, but that does not appear to be the case.

    This is how a fanboy admits that Apple really fucked up the aesthetics.

    But who does that from a tab bar, honestly.

    "It's not bad ergonomics if I can train myself to stop doing it."