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January 17, 2007

iphone

iPhone is not quite widescreen, not quite fullscreen

Posted Jan. 17, ’07, 8:13 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | iPhone

Pirates of the CaribbeanAs with any new Apple product, people across the Intertubes are rushing to find hidden details and flaws to flog, on a product that, we must remind you, has only just been announced and won’t be in public hands for another six months. It’s what we at MacUser like to call “Happy Fun Time!”

The latest circulating meme has to do with the aspect ratio of the iPod’s screen: specifically, the fact that it isn’t truly 16:9 widescreen. This is true: those who’ve watched the keynote will remember that Steve played a widescreen version of Pirates of the Caribbean which was letterboxed. What does this mean? Are the end times upon us?

Easy there, gunsmoke. Yes, it’s true that widescreen content on the iPhone will be either letterboxed or zoomed (cutting off the left and right sides slightly), but the 1.5:1 ratio of the iPhone may also be trying to make the best of both worlds by splitting the difference between the 16:9 (1.78:1) widescreen ratio and the 4:3 (1.33:1) “fullscreen” ratio. It’s the happy medium that is watching all of your content in slightly annoying form. Apple’s not stupid: I’m sure there’s a reason behind it. And I’m not going to yell conspiracy until 1.5:1 content starts appearing on iTunes.


3 Comments

Moe said:

I agree. Its not a big deal. We watched tv on 4:3 format for more than a decade. For a hanheld device, its fine. Plus, as you stated. You may see 1.5:1 files in iTunes in the near future.

January 17, 2007 9:09 AM
ehren Author Profile Page said:

another thing to note is that a lot of action movies (and most movies of any genre of recent vintage) are shot in an aspect ratio closer to 2.3:1. so even if the iPhone were to have a true 16:9 screen you'd still have a letterbox appearance

January 17, 2007 9:10 AM
SR said:

Pirates isn't 16x9 (= 1,78:1) but has a wider ratio of 2,35:1. But that only explains part of the letterboxing of the Pirates movie on the iphone. Besides that, it would be a real pitty when movies with a more "cinemascope" aspect ratio like Pirates, would be cropped/zoomed. Then you could better buy the DVD...

January 17, 2007 9:30 AM

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