Could these pictures be the first look at the next gen of the Apple iPhone?
No, we don’t really think they are, but you’ve got to admire the effort that’s gone into this.
iPhone 4 rumors: 10 things we know so far
The smartphone world is a different place to the one the iPhone 3GS first made an appearence in. With Android offerings like the Motorola Milestone, the award-winning HTC Hero and Google’s ‘superphone’ the Nexus One arriving as potential ‘iPhone killers’, talk of the next Apple smartphone has noticeably gathered momentum in recent months.
Currently being dubbed the iPhone 4G or iPhone 4, So what do we know so far about the iPhone 4? Well, we’ve rummaged through the fast-growing pile of speculation and begun piecing together how Apple’s next smartphone could take shape.
Read below for our iPhone 4 rumours round-up:
1/ 4G support
Well if we are going to go on the basis that it will be called the iPhone 4G, this looks a virtual certainty. Support for 4G should up data rates significantly and give better access to the net, comfortably delivering data speeds up to 100 megabits per second. That would comfortably put it top of the browsing smartphone pile.
2/ OLED screen
A brighter, more colourful screen is strongly rumoured to feature on the iPhone 3GS successor, and while other portable tech offerings such as the Zune HD and Sony’s X-Series Walkman have successfully incorporated the energy-friendly OLED into the confines of a smaller screen, the latest iPhone may well follow suit.
3/ 5-Megapixel camera
Apple has taken some flack for its lack of a decent iPhone camera, falling behind the smartphone pack in the snapping stakes. Now Omnivision – a company that provides Apple with image sensors – says it has secured orders for 5-megapixel image sensors for Apple’s next handset. Omnivision predicts that they will supply Apple with 40-45 million units in 2010 compared to an estimated 21 million this year. So put your money on this feature being a main selling point.
4/ Dual core processor
With the HTC HD2 and the Google Nexus One packing Qualcomm’s speedy 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, Apple is rumoured to be integrating a ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor into its latest handset. Delivering clock speed in excess of 2Ghz, it would make the iPhone 4 something of a portable powerhouse.
5/ Touch-sensitive case
According to Goldman Sachs analyst Robert Chen, the next iPhone will sport multi-touch technology that covers the body of the handset to create a new innovative way to control your iPhone. As much as touch-sensitive casing sounds like a massive navigational leap for the smartphone, Apple’s recent buyout of Magic-Mouse, who specialise in the technology, could well help bring it to life.
6/ Removable battery
Getting to grips with your smartphone’s power source has been a particular issue for many an iPhone owner, but patents spotted by The Register suggest Apple may be about to change all that. Abandoning the use of non-user serviceable batteries would surely appeal, and judging from its success on the Palm Pre it would be a wise move.
7/ Video Chat
Another feature to fall off the rumour wagon is the support for video chat, which would come in handy for conferencing and seeing your mate doing his washing while chatting to you on the Apple blower. One crucial element for this feature to work would be the incorporation of a front facing camera, which, funnily enough, is the next thing on the list…
8/ Front-facing camera
Coupled with the rumoured arrival of video chat, this makes a whole lot of logistical sense. It would also unlock the possiblities of facial and expression recognition.
9/ Location-sharing software
Breaking out with the same Apple patent that points to a front facing camera is the a step up for inbuilt location-based software. The tech would work via texts and instant messages, with the user sharing their location with friends a la Google Latitude. Considering Apple denied the similarly functioning Google Latitude app from its iTunes Store last year, this would be something of a novel addition to what is already sounding like a jam-packed handset.
10/ Release date
Apple analysts got it terribly wrong on judging the launch of the Google Nexus One, with the hope that the new iPhone would launch at the same time to steal some of Google’s ‘superphone’ thunder. French website Gaj.it speculates that a May release is possible, which would go against Apple’s usual pattern of a June/July unveiling and September roll out
