lonelysandwich:

Aspect Ratio

Apropos of I’m not sure anything, the screen on this thing, at 1024x768, has an aspect ratio of 4:3. Chairman Gruber opined on Twitter a month ago (speaking of his iPhone’s video camera), “Who wants 4:3 video nowadays?” And I have to admit, my expectation for the iPad (pause for giggle, pause for mental image, pause for shudder) was that as time went on, our screens would get closer to 16:9, not further.

But it was clear in the device’s orientation when Steve first pulled it out, and in the orientation of the Apple logo on the back, that the iPad (…) is meant primarily to be used in portrait mode, that its function as a video device is really secondary to its function as a reading device. And 9:16 is now, and will probably always be too damn skinny for a screen.

As you can see above, an iPad screen in portrait is equivalent in aspect ratio to two iPhone screens stacked in landscape mode. What does this mean? Put two and two together, man. Do I have to spell it out for you?

UPDATE: Fine. Apparently, I have to spoon-feed you people. It’s about the inherent duality of man and his finite and structured capacity for self-love. Bicameral duplex onanism and okay I got nothing.

My heart did not leap at seeing “1024x768”, but on the flip side… it’s good for web-sites (closer to books than video), so you know, please don’t let the resolution stop you donating one to me.