iPhone 4G

[United-Clowgon]

It's been less than a year since the iPhone 3GS (http://www.pcworld.com/article/167136/apple_iphone_3gs_reviewed.html?tk=rel_news) launched, and the rumor mill is already churning out speculation about an upcoming iPhone 4G, expected as early as May.



http://images.pcworld.com/news/graphics/186885-iphone_4g_original.jpgA concept image of the rumored iPhone 4G, courtesy of iPhoneRoot.com.




New rumors have been circulating over the past couple of days, saying a new Apple iPhone 4G will be available by June, or even as early as May. Besides the earlier-than-expected launch date (new iPhone models traditionally come out in June or July), potential new features are in discussion as well, such as a better camera, an OLED screen, a removable battery, and different casing.



A Bloomberg/BusinessWeek (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-13/apple-iphone-with-new-camera-may-be-out-by-june-goldman-says.html) report quotes an analyst from the Goldman Sachs Group saying the iPhone 4G would have a better camera than the 3-megapixel shooter found on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 4G's camera could offer up to 5 megapixels, which would put it on the par with the camera in Google's Nexus One. (http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/374818/review/nexus_one.html?tk=rel_news)

(http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/374818/review/nexus_one.html?tk=rel_news)
The story also speculates that Apple is working on an updated version of the iPhone OS with an overhauled App Store. The analyst in the Bloomberg story did not identify who gave him the information, but speculates the iPhone 4G will go into production as early as April, with availability expected sometime in June or July.




Derailing from the usual July/July launch timeframe though, is a report originating (http://www.gaj-it.com/14570/iphone-4g-is-it-really-coming-in-may/) from a French Web site, which claims we are likely to see the next generation iPhone in May. The report says Apple targeted May because it thought that's when Google would release their Nexus One Android smartphone. Actually, the Nexus One (http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/374818/review/nexus_one.html) was unveiled earlier this month. Is it like that Apple would move up the release of a new iPhone to compete with Google? Maybe. But it doesn't seem likely that Apple would misjudge Google's launch date by several months.


Also this week, a report from Korea Times (http://www.pcworld.com/article/186758/rumor_iphone_4g_gets_oled_removable_battery_video_ chat.html) quoted unnamed mobile executives claiming the iPhone 4G will have an OLED screen and support for video chat. Most surprisingly, it claimed that the upcoming iPhone would feature a removable battery -- though the chances of this happening are slight (Apple refused to use removable batteries in all three generations of iPhones and its latest laptops also sport non-removable batteries).


All in all, some of these rumors are plausible, such as the OLED screen and a better camera, though earlier launch dates as soon as May might seem a bit far-fetched, as Apple usually refreshes products in a yearly cycle.

Apparently, Steve hates Flash?! :O

Thread Moved by Tomm (Forum Moderator): From Technology Discussion.

[Alkaz]

Looks ugly, and I guess they are going to wanna get this one right seeming as the others didnt really tick all the boxes.

[United-Clowgon]

It looks ok imo, doesn't look like Flash will be coming to a iPhone very soon though.

[Invent]

It looks ok imo, doesn't look like Flash will be coming to a iPhone very soon though.

That's not the "iPhone 4G", it's just a complete guess at how it may look. As for no flash? Good as it's not needed. At least not for me :P.

[today]

Looks fit, but i'll pass.

[Inscribe]

I think it looks good, alot better than the current iPhone.
They said it had an updated version of the OS, this could include flash.

[Recursion]

I think it looks good, alot better than the current iPhone.
They said it had an updated version of the OS, this could include flash.

EXTREMELY low chance of that happening.

[GommeInc]

I don't get it, what's the picture meant to portray? Looks no different than all the other iPhones, other than it is rather blocky and silver (would people even want silver iPhones?).

Looks like it's already going to lack any real features. The OLED screen and battery are the only interesting things, really :/

[Kawr]

ahaha i want one so bad lmao! :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Markeh]

OLED screen - might happen.
Battery - Not much chance
Flash - I'd be willing to bet all my possesions on the fact that it won't have Flash.

I reckon it could come with a higher resolution display. And it almost definately will come with a better camera. I'd anticipate around 5 megapixels.

It wouldn't surprise me if it came with the same new chip from the iPad.

[MrGazet]

cool but I dnt think I want an iphone nemore

[Gibs960]

People will buy it because its expensive, people show off, but it will probably be miles better than the other iphones.

[danzooo]

Looks like it will be perfectly out in time for the contract on my current iPhone 3G running out then ;)

[Recursion]

@ GommeInc, it's meant to be in the style of the new aluminium iMacs.


Ahh man, can't wait for this new phone im getting.


Nexus One or HTC Hero ftw.

[bigdavecox90]

http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/news-future-iphone-main.jpeg

I'm loving this design idea.

[GommeInc]

@ GommeInc, it's meant to be in the style of the new aluminium iMacs.


Ahh man, can't wait for this new phone im getting.


Nexus One or HTC Hero ftw.
Ah I see... So people love silver/light toned handheld gadgets now? Light coloured phones never work, considering they're always used in your hands it's kinda obvious they'll get grubby quite quick :P Apple seem to be a bit terrible with market research and marketing in general lately :/

I'm waiting for the Xperia X10, just to see how that looks and works :D


http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/news-future-iphone-main.jpeg

I'm loving this design idea.
That'll never work. One, because it'll just be a lump of glass which has been drawn on and secondly, how can you have a full OS on a phone which looks nothing like the OS in general? It would have to be a different named, emulated version :/

[Invent]

Ah I see... So people love silver/light toned handheld gadgets now? Light coloured phones never work, considering they're always used in your hands it's kinda obvious they'll get grubby quite quick :P Apple seem to be a bit terrible with market research and marketing in general lately :/

I'm waiting for the Xperia X10, just to see how that looks and works :D

What? I'm always carrying my Macbook yet it still looks amazing. On the topic of flash, it's completely up to Adobe whether it's on the iPhone. If they can make a lightweight, stable version of Flash then there is no reason why Apple wouldn't allow it.

[Stryderman]

Not something ill be getting i dont really like iphones tbh

[GommeInc]

What? I'm always carrying my Macbook yet it still looks amazing. On the topic of flash, it's completely up to Adobe whether it's on the iPhone. If they can make a lightweight, stable version of Flash then there is no reason why Apple wouldn't allow it.
Since when were MacBooks handheld devices you can fit into the palm of your hand, where your hand rubs all around it? :P The only thing you touch on a MacBook all the time are the sides and the trackpad, the bits you can pretty much grab onto.

[Invent]

Since when were MacBooks handheld devices you can fit into the palm of your hand, where your hand rubs all around it? :P The only thing you touch on a MacBook all the time are the sides and the trackpad, the bits you can pretty much grab onto.

As I said, I carry my Macbook around all day, touching the top of it and it still looks great..

[bigdavecox90]

That'll never work. One, because it'll just be a lump of glass which has been drawn on and secondly, how can you have a full OS on a phone which looks nothing like the OS in general? It would have to be a different named, emulated version :/

Looks smart though? ;)

[today]

Looks smart though? ;)
It doesnt, looks ugly lol.

[GommeInc]

A MacBook isn't a handheld device... So when you're using your MacBook, you're smothering it touching most of it? Has no-one else seen why phone manufacturers don't make bright coloured/white/silver/grey phones? Finger marks, dirt rubbing off... While on black devices it stays hidden. Then again, it's hard to tell if that design is aluminium, so I could stand corrected :/

[today]

A MacBook isn't a handheld device... So when you're using your MacBook, you're smothering it touching most of it? Has no-one else seen why phone manufacturers don't make bright coloured/white/silver/grey phones? Finger marks, dirt rubbing off... While on black devices it stays hidden. Then again, it's hard to tell if that design is aluminium, so I could stand corrected :/
unless your a clean freak..

[GommeInc]

unless your a clean freak..
Not entirely, it's just a bit displeasing pulling out an expensive item covered in whatever dust and fluff you have in your pockets, and finger marks and grime :P

[today]

Not entirely, it's just a bit displeasing pulling out an expensive item covered in whatever dust and fluff you have in your pockets, and finger marks and grime :P
travel handwipes is the answer!

[GommeInc]

travel handwipes is the answer!
Wanna make a case for the new iPhone which has a section for wipes underneath? :P

[today]

Wanna make a case for the new iPhone which has a section for wipes underneath? :P
i see us makin a few million from it!!

[Black_Apalachi]

As I've never had an iPhone so far I might consider this in due course. What's an OLED (as opposed to an LED) and what are the advantages/disadvantages of a removable battery vs non-removable?

[Recursion]

As I've never had an iPhone so far I might consider this in due course. What's an OLED (as opposed to an LED) and what are the advantages/disadvantages of a removable battery vs non-removable?

The battery is self explanatory, you can carry multiple batteries around with you and swap whenever, when the current one begins to die you can just buy a replacement easily.

OLED is Organic Light Emitting Diode, meaning it's based from organic materials, so it's green, uses less power, etc etc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_LED

[Black_Apalachi]

Oh i see, cheers :) Personally I think I'd go for non-removable batteries because I've never replaced a battery in a phone or anything like that before and I would feel it is more protected from water damage and stuff

[MrPinkPanther]

Not entirely, it's just a bit displeasing pulling out an expensive item covered in whatever dust and fluff you have in your pockets, and finger marks and grime :P
Ever wondered why companies never make glass black touchscreen devices? Because they get covered in fingerprint marks...oh wait....no. Finger prints show up more on black devices than white and yet the iPhone is black. I'd also like to point out that I used to have a white motorola and that was fine.

[StefanWolves]

I don't want my iPhone to have flash, HTML5 is the way forward. However I believe it will have a 5MP Camera (with flash, maybe optical zoom), HD capabale recorder & screen, and possibly a better processor & ram and probably 64GB memory. I'd love for it to have Bluetooth but it isn't happening.

I also think they will try and add more functionality for gaming, meaning more buttons/touch sensor buttons etc, that's what has been reported on many sites anyway, would help them compete more with DS/PSP. Thus giving them another marketing strategy for a product which has already taken over the world.

Steve Jobs has already said it will be an 'A+ upgrade', thank god my upgrade is due in July! ready for the new iPhone release in mid-August? :D

[Recursion]

(with flash, maybe optical zoom)


Totally agree with just about that whole post, but the optical zoom, I think it'd be extremely difficult to get optical zoom on a mobile phone, it'll be digital IMO

[Tomm]

You're going to be completly screwed if you get water inside your iPhone 4G if it has a OLED screen. The water destroys the organic compounds so water + OLED = dead screen.

[United-Clowgon]

I guess you can replace the screen if that happened? If so, i suppose it will cost a lot of $$$$$$$$ these? :P

[StefanWolves]

Totally agree with just about that whole post, but the optical zoom, I think it'd be extremely difficult to get optical zoom on a mobile phone, it'll be digital IMO

Yeah that's what I meant. :P

[RichardKnox]

Don't get your hopes up about flash because the main reason flash isn't allowed on the iPhone is down to the Apple monopoly. By not allowing flash on the iPhone you cannot simply play flash games online, flash apps etc. It helps increase the amount of downloads (read $$$$$) for Apple on the App Store.

[HotelUser]

Don't get your hopes up about flash because the main reason flash isn't allowed on the iPhone is down to the Apple monopoly. By not allowing flash on the iPhone you cannot simply play flash games online, flash apps etc. It helps increase the amount of downloads (read $$$$$) for Apple on the App Store.

According to Jobs it's because Flash isn't in the future of the internet:rolleyes:

[Recursion]

We all know Jobs doesn't want Flash because people would create flash games and the market for the app store would be destroyed.

Love the fact we have Flash on Android with an OPEN market.

[HotelUser]

We all know Jobs doesn't want Flash because people would create flash games and the market for the app store would be destroyed.

Love the fact we have Flash on Android with an OPEN market.

I don't have flash on android with cyanogen, did I miss something?

[GommeInc]

Jobs is a bit braindead though, his release notes and speech on the 4G was dreadful, filled with so much fail. The flash debate seems to just revolve around what Recursion said, he's affraid people will openly develop games and applications which won't do the App store any good.

He's seems like a bratty child lately, he attacked Google for their informal motto Don't be evil, which was filled with so much irony :P It's amazing he took an informal motto so seriously, and just shown he's affraid of Android if anything. I can'ttake him seriously anymore, then again, never had :/

[Recursion]

I don't have flash on android with cyanogen, did I miss something?

G1 doesn't have flash unless you use a ROM where it is enabled, but just about every Android phone (the HTC Hero and after I think) now has Flash.

[StefanWolves]

Flash for phones is pointless, it's just a ram eating hog. So you're argument is floored entirely.

[Recursion]

Flash for phones is pointless, it's just a ram eating hog. So you're argument is floored entirely.

*flawed xDD

And if it was going to appear on iPhone it would be rewritten to run on iPhone, meaning no memory hog.

[StefanWolves]

True but I don't want it anyway

and lol at my spelling ;[

[AgnesIO]

I don't think anyone has mentioend however 'good' this is..

It will still be so over priced nobody who isn't either stupid, or a millionaire should bother getting it. I mean the contracts for the 3GS are ridiculous for what you get, so don't bother getting your hopes up guys.

[StefanWolves]

I don't think anyone has mentioend however 'good' this is..

It will still be so over priced nobody who isn't either stupid, or a millionaire should bother getting it. I mean the contracts for the 3GS are ridiculous for what you get, so don't bother getting your hopes up guys.

I'm not stupid, or a millionaire, and I bothered getting it, what category do I go into? stop being so narrow minded and petty. The contracts are crap, I agree, but at least with the new carriers coming in for the UK, e.g. Orange and Voda, hopefully the prices will come down for the next gen.

It's only common sense for the prices to come down eventually, if they didn't then it would be bad marketing by the Carriers and Apple themselves.

[AgnesIO]

I'm not stupid, or a millionaire, and I bothered getting it, what category do I go into? stop being so narrow minded and petty. The contracts are crap, I agree, but at least with the new carriers coming in for the UK, e.g. Orange and Voda, hopefully the prices will come down for the next gen.

It's only common sense for the prices to come down eventually, if they didn't then it would be bad marketing by the Carriers and Apple themselves.


At the end of the day, they are only releasing the new one so they can up the price even more.

And I was talking about the 4G pricing not 3g/3gs

[StefanWolves]

Yes they may up the Pay as you go price of the 4G, but why on earth would they raise the pay monthly tarriff prices?

[AgnesIO]

Yes they may up the Pay as you go price of the 4G, but why on earth would they raise the pay monthly tarriff prices?

Why not? It's shiny, it's metal, it's apple. Why wouldn't they make them even more ludicrous. If they don't up the monthely costs they will up the charge for the phone before you even use it.

[StefanWolves]

Guess we will have to wait and find out.

[Invent]

At the end of the day, they are only releasing the new one so they can up the price even more.

And I was talking about the 4G pricing not 3g/3gs

If I remember correctly Apple actually lowered the price of the iPhone when it made the 3G?..

[AgnesIO]

If I remember correctly Apple actually lowered the price of the iPhone when it made the 3G?..

And the 3GS prices went up. Instead of just lowering the old versions, how about keeping the new versions the same price as the old ones were originally.

[Invent]

And the 3GS prices went up. Instead of just lowering the old versions, how about keeping the new versions the same price as the old ones were originally.

Because they're better and so cost Apple more to manufacture. I thought that was pretty obvious?

[AgnesIO]

Because they're better and so cost Apple more to manufacture. I thought that was pretty obvious?

I would be very interested to see how much it costs apple to manufacture them. I bet it hardly costs them more than previous versions - as th value of parts drops.

[LoveToStack]

If it has Flash, which I doubt highly it will, and a removable battery, a bit sceptical on that too, then I might consider buying it.