Rumors on Features of Upcoming iPhone 4G
January 13th, 2010 by iPhoneTechZone
While dual-core CPU for the latest generation of iPhone has been known for a while, the latest leak from Korea Times points to the presence of an OLED screen, upgraded camera and removable battery on this upcoming iPhone. Further, the report also claims the fourth-generation iPhone OS will support video chat, a feature presently missing on the third-generation model.
As per the report in the publication, KT – the official carrier of the iPhone in South Korea, will be releasing Apple’s latest smartphone to domestic consumers as early as April this year, contrary to the iPhone update track record from the Cupertino company. Apple has always updated its best selling smartphone during summers, usually around June first in the US and then followed by other markets. But the report claims that KT and Apple are eager to launch the device earlier to combat the threat from Google’s Nexus One and Korean giants Samsung and LG’s smartphones.
Apple has always closely guarded its product launches, and as seen with the third-generation iPod Touch missing the camera when it was released, contrary to the widespread rumours suggesting the presence of camera on the portable music player. Further, the manufacturer has always been against replaceable batteries, as seen with its iPods, the present crop of iPhones and Macbooks, concentrating on making long-lasting built-in batteries for its best selling devices. Thus, the present rumour should be taken with a pinch of salt and while the OLED screen and dual-core CPUs are pointing in the right direction, removable batteries seem out of place, as seen from the track record of Apple.
Whether Apple is indeed moving towards replaceable batteries is something only the company can answer as and when the fourth-generation iPhone is announced later this year.
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Apple Plans To Build LED Flash Based iPhone 4G
January 9th, 2010 by iPhoneTechZone
About time, say most, if not all, iPhone owners. Reports are coming from the AppleInsider that Apple is ordering millions of LED flash components to give the new generation iPhones lighting capabilities for still images and video, and a 5 megapixel camera. These flashy phones are rumored to be released around June of this year. It would be high time for Apple to bring this feature to the iPhone given the fact that the Pre, the Droid and the new Nexus One all ship with the coveted LED flash with the two Google phones possessing 5 megapixel capabilities. The LED flash could be used as a flash, a continuous light for video or as a flashlight. Current flashlight apps leave much to be desired, not to mention the inability of the iPhone to illuminate videos of your crazy friends and their party antics. Reports are Philips’ Lumileds Lighting sector is believed to be the front-runner for Apple’s business and may have already secured the design win. The Amsterdam-based firm is well-regarded for its LUXEON LED camera flash technology, which was the first to combine the brightness of regular lighting with the long life and small footprint of LEDs, perfectly suited to mobile technology.
Comments are predictably mixed. Some are rejoicing, having had to deal with the iPhone’s pathetic attempts at photos in low light. Others are cautioning that battery life may take a beating as a result of these upgrades. Still others, the camera purists, are claiming that a 5 megapixel camera with an LED flash would not provide proper colour saturation, etc, etc. People would do well to remember the iPhone is primarily a phone, with a convenient computer and camera built in! And look at the mockup by Gizmodo above, see the front facing camera? Just a pie in the sky dream at this point, but two way video calling may become a reality with the new 4g iPhone. Why not dream big?
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Next Generation iPhone 4G Spotted in San Francisco
November 29th, 2009 by iPhoneTechZone
Pandav, an iPhone development company, has noticed that an unreleased iPhone model has been using one of their apps, according to their app’s analytics. The app, iBART, is a public transportation guide for the San Francisco train system, and uses PinchMedia for usage statistics and other analytics. PinchMedia works by breaking down customer app usage and what specific device models are being used, and this is how the unreleased iPhone was spotted. “iPhone 3,1,” an unreleased iPhone model as the current 3GS model is known as iPhone 2,1, showed up in Pandav’s usage logs this month.
References to the unreleased “iPhone3,1” were first found back in August in iPhone firmware files, but this is the first time that evidence that the next generation iPhone (or at least a prototype) has already been created. A similar situation occurred last year, as Apple had also began testing the iPhone 3GS in October of 2008. Also, just like last year, the testing had likely taken place and was focused in the San Francisco Bay Area, close to where Apple’s headquarters is located.
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