Nexus 5 - Screen Size Too Big?

[Scott7217]

If they won't move the buttons off the screen (i.e. capacitive like the OG EVO or GS2; I hate the big clicky button on the GS3) then they should make it half the height.

An adjustable height sounds like a good idea. It would be analogous to changing the font size of a block of text when you view it in a browser. If you want big buttons or small buttons, just change the size setting.

I don't expect capacitive buttons on any Nexus-branded devices, but you may have better luck with Google Play edition phones. Those can have capacitive buttons if the manufacturer designs the phones to have them.

 

[DirkBelig]

I'm not refuting facts. I'm saying the miniscule amount of screen real estate you're crying foul over is irrelevant. The 4.7" display is entirely usable, I don't know why you're trying to argued that fact. Not only does it house the navigation buttons, but said buttons disappear when viewing full screen media, further demonstrating how flexible the screen is. Besides, why are you set in this GS3 vs. N4 screen comparison? The S3 has a lager screen, with both capacitive buttons and a hardware button. The N4 has a smaller display with on screen buttons... The two devices handle their buttons and displays entirely differently and have no business being compared side by side as you continue to attempt to do.

You're being deliberately obtuse. What would you be saying of the GS3 had a 4.7" screen since you wouldn't be able to keep throwing up that 0.1" is "larger" to the point it makes a difference? You are also using the word "usable" in a way that really requires another posting of Inigo Montoya's photo. Let's put them up side by side:

Almost an entire row's worth of space is thrown away by that giant button bar AND IF THE NEXUS 5 CAME WITH A FIVE EFFING FOOT TALL SCREEN, THAT BIG BLACK BAR WOULD BE WASTED SPACE!!! The Moto X makes that bar translucent so you can see the wallpaper, but that's a dodge - it's still wasted space and while Google has tried to cajole people since ICS to use soft menus, the fact that pretty much every single maker is refusing in favor of some sort of button arrangement under the screen indicates all the makers recognize that to their customers, it appears as wasted space. That means it's NOT USABLE. I'm not even getting into the mandatory Google Search box that should be a widget placed where the USER wants it or relegated to Google Now.

You also say "said buttons disappear when viewing full screen media" to which I ask: WHICH APPS? Running through Facebook, Flickr, Reddit is Fun, Gallery, Google+, Chrome, Tapatalk 4, IMDB, Flipboard, Amazon - none of them make the nav bar disappear. A couple reduce it to three dots, but the app does not expand. Only YouTube in landscape fills the whole screen. When the overwhelming majority of apps do not do away with that 96 pixel block of UNUSABLE SPACE - sorry, but being used as a button does not make it "usable" - then the advertised screen size is moot. In the old CRT days, they used to have to state what the "viewable" area of a display was (e.g. 17" - 16.3" viewable); perhaps we need to treat that nav bar as part of the bezel. By my measurements, that means the N4 has a 4.3" viewable screen, a full half-inch less than the GS3, the same as my OG EVO "4G" from three years ago. (A half-as-tall nav bar would bump visible size to a bit over 4.5" - marginally better.)

That's a BIG marketing problem that even a larger screen won't fix because the big tall wasted space bar at the bottom will only scale up at the same proportion. The point as I've said all along is that people hunger for larger screens because the Nexus 4 gives up so much space with its too tall nav bar. Now I don't expect Google to go to hardware buttons just as they won't have expandable memory no matter how much the nerd ragers whine EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. one of these Nexus devices arrive, but the only thing preventing a half-height bottom bar, same as the top, is obstinence with perhaps a little bit of not wanting to make things even harder for developers to cope with regarding screen sizes.

tl;dr version: It doesn't matter how large you make the Nexus 5 if you have a big tall block of wasted space at the bottom. Period.

 

[jdbii]

I hope Key Lime Pie permits the re-sizing, removal, and/or some type of translucent option for the onscreen buttons that custom roms permit. I've always liked the full screen feature that some browser permit but it is a bit of a gimmick on the N4 because all that really does is remove the status bar. You'd have a lot more real estate if full screen removed the onscreen buttons as well the status bar. True, a custom rom can achieve that, but that is not realistic for noobs and tech-adverse casual users.

 

[TheLibertarian]

You're being deliberately obtuse. What would you be saying of the GS3 had a 4.7" screen since you wouldn't be able to keep throwing up that 0.1" is "larger" to the point it makes a difference? You are also using the word "usable" in a way that really requires another posting of Inigo Montoya's photo. Let's put them up side by side:

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2034/screenshot2012071023044.png http://forums.androidcentral.com/at...-them-here-screenshot_2012-11-30-13-07-59.png

Almost an entire row's worth of space is thrown away by that giant button bar AND IF THE NEXUS 5 CAME WITH A FIVE EFFING FOOT TALL SCREEN, THAT BIG BLACK BAR WOULD BE WASTED SPACE!!! The Moto X makes that bar translucent so you can see the wallpaper, but that's a dodge - it's still wasted space and while Google has tried to cajole people since ICS to use soft menus, the fact that pretty much every single maker is refusing in favor of some sort of button arrangement under the screen indicates all the makers recognize that to their customers, it appears as wasted space. That means it's NOT USABLE. I'm not even getting into the mandatory Google Search box that should be a widget placed where the USER wants it or relegated to Google Now.

You also say "said buttons disappear when viewing full screen media" to which I ask: WHICH APPS? Running through Facebook, Flickr, Reddit is Fun, Gallery, Google+, Chrome, Tapatalk 4, IMDB, Flipboard, Amazon - none of them make the nav bar disappear. A couple reduce it to three dots, but the app does not expand. Only YouTube in landscape fills the whole screen. When the overwhelming majority of apps do not do away with that 96 pixel block of UNUSABLE SPACE - sorry, but being used as a button does not make it "usable" - then the advertised screen size is moot. In the old CRT days, they used to have to state what the "viewable" area of a display was (e.g. 17" - 16.3" viewable); perhaps we need to treat that nav bar as part of the bezel. By my measurements, that means the N4 has a 4.3" viewable screen, a full half-inch less than the GS3, the same as my OG EVO "4G" from three years ago. (A half-as-tall nav bar would bump visible size to a bit over 4.5" - marginally better.)

That's a BIG marketing problem that even a larger screen won't fix because the big tall wasted space bar at the bottom will only scale up at the same proportion. The point as I've said all along is that people hunger for larger screens because the Nexus 4 gives up so much space with its too tall nav bar. Now I don't expect Google to go to hardware buttons just as they won't have expandable memory no matter how much the nerd ragers whine EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. one of these Nexus devices arrive, but the only thing preventing a half-height bottom bar, same as the top, is obstinence with perhaps a little bit of not wanting to make things even harder for developers to cope with regarding screen sizes.

tl;dr version: It doesn't matter how large you make the Nexus 5 if you have a big tall block of wasted space at the bottom. Period.

Yet again, I am still failing to see what your obsession is with comparing the Nexus 4 and the GS3. They're not comparable when it comes to display size due to their different approaches designing a phone.

I'm just as lost how a small fraction of an inch of the display being taken up by on screen buttons warrants this kind of raging outburst. Did you not know the Nexus 4 has on screen buttons? It's not like Google pulled a fast one here; I'm quite sure it was very well known the Nexus 4 used screen real estate to house their navigation buttons. Does the Nexus 4 not have a 4.7" display? I believe it does. I don't see how this crazed outburst is remotely necessary.

If you really can't stand losing a miniscule amount of your display, I suggest buying a device that actually suits your needs, rather than screaming about one that doesn't.

There was no lie or trickery. The Nexus 4 utilizes a 4.7" display. It's advertised with on screen buttons as well, and anyone can try one out at their local T-Mobile. I don't see what your big deal is. Do the on screen buttons take up screen space? Sure, because they're "on screen" buttons... Indicating they use the screen. Rocket science, I know.

 

[andymacnexus]

Hi all,

I just got a Nexus 4 and am absolutely loving it. Coming from an S4, I am happy to say I experience no lag and my appreciate the responsiveness of my phone. I was reviewing specs for the Nexus 5 today and noticed it was apparently coming out with a 5.2 inch screen.

I am perfectly happy with the 4.7 inch screen I have on my Nexus 4 and while I will be looking at the 5 when it comes out because I am a tech geek and like to have and play with the latest technology I am wondering if some will simply stay with their awesome Nexus 4 phones rather than go to the Nexus 5 with the increase in screen size.

Thoughts? Are you going to go to the Nexus 5 if it is 5.2 or stay with what you have?

Very happy at moment with my s4 google edition, but keeping my eye on nexus5 lunch for sure