A recent picture produced by ChinaOntrade.com has the blogging world abuzz over the next iPhone. ChinaOntrade gets its credibility from their accurate pictures of the iPhone 3GS screen connector. They released those pictures in May 2009 a month before the iPhone 3GS’ release in June. Now another picture. So let us begin more speculation, reading the digital tealeaves as it were. What new features will make up the next iPhone?
The last time ChinaOntrade posted a picture, it was a mere month before the new iPhone was released. So going by that timeline, should we expect a new iPhone for the Holidays? No. Holiday product lines are set months in advance to ensure production and inventory are at appropriate levels. The last iPhone was only released 5 months ago and Apple (like any other company) tries to maximize impact between products releases. In my opinion it is just too soon for Apple to replace the 3GS.
Carriers
The picture suggests little in the way of change for the current iPhone form factor. This would suggest to me a very similar device to what we have now. Perhaps then the change is not so much with the external device, but with the internal parts, maybe adding CDMA capabilities. This would make the iPhone available to either Sprint or Verizon. Sprint as a company is reeling and could use the buzz. Verizon is huge but would like to stick it to AT&T if they could (Just look at recent “There’s a map for that” commercials, which the big V is getting sued over).
An analyst for Piper Jaffrey opined a few months back that AT&T’s contract with Apple expires at the end of the year. If this is true, and for the sake of this article I will assume it is, then Apple will have an excellent opportunity to correct problem numero uno with the iPhone. Most user complaints about the iPhone start and end with AT&T. From regular data outages to limiting the iPhone’s utility (want tethering, AT&T says no) AT&T has been underwhelming at the very least.
While Verizon (or Sprint if you wish) might have some of the same issues, at least we would get a different option. Verizon is still the biggest network in the US. I have yet to hear of a large data issues with Verizon. As I have stated previously, I would switch in a heartbeat.
Probability of happening – 75%
Apple would have to release a new iPhone that has the circuitry to support Verizon’s CDMA network, thus a very similar device. The rest of the world uses the GSM network that the iPhone was developed for. Would Apple spend the time to develop a phone that only people in the US would use? Common sense would suggest they would.
Body
This one comes from the Guru himself – Aluminum body. It seems to be the natural course of evolution for Apple, following the lead set by Apple’s MacBook laptop line. It would also be a physical change for the iPhone, something Apple likes to do because it means new accessories and new licensing agreements with accessory making companies. The photo from China suggest otherwise though.
Probability of Happening – 31%
This will happen at some point. Some have suggested the problem lies in interference with the cellular signal caused by the aluminum. This will be worked out; Apple managed to do it with WiFi on their notebooks. The only real question is will this happen for the next release of the iPhone or is it coming in future year releases?
Keyboard
My personal issue with the iPhone is the frustrating on-screen keyboard. Do you have big fat fingers like me? Then you share my misery. I understand that adding a keyboard to the iPhone would change the visual sterility the iPhone currently has; but creating an iPhone with a pull-out keyboard would at least give the consumer an option. You coffee shop, graphic design snobs can keep your sleek keyboardless iPhone. I would opt for something that works, every time, the way I want it to.
Probability of happening – 3%
Why so low? Steve Jobs reportedly did not want any buttons on the iPhone. The current iPhone has 5 buttons and if that is a compromise there is no hope for a Palm Pre style keyboard. If Apple want the iPhone to become a strong business player (to challenge RIM) then this has to change. We need a keyboard. Period. I have the feeling we won’t get one.
Bluetooth Sync
There has been no bigger champion for Bluetooth than Apple. All of their wireless devices use it. You will not find an RF dongle in any Apple product. Why then do we not have Bluetooth sync capabilities on the iPhone? It would seem to be the Apple thing to do, no wires, clean desks, angels singing. Our iPhones can even participate in the digital fluid exchange that is the Bump App. So why can’t we “bluebump” our iTunes to sync? All of Apple’s Mac products have Bluetooth built in, so that is not the reason.
Probability of happening – 55%
It is not a question of if, but when Apple will make this option available. Maybe they won’t use Bluetooth, but use the iPhone’s data capabilities instead. Either way wireless synchronization with iTunes will happen. When is still a big mystery.
Wireless 802.11-N
This one probably has the best chance of becoming reality. The wireless ‘N’ spec has been around awhile and now is an official protocol. It boasts a minimum 2x speed advantage over the iPhone’s current wireless ‘G’ spec. It has also become the default standard for new routers and laptops. Wireless ‘N’ also means better coverage and stronger WiFi signals so Apple would be stupid not to move toward this revision.
Probability of Happening – 96%
This is so high because the recent refresh of the iPod Touch (the ugly, technologically challenged stepsister of the iPhone) includes the chipset necessary to run ‘N’ WiFi. It is not enabled, but a firmware update could easily correct this. The next iPhone should ship with ‘N’ WiFi.
Android Challenges
Verizon and Motorola are making a huge push when it comes to marketing the upcoming “Droid” phone. Apple has publically shrugged off Google’s smartphone operating system to date, but internally Apple has to be on guard. The iPhone blazed a trail when it comes to smartphones, now all the other companies have has time to analyze what works and what does not when it comes to the iPhone. There is too much cell phone money to be had not to exploit some of the weaknesses of the iPhone. Apple has to continue to innovate and improve with each iPhone release.
What does the picture from ChinaOnTrade tell us? Not much other than a new iPhone will come along at some point. I have tried to foresee the future (and yes, I did pull the probabilities from my ample backside). We shall find out soon enough.
[ChinaOnTrade] via [Gizmodo]
5 Responses
Josh,
I’m pinning my hopes in an entirely different direction:
1. 802.11N – Yes, for sure, agreed.
2. OLED ZUNE HD like display that is larger but unfortunately the same resolution (although I’m hoping for ebook purposes that they quadruple the res to 640×960).
3. Better battery life – much better.
4. Better bluetooth – especially a2dp.
5. Faster processor – the new cortex proc has already been announced.
6. Another few thousand iFart apps.
I have to say I’m uber jealous of the OLED display on the ZuneHD. Super neat. I think that display size and resolution are my number one desire.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
OLED is down the line I would guess and forget battery life, Apple does not seem to care. And yes we need more fart apps. Perhaps an App to interpret them (they have one for baby cries now).
Besides go by a real eBook and I don’t mean the kindle. I’m hoping the nook can deliver!
Nook looks tasty, I just don’t know if I can justify a separate ebook reader any more. The iPhone is always with me and one more device seems so unnecessary now. I dual-weilded the Sony reader and the iPhone for a while, but after the Sony bit the dust I never looked back.