So, the 3G iPhone news has reared it’s promising head once again – although this post has more research poured into it, and will hopefully be a more ‘accurate’ write up of the upcoming refreshed mobile device offered by Apple.
So far, AppleInsider.com[1] and TGDaily.com[2] both report that the iPhone is going on a diet, dropping around 38 and 48 grams over it’s current 158 grams. Along with the weight loss, TG Daily reports that the phone sliming down its thickness by about 2.5mm to 9.1mm from it’s current 11.3mm thickness. Gizmodo[3] also referances TG Daily about the thinner iPhone. Apple Insider quotes the Taiwan Economic News say that “In addition to weight advantage, the latest version is also more energy efficient and externally smarter[.]” and that the “LCD screen on the phone measures 2.8 inches diagonally, a downsize from first generation’s 3.5 inches.” I personally don’t see Apple dropping the size of its multi-touch screen, I see that the iPhone’s current screen size is one of its strong selling points. It’s a great display for Apple’s Mobile Safari, as well as Video Podcasts, Movies, TV Shows, and YouTube Videos.
MacRumors.com[4] reports rumors that Apple has already ordered about 10 Million of the new 3G iPhones, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was true, but I haven’t seen or heard any additional reports about the order. Mac Rumors’ website also reports claims from Gartner’s analyst Ken Dulaney about the order, as well as the 3G’s features. To quote the posting: “The analyst goes on to speculate that the 3G version could incorporate an OLED display which could improve battery life. Apple’s use of OLED technology has long been rumored but has yet to come true.” While I would like to see the OLED screen in the iPhone and iPod Touch models in an effort to conserve and extend battery life, I would expect to see OLED displays in Apple’s notebook line up, and possibly iMacs and Apple’s Cinema Displays before arriving to their mobile devices – including the iPod Classic and Nanos.
TG Daily has also posted a page dedicated to ‘clearing up’ those “Lost in 3G iPhone Rumors”[2]. The page dated on April 21, 2008, “separate[s] fact from fiction”. TG Daily reports that the 3G iPhone is going to be slightly redesigned, have a less “plasticky” backing. What caught my eye in TG Daily’s report is that the 3G iPhone is going to use the Infineon S-GOLD 3 multimedia processor. A posting on Gizmodo’s site[5] and TG Daily’s[2] site reports that the Infineon’s findings were offered up by ZiPhone’s Blog[6] which reports that the S-GOLD 3 processor is either going to be the PMB8878 or PMB8877 processors, with references “inside the latest beta.” I’m making the assumption that “the latest beta” is referring to Apple’s latest iPhone SDK, beta version 3 at the time of writing. With the discovery of the iPhone’s alleged processor, brings up the speculation that the iPhone will have a GPS module and GPS navigation – I would’ve expected this in the 3G iPhone anyways, so it’s really not ‘rumor news’ in my opinion. TG Daily continues to state the iPhone’s new screen (resized or not) could have a higher resolution, pushed up to 640×480 resolution “for [...] videos and iTunes movies at ‘near-DVD’ quality, without any rescaling.” TG Daily[2] also predicts smoother video playback and graphics over-all. As to be expected, the 3G iPhone won’t support memory card slots, or a user-replaceable battery. Most speculations also point towards the 3G iPhone to have video recording capabilities too, something I am expecting. TG Daily also noted a possible 32GB iPhone model for about $600, as well as a 64GB iPod Touch at the same price.
As far as possible new software for the iPhone, TG Daily[7 , 8] has reported potential features that could make their way to the 3G iPhone, including handwriting recognition and mobile TV service. A Chinese developer which specializes in pattern recognition appears to have developed the first handwriting application for the iPhone. TG Daily[7] is quoted that “The application allows a user to enter arbitrary text (Chinese, Latin letter sets are supported) by drawing a character shape on the iPhone screen. As the user draws a letter, the software is promised to recognize it after a brief pause and enters the recognized letter into whatever text field a cursor is currently positioned.”
As for mobile TV[8] service hitting the iPhone, I could be a stretch in and of itself. This prediction comes just as TG Daily presents an article announcing that AT&T will be switching on a mobile TV service within the next week (between May 5-9, 2008), much like Verizon’s V-Cast system.
“AT&T’s service will carry many of the same channels already available on Verizon, including CBS Mobile, ESPN Mobile TV, Comedy Central, NBC 2 Go, and MTV. However, it also has two exclusive channels – CNN Mobile Live and ‘Pix,’ a movie preview channel featuring Sony Pictures content.” as TG Daily reports. The article goes on to say that the service would cost about $15 a month, which is identical to Verizon’s charges for V-Cast. With this announcement from AT&T, I can see the potential for the iPhone sporting the mobile TV as an unlimited service/feature – much like the mobile Internet is unlimited for iPhone users.
The final rumor I’ve found in my search once again comes from TG Daily[9], as well as Palluxo[10]. Both sites lead to a “Leaked” rumor that the Apple iPhone is to receive “tactical feedback” through the iPhone’s multi-touch display. Palluxo reports that “A source (Apple Inc employee), who chose to remain anonymous, told us that senior executives of the two companies [referring to Immerson Corp.] have already met once on Tuesday and the next meeting has been scheduled for Friday morning. The source confirmed that the executives will continue discussions over licencing and implementation issues of iPhone haptics.” The technology is quite impressive, assuming it works according to plan. If the project works as it should, the world of large, touchscreen mobile phones and PDAs are going to receive the biggest upgrade since color displays started hitting the market.
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Sources:
[1] AppleInsider.com – Paper: 3G iPhone smaller, lighter than existing model
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/04/29/paper_3g_iphone_smaller_lighter_than_existing_model.html
[2] TGDaily.com – Lost in 3G iPhone Rumors? Here is what we know
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37041/145/
[3] Gizmodo.com – Apple Rumors This Week: Tinner 3G iPhones, All Aluminum MacBooks
http://gizmodo.com/378125/apple-rumors-this-week-thinner-3g-iphones-all-aluminum-macbooks
[4] MacRumors.com – 3G iPhone Already Ordered By Apple?
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/25/3g-iphone-already-ordered-by-apple/
[5] Gizmodo.com – 3G iPhone’s Upcoming Chip Found?
http://gizmodo.com/377590/3g-iphones-upcoming-chip-found
[6] ZiPhone’s Blog – 3G Evidence!
http://www.ziphone.org/2008/04/evidence.html
[7] TGDaily.com – iPhone Gets Handwriting Recognition
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37094/149/
[8] TGDaily.com – AT&T Mobile TV Service Turns on Next Week
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37226/145/
[9] TGDaily.com – Rumor – Next iPhone to have tactile feedback
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37168/145/
[10] Palluxo.com – LEAKED: Apple to Licence Haptic Technology for iPhone
http://www.palluxo.com/2008/04/25/leaked-apple-to-licence-haptic-technology-for-iphone/
