[HN Gopher] Design the next iPhone
       ___________________________________________________________________
        
       Design the next iPhone
        
       Author : mkeeter
       Score  : 890 points
       Date   : 2022-08-23 16:16 UTC (6 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (neal.fun)
 (TXT) w3m dump (neal.fun)
        
       | supernova87a wrote:
       | How fun!
       | 
       | And did anyone else notice in the reflection of the metal band
       | what room (like what virtual place the camera is located) you're
       | shown designing this in?
        
         | zootboy wrote:
         | If you want a slightly better look: https://neal.fun/design-
         | the-next-iphone/cubemap/px.png
        
           | boogies wrote:
           | All sides:
           | https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32567147#32568060
        
       | n4bz0r wrote:
       | Beta males mumbling about type-c this, buttons that. Replaceable
       | battery... LOL.
       | 
       | Here is what _real consumers_ want:
       | 
       | https://i.ibb.co/93dbrmJ/IMG-20220823-223304.jpg
        
         | DocJade wrote:
         | "Be not afraid"
        
           | matthoiland wrote:
           | Biblically accurate iPhones
        
         | [deleted]
        
       | NaturalPhallacy wrote:
       | I didn't realize adding components added to the price. Here's my
       | $6,900 iPhone: https://i.imgur.com/6yB14mx.mp4
        
       | huhtenberg wrote:
       | Practical and beautiful, married in seamless harmony.
       | 
       | https://i.imgur.com/QCY5Oa6.mp4
       | 
       | Yes, that's the lightning port.
        
       | cainxinth wrote:
       | Anyone else try to figure out what the reflection texture is? I
       | think it's Apple Park.
        
         | mminer237 wrote:
         | It definitely is: https://neal.fun/design-the-next-
         | iphone/cubemap/pz.png
        
         | hundchenkatze wrote:
         | Yep, it's Apple Park. Here are the images used:
         | 
         | https://neal.fun/design-the-next-iphone/cubemap/nx.png
         | 
         | https://neal.fun/design-the-next-iphone/cubemap/ny.png
         | 
         | https://neal.fun/design-the-next-iphone/cubemap/nz.png
         | 
         | https://neal.fun/design-the-next-iphone/cubemap/px.png
         | 
         | https://neal.fun/design-the-next-iphone/cubemap/py.png
         | 
         | https://neal.fun/design-the-next-iphone/cubemap/pz.png
        
       | rendleflag wrote:
       | Am I the only one that opened up the page, saw the blank phone,
       | and said "no changes needed"?
        
       | anta40 wrote:
       | Hmmm... pro handle? joystick? steering wheel? Copter blade?
       | 
       | why? WHYYY????
       | 
       | :D
        
         | xtreme wrote:
         | If you ever find yourself asking "WHY???", the answer is
         | probably "Why not?"
        
       | smm11 wrote:
       | Just copy the latest Galaxy.
        
       | jbombadil wrote:
       | I started being silly and just adding wheels and whatnot. Then at
       | some point I decided to try to build exactly the phone I'd like.
       | Turns out it's pretty close to the current iPhones, except:
       | 
       | * Replace the apple logo on the back with the touchId/home
       | button. It can still be shaped like an apple, but please let it
       | read my fingerprint.
       | 
       | * Move the power button to the top.
       | 
       | * Change the lightning port to USB-C (not designed here)
       | 
       | That's... it. It's really not that much, but it would make such
       | an improvement.
        
         | CivBase wrote:
         | I did the same thing but with two changes:
         | 
         | * Home button doubles as the power button (press and hold)
         | 
         | * Headphone jack at the top
        
           | the_other wrote:
           | > Headphone jack at the top
           | 
           | You're putting it in your pocket wrong.
        
             | CivBase wrote:
             | Heh, I guess. My last two phones had the jack at the top,
             | so it's instinctively where I put it. I do like being able
             | to rest it on a surface while holding it vertically with an
             | audio cable connected. But charging it at the same time
             | from the other end is a little weird. I guess in an ideal
             | world I'd put _both_ ports at the top, but I don 't think
             | that's what you were going for :)
        
               | bombcar wrote:
               | Top is the right place unless the fone flips itself. Or
               | playing audio in a car is a pain.
               | 
               | Even keeping a phone charged in a car is annoying now.
        
         | insightcheck wrote:
         | Out of curiosity, why would you move the power button to the
         | top? I remember this was the configuration for the old iPod
         | Touch, but with the power button along the side, it's easier to
         | press the power button with your thumb in one-handed use.
        
           | the_other wrote:
           | It's way too easy to press it by accident on the side. You
           | can't use the volume buttons to take phots without twisting
           | your hand into some special shape whilst the power button is
           | on the side. It should return to the top.
        
           | Tagbert wrote:
           | With the power/display button exactly opposite the volume
           | buttons, it is difficult to just press the power/display
           | button without also hitting the volume up button. Then you
           | either change volume by mistake or do a screenshot by
           | mistake. It was better when it was on the top. alternately,
           | just move the volume buttons to the same side as the
           | power/display button.
        
             | cgrealy wrote:
             | If I had a dollar for every time I've done that I'd have...
             | 
             |  _checks screenshots folder_
             | 
             | $78 dollars!
        
           | falcrist wrote:
           | You could have the home button that was placed on the back of
           | the phone wake it up. I still enjoy my S9+ because of it's
           | well-positioned fingerprint sensor on the back that wakes the
           | phone and bypasses the lock screen.
           | 
           | I suppose when you're turning the phone off, you can easily
           | shift your grip to hit the top. I still wouldn't think to put
           | the power button there, though.
        
           | FabHK wrote:
           | Power button on top was the old configuration for iPhones,
           | too, for the first 7 generations. It went to the side from
           | iPhone 6 onwards, as the phone got larger.
           | 
           | "the top button was renamed to "side button" and moved to the
           | side of the phone instead of the top to improve its
           | accessibility."
           | 
           | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_6
        
       | garysahota93 wrote:
       | Where is the USB-C option? lol
        
       | nurumaik wrote:
       | It needs "view in AR" button
        
       | hit8run wrote:
       | I ejected from this status game and went utilitarian: iPhone SE
       | 3.
        
       | slantedview wrote:
       | No notch, rounded edges, and the rest is just gravy.
        
       | przemub wrote:
       | I love how adding an Apple logo adds $200 but adding an Android
       | one _subtracts_ $100 :D
        
         | grishka wrote:
         | Lmao. Add enough of them and you've got a free phone!
         | 
         | https://imgur.com/4RhzomQ
        
         | thefourthchime wrote:
         | I thought you were kidding at first, it totally does!
        
         | b-lee wrote:
         | Reputation is earned. And it's worth
        
       | jeroenhd wrote:
       | One thing I'm missing that I'm still amazed the iPhone lacks: an
       | under-screen fingerprint scanner. Behind-the-screen cameras are
       | not ready for prime time, but surely Apple can please the
       | fingerprint fans quite easily? They can even pretend they
       | invented it by placing it on a weird position and saying it's
       | revolutionary because no iPhone user has probably ever seen it
       | before.
        
         | CamperBob2 wrote:
         | Probably blocked by somebody else's patent.
        
         | Andrew_nenakhov wrote:
         | My Moto Z4 has an under-screen fingerprint scanner, and I
         | absolutely positively refuse to ever have a smartphone without
         | such scanner. It is the best possible placement.
        
           | dsr_ wrote:
           | It's okay, but on the back in an indent is better.
        
       | matt-by-nature wrote:
       | The available options just keep escalating. Brilliant.
        
       | busymom0 wrote:
       | Here's my creation:
       | 
       | https://i.imgur.com/UuctWcW.png
       | 
       | Chopper blades act as a fan to keep my cool on hot summer days.
       | 
       | Steering wheel can help with left and right swiping on tinder.
       | 
       | Joystick for scrolling.
       | 
       | Wheels for easy portability.
       | 
       | And of course a rotary phone for doing the most important job of
       | calling people.
       | 
       | Add 4 android logos and get it for free.
        
       | achenatx wrote:
       | Im looking for a phone with no or limited screen that is as small
       | as possible that has very long battery life.
       | 
       | It could connect wired/wireless to video glasses, handheld
       | screens, TVs, or whatever for video. It could connect to
       | headphones, cars, etc for audio.
       | 
       | IO could be done on the screens, finger sensors for gestures,
       | voice command, or even neural commands.
       | 
       | essentially remove the screen from the phone and let me choose a
       | visual IO method based on my needs.
        
         | clairity wrote:
         | that's apple's long term goal, to realize pervasive personal
         | computing. that's why they released siri, airpods, the watch,
         | and faceID (and even the future glasses), as waypoints to that
         | exact future. they probably won't get rid of screens, but will
         | minimize their use over time.
        
       | aceazzameen wrote:
       | Not only did I add a headphone jack to mine, but I added 5 more
       | of them! This is awesome.
        
         | SllX wrote:
         | I put one right at the top of the phone smack dab in the center
         | just underneath the handle.
         | 
         | I think users are really going to love it.
        
         | quickthrower2 wrote:
         | How else are you going to record your band's music?
        
       | gsanderson wrote:
       | Simply excellent. I finally removed the notch.
        
         | dendrite9 wrote:
         | I added a notch on each side in the lower half. One for power
         | and one for volume.
        
       | harrisonjackson wrote:
       | If you tried it but didn't click the present button you are
       | missing out. It really puts a bow on your design.
        
         | roozbeh18 wrote:
         | "This isn't just an upgrade, its a breakthrough"
        
           | insightcheck wrote:
           | [SPOILERS] If you click "Present" lots of times, there are
           | other variations too:
           | 
           | "These are the best iPhones we've ever created."
           | 
           | "Wow, what an amazing day!"
           | 
           | "This is a big upgrade!"
        
         | seydor wrote:
         | If it was a few years back, Jony Ive reading fortune cookies
         | would be great
        
       | jordanmorgan10 wrote:
       | Ah yes, this is one of "Wow, I thought my website was cool"
       | moments. Incredible!
        
       | notum wrote:
       | Even the fantasy dreamland design tool doesn't have an USB-C
       | option.
        
       | martin1975 wrote:
       | Where's the 'Working VPN without "Always on VPN"' button?
        
       | zw123456 wrote:
       | I clicked present without adding anything, my design uses a
       | telepathic interface, you simply think about it. If you see
       | something, the image is transferred to the memory and uploaded to
       | the cloud by simply desiring that occur. No microphone or
       | earphones are needed, no Bluetooth. I call it the tiPhone it will
       | be out in 2031, place your pre-orders now.
        
         | jxy wrote:
         | Why do you even need the brick?
         | 
         | My design directly link your neurons to the cloud. Upload 3D
         | vision, done. Connect to google maps, done. Call your mom,
         | having a conversation without speaking aloud, done.
         | 
         | iBrain. Think different.
         | 
         | Directly download to your brain, from a brain near you. Soon.
        
           | zw123456 wrote:
           | Hehe, you one upped me for sure :)
           | 
           | We are joking around of course, but sometimes interesting
           | innovation comes from weird ponderings.
           | 
           | I have an experimental cloud phone that has no CPU and uses
           | an FPGA to directly transfer data from a VM in the cloud to
           | the screen. It works, even on 4G but better on 5G. Also, I
           | have been experimenting with transparent OLED.
           | 
           | My dream would be a device completely cloud based, and hence,
           | unlimited processing and storage. The back of the transparent
           | display would be optical sensors and it would use
           | computational imaging in the cloud, no lenses needed. The
           | audio who knows, MEMS I suppose.
           | 
           | I think the technology exists; would anyone want such a
           | thing? Who knows, we have seen things like that in sci-fi
           | movies of course.
        
             | iso1631 wrote:
             | So a dumb terminal hanging off someone elses mainframe?
        
               | zw123456 wrote:
               | yeah, someone else's power bill, cooling, floor space,
               | capital expense.
        
           | pjerem wrote:
           | Please don't watch your baby in its bath, everything you see
           | is matched against a database (rest assured for your privacy,
           | everything is done locally in your brain - except if we need
           | to human check - so you may experience slower thinking at
           | times)
        
         | ancientworldnow wrote:
         | I know hn frowns on this type of comment but you really should
         | have called he the psiPhone.
        
           | zw123456 wrote:
           | no, frown, me dumb. ELI5 it for me :)
        
       | bishalpaudel wrote:
       | My iPhone turned into a car-copter
        
       | [deleted]
        
       | renonce wrote:
       | The components used seems to affect your starting price as well.
        
       | Ninjinka wrote:
       | Broken for me. Don't see a phone and can't drag pieces. EDIT: In
       | Chrome:
       | 
       | Refused to execute script from
       | 'https://neal.fun/_nuxt/pages/design-the-next-iphone/index.a2...'
       | because its MIME type ('text/html') is not executable, and strict
       | MIME type checking is enabled.
        
         | kemayo wrote:
         | Also didn't work for me, in Safari on macOS.
        
         | barsonme wrote:
         | You should mention which browser and OS you're using.
         | Otherwise, your comment isn't very useful.
        
         | cianmm wrote:
         | It didn't work in Safari for me, but did in Chrome.
        
         | [deleted]
        
         | Kamogo wrote:
         | Hi creator here, what browser/OS are you on?
        
           | Ninjinka wrote:
           | Windows 10, Chrome 104.0.5112.82
        
       | 0xbadcafebee wrote:
       | Can I make mine without a screen? Actually serious.
        
       | laszlokorte wrote:
       | This needs a way to share the results!
        
         | [deleted]
        
         | latexr wrote:
         | Present (top right) - Download video (bottom centre).
        
           | laszlokorte wrote:
           | Oh, the button does not show up for me :(
        
             | slimginz wrote:
             | Looks to be a Firefox thing. I just tested in both Chrome
             | and Safari and the download link was there. Not in Firefox
             | tho
        
       | doodlebugging wrote:
       | Unfortunately this does not have the option that I would like to
       | see.
       | 
       | The perfect new Apple phone would be one that serves the cheap-
       | ass bastard market or the market for people who aren't interested
       | in carrying a computer in their pocket.
       | 
       | I present to you all the concept for a simple Apple flip phone
       | (iFlipper). It does all the basic communications functions -
       | text, HD single front and rear camera, voice calls and recording
       | - has a long-life replaceable battery, basic keyboard, and a
       | 2"x3" (50mm x 76 mm) HD screen. With this phone they could own
       | the market for cheap, durable phones that can serve as company-
       | issued phones for employees who need to stay connected but don't
       | need to dink around with computing anything on their phones.
       | Basic apps would allow time tracking, location tracking, text and
       | pdf document reading and editing, simple spreadsheet creation and
       | updating for customer invoicing, and note-taking and appointment
       | management apps.
       | 
       | Some of that ends up sounding like a computer but compared to all
       | the things you can do with a normal smart phone, we can dumb
       | things down and still have great phones with broad market appeal.
       | 
       | You could even call them iDumb if you like.
        
         | amelius wrote:
         | That would not work for Apple because the iPhone is basically a
         | vending machine in your pocket. Owned by Apple.
        
       | tuatoru wrote:
       | My wife has been wanting a phone that will follow her around by
       | itself. The helicopter blade is just perfect!
        
       | himanshuy wrote:
       | Fun to add any silly components and click on "Present". Tim Cook
       | be like "This isn't an upgrade, its a breakthrouuuugh.
        
       | aendruk wrote:
       | Missing: removable battery, USB-C port, microSD card slot, dual
       | SIM card tray, speaker and microphone(s), ear proximity sensor
       | and/or face scanner
       | 
       | I'm assuming the home button can function as a rear fingerprint
       | reader.
        
         | TheJoeMan wrote:
         | Granted. The internals now take up so much space only a 500mA
         | battery can fit and the phone lasts 2 hours on a charge.
        
           | aendruk wrote:
           | "Missing" from TFA which includes a propeller and cup holder.
           | Half of the list is in existing iPhones today.
        
           | boogies wrote:
           | My Pinephone has all those features except the dual SIM card
           | tray, and the battery's capacity is rated 2,800mAh / typical
           | 3,000mAh. The fact that it can burn through that in as little
           | as an hour if held just right (with max brightness, volume,
           | and load on the GPU, CPU, RAM, and separate modem CPU with
           | the default nonfree, inefficient firmware; and not using the
           | separately sold keyboard case with 6,000 more mAh) is a great
           | incentive to limit its addictive effects.
        
       | jscipione wrote:
       | I just wish it had no notch.
        
         | tomxor wrote:
         | I'm sure they could add a no-notch option (for $200).
        
       | pmcollins wrote:
       | I put the power button at the top so that I don't accidentally
       | take a screenshot when I want to change the volume. Somebody
       | please give me a design job at Apple.
       | 
       | I still don't understand why Apple moved the power button to the
       | side opposite the volume buttons.
        
         | plugin-baby wrote:
         | Engagement with the screenshot function has really improved
         | since that button was moved, and someone somewhere got a nice
         | promotion.
        
           | cafed00d wrote:
           | If this were Google where PMs ran feature development willy-
           | nilly, then I bet this would've been true. Luckily, Apple's
           | design team still has enough pull; so the MBAs haven't taken
           | over everything.
        
             | xadhominemx wrote:
             | It's really funny you think the MBAs have less sway at
             | Apple than Google. Apple is a penny-pinching company
             | literally run by a supply chain exec with a Duke MBA.
             | Google is a freewheeling engineer-led culture with zero
             | interest in cost control.
        
               | solardev wrote:
               | Can it be both? The engineers create a new chat app every
               | year, then the MBAs take it over next year and "optimize"
               | it into the ground and all the engineers flee, but that's
               | ok because the cycle will repeat shortly.
        
         | ckolkey wrote:
         | All. The. Time.
        
         | franl wrote:
         | Probably because phones are massive now, and the side is the
         | only place the power button can be pressed while holding the
         | phone with one hand.
        
           | bnt wrote:
           | But you only need to "power" it once in like a month. You
           | "turn it on" by tapping the screen. You "turn it off" by
           | putting it aside or in your pocket. Power button on the side
           | is a weird choice.
        
         | xylophonermore wrote:
         | causes me aggravation every day
        
         | kbouck wrote:
         | ... or inadvertently turn off your phone while intending to
         | take a picture
        
         | whywhywhywhy wrote:
         | My photo library has hundreds of screenshots of alarms going
         | off because every time i pick it up to turn the alarm off half
         | asleep I take a screenshot
        
         | [deleted]
        
         | layer8 wrote:
         | I switch my phone off 20% of the time I want to take a picture.
        
         | stavros wrote:
         | Aren't the power and volume buttons switched there? The long
         | one is volume, no?
        
         | hugi wrote:
         | Heh. Incidentally I just finished my weekly "delete all the
         | accidental screenshots" session.
        
       | patientplatypus wrote:
        
       | iso1631 wrote:
       | Shut up and take my money
       | 
       | Seriously, power, volume, silencer, lightning, 3.5mm jack, home
       | button on the back for touch-id, what more do you want (well
       | maybe usb-c instead of lightning)
        
       | SergeAx wrote:
       | No USB-C, like I thought.
        
       | tomcam wrote:
       | SHARE BUTTON PLZ
        
       | preinheimer wrote:
       | That was fun. Just like the TLD.
       | 
       | More of this internet please.
        
         | hk__2 wrote:
         | There are a lot of similar games on the same website:
         | https://neal.fun/
        
           | aaaaaaaaata wrote:
           | "Draw popular logos" was a laugh.
           | 
           | Post the code so someone can put a score to it!
        
       | uncharted9 wrote:
       | I was trying hard to search ways to share the video and found out
       | that the "Download video" button is only visible in Chrome or
       | Safari and not Firefox. I love everything about Neal's site but I
       | wish supporting the three major web browser engines shouldn't be
       | the big deal. I've seen the writing on the wall now and I should
       | probably jump ships off FF to anything based on chromium.
        
         | icemelt8 wrote:
         | How can i down vote
        
           | uncharted9 wrote:
        
           | grzm wrote:
           | You need karma > 500.
        
           | londons_explore wrote:
           | Here we vote based on whether the comment _adds anything to
           | the discussion_ , not whether you agree with it.
        
       | lxe wrote:
       | Everything from Neal Agrawal brings much-needed whimsy into the
       | world.
        
         | erikig wrote:
         | I have spent so much time on https://neal.fun/rocks/ that I
         | should be a little embarrassed, yet I'm so calm and I've had so
         | much fun, I'm not.
        
       | insane_dreamer wrote:
       | Definitely bringing back the iPod-style click-wheel
        
       | seydor wrote:
       | Great! How do I print it?
        
         | thenthenthen wrote:
         | Like kicad plot, bom, gerbers, drill holes, i agree!
        
       | DelaneyM wrote:
       | Am I the only one who opened the tool and thought: "this, this is
       | perfect, add nothing!"?
       | 
       | Why isn't there a phone yet with no ports or power plugs of any
       | kind (wireless charging and software power/reset), flush rear
       | camera, hidden front camera?
       | 
       | It feels like that's the inevitable end of the current
       | evolutionary tree, and all the technology is there and reasonably
       | economical.
        
         | dmitrygr wrote:
         | > software power/reset
         | 
         | And if your software hangs? Hard buttons are a nice safety.
         | Even one can be wired to some simple microcontroller that'll
         | power cycle the entire device is held for 30 sec or some such
         | thing. Doing it via a much more complex interface (touch, etc)
         | isn't as foolproof
        
         | WithinReason wrote:
         | Meizu Zero
        
           | adolph wrote:
           | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_Shuffle#3rd_generation
           | 
           | (which somehow had a 3.5mm audio jack...)
        
         | zw123456 wrote:
         | I posted that farther down in the thread. Yes, I thought the
         | same thing.
         | 
         | Sorry for the repetition, but this is a little dream of mine.
         | 
         | I have an experimental cloud phone that has no CPU and uses an
         | FPGA to directly transfer data from a VM in the cloud to the
         | screen. It works, even on 4G but better on 5G. Also, I have
         | been experimenting with transparent OLED.
         | 
         | My dream would be a device completely cloud based, and hence,
         | unlimited processing and storage. The back of the transparent
         | display would be optical sensors and it would use computational
         | imaging in the cloud, no lenses needed. The audio who knows,
         | MEMS I suppose.
         | 
         | it would look like just a simple pane of glass
        
           | lostgame wrote:
           | Absolute nightmare fuel. I would pay a lot to never have a
           | device like this.
           | 
           | I want more control over my hardware and software, not less.
           | I want less connection to or dependence on any sort of
           | 'cloud'.
           | 
           | Give me liberty or give me a dumbphone.
        
             | zw123456 wrote:
             | Hmm, ok, fair enough.
             | 
             | good feedback. TY
        
           | donkarma wrote:
           | that sounds absolutely horrid, imagine scrolling and then
           | your display jumps to 200ms or your cloud provider drops you
           | and your phone is bricked
        
             | zw123456 wrote:
             | Ah no, not with edge compute, think MEC. Nope, I have a
             | test VM on wavelength, under 4ms over 5G :)
        
         | SllX wrote:
         | If we're lucky, literally never on some of that without the
         | technology being vastly superior to what we have today. What's
         | possible and what's good aren't always the same thing.
        
       | bambam24 wrote:
        
       | jsight wrote:
       | Where's the button to make it unapologetically polycarbonate?
        
       | factorialboy wrote:
       | Where USB-C?
        
         | brk wrote:
         | You can add a rotary dial, copter blades, and wheels. But a
         | USB-C is too silly even for a parody, that is just taking it
         | too far.
        
           | function_seven wrote:
           | Pull Request:
           | 
           | Add more items to the feature palette: USB-C (TB3), USB-C
           | (DP2.0), USB-C (PD), USB-C (TB & DP2, no PD), USB-C (DP2 and
           | PD, no TB), USB-C (HDMI)
           | 
           | Only one graphic/model needed for all of them, so this PR
           | should be easy.
        
       | Ayesh wrote:
       | Glimpsing at the fun and goofy Internet we missed,
        
       | dwaite wrote:
       | I put a headphone jack -into- the notch.
       | 
       | I don't even know what to complain about now.
        
       | husam212 wrote:
       | Apple iPlay? https://imgur.com/a/UsDYp7i
        
       | ajaimk wrote:
       | Jony Ive is tossing in his grave
        
       | teucris wrote:
       | I love how there is a copter blade and a rotary dial but no USB
       | options of any kind.
        
       | travisgriggs wrote:
       | I wish the "Present" feature would make my copter blades slowly
       | rotate. But it's all genius.
        
       | tomjakubowski wrote:
       | The reflected background is oddly familiar, almost blissful...
        
       | smoldesu wrote:
       | Is the joke that they came up with 18 useless features without
       | mentioning USB-C?
        
         | 88840-8855 wrote:
         | How is a based 90s antenna a joke to you?
         | 
         | I would take it anytime over some weird USB-C!
        
           | KMnO4 wrote:
           | I used to have a phone which allowed me to plug an external
           | antenna into the USB port.
           | 
           | I _sorely_ miss that.
        
             | alanbernstein wrote:
             | Moto g phones used headphone cables as FM antennas. Not
             | sure if they still do though.
        
           | lkois wrote:
           | And why is it called USB C anyway? It's not shaped like a C
           | at all!
        
             | incahoots wrote:
             | It's 2 Cs touching each other!
        
               | travisgriggs wrote:
               | Easy there. Kids may read this.
        
         | can16358p wrote:
         | Useless? I use the quadcopter features of my iPhone everyday
         | after driving home... with iPhone's steering wheel.
        
           | smoldesu wrote:
           | I didn't mean to offend anyone, I don't even know how you're
           | supposed to take the thing with you without the Pro Handle.
           | Just wish there was a good way to plug it into my other
           | devices...
        
             | slimsag wrote:
             | That's fair, but you have to admit - the triple headphone
             | jack, side-facing cameras, and dual power buttons (for 2x
             | the power) were nice touches.
        
             | can16358p wrote:
             | Add an Apple logo middle of the screen and it will connect
             | to all Apple devices magically using dark witchcraft. Add
             | an Android logo and boom, you now connect to almost all
             | smartphones. Whatever you do... do not touch the pear logo.
        
       | tomxor wrote:
       | I'll stick to the old pulse dialing tech on mine:
       | 
       | https://imgur.com/a/0I8Ng0s
        
         | drooopy wrote:
         | Wow. Tons of Courage(tm) on this one
        
         | khazhoux wrote:
         | _Take my money!_
        
       | habi wrote:
       | Lost it at 'steering wheel'. Very funny!
        
       | swyx wrote:
       | i was so delighted to find it has a video export but Twitter is
       | not letting me tweet the video - as far as i can tell this fits
       | under all their requirements - anyone else have the same problem?
       | 
       | Edit: ah you just have to run it through one of these things
       | https://clideo.com/editor/resize-video
        
       | w_for_wumbo wrote:
       | If you click present, is that the Apple HQ in the reflection?
        
       | wingmanjd wrote:
       | I think the volume and power button labels are reversed.
        
       | mulmen wrote:
       | I put the volume and power buttons on the same side but then made
       | sure to put the cupholder just under them so you can have a
       | picture of every instant you hit a pothole.
       | 
       | In a future version of iOS Apple will share your iCloud photo
       | library with your municipal road department. They can correlate
       | these screenshots to dispatch repair crews. I'm sure this
       | protects children somehow.
       | 
       | A Pro Handle would actually be pretty nice though, especially if
       | it could be stowed like the antenna.
        
       | walterbell wrote:
       | Excellent imagineering :)
       | 
       | Please add kill switches for radios (WiFi, cellular, BT, UWB),
       | microphones and cameras (rear, front, FaceID IR strobe).
        
       | joshstrange wrote:
       | At first I thought this was kind of "meh" but then I clicked over
       | on the "components" list at the bottom. Dear god, I just spent
       | the last 5 minutes giggling and adding absurd things to the
       | phone. I absolutely love this.
        
         | rconti wrote:
         | Once I figured out I could drag and rotate, it started making
         | more sense!
        
         | mihaaly wrote:
         | "adding absurd things to the phone"
         | 
         | That's how Apple does it, good job!
        
         | pathartl wrote:
         | I would love to see price tags added to them as well. Wheels?
         | $100. Handle? $50. Pro handle? $1000.
         | 
         | Edit: It does update price, but I'd like an itemized list
        
         | spaceman_2020 wrote:
         | My new iPhone 14 has an antenna AND a steering wheel.
        
         | sdflhasjd wrote:
         | Slap the lighting port in the middle of the screen, so you
         | can't use it while charging.
        
           | bongobingo1 wrote:
           | We've been thinking hard about how we all navigate our
           | expanding digital lives, and we at Apple think the greatest
           | breakthroughs can only occur when we really take time to sit,
           | consider and recharge. In 2017 we introduced Screen Time, a
           | revolutionary way to track your digital usage, putting you in
           | control. This year, we're going one step further and we're
           | excited to announce Recharge Time, only for iPhone 15.
        
             | samstave wrote:
             | Hey Tim Apple,
             | 
             | You still owe me a fn Macbook Pro because my "recharge
             | time" included my machine bursting into flames on my bed,
             | and the machine was under recall for bursting into flames,
             | and you refused to replace the machine that burst into
             | flames as stated by the recall, and nearly killed me, could
             | have burned down a house, because of the "moisture sensor"
             | 
             | What say you, Tim Apple?
        
               | dkonofalski wrote:
               | He says nothing. He's not reading this.
        
               | samstave wrote:
               | I did not say this. I am not here.
               | 
               | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYnF17oKutQ
               | 
               | Tim Apple in the Eye Phone 9000
        
               | dkonofalski wrote:
               | You are a sad, strange little man and you have my pity...
        
               | samstave wrote:
               | I appropriate the complimentary commentary.
        
               | iso1631 wrote:
               | Surely if the moisture sensor was on that would have put
               | out the fire?
        
               | samstave wrote:
               | Ill just put this next to the rest of the fire.
               | 
               | https://i.imgur.com/CbCYs0d.jpg
        
               | simonh wrote:
               | You were holding it wrong.
        
               | hk__2 wrote:
               | Obligatory xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1172/
        
             | IncRnd wrote:
             | Tim, would you please make sure the right people approve my
             | app? I just sent for approval a wicked cool app that makes
             | old phones new. And, as we know every old phone is a new
             | phone about to be purchased - wink, wink!
             | 
             | So, here is the app I am introducing for August 2022 - Down
             | Time, only for new iPhones. Down Time monitors all phone
             | inputs, sensors, and the like - all when the phone is
             | "down". This allows the Powerful Apple Silicon inside the
             | iPhone on your desk to generate ML heuristics that map how
             | the phone is used when it is not being used - when it is
             | turned off, charging, left in the car, etc. Of course, the
             | next step is to create local SMS messages and notifications
             | that illustrate which of my other apps in the store will
             | make the phone function better. If none of my apps will run
             | on a phone, I create a red, warning hazard of a
             | notification that says a NEW iPhone must be purchased to
             | continue using this family of apps. It's a WIN-WIN, Tim.
             | Please get this approved right quick!
        
             | nazka wrote:
             | I need a PDF with all the templates of the ways of Apple of
             | saying things.
        
           | Wistar wrote:
           | I put the front camera in the middle of the screen for the
           | whole eye contact thing.
        
           | arcticbull wrote:
           | I turned mine into a skatboard for hamsters with 4 pro wheels
           | valued at $600.
        
           | messe wrote:
           | *right in the middle of the click wheel.
        
           | zimpenfish wrote:
           | _laughs hysterically in Garmin Fenix_
        
           | Shebanator wrote:
           | The thing I thought was hilarious is that they put in a
           | zillion funny gadgets, but you can't get a USB-C port instead
           | of that godawful Lightning port.
        
             | bombcar wrote:
             | Charging over hdmi is better anyway.
        
           | roozbeh18 wrote:
           | dont let me stop you https://imgur.com/a/1v1emWj
        
           | geoffeg wrote:
           | Apple Magic Mouse style!
        
           | noSyncCloud wrote:
           | Two lightning ports on the screen, so you can charge and
           | listen to music with your audiophile IEMs at the same time
        
         | Teknoman117 wrote:
         | Now presenting the iPhone "oops all cameras"
        
           | SllX wrote:
           | Oh. So. Oops.
        
         | ant6n wrote:
         | Yeah, I love how this silently escalates more and more.
        
         | squeaky-clean wrote:
         | I only wish you could attach things to other attachments. My
         | Pro Handle needs a cupholder attached to it.
        
         | layer8 wrote:
         | I mustered the courage to add two headphone jacks ($200 a pop).
        
           | grishka wrote:
           | How much the first iMac was? It must've been $600 for just
           | the headphone jacks.
        
           | tomxor wrote:
           | > $200 a pop
           | 
           | To make up for the losses in revenue from bluetooth earphones
           | I assume ;)
        
           | pjerem wrote:
           | O boy, so, no space left for a battery with all those jacks.
           | That must be the brand new iPhone(TETHERED)
        
         | russellbeattie wrote:
         | Googly eyes!! I never realized how important googly eyes are.
         | They make everything more user friendly.
         | 
         | They should definitely be an FCC requirement.
        
           | spillguard wrote:
           | Agreed! My only complaint with this webapp is that the Googly
           | eyes don't jiggle when you rotate the phone.
        
         | cosmojg wrote:
         | They even allow you to add something called a "headphone jack"!
         | Isn't that hilarious? What an antiquated absurdity! A rotary
         | dial makes more sense on a phone these days.
        
         | A4ET8a8uTh0 wrote:
         | The 'pro handle' moment. I genuinely needed this pick up today.
        
       | quickthrower2 wrote:
       | Feature request: allow another degree of rotation so that we can
       | see the google-y eyes roll. Also: xeyes please.
        
       | imwillofficial wrote:
       | My iPhone had a centerline antenna, googly eyes and a click
       | wheel.
       | 
       | I can now die in peace, all is right with the world.
        
       | neilv wrote:
       | No other industrial design affordance says "you're holding it
       | wrong" like spinning blades.
        
         | quickthrower2 wrote:
         | "You were holding it wrong"
        
       | dimitrios1 wrote:
       | How many of us added a border of notches around the entire phone
       | and filled the backside with cameras? Or was that just me?
        
       | racl101 wrote:
       | Need a cupholder component.
        
         | crazygringo wrote:
         | Keep scrolling. It's there.
        
           | tomxor wrote:
           | Oh, I thought that was a hanger for the receiver:
           | 
           | https://imgur.com/a/0I8Ng0s
        
           | racl101 wrote:
           | holy sh t!
        
       | h2odragon wrote:
       | Every phone needs googly eyes.
        
       | schainks wrote:
       | Please update this with a mini-usb port or firewire port, just to
       | troll.
        
         | function_seven wrote:
         | I would like to have a DB-25 serial port on my phone, but I'm
         | willing to compromise. Give me a 9-pin and I'll grudgingly
         | carry around an adapter.
        
           | amlib wrote:
           | A GPIO header will do
        
       | cosmiccatnap wrote:
       | Even in a fantasy I can't get usbc
        
       | [deleted]
        
       | antioppressor wrote:
       | No wonder the design head was axed. The phone is like a Porsche.
       | Looks the same since its inception. They are in constant angst
       | mode about the looks, ooh what will happen if we make drastical
       | changes... so it will stay and look the same. They don't want to
       | disturb the cash cow.
       | 
       | But of course it gets pricier year after year.
       | 
       | Design iterations and UI is something like this: Look we've
       | changed the window's bezel by 1 and a half pixels, now it's much
       | better. 3 generations later: we changed it back the way it was,
       | retro style, wow! Now everyone APPLAUD the CHANGES and hand over
       | the money!
        
       | modeless wrote:
       | The best joke is that it doesn't have USB-C.
        
       | lizardactivist wrote:
       | Haven't had time to try it yet, but please tell me you also get a
       | video of Jonathan Ive crying and talking about it when you press
       | "Present"?
        
       | johndhi wrote:
       | Tim Cook jumping on screen killed me
        
       | kretaceous wrote:
       | This is so lame. Apple would never allow a 3.5mm jack even in a
       | parody app.
       | 
       | (j/k, fun stuff as always by Neal)
        
         | seydor wrote:
         | Winter is coming here in Europe. Having a phone with FM
         | receiver is going to be very useful.
        
           | aaaaaaaaata wrote:
           | Ah c'mon, don't do that, we were just starting to enjoy
           | ourselves in here!
        
             | seydor wrote:
             | a few power cuts is not the end of the world
        
           | roozbeh18 wrote:
           | say no more https://imgur.com/a/1v1emWj
        
             | seydor wrote:
             | Very nice. Mine includes a crown wheel for winding
             | https://i.imgur.com/1iYysR6.png
        
       | webscalist wrote:
       | https://i.imgur.com/HqGuK3j.jpg
        
       | aliljet wrote:
       | This is really a cool little interface. How was this made! I want
       | to learn!
        
         | rabuse wrote:
         | It's made with three.js
        
       | imd_xyz wrote:
       | Only thing I'd change is moving the volume buttons to the right
       | side with the power button. The number of times I've taken a
       | screenshot trying to un/lock with my left index finger is
       | astronomically high.
       | 
       | And USB-C.
        
         | closetohome wrote:
         | Or putting the power button back on the top. Or going back to
         | the iPhone 5's round volume buttons.
         | 
         | Both the placement and shape of the buttons leads to accidental
         | presses and the inability to easily identify them by feel.
         | Almost anything would be an improvement.
        
         | mulmen wrote:
         | Also try actually using the level.
        
       | ClassyJacket wrote:
       | Fantastic! But it's missing the most important thing: USB-C
        
         | cgriswald wrote:
         | First thing I looked for and I laughed when it wasn't available
         | but there was a pro handle.
        
         | april_22 wrote:
         | The European Union will force Apple to ship iPhones with USB-C
         | from 2024.
         | 
         | https://you.com/search?q=eu+usb+c+law
         | 
         | My guess is that they will remove all ports by then and
         | completely switch to MagSafe
        
           | xavdid wrote:
           | > My guess is that they will remove all ports by then and
           | completely switch to MagSafe
           | 
           | I've heard this repeated a lot and just don't get it. It
           | doesn't make any sense to me from a product perspective-
           | removing the port doesn't seem to get them anything. It's
           | already pretty waterproof, it's already pretty slim (and I
           | don't think the port is the limiting factor there anyway). I
           | just don't get the upside. One could argue that they'll sell
           | a _lot_ of magsafe accessories, but pucks don't don't provide
           | the same flexibility as cords and they must know that.
           | 
           | Anyway, I've got a $100 bet with a friend going (placed Nov
           | 2020): I think _a_ port will stay, and he thinks it'll be
           | portless by the 2023. We'll see who's right!
        
           | YetAnotherNick wrote:
           | That would be hilarious.
        
           | srg0 wrote:
           | They may also find another loophole: like make iPhone thinner
           | than USB C, or certify it as a health tracker, or increase
           | charging rate to 101 W. That technically moves iPhone into
           | the laptop territory, and different regulations apply.
           | 
           | "Included devices: a larger range of small and medium-sized
           | devices with power delivery up to 100 watts would be included
           | under the scope of the directive, including e-readers, low-
           | powered laptops, keyboards, mice, earbuds, screens, printers,
           | portable navigations, smart watches, personal care devices
           | and electronic toys (annex Ia Part I RED). Some products,
           | such as smart watches, health trackers and personal care
           | devices, could be exempted if they are too small to have a
           | USB Type-C receptacle. By the end of 2026, the Commission
           | would be required to assess and include other devices that
           | can be charged with the USB Type-C under the scope of the
           | directive."
           | 
           | https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/6988.
           | ..
        
             | sgjohnson wrote:
             | There is no way Lightning can deliver 101W, so for that one
             | they would need to change the port anyway.
        
               | airstrike wrote:
               | Easy. Call it Lightning Pro, with chargers starting at
               | $99. Not included in the box, but you don't need it
               | anyway because they already give you magsafe
        
           | airstrike wrote:
           | That would take a ton of courage
        
           | Cort3z wrote:
           | I second this. You can already develop on iPhone via Wi-Fi,
           | so you don't strictly speaking need to have ports any more.
        
         | grishka wrote:
         | Should be USB-B, the kind you see on printers.
        
           | quickthrower2 wrote:
           | Ok, stuff it! lets just use a kettle cord
        
           | iso1631 wrote:
           | Beats mini and micro
        
         | OrvalWintermute wrote:
         | And the 3.5mm Audio
        
           | erikig wrote:
           | pfft - 3.5mm is for amateurs, the iPhone Pro Max should have
           | XLR or 1/4in at least ;)
        
             | WUMBOWUMBO wrote:
        
           | TazeTSchnitzel wrote:
           | Headphone jack is in the components list, keep scrolling!
        
         | CameronNemo wrote:
         | Even in our imagination our iPhones don't have USB-C!
        
           | mortenjorck wrote:
           | There is one part that does exist on real iPhones but isn't
           | in the parts palette: a speaker grille. Even with Pro Wheels
           | and a Pro Handle, your breakthrough iPhone will be silent!
           | (Unless you send audio out one of the broad selection of
           | ports available.)
        
             | pjerem wrote:
             | Speakers ? That's what HomePod minis are for !
        
           | Retr0id wrote:
           | The one in my pocket does
           | https://twitter.com/David3141593/status/1549525065116573696
        
         | orangepanda wrote:
         | Allowing anything useful would subtract from the joke
        
       | matt_heimer wrote:
       | This makes me wonder if someone will ever add front facing
       | cameras to every side of a phone to support taking photo sphere
       | pictures in a single click.
        
       | pwpw wrote:
       | This is a great use for three.js. I've been actively learning it
       | and am excited to see it in the wild.
        
       | rchaud wrote:
       | Now THIS is creative!
       | 
       | This is both just really impressive and futuristic feeling from a
       | tech perspective. Works perfectly in Firefox! Can't believe that
       | has to be said these days.
       | 
       | And from a FUN and creative perspective the possibilities are
       | endless. I'm reminded of the Simpsons where Homer designs a car
       | and it's an impracticable monstrosity. I just added a full HDMI
       | port to the iPhone, so I feel like I'm halfway there!
       | 
       | Really well done!
        
         | monopoliessuck wrote:
         | Perfectly?
         | 
         | There's no "download video" button on Firefox, but there is one
         | on Chrome. Looks like the minified source is checking the
         | userAgent in a few spots. I don't know if that's genuinely an
         | issue with Firefox's canvas to mp4 support or something, but
         | it's not completely one to one unfortunately.
         | 
         | I agree though, it is creative and entertaining regardless.
        
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       (page generated 2022-08-23 23:00 UTC)