Rumor: iPhone next gen specs, on-sale date July 17
The previously unheralded Apple iPhone Apps blog has a rumor post up regarding the next generation iPhone hardware, suggesting that July 17th is the expected date for the new phone to be on shelves (reasonably well aligned with an announcement at WWDC). As 9to5Mac and Gadget Lab note, most of the covered ground is familiar -- better camera, storage bump, magnetometer & turn-by-turn, video recording -- but there are a few interesting tidbits, including the suggestion of an OLED screen, an illuminated backside logo (perhaps capable of doubling as a photo flash?), the integration of Google Street View with the compass for 'visual intelligence' as in the Android demo, and a built-in FM transmitter.I'm not sure that an FM transmitter as an onboard capability is such a great idea, considering the percentage of car stereos nowadays that include either an iPod dock connector or an aux-in jack, but maybe it's plausible. Everything else seems to pass the sniff test, although OLED and a lit back panel are an odd combination. If we do see the new device in mid-July, how many of you are checking your contract expirations right now to see if you can pick one up? Mmm-hmm, thought so.
[via Techmeme]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
mark said 1:46PM on 5-19-2009
FM capability is a great idea if you are not in a car.
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EMoShunz said 1:57PM on 5-19-2009
agreed! fm radio is the one thing i truly miss having an ipod. hd fm radio would be even better!
D.J. said 2:03PM on 5-19-2009
They list and FM transmitter (not a receiver). So it's not talking about you being able to carry around an FM radio in your pocket. it's suggesting you won't have to buy an iTrip to get your music from your Phone to a radio that lacks an input.
Though, I think both a transmitter AND a receiver would be pretty neat additions. 'Neat' yet unnecessary...
mcdermd said 2:08PM on 5-19-2009
I think that's FM _transmission_ not _reception_. As in a built-in FM modulator to "stream" music to your car stereo.
Konchu said 2:38PM on 5-19-2009
I would love this to be a FM tuner but it states this a a FM Transmiter probably like the ones that allow you to play music in your car from your Iphone. Would be nice if this could be used to recieve FM too though.
alex_dlc said 1:57PM on 5-19-2009
better battery please!!!
i cant understand how they could achieve all those things (better camera, flash, video recording, faster cpu...) and do it with the same battery as the current iphone.
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Dion said 2:04PM on 5-19-2009
Please don't delay until July 17th! If Apple does this, it's bad news for them and good news for the Palm Pre that's going on sale June 6th! Apple will lose some business by waiting over a month to counter the Pre. Has Apple not had enough time to tweak the hardware? I understood the delay on the iPhone, b/c it was totally different the the first gen model. However, they've been tweaking 3.0 software for a few months and adding better hardware seems to be much easier than software. Get it going Apple! I want a new iPhone in a few weeks!
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plawler said 3:58PM on 5-19-2009
Or what? You're going to rush out and buy a Palm Pre?
robogobo said 5:14PM on 5-19-2009
who are you talking to?
Galley said 2:03PM on 5-19-2009
Those specs seem very plausible.
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badjoke said 2:03PM on 5-19-2009
Wow. That flash from the apple-logo idea is BRILLIANT.
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lewisking said 2:24PM on 5-19-2009
I agree. That'd be sweet!
Jax said 2:14PM on 5-19-2009
Does the contract expiration really matter? I'm pretty sure we can just buy a new iPhone and that will renew our contract to 2 years regardless of when it is expiring. That's what happened with the 3G (and I sold my old 1st gen iPhone on eBay for $400).
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jonbruck said 2:17PM on 5-19-2009
If they really are adding an FM transmitter, they'll need the time between announcement and sales for the FCC approval.
I'm happy with my 3G iPhone, and as much as I would like video, its not worth the early upgrade expense to me. That being said, I am looking forward to the 3.0 software update.
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onedollarbill said 2:22PM on 5-19-2009
I hope there is a new phone. I am still using my 1st Gen and want to upgrade to the 3G to take full advantage of 3.0. I have been holding off on a 3G until what is said at WWDC
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Chris said 8:03PM on 5-19-2009
I am in the same boat. 1st Gen holding off on 3G until WWDC.
Also, Apple isn't going to change their set plans and react to Palm. Palm is reacting to them. A one month head start isn't going to stop everyone who WILL wait till the next gen iPhone comes out. Plus who uses Sprint? That's the Pre's weakness.
I was on board with this rumor until they said FM transmitter. Totally knocked the credibilty of this rumor way down. That's a let's throw this in too feature. FM transmitter's suck. Not because of the device itself but because of the many possibilities of car radios. Imagine someone coming to the Genius bar saying my iPhone is broke it won't connect to my car stereo tuner. I don't think the Geni are going to be making trips to the parking lot to help figure out people crappy stereo systems. I don't know how many FM Tuners we exchanged or refunded at the Apple store because people said they didn't work. I don't see Apple volunteering itself to this headache.
Greenie said 2:31PM on 5-19-2009
I remember when the rumor mills were fun and usually accurate. Now, it seems that random blogs are always getting random tips and writing random posts. Very rarely accurate. It's just not as fun as it used to be just a few years ago.
It must now be well known that the rumor mill is a lucrative location.
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LD said 2:35PM on 5-19-2009
I'll be getting this when my fiancee's contract is up for an upgrade. She'll get my 3G and I get the new model :)
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Justin said 2:47PM on 5-19-2009
How'd you trick her into that arrangement?
Tom P said 2:37PM on 5-19-2009
I guess that would explain what happened at the AT&T Store on Sunday.
I dropped in to ask about my headphone controls not working and we quickly established that the problem was in the iPhone. After I told him I had AppleCare He quickly insisted that I allow him to set up an appointment with an Apple Genius to get a replacement. I told him I'd wait a while.
Seemed weird that they were so anxious to get me into a new phone. They are probably pushing people who are due for a new phone to get one before the new models come out.
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