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Purported pics of next-gen iPhone front face surface

by Chris Rawson Feb 8th 2010 at 3:00PM

iResQ, the iPhone/iPod repair site, has posted pics of what they claim is the front faceplate of the next-gen iPhone. Two things about this piece of hardware are particularly interesting. First, the part is approximately 1/4 of an inch taller than the iPhone 3GS, indicative of a slightly taller form factor for the next-gen iPhone. Second, there's a small, reflective strip directly above the hole for the phone speaker. iResQ believes this is likely to be the new location for the iPhone's proximity sensor rather than an indication of any new hardware; however, moving the proximity sensor to a new location and increasing the overall length of the device could still point to a front-facing camera or other new hardware on the next-gen iPhone.

It's worth mentioning the possibility that these "iPhone" parts aren't legitimate. iResQ hasn't revealed its source for the part, and purported iPhone bezels leaked in 2009 turned out to be parts for a completely different device. The backside of the supposed next-gen iPhone's face is missing quite a few parts present on the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, which either means the part iResQ received was incomplete, the next-gen iPhone has had its internal hardware shifted around, or the part is fake.

So case manufacturers, don't throw out your old blueprints just yet. Unfortunately, it's likely we won't find out whether these are legit or not until June/July of this year; despite rumors of an iPhone update in April, the most likely date for the next-gen iPhone's release is early summer.

[Via MacRumors]

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iResQ, the iPhone/iPod repair site, has posted pics of what they claim is the front faceplate of the next-gen iPhone. Two things about this...
 

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Mike

Woohoo! Let's make the screen just a touch bigger so EVERY SINGLE APP will have to be redone just to run on their native device (the iPhone, as opposed to the iPad.) With the iPad, it makes sense to have a bigger screen and it makes sense to open up an SDK for that bigger screen. It makes sense to allow running the smaller apps at a size that fits the bigger screen. But such a tiny increase in size means that current apps will fit awkwardly, unless some permanent part of the UI fills that extra space, like a larger status bar or something. Even then, certain games that run fullscreen will have a blank space there at the top or bottom (or both) where the game doesn't quite fill the extra space. A larger screen would be awkward and a bad idea.

I call shenanigans.

February 09 2010 at 12:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

has anyone else noticed this but they are not perfectly lined up. they are actually the same size proportionally. just throwing that out there. the connecters also look the same that doesn't say much but anyone can cut a hole in the display. (optimism)

February 08 2010 at 7:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

I'm really hoping for more screen and less bezel in the next iPhone... (ie... stretch the screen out more towards the corners).

February 08 2010 at 5:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mike's comment
Joe

I was just thinking this the other day, but they cant really make the phone shorter and the only other way would be to stretch the screen into the corners but to do this they would have to make the phone wider to keep the aspect ratio the same for all the apps.

February 08 2010 at 6:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alexandre Strube

turtlejp. Korea is not CDMA-only for years. Don't talk about what you don't know.

February 08 2010 at 5:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
socritic

I am a true true, tried and tested true Apple fan (2 macbook pros, mac pro, numerous ipods, even an apple tv). But i will NOT BUY AN IPHONE WITH AT&T. APPLE! Please enough with At&t. they SUCK!!! they always have and they always will. i really want one, i even hold my ipod touch to my ear and say "hello" just to see how it feels. ENOUGH with AT&T.

February 08 2010 at 4:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to socritic's comment
tdowling

If AT&T for the time being remains the only option for simultaneous voice and data, then I'm all for sticking with them!

February 08 2010 at 5:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anthony

@socritic - I've never had a single problem with AT&T in the 11 years I've been with them. Even with an iPhone, my service has been great (though I long ditched that piece of crap for another phone).

@Puhstitch - Verizon and Sprint will never have simultaneous voice and data unless they pull a Bell and Telus and switch to HSPA or Qualcomm somehow updates the CDMA2000 standard to include that feature, and T-Mo will never have the iPhone with their extremely limited coverage area and random-ass band of 3G spectrum.

February 08 2010 at 7:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan

because we all want bigger phones...

February 08 2010 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josh Smith

Interesting you should mention case manufacturers changing designs. I just recently switched from my 2G to a 3GS, and my InCase case fit the new phone just splendidly. I'm sure it would fit a phone of this new size.

My advice: if you're in the market for a case but change phones often enough to warrant flexibility, get a softer case like mine and save yourself the hassle and few bucks of buying a new case.

February 08 2010 at 4:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeroen Sack

Screw holes in the corners, that would probably make the screws very good visible. I hope that's not the case, they are good the way they are now.

February 08 2010 at 4:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josh

A small change in form factor means all of Apple's partners get to sell new cases to every customer that buys a new Fetishphone.

February 08 2010 at 4:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Josh's comment
Shawn

As opposed to, you know, the LG chocolates, motorola RAZR/KRZR, Nokia, Samsung.... I think you get the idea. Only difference? Chances are that you dock related accessories (assuming they work with the 3G/3Gs) including chargers will still work.

February 08 2010 at 6:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

"It's worth mentioning the possibility that these "iPhone" parts aren't legitimate. iResQ hasn't revealed its source for the part, and purported iPhone bezels leaked in 2009 turned out to be parts for a completely different device."

And what device was that?

February 08 2010 at 4:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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