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The iPhone 5 ad that Apple wants you to forget

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99m7lebirE]

Ahhhh, it seems like just yesterday when 4-inches was the perfect screen size for everyone’s thumbs no matter how big or small you were. Well, today Apple is expected to move up the screen size ladder a few rungs to 4.7 and 5.5 inches – a pretty big leap.

So what about the commercial above that aired at the launch of the iPhone 5? Perhaps Apple has a plan for that.

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Comments

  1. Angel Lopez - 10 years ago

    hmmm perhaps we have evolved and have longer thumbs now.

  2. o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

    Not at all if they have made a one-handed mode

    • xbepax4224 - 10 years ago

      What would a “one handed mode” look like?

      • Bruno Fernandes (@Linkb8) - 10 years ago

        One handed mode is for the privacy of your own home. NSFW.

      • Nick Givens - 10 years ago

        They could use Touch ID as a track pad type thing.

      • frankman91 - 10 years ago

        My Galaxy s5 has a ‘one handed mode. You quickly swipe finger from edge to center and back (which you can do one handed) and the screen reduces from 5″ to a 3.5″ (can be adjusted) screen tucked in the lower corner. This lets you sweep entire screen and use all phone functions with one had. Super handy.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      The s5 has a one-handed mode, where you can resize the screen. You set it up once then you swipe to toggle it once you are in the app.

      It’s really handy.

  3. xbepax4224 - 10 years ago

    What time does the event start? 1? And what time does cnet start their live blog thing? 11:30 or 12?
    EDT

    • Bruno Fernandes (@Linkb8) - 10 years ago

      If you have decent bandwidth you can live stream the whole thing from Apple’s site.

      • xbepax4224 - 10 years ago

        No I normally stream it on apple but cnet does a little blog an hr before, then I switch to apples stream.

  4. Bruno Fernandes (@Linkb8) - 10 years ago

    Thankfully they used the term “common sense” which is completely regional AND every evolving. Today’s common sense has nothing to do with yesterday’s. They’re good.

    • Brant Fernandez - 10 years ago

      Uhmm, with that argument you are saying that people who bought phones with larger screens before and during this ad didnt have common sense, and now that Apple offered larger screens it is common sense to have a larger screen?? That means, Apple ISSUES what makes common sense and not, did they release a law/decree for that? or a patent for common sense? Hahaha laughable…

      • atheist69 - 9 years ago

        I think he was being sarcastic. I’m not entirely sure, but that’s the way I took it. I agree with both of you guys. Apple (as this article is addressing) once said that 4″ was ‘Perfect’ for the reach of the ‘Human Thumb’, and then (as always) contradicted themselves by increasing the size of the phone, thereby violating the previous ‘Perfect Size’. I still remember when Steve Jobs first introduced the iPhone in 2007, saying that 3.5″ was ‘The Perfect Size’. 😆

        I’d love to tell Tim Crook: “Oh, Apple.. You exactly what we need. Until you change it to exactly what we need. Then change it again, to exactly what we need.”. 😉

  5. Alex (@Metascover) - 10 years ago

    I disagree with that ad. 3.5 is ideal for one-handed use.

  6. cevatkerim - 10 years ago

    The video show him using the iphone with his left hand. Right hand is obviously bigger so 4.7 inch size is perfect :P

  7. Michael Garnett (@_jorts) - 10 years ago

    Still SHOCKED Apple didn’t keep the 4″ as a 3rd option. Oh well. The bigger the better IMO.

    • hisdudenessman - 10 years ago

      You don’t know that yet since they haven’t announced anything yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept the iPhone 5c form factor around with upgraded internals. There’s still a huge market for people who want that size phone, man.

      • atheist69 - 9 years ago

        Well…as we now see, Apple DID NOT keep that 5/5C/5S form factor. They did away with it, entirely and with NO explanation for WHY they violated the TWICE COVERED ”Perfect Size” (from 3.5″ to 4″ to 4.7″ & 5.5″). Ha! Apple is full of surprises (actually, they’re full of something else that begins with an ‘S’ (4-letters)! 😆

    • Andrew Paul Moulton - 10 years ago

      I would be shocked if they don’t keep a current model as the ‘free on contract model’

      • Jim Gravina - 10 years ago

        The 5 will most likely be free…or $0.99 and the 5S will most likely be for $99.

  8. Andrew Paul Moulton - 10 years ago

    Steve Jobs had the common sense, and I’m more than ready to see it go right out the window today. #realtalk

  9. breakingallillusionsx - 10 years ago

    Apple has nothing to take back. That statement is 100% correct. That’s also called marketing. As a company you still need to evolve and adapt. The bigger phones we should see is not saying the previous statements are wrong… Rather Apple has listened and understands the demands for change and peoples need for bigger screens. Bigger the screen and phone takes away from that perfect fit but won’t stop the people u want the larger product. I myself am a big guy with big hands. So pockets or one handed use is a breeze.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Apple saw its competitors gaining market share by offering larger screens.
      So, it’s hand was forced, so the speak.

      • atheist69 - 9 years ago

        Exactly, bro. It’s AMAZING how far iSheep are willing to go to try and justify Apple’s Self-Contradictions. I find it Side-Splittingly HILARIOUS!! 😄

  10. rgbfoundry - 10 years ago

    I wonder if the one handed operation concept has lead to more texting-while-driving deaths. As in “Hey, I can text with this hand and steer with the other! Awesome! Thanks Appppasdfasdkjfbas;dfn”

  11. rgbfoundry - 10 years ago

    If the iPhone 6 were half as large as the iPhone 5 one, my thumb could reach items twice as fast! Oh wait. Yeah… I’d rather have a larger screen despite that logic.

    • atheist69 - 9 years ago

      Exactly, buddy. Exactly. That’s what I’m saying, also.😉

  12. Rodrigo Romero III - 10 years ago

    i would focus this using the size of the phone; if they manage to maintain the overall size of the phone very close to the current iteration, at least for the 4.7inch version, it would be a win. I really like the idea i can have everything close with one thumb; it is not my normal usage, but it is something nice to have. They could increase the 0.7inch diagonal size by improving the screen size, reducing (or removing) the bezels and not impacting too much on the phone size.

  13. Howie Isaacks - 10 years ago

    Until the iPhone 6 (or what ever Apple’s going to call it) is announced, it’s too soon to start in on criticizing their past ads featuring the ability to operate an iPhone with one hand. Perhaps the new iPhones can be operated the same way as well.

    • atheist69 - 9 years ago

      I’d say that NOW is a PERFECT time to do so. Wouldn’t you? 😄

      • Howie Isaacks - 9 years ago

        Too late. I preordered one on September 12th. And the iPhone 6 in no way invalidated the ad that is the subject of this article. You can still operate it from one hand.

  14. blockbusterbuzz - 10 years ago

    It still works as long as they always keep a 4 inch screen as an option for customers who like smaller phones. Apple owns that market and I don’t see them abandoning it in the near future.

    • atheist69 - 9 years ago

      I’m sure you can now see that ISN’T the case. That’s why this article says that Apple wants everyone to FORGET this commercial telling us that 4″ was ‘Perfect’ and then turning right around and abandoning the 4″ Screen Size altogether for LARGER SCREENS. The very same larger screens that Steve Jobs once said that “…No one would buy..”. Ha! 😆

  15. Dieter Krieftewirth - 10 years ago

    i want to see that same commercial with the 5,5″ iPhone 6 😉

    • atheist69 - 9 years ago

      Exactly. We all do, bro. We all do. But Apple isn’t going to take the chance on reminding their iSheep of THIS commercial. Tim Crook knows better than to do that. 😉

  16. acslater017 - 10 years ago

    It bugs me when people trot this out like it’s a big gotcha. In 2012, if you’re comparing the iPhone 5 design against the Galaxy SIII or Titan 2, I’d go with the iPhone every time.

    Many advancements have occurred in the meantime that could make a 4.7-inch device much more palatable: persistent back gestures, “edit” gestures (eg in Mail), TouchID, and predictive typing/third part keyboards. Not to mention the hardware design looks super thin and light, with comfy rounded edges. Notification Center is pretty much the only reason you’d reach to the top any more.

    • atheist69 - 9 years ago

      Umm… It IS a ‘Big Gotcha!’. This is the 2nd one, in fact. Steve Jobs FIRST said that the Original I Phone’s 3.5″ Screen was the ‘Perfect Size’, then later, Tim Crook & Company said that 4″ was the ‘Perfect Size’ and LATER changing that ‘Perfect Size’ to 4.7″ & 5.5″. BIG Gotcha! 😆

  17. Apple was right the first time. Why is everyone so crazy for the larger screen? My thumb isn’t bigger — and, more important — my POCKET hasn’t grown, either!

  18. Truffol (@Truffol) - 10 years ago

    to be fair the curved sides does help the phone feel smaller. you can get to 90% of the screen on the 4.7″ IMO

  19. I won’t forget it. iPhone 6 is too big !

  20. Wouter te Dorsthorst - 10 years ago

    The one handed mode is called ”Reachability”, and is activated when you touch the home button two times (not push, just slightly touch). Search for it on the web or watch the keynote to see it yourself.

  21. Wouter te Dorsthorst - 10 years ago

    Seriously seth did you even make the effort to watch the keynote at all?

    • atheist69 - 9 years ago

      This was written before the Keynote. Besides.. What this article is pointing out is STILL VALID. Apple has contradicted itself. Again. 😆

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Avatar for Seth Weintraub Seth Weintraub

Publisher and Editorial Director of the 9to5/Electrek sites.


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