Apple

4-inch iPhone display does not bother iOS developers

posted by Nick T. / Jun 18, 2012, 9:03 AM

4-inch iPhone display does not bother iOS developers

For the first time since its introduction in 2007, the iPhone will have a physically larger display, or at least that is what all those rumors claim. If that happens to be true, the display's resolution will have to be altered, supposedly to 640 by 1136 pixels. But does that really bother iOS developers? Will they have a hard time redesigning their software in order for it to fit the new display?

The answer appears to be "no", judging by a recent survey conducted by Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster. At WWDC 2012, he polled 100 iOS developers and concluded that a different screen size and resolution would not be that much of a problem to tackle. On average, they rated the issue of an altered screen size as a 3.4 on a scale from 1 to 10, suggesting that the required software modifications would not take much of their effort.

Making apps fit on an "iPad mini" would be just as easy of a task, most developers responded. If rumors are to be trusted, Apple is planning to introduce a smaller iPad model with a display measuring about 7.85 inches in diagonal. This rumored iPad model will supposedly have a display with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels – just like the iPad 2 and the first-gen iPad.

So if the next iPhone really comes with a bigger screen, don't worry too much about your favorite iOS apps not being adapted to the new display size. Chances are it will happen sooner than later.

Image courtesy of CGI Research

source: Piper Jaffray via AppleInsider

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43 Comments

1. abdane

Posts: 507; Member since: Oct 07, 2011

Imagine how HUGE FAIL it will be if it didnt have 4" screen :/

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:00 AM 16

9. rf1975

Posts: 264; Member since: Aug 01, 2011

Yes. That is right. Should be 4inch minimum.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 11:18 AM 7

2. jmoita2

Posts: 930; Member since: Dec 23, 2011

Iw would be a gigantic fail. They are still very late to the party as it is...

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:04 AM 13

14. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

what party?... Apple is the party

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 11:49 AM 4

43. s.mrabet

Posts: 147; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

The SIII is The Party!

posted on Jun 19, 2012, 5:35 AM 3

3. theoak

Posts: 324; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

16x9 form factor is great and much needed; I am still bummed that it is not 720P tough.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:04 AM 3

4. mercorp

Posts: 1045; Member since: Jan 28, 2012

not 720p? 367 ppi (720p)will not be very different.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:06 AM 1

6. theoak

Posts: 324; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

To the eye no. That was not my point though. Most programming are 1080P/I and 720P. The iPhone is going to need to convert ALL recordings accordingly versus just a true 720P.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:28 AM 4

5. appleDOESNT.com

Posts: 456; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

omg, thank goodness, i was really worried how a 4" screen would affect developers. thank you iOSarena for the up-to-date scoop :/

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:19 AM 16

10. ngo2dd

Posts: 896; Member since: Jul 08, 2011

why are trolling get over it

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 11:23 AM 7

13. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Yup trolling as usual and gets 5 thumbs from the blind fandroid trolls.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 11:29 AM 5

16. appleDOESNT.com

Posts: 456; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

taco talking trolling? lol .. my statement is totally reasonable, this isn't crack reporting! it is not even a feature that is confirmed, just a rumor and is a total waste of reporting space... This website, like you apples in the herd are why most people that don't like apple, hate apple. Your crap does stink, it isn't better, it's all about the same at this point with android offering many more options and features, not just a 1Phone... but the herd put apple and their high profit margins, less features, completely closed nature on a pedestal .. which disgusts the many unlike the few

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 12:31 PM 4

19. APPLE_R0YALLY

Posts: 73; Member since: May 08, 2012

APPLE.ROYALLY AGREES.... like that™

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 12:52 PM 3

26. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Normal people are not disgusted and could care less about what phones people choose. Look at your user name. Your whole purpose of being here is to bash Apple. That's an unhealthy obsession with what OTHER people choose to spend their money on.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 2:36 PM 8

27. Ubi2447

Posts: 131; Member since: Feb 14, 2012

I have to agree with you here. Not much of an apple fan myself but that's my own personal choice. But seriously. There's a troll and then there's a troll.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 2:52 PM 4

30. TROLL

Posts: 4851; Member since: Apr 13, 2012

Money spent on wize respectful products.... not on items that the public and the world calls users and fans degrading lowlife nasty names!...?

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 3:02 PM 3

31. takay0

Posts: 144; Member since: Mar 25, 2012

i dont like ios\apple and i tottaly agree, people need to stop talkin not nice to poeple who choice iphone... i dont get why they choice it.. but its good enouth for them

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 3:25 PM 2

32. MISTER-H

Posts: 87; Member since: May 28, 2012

Cause the reason is that there called sh??p$.. Apple owners and users.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 4:06 PM 0

17. appleDOESNT.com

Posts: 456; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

it's a half inch bigger, almost 720p and 2 years late, developers find this as useless as many find this article

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 12:42 PM 7

35. ngo2dd

Posts: 896; Member since: Jul 08, 2011

what do the screen size have to do with it? Are you a developers? You know why you are not getting thumps down? Because there are more fandroid then i sheepy on this site. And there are more android article, so how is phone arena paid by apple. If you don't like the apple article don't read it.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 4:11 PM 1

42. HTCFreak

Posts: 156; Member since: Jul 17, 2010

If samsung even produces 3.2" screens in 2012, then why can't Apple make a phone with a 3.5" screen?

posted on Jun 19, 2012, 3:35 AM 1

7. iamcc

Posts: 1319; Member since: Oct 07, 2011

And I thought that when fragmentation came to iOS the world would end for sure... I guess not.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 10:56 AM 2

11. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Fragmentation is when phones don't get software updates and support. Ie android where less than 10% of users have ICS. An update that came out 9 months ago.