More Reports of Delayed iPhone 5 Launch

AppleInsider predicts that Apple could wait until October or later to release the fifth-generation iPhone. Apparently the company has not ordered any parts for the iPhone 5 yet, making a summer launch unlikely. According to the report, the iPhone 5 will launch during the first half of Apple's 2012 fiscal year, which starts at the end of September.
Apple WWDC 2011 iPhone 5 delay

Putting off the iPhone 5 until after the holiday retail season could cost Apple sales during a season when consumers are typically anxious to spend money on new gadgets. Rumors of a September iPhone 5 launch surfaced previously, however the iPad 2 did not get released over the summer as some had anticipated.

WWDC 2011 invitations are out, and they seem to corroborate news of an iPhone 5 delay. With the tag line "Join us for a preview of the future of iOS and Mac OS X," it sounds like the event will focus solely on software this time around. Apple has used the occasion to reveal iPhone hardware updates in the past. With the white iPhone 4 expected in April and the Verizon iPhone 4 relatively new to the market, Apple may need some time to focus on iPhone 5 design and manufacturing. As for iOS 5, the firmware will feature several cloud-based features and could also be delayed until the launch of the iPhone 5 hardware this fall.

When it comes to the iPhone 5 hardware, Apple has already started production trial runs of a prototype device. The new handset will feature a form factor similar to the iPhone 4, except the antenna will be redesigned and the glass back might be replaced with aluminum. Other reports have claimed the iPhone 5 will be completely redesigned to look more like the iPad 2 and iPod touch. This would involve a curved aluminum back and a front bezel available in both black and white.

This year's Apple WWDC (Worldwide Developer's Conference) will focus on iOS and the App Store as well as the upcoming release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion for Apple's desktop computers. The event takes place June 6-10 in San Francisco.
Source : http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971317

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iPhone 5 Launch Delayed Until September

Apple's product release schedule could be thrown for a loop this year. Reports indicate that component shortages and last-minute design changes to the iPhone 5 have pushed back the device launch until September. Not only this, but the iPad 2 looks like it will be hitting the market when the iPhone 5 was previously expected, in June or July.
apple iphone 4 verizon wireless CDMA

Fierce competition for limited supplies of key components is also to blame. Apple has a reputation for purchasing large amounts of components such as touch screens with its cash reserves, however the company is not immune to chip shortages. Apparently Apple also has yet to submit iPhone 5 chip orders to some vendors.

Apple is planning to manufacture 100 million iPhone units and up to 45 million iPads in 2011. One advantage to the delay is that Apple will have more time to iron out the details and make sure all of the added features of the iPhone 5 are ready for prime time. The company has been talking to record companies about improving sound quality on iTunes music files, and offering streaming music services.

The iPhone 5 could also include NFC payment functionality and better cloud storage with their MobileMe service. The next generation Apple smartphone is expected to come in white and black, although the white iPhone 4 has yet to arrive. An improved A5 processor and hybrid CDMA/GSM cellular modem chip would mean Apple would produce only one iPhone 5 for both AT&T and Verizon wireless carriers. Other improvements have been rumored although they are less likely, including a larger 4-inch screen.

More news to come as Apple works out its release schedule for 2011. For now, it seems that Apple fans may have to wait a little bit longer for new devices this year.
Source : http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971276

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Will the White iPhone 4 Ever Launch?

Things are not looking good for the mysteriously absent white iPhone 4. With the Verizon iPhone launch six months after the iPhone 4 first became available and an iPhone 5 announcement looming, will Apple even bother? Since the first white iPhone 4 pre-orders were cancelled, the release date for the white iPhone 4 has been moved forward several times.
apple iphone 4 white

The latest we heard from Apple was the white iPhone 4 was coming in Spring. The season officially starts in just two weeks and Apple has been silent on the issue. Another white device has dominated the news, with Apple announcing the iPad 2 will ship in white and black next week.

Steve Jobs seemed to joke about the matter when he emphasized that the iPad 2 will ship in white "from day one" at the keynote speech. Apple's official statement in June 2010 was that white iPhone 4 units "have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July." As we know, July came and went with Apple postponing the device. The white iPhone 4 manufacturing issues cited in reports included paint thickness problems, the home button plastic not matching the white paint and the slow speed at which the white glass pieces were produced.

Now there are additional problems surrounding the camera. Some people have been lucky enough to get their hands on an official white iPhone 4, however they can't take decent pictures with the flash on. Due to the translucent nature of the white-painted glass, the images get washed out thanks to light leaks. The problem also happens when the iPhone 4 is modified to remove paint from the back glass panel, giving it a transparent look. In contrast, Apple can easily make the iPad 2 bezel white without affecting the back camera, especially since the tablet doesn't include a flash.

Strangely, as late as this February reports of retailers setting up displays for the white model have surfaced with no actual device in sight. Best Buy displays and leaked inventory listings seemed to confirm that the white iPhone 4 launch was imminent. Even Wal-Mart was putting stickers for the white iPhone on their shelves in September of last year.

The clock is ticking. Unless Apple decides to postpone the iPhone 5 until September, releasing a white iPhone 4 doesn't make much sense this late in the game. It's more likely the company will focus on its redesign efforts and offer a white iPhone 5 to match the latest iPad.

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