I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you gotta love the weeks leading up to any Apple event. In this case, the 2009 World Wide Developer Conference is coming up and that has started up the rumor mill.
Yesterday, some very interesting next generation iPhone details were “leaked” by AppleiPhoneApps.com, which has spread like wildfire across the interwebs. They claim that a very close source to Apple has provided them with some insider knowledge of upcoming features.
Here’s a list of what was “leaked” with what I think might come true…
* 32GB and 16GB to replace current capacities (agree)
* $199 and $299 price-points to be maintained (agree)
* 3.2 Megapixel camera (agree)
* Video recording & editing capabilities (agree)
* Ability to send a picture & video via MMS (agree)
* Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device (it would be safe to say a 3rd gen iPhone would get a new makeover)
* OLED screen (possible)
* 1.5X The battery life (agree)
* Double the RAM and processing power (agree)
* Built-in FM transmitter (maybe)
* Apple logo on the back to light up (maybe)
* Rubber-tread backing (nope)
* Sleeker design (agree)
* Built-in compass (maybe)
* Revolutionary combination of the camera, GPS, compass, and Google maps to identify photo and inform about photo locations. (maybe)
* Turn by turn directions (maybe)
* July 17th, 2009 release date (maybe, but I’d say a late announcement at the end of June by Jobs)
What to Make of All these Rumors?
Like I’ve always said, we’ll never know what’s coming until the next iPhone is launched. It is interesting though to hear juicy rumors, but like always we’ll take them with a grain of salt.
The next iPhone should have an OLED screen as that would definitely conserve battery power, versus the current LCD screen. I would also assume that a bump in processor/RAM, camera, and form factor as the most wanted upgrades.
The FM transmitter is not too hot of an idea, Apple is known to keep it simple and not try to overwhelm its devices with every single feature. Also, the rubber backing is not very Apple-like and I just can’t see that happening.
Etched in my mind is Steve Jobs making his triumphant return to announce yet another game-changing iPhone. Phil Schiller, in my mind is not ready yet to take over the role of Jobs. He definitely lacks the charisma and excitement that only Steve can bring. Phil’s turn will come, but I don’t think it will be this year.
What features from the list above do you think will/will not come true? Why?
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There are just too many rumors or maybe real information going around right now. I hate reading rumors lol I guess well have to wait for the real deal in June or July….
Feel free to discuss ur opinions over at the forums…. https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=5401
Oled would be incredible, and the feature I’d most look forward to.
Wonder how Rogers will handle (i.e. milk) those of us wanting to upgrade after only a year through our contract?
they will most likely offer it to existing iPhone customers close to, or at the same price as new activations. this is what happened last year in the US with AT&T.
OLED is highly unlikely if the 199/299 prices are kept (which I think will happen). They might use the LED screens from the new macbooks, but those screens don’t conserve battery life significantly because of inefficiencies involved in using LEDs. I think Apple made an announcement that turn by turn navigation would come via third party applications, they just made the API to make it possible.
I also think that the 3.2 mp camera is unlikely. Apple realizes (unlike many other phone companies) that you need a larger (longer) lens the more mp you want your sensor to be. They will have to drastically change the physical design of the phone (at least on the inside) to get a better lens in there. Actually, I think that the 2mp on the iphone now is perfect for a phone. They did the optics really well and it often gets better shots than my old k790 3.2mp cybershot.
Not true (about needing a longer lens), there are some el-cheapo thin 8 Megapixel cameras.
http://www.avecmobile.com/index.php?id=700
I’d love to see the apple logo to light up!!!!
I love these weeks hearing all these rumors^^
I don’t see the change to OLED. The screen they currently have on the iPhone is one of the biggest highlights of the device. It’s bright, virtually unscratchable and much more responsive than any other touch screen device out there (sometimes too sensitive). I can’t see Apple taking a chance of screwing that up.
There is not enough demand for an FM transmitter. There is a better chance that Apple is working a deal with somebody like Pandora to have it native on the device so it will work in the background.
As far as the battery life is concerned, it it has a faster processor and any more (or stronger) transmitters, the battery will have to upgraded but I have my doubts that it will end up having 1.5x longer life.
It’s not virtually unscratchable. I have an iPhone 3G and I don’t even try to scratch it but I have a couple scratches in my screen.
I’ve had my iPhone for almost a year and I have no screen protector on it. There is not one scratch on the screen. However, I keep the iPhone in my pocket by itself – no keys, loose change or other metal objects.
When the iPhone came out I remember a reviewer taking his car key and scratching with all his might on the screen and there was not one mark. This is a really tough screen.
I too have no screen protector, I accidentally put it in my pocket with my keys a couple times.
I have been waiting so long for some GOOD rumors all these features sound amazing, except for the rubber back. Wouldn’t the light up apple sign be a waste of battery it would be nice though!
It would not necessarily be a waste of battery as it would likely be lit up by the screen of the iPhone…similar to that of the MacBook Laptops.
yes but that would require that there would not be anything behind the screen. Currently the screen is at the front and the logic board behind it. That would not be possible to use the backlight form the screen. Also if the iphone would get an oled screen- that requires no backlight, so i call the glowing apple logo impossible to do without actually using battery.
I’d like the vibration to be a bit more intense so I can Jizz in my pants!
Carl:
Please check your link more carefully, your article basically reiterates my point: large megapixels in a small body produces poor image quality. There is no point in having a larger sized poor image just for the sake of increasing the megapixel count. Tech companies do this to increase sales because consumers wrongly correlate more megapixels to better image quality. Tech companies do this becuse larger cmos sensors are relatively cheap in comparison to the lens of the camera (which is the important part). I’m not sure about nokia and sony ericsson, but I know motorola purposely uses a crappy lens with an oversized sensor to trick customers into the worst case senario: large image files, poor image quality (high in color distorion and real resolution).
In the title of the page it say “Be released JUNE 17th” then in the list it says JULY 17th which one?
July 17th! Good eye 😉
Personally I find the Iphone’s camera to be horrible quality, but I do agree with Kai’s observation about the motorolla’s; Horrible quality – I’d even say plastic lenses. I’m not sure what the Iphone’s lens is made of, but if it could autofocus that would be a marked improvement.
I can see Apple going with a 3.2 MP camera though. Ultimately it will look better on the spec sheet, and most average consumers will buy into the “more is better” philosophy. It’s easier to advertise simplistic concepts such as “more megapixels” than to explain nuances of digital imaging such as sensor size in relation to MP count, noise control and Improved quality at higher ISO settings.
At least apple didn’t include a gimmick LED flash that was on my Audiovox 8910. lol 🙂
I’m running an HTC Touch I’ve had for about a year with Bell after leaving Rogers. Just couldn’t get decent reception where I was. This could entice me back. I’ve wanted an iPhone and the Touch with software that emulates the interface was what I was using. Kinda sad, actually. heh. 🙂
Anyway, to get out of my Bell contract and into an iPhone is gonna hit me for $600 minimum. Gotta think about that before I pull the trigger on Apple’s newest.
MT
There are just too many rumors or maybe real information going around right now. I hate reading rumors lol I guess well have to wait for the real deal in June or July….
Feel free to discuss ur opinions over at the forums…. https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=5401
Oled would be incredible, and the feature I’d most look forward to.
Wonder how Rogers will handle (i.e. milk) those of us wanting to upgrade after only a year through our contract?
OLED is highly unlikely if the 199/299 prices are kept (which I think will happen). They might use the LED screens from the new macbooks, but those screens don’t conserve battery life significantly because of inefficiencies involved in using LEDs. I think Apple made an announcement that turn by turn navigation would come via third party applications, they just made the API to make it possible.
I also think that the 3.2 mp camera is unlikely. Apple realizes (unlike many other phone companies) that you need a larger (longer) lens the more mp you want your sensor to be. They will have to drastically change the physical design of the phone (at least on the inside) to get a better lens in there. Actually, I think that the 2mp on the iphone now is perfect for a phone. They did the optics really well and it often gets better shots than my old k790 3.2mp cybershot.
I’d love to see the apple logo to light up!!!!
I love these weeks hearing all these rumors^^
I don’t see the change to OLED. The screen they currently have on the iPhone is one of the biggest highlights of the device. It’s bright, virtually unscratchable and much more responsive than any other touch screen device out there (sometimes too sensitive). I can’t see Apple taking a chance of screwing that up.
There is not enough demand for an FM transmitter. There is a better chance that Apple is working a deal with somebody like Pandora to have it native on the device so it will work in the background.
As far as the battery life is concerned, it it has a faster processor and any more (or stronger) transmitters, the battery will have to upgraded but I have my doubts that it will end up having 1.5x longer life.
I have been waiting so long for some GOOD rumors all these features sound amazing, except for the rubber back. Wouldn’t the light up apple sign be a waste of battery it would be nice though!
I’d like the vibration to be a bit more intense so I can Jizz in my pants!
It would not necessarily be a waste of battery as it would likely be lit up by the screen of the iPhone…similar to that of the MacBook Laptops.
they will most likely offer it to existing iPhone customers close to, or at the same price as new activations. this is what happened last year in the US with AT&T.
Not true (about needing a longer lens), there are some el-cheapo thin 8 Megapixel cameras.
http://www.avecmobile.com/index.php?id=700
It’s not virtually unscratchable. I have an iPhone 3G and I don’t even try to scratch it but I have a couple scratches in my screen.
Carl:
Please check your link more carefully, your article basically reiterates my point: large megapixels in a small body produces poor image quality. There is no point in having a larger sized poor image just for the sake of increasing the megapixel count. Tech companies do this to increase sales because consumers wrongly correlate more megapixels to better image quality. Tech companies do this becuse larger cmos sensors are relatively cheap in comparison to the lens of the camera (which is the important part). I’m not sure about nokia and sony ericsson, but I know motorola purposely uses a crappy lens with an oversized sensor to trick customers into the worst case senario: large image files, poor image quality (high in color distorion and real resolution).
In the title of the page it say “Be released JUNE 17th” then in the list it says JULY 17th which one?
yes but that would require that there would not be anything behind the screen. Currently the screen is at the front and the logic board behind it. That would not be possible to use the backlight form the screen. Also if the iphone would get an oled screen- that requires no backlight, so i call the glowing apple logo impossible to do without actually using battery.
Personally I find the Iphone’s camera to be horrible quality, but I do agree with Kai’s observation about the motorolla’s; Horrible quality – I’d even say plastic lenses. I’m not sure what the Iphone’s lens is made of, but if it could autofocus that would be a marked improvement.
I can see Apple going with a 3.2 MP camera though. Ultimately it will look better on the spec sheet, and most average consumers will buy into the “more is better” philosophy. It’s easier to advertise simplistic concepts such as “more megapixels” than to explain nuances of digital imaging such as sensor size in relation to MP count, noise control and Improved quality at higher ISO settings.
At least apple didn’t include a gimmick LED flash that was on my Audiovox 8910. lol 🙂
July 17th! Good eye 😉
I’m running an HTC Touch I’ve had for about a year with Bell after leaving Rogers. Just couldn’t get decent reception where I was. This could entice me back. I’ve wanted an iPhone and the Touch with software that emulates the interface was what I was using. Kinda sad, actually. heh. 🙂
Anyway, to get out of my Bell contract and into an iPhone is gonna hit me for $600 minimum. Gotta think about that before I pull the trigger on Apple’s newest.
MT
I’ve had my iPhone for almost a year and I have no screen protector on it. There is not one scratch on the screen. However, I keep the iPhone in my pocket by itself – no keys, loose change or other metal objects.
When the iPhone came out I remember a reviewer taking his car key and scratching with all his might on the screen and there was not one mark. This is a really tough screen.
I too have no screen protector, I accidentally put it in my pocket with my keys a couple times.