Verizon iPhone, White iPhone 4s & iPhone 5 Make 2011 Busiest iPhone Year Ever For Apple

For as much as 2010 was a banner year for Apple, with the debut of the iPad and iPhone sales topping 40 million units sold, a busier, more frenetic iPhone release schedule for 2011 is bound to supercharge sales unlike anything we’re ever seen before. With the appearance of the Verizon iPhone in early 2011, the impending release of the white iPhone 4 and purported iPhone 4s, and the eventual iPhone climax — the iPhone 5 — the public will get its fair share of the iPhone this year.

Many might wonder why Apple has upped the ante on iPhone releases for this year, considering how much anticipation and excitement surrounds the usual June release of the newest iPhone. While Android and Blackberry phones outnumber the iPhone, all of them combined do not add to the media frenzy and consumer fervor over the iPhone. On this blog alone, it isn’t unusual for there to be over 60,000 page views a day from people worldwide, all seeking out the latest news on the iPhone 5.

Why would Apple want to subdivide and possibly dilute the buzz that they have so deftly created for iPhone releases by offering multiple releases of the iPhone in a given year?

Some in the media suggest that the staggered releases of the Verizon iPhone, white iPhone 4, and eventual iPhone 5 all point to a sloppy, disorganized release schedule of Apple this year, indicating that perhaps the complexity of adding Verizon to the mix, Steve Jobs’ ongoing health concerns, and unforeseen calamities such as the Japanese earthquake all shaking up the technology giant’s best-laid plans.

More likely, however, is that Apple is evolving their marketing approach to meet the heightened competition brought on by Google’s Android-equipped smartphones. Unlike Blackberry, which designs and manufactures its own smartphone devices like Apple, Google’s partnership with multiple smartphone producers makes competing with them more cumbersome; while the iPhone has traditionally hosted just one big release each year, Droid phones seem to continuously pop up here and there throughout the year. One of the more recent Android offerings, Kyrocera’s Echo, is an impressive new dual-touchscreen design that is already making the iPhone 4 seem outdated, upping the ante on which new features the iPhone 5 will offer.

Even though Android smartphones don’t garner the same attention as the iPhone, the multitude of different models keep new Android technology fresh in the tech bloodstream.

Apple, in turn, has to answer these challenges in the marketplace.

So, the result may be this new release schedule, where we are treated to multiple iterations of the iPhone throughout the year. Instead of having to wait for the iPhone 5, for example, we’ll also have the white iPhone 4, and who knows — maybe an iPhone 4s available to the public? We’ve already discussed at length how the white iPhone 4 is a bit of a paper tiger and perhaps nothing more than a way of keeping the iPhone hype machine running. But even if that is its only purpose, for Apple it is what they perceive to be necessary in order to keep competing against Google in the smartphone race.

iPhone 5 To Be Released On The Cusp Of The New Fiscal Year?

Just a note about the purported September release of the iPhone 5 for September 2011: for most of us, the “year” runs from January to December, so anything that happens within that time frame is considered to be happening in 2011. But for Apple, their fiscal year ends on September 24th. If the iPhone 5 ends up being released on the other side of September 24th, for Apple, that will mean that the earnings for the iPhone 5 will start at the very beginning of fiscal year 2012.

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News Of Dual-Network iPhone 5 Benefits Verizon More Than AT&T

Verizon’s recent gaffe confirms that the iPhone 5 will indeed be a dual-network device that will work with both CDMA and GSM. While the notion of a dual-network iPhone 5 isn’t much of a revelation, the news helps Verizon more than AT&T. Here’s why:

Another slip of the tongue has confirmed yet another detail about the upcoming iPhone 5.

Less than three weeks after Sony CEO Howard Stringer tacitly admitted that the next iPhone 5 camera would be of the 8 megapixel variety, Verizon’s Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo seems to have now confirmed that the iPhone 5 will indeed be a dual-network device, supporting both AT&T’s GSM and Verizon’s CDMA technologies. Venturebeat reports that “in an attempt to deflect an analyst probing for details on Apple’s next phone, Verizon inadvertently mentioned that [the iPhone 5] will be a ‘global device’.”

While the iPhone community is always happy to have virtually any detail about the iPhone 5 confirmed or corroborated (except, perhaps, for the recent report of a late September release), news of a dual-network iPhone 5 should not come as an earth-shattering revelation to those who have followed the it over the past six month of so. It is true that Apple had to fashion an alternate CDMA-equipped iPhone 4 to work on the Verizon network, creating two network variants with very slight design differences between the two.

But the production of the CDMA model was a work-around for Apple; obviously, a deal with Verizon had not been solidified by the time the iPhone 4 was launched in the summer of 2010, meaning that the initial AT&T model had no CDMA capabilities. And as we all know, there was no way that Apple could have clandestinely outfitted the original AT&T iPhone to run on CDMA — too many iPhone geeks out there pop open their new iPhones to look under the hood. Any stealth move to equip the iPhone 4 for both networks would have been discovered. This time around, however, it makes good business sense to make sure that the iPhone 5 works on both networks; it will keep production costs down and make shipping and inventory far easier.

An interesting question to consider, however, is whether or not a dual-network iPhone 5 benefits either carrier, or is it just a wash?

I would argue that, while the dual-channel iPhone 5 revelation isn’t going to be any kind of groundbreaking game-changer for either mobile carrier, it is Verizon that may have the most to gain from the notion that both companies will share the same iPhone design.

More than any other iPhone 5 topic on this blog, the subject of AT&T versus Verizon has inspired more angst, vitriol, and hurt feelings. We wrote an article about it a while back, and people weighed in on the issue with gusto, defending their mobile network providers with bravado. It’s a fact: iPhone users are passionate about their carriers. AT&T and Verizon are like political parties around here. (I guess Sprint customers are the Independents.)

Thus, I know that I am stepping into a minefield with Verizon customers when I reluctantly state that CDMA is generally considered to be the slower of the two mobile technologies, disallowing the kind of multi-tasking that AT&T iPhone users typically enjoy. Whether or not this is true, however, is not the issue: the fact remains that this is the prevailing belief about Verizon.

With this is mind, one can imagine that it can only benefit Verizon for prospective iPhone 5 customers to see that the device works on both networks. Unlike the iPhone 4, which has two variants for GSM and CDMA, the iPhone is the same phone, same specs, same technology. AT&T will no longer be able to infer that they have the “better iPhone” model.

Sameness is the name of the game for Verizon this time around, as they will finally have a chance to compete with AT&T right out of the gate with the iPhone 5. The game plan will be the same for both carriers: AT&T will tout speed and versatility, and Verizon will roll out their maps. It should be a real hoot.

Perhaps this admission by Verizon about the dual-channel iPhone 5 will turn out to be the first innoquous shot fired in the iPhone 5 network wars?

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Greenpeace’s “Green Libel:” Calling Apple the “Least Green” Tech Company Doesn’t Add Up

For years now, Apple has led the way in the technology sector on environmentally-friendly design concepts and business practices. But Greenpeace’s recent report indicating that Apple’s investment in a data center — reportedly for a soon-to-be-unveiled cloud data storage feature on the iPhone 5 — doesn’t jive with Apple’s eco-ethics. What gives?

Anybody who is a big believer in Apple products knows that green technology and environmental concerns have long been a priority for their research and development. Regardless of where one charts on the ideological spectrum when it comes to environmental issues, one thing is for sure: Apple has been an honest broker in its environmental initiatives. While a cynic might suggest that the green angle on Apple products is little more than a marketing pitch for its devoted customers, the end result of Apple’s eco-friendly developments are unquestionable.

Browse the various gadgets at Apple.com and you’re bound to notice that its most popular products boast a wide array of green-inspired features. For the MacBook series of laptops, Apple devotes an entire section to the environment, highlighting how an efficient power supply, advanced power management, 5.2 energy star qualification, and fewer toxins used in the construction of the design materials all lead to some of the greenest electronics out there on the market today.

The same is true with the iPad, iPhone, and iPod: Apple’s glass displays are recyclable, as are the aluminum chassis used on the MacBooks. In addition, Apple goes out of its way to package its products with an emphasis on minimalism, saving tons of cardboard, plastic, and other packaging materials.

But what is most impressive is Apple’s advancement in battery technology. For as much as carbon emissions are the flavor of the month when it comes to the environmental debate, fewer things pollute a landfill more than alkaline batteries and the grandpappy of rechargeable battery technology: the NiCad. Apple’s LiON battery technology — which really came into its own in 2010 with the iPad and MacBook Pro — is simply out of this world, allowing users to get maximum longevity and performance out of the battery packs used to power their mobile devices.

Given all of the efforts that Apple has made to accommodate environmental concerns, does it strike anyone as strange that an eco-activist organization like Greenpeace would levy such a scathing claim against them, labeling Apple as the “least green” tech company in the world?

It is, in effect, a green libel.

Greenpeace’s report, which is entitled How Dirty is Your Data?, is specifically targeting data centers throughout the world who rely on coal-fueled electricity to power their energy needs. The Guardian reported that, “The facility’s power will be supplied by Duke Energy, with a mix of 62% coal and 32% nuclear.” Apple’s top ranking on Greenpeace’s list stems directly from their recent purchase of petrabytes of data storage at this facility in North Carolina. In case you didn’t hear about it, this investment by Apple is most likely going to account for ushering in cloud data storage on the next iPhone 5 — something that the vast majority of avid iPhone users are incredibly excited about.

The Guardian goes on to state that Greenpeace’s findings are little more than an educated guess: ”Greenpeace drew on publicly available information on investments made in data centres, to estimate the maximum power these facilities will consume, and matched that information with data from the government or utilities.” In short, their findings are mere speculation, in spite of the fact that they are reported empirically.

Guess what, folks — you can’t power petrabytes and petrabytes of data storage for all of the music, photos, videos, and files that we love — not to mention the vast amounts of data storage that top corporations and governments rely on to keep commerce and services running — with a few windmills. The Guardian says, “Data centre energy demand already accounts for 1.5% to 2% of world electricity consumption and is set to quadruple over the next 10 years.”

Regardless of what we may think of coal-powered electricity, we have still yet to come up with a means of powering high performance technology assets like mass data servers with anything less than fossil fuels (or nuclear power, though these days it isn’t the most popular alternative power source). It is unrealistic for Greenpeace or any other iPhone user for that matter to desire more power, more storage, more productivity, and more Appley goodness without their being an increase in the carbon footprint.

We cannot have our cake and eat it, too.

The good news is that Apple has already been so pro-active in reducing its carbon footprint that one could argue that it has some leeway for expanding its data servers. After all, imagine how much less power is used throughout the world on Apple machines, thanks to all of the above-mentioned eco-features? Given all of these advancements, is Greenpeace claiming that Apple is a bigger eco-offender than the top Chinese technology companies, which do not have to abide by any carbon standards whatsoever?

Scan the Greenpeace website, and you quickly come to realize that destroying the coal industry is their primary focus. Whether or not you agree or disagree with coal power or Greenpeace, you have to ask yourself this question: is Apple really the best company to bully over coal-powered electricity and environmental responsibility?

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Late iPhone 5 Release Affected By iPhone 4 Sales

The iPhone 4 has been Apple’s most successful iPhone by far, as the delayed release of the Verizon iPhone and rumors of a white iPhone 4 on the way keep sales brisk. But is the success of the iPhone 4 pushing back the iPhone 5?

You know the old saying: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

For as much as Apple analysts have pointed to the rise of the Droid platform in 2010 as the first shot fired in the smartphone wars, and that the iPhone 5 has to “keep pace” with Droid technology to remain competitive, iPhone 4 sales remain brisk. Apple sold nearly 40 million iPhones in 2010 alone — most of which were of the iPhone 4 variety — and the launch of the Verizon iPhone in 2011 and the soon-to-be white iPhone 4 (which we predicted as a spring 2011 release back in October) all point to continued robust sales throughout the spring and early summer.

Given this reality, why are we even surprised that the iPhone 5 remains sidelined?

There’s no doubt that the iPhone 5 has been completely designed and tested by Apple — there have even been rumors of iPhone 5 prototypes being spotted from North America to Asia. But we know for a fact that Apple has yet to begin iPhone 5 production, with some reports indicating that even no “production roadmap” has been presented to Apple’s component suppliers and assemblers.

Now, just because the news leak-prone Asian suppliers haven’t seen the production roadmap doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist: the iPhone 5 could most likely be put into production at a moment’s notice by Apple, since by this time, all of the plans and specs for the next iPhone are in place. But when you consider how successful the iPhone 4 has been over the past 10 months or so, why even bother rushing the iPhone 5?

To be sure, a severely-stalled iPhone 5 could irk enough stalwart iPhone users to defect to Droid, as we have reported on in another article. But there is another angle to this iPhone 5 delay: Apple may may have realized that stalling the iPhone 5 will funnel more prospective iPhone users to the iPhone 4.

After all, why spend all of the time, money, and resources to improve on the iPhone 4 if it’s still selling like hotcakes?

I often use Nintendo’s various gaming consoles as an analogy to Apple’s own marketing and production logic, and the Wii proves this rationale beautifully: the Wii hasn’t been updated in years, and yet the console — and its litany of games — continue to sell robustly. All Nintendo has to do every year is refresh the product with something cosmetic — such as the black and red Wiis — or the addition of new accessories, like the Wii Motion Plus.

In many ways, the white iPhone 4 is akin to these above-mentioned examples, and a simple, cost-effective way of extending the lifecycle of the iPhone 4.

Will Apple Wait Until 2012 to Release the iPhone 5?

Up until this point, the iPhone 5 News Blog hasn’t entertained rumors that the iPhone 5 could get pushed back as far as 2012 — for the most part, we’ve stuck to our belief that it will make its debut at the end of the summer. (And we were the first blog to predict a late-summer release of the iPhone 5, by the way.) However, the only factor that supports the notion that the iPhone 5 could be released as late as 2012 is the continued sales success of the iPhone 4.

In the first quarter of 2011 alone, Apple has sold 16.24 million iPhones. And with the release of the white iPhone 4 sometime in April or May, as well as continued rumors of the late iPhone 5, it isn’t unrealistic to imagine that Apple may come close to doubling up on sales at the end of the second quarter.

With all of this in mind, perhaps the most effective way of ensuring a timely release of the iPhone 5 is for people to stop buying the iPhone 4?

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Metal Back Would Be a “Mea Culpa” For Apple

The “Antennagate” scandal of 2010 spooked iPhone users and marred the early image of the iPhone 4. While Apple fought hard in the press to brush off the reception issues, if the iPhone 5 features either an Internal Antenna and/or metal back, will it be a tacit admission that the iPhone 4 was flawed?

We’ve talked in the press about a panoply of possible new features for the iPhone 5. However, the discussion of either a return to the internal antenna or a metal back (or both) is seldom mentioned in iPhone rumor roundups. The primary reason for this is that the appearance of either or both of these features on the iPhone 5 would not in fact constitute “new features,” but rather would be “fixes” to the contentious Antennagate issue that gripped the tech world in the summer and fall of 2010.

Regardless of where you might be on the antenna issue for the iPhone 4, few current or prospective iPhone users seem to be against the iPhone 5 design returning to earlier, more reliable reception technology. In their March 17th posting, 9 To 5 Mac aptly stated the high probability of the reemergence of the metal back feature. Referencing a reliable source from Foxconn, writer Mark Gurman reported that “Apple has decided to move away from the back-glass enclosure found on the fourth-generation device and move to something similar to the back of the first-generation iPhone from 2007.”

Gurman went on to explain that “if Apple keeps the same antenna design (which was not mentioned by sources) as the iPhone 4 and adds the flat aluminum back, this back should not cause any reception issues.” International Business Times seconds this rumor, and also adds that the iPhone 5 will indeed revert back to the internal antenna seen on the iPhone 4. In this way, Apple is essentially doubling up on fixing the antenna issue.

However, should these two fixes show up on the iPhone 5, how is Apple going to handle it from a PR perspective?

After all, Steve Jobs and the rest of Apple’s marketing and PR mechanism worked overtime last summer to squelch the escalating criticism about the purported faulty antenna and “death grip.” Their approach to dealing with the problem turned out to be complex at best: while on one hand they brushed off the criticism as “overblown,” affirming that the iPhone 4 had the same level of reception quality as its competitors, Apple also responded by distributing free bumpers for the iPhone 4, which was seen by many to be a work-around for an obvious design flaw in the antenna.

This time around, with the iPhone 5, Apple will have to address the decision to return to previous designs when it comes to reception. By utilizing either the internal antenna or metal black, it will be a de facto admission that the iPhone 4 was indeed flawed to some extent. With the metal back, Apple will have some plausible deniability — they can always claim that the decision was entirely aesthetically motivated, especially if they go with a Liquid Metal over Aluminum.

But a return to the internal antenna on the iPhone 5 will be harder to spin.

Apple has always prided itself as a product leader when it comes to quality, performance, and innovation of personal computers and mobile computing devices. And for the most part, the company has managed to live up to the reputation that it espouses. And while the iPhone 4 was indeed an advancement of the iPhone technology as a whole, it is more likely to go down in history as the first hiccup in the iPhone lineage. Let us hope that the hiccup ends with the iPhone 5.

What do you think? Was “antennagate” just a witch hunt by the press, or was it a big enough problem to be newsworthy? And will a return to the internal antenna and/or metal back on the iPhone 5 convince you that the iPhone 4 antenna design was indeed faulty?

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iPhone 5 Next Generation Camera Rumors Surface

Two interesting new rumors have surfaced surrounding future iPhone camera designs. The first involves a leak from Sony regarding an 8 megapixel camera the company manufactures that sounds like it's headed for the iPhone 5. 9to5 Mac reports Sony CEO Howard Stringer explained how their best image sensors are produced at a factory that was affected by the earthquake in Japan.
Sony iPhone 5 camera 3D rumor

He noted that this problem will delay shipment of images sensors to companies like Apple. The only thing is that Sony doesn't make image sensors for Apple... yet. The Street reported in April of last year that Apple would be moving away from current supplier OmniVision for the iPhone 5, and going with an 8 megapixel Sony component instead.

The same article correctly forecast that the iPhone 4 would carry its current OmniVision 5 megapixel camera. It would make sense for Apple to keep improving the iPhone camera to keep up with the competition and improve image quality on its multimedia focused devices. It's not clear whether or not the Sony manufacturing delays will push back the release of the iPhone 5.

The second and more far-reaching rumor is actually a patent discovered by AppleInsider. Apple has been working on 3D imaging and the patent details a system that would use two built-in cameras in a mobile device to capture a stereoscopic image. The 3D images could be displayed after capture on a special screen. Apple's patent explains that the dual camera system would be superior to single-camera 3D solutions and the system could even be used to record 3D video as well.

3D televisions and digital cameras have begun to surface in the consumer market, however they have yet to be commonplace. If Apple indeed goes with the 8 megapixel Sony camera for the iPhone 5, it looks like 3D will have to wait for a future generation iPhone. Maybe in a year or two we'll see an iPhone 3D. In the meantime, you can get 3D games now with Hasbro's MY3D viewer which launches tomorrow.
Source : http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971322

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Google updates finance search for Android, iPhone

Google made a few tweaks today to the way it presents financial information in its mobile search results.

Now, typing a stock symbol into the Google.com search bar in on your iPhone or Android smartphone (2.1 or above) returns useful data in a glance, including the stock's share price and an interactive graph you can click on to see fluctuations over a day up to a five-year span.

What's more, the results appear on four "cards," or screens, that you can swipe through to see additional news, and a market overview. Those of you signed on to your Google account can also swipe to see a summarized view of your Google Finance stock portfolio.

Source : Cnet
Read more: http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20049376-85.html#ixzz1IGS1MP5U

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11 iPhone tips for total novices

1. When in doubt, go Home.
Want to go back to the main screen, the one with all the icons? That's called the Home screen. It doesn't matter which app you're using or task you're performing--a single press of the Home button (the only physical button on the front of the iPhone) will return you to the Home screen.

2. Always turn your iPhone off before you slip it into your pocket.
Although your iPhone will switch itself into idle mode (where the screen turns off but the phone stays on) after a designated period of inactivity, you should get in the habit of manually turning off the screen. Otherwise you might accidentally place a call or run a battery-draining app while slipping the phone into your pocket. So remember: when you're done using your iPhone, press the top button (aka, the Sleep/Wake button).

3. Send calls straight to voice mail.
Don't want to answer the incoming call, but don't want your iPhone to keep ringing and/or vibrating until it finally goes to voice mail? Just quickly double-press the Sleep/Wake button to immediately route the call the voice mail.

4. Double-tap the space bar at the end of a sentence.
Speaking of double-presses, if you quickly tap the space bar twice at the end of a sentence, the iPhone will insert a period and a space, then enable the Shift key for the start of your next sentence.

Tap the Keypad button while on a call to access a numeric keypad.

(Credit: Screenshot by Rick Broida)

5. Access the keypad while you're on a call.
Need to "press 1 to leave a message" or enter a security code while on a call? The iPhone has no keypad, so how are you supposed to do that? Simple: just take the phone away from your ear, then tap the Keypad icon that appears in between the Mute and Speaker icons (which can also come in handy when you're on a call). Now use the onscreen keys to enter the necessary numbers. When you're done, just hold the phone back up to your head.

6. Don't forget to sync.
Your iPhone is not an island; it needs to connect with your computer, even if it's just once in a while. That means installing iTunes if you don't already have it and plugging that little white sync cable into a USB port (and then into your iPhone, natch). Although you can download apps, music, and the like directly to your device (i.e., no computer required), syncing makes a backup of everything on your handset (contacts, appointments, apps, etc.)--something you might need in the event you have to replace a lost, stolen, or broken phone. It also allows you to install operating-system updates.

7. Master autocorrect.
Even savvy users sometimes get thrown by the little word-bubbles that sometimes appear as you type. This is the iPhone's autocorrect feature: it's trying to guess which word you're trying to spell. If you want to accept the suggestion (even before you finish typing), just tap the space bar. Don't want the suggested word? Tap the little X in the bubble before you hit the space bar.

8. Fix "jittery" icons.
Did all your icons start shaking all of sudden? Don't panic! You've inadvertently put the iPhone into "rearrange icons" mode, which allows you to organize the icons to your liking by tapping and dragging them. This happens when you hold your finger down on an icon (any icon) instead of just tapping it. How do you stop the shaking? Easy: just press the Home button.

9. Learn to use Airplane Mode.
Federal law says your phone needs to be off when you're in the air. But that doesn't mean off, off; you simply have to disable its wireless capabilities. To do so, put it in Airplane Mode: tap the Settings icon, then tap the Airplane Mode on/off switch (which is conveniently located at the very top of the Settings screen). When it's set to On, your iPhone won't be able to make calls or send text messages--but it'll still work as an iPod. In other words, you can still read books, listen to music, watch movies, play games, and so on. After you land, just return to the Settings screen and set Airplane Mode back to off.

There's an iPhone User Guide hiding inside the Safari app's bookmarks.

(Credit: Screenshot by Rick Broida)

10. Access the built-in User Guide.
Apple sure didn't provide much in the way of an instruction manual. Fortunately, for anyone who needs help on the go, there's a user guide built into the iPhone--sort of. To access it, tap the Safari icon (which opens the Web browser). Next, tap the Bookmark icon (it looks like a little open book) at the bottom of the screen. You should see an entry for iPhone User Guide. Tap it to gain access to a full roster of subjects, everything from Getting Started to Using the App Store.

11. Turn off "Ask to Join Networks"
Everywhere you go, your iPhone keeps asking you if you want to join this network or that network. These are Wi-Fi hot spots, and if you're tired of the iPhone bugging you about them, you can turn off these notifications. To do so, tap the Settings icon, then tap Wi-Fi. On the following screen, find Ask to Join Networks and tap the On button (which will switch to Off). The only caveat here is that if you want to view and join an available network, you'll have to return to this screen and select it manually. Find out more in the aforementioned User Guide.

OK, those are my tips--now let's hear yours! After all, everyone was an iPhone novice once, so what advice would you offer to the newbie user?

Source : Cnet
Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20049382-233.html#ixzz1IGRNguCz

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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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Apple Releases iOS 4.3.1 Security and Maintenance Update

The latest firmware from Apple is already here. Just over two weeks after the release of iOS 4.3 for GSM iPhones, Apple has added bug fixes and other minor updates to iOS 4.3.1. The update was made available on iTunes earlier than expected. Verizon iPhones (CDMA) will remain at iOS 4.2.6 for the time being.
iOS 4.3.1 firmware update iTunes

This update is also designed for the iPad, iPad 2 and fourth generation iPod touch. Although the update is relatively minor, if you are one of the users affected by issues addressed in the update you'll want to install the new firmware right away.

According to Apple, the iOS 4.3.1 update contains the following fixes and improvements:

- Fixes an occasional graphics glitch on iPod touch (4th generation)
- Resolves bugs related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks
- Fixes image flicker when using Apple Digital AV Adapter with some TVs
- Resolves an issue authenticating with some enterprise web services

On Monday, BGR reported that the iOS 4.3.1 update was expected within one or two weeks. Sources also told them the update would include the following fixes:

- Baseband updates for the iPhone 3GS and original iPad
- Fixed memory hang that results in memory corruption when reading large files from USIM filesystem
- Fixed problem with NTLM authentication in apps and on websites
- Fixed issue with the Springboard and 3rd party apps not recognizing the gyroscope on the iPad 2
- Fixed iPad 2 jailbreak vulnerability

Some reports have indicated that the update improves battery life, but this is unconfirmed. Apple also makes no mention of a Safari security fix reportedly in the works. Security researcher Charlie Miller exposed a flaw in the mobile browser that Apple is said to be working on patching, if they haven't already. It remains to be seen whether or not any further updates to 4.3 are forthcoming. With the release of the iPhone 5 coming soon, Apple is expected to jump to iOS 5.0 in June.
Source :
http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971316

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Will the iPhone 5 Recognize Your Face?

Apple as usual has made a business decision that could lead to exciting new features on the next generation iPhone and beyond. The company has acquired Swedish company Polar Rose, known for its mobile face recognition technology FaceLib among other similar products.
apple iphone polar rose face recognition

With full face detection and tracking of faces in video, the solutions Polar Rose delivers could change how you interact with your iPhone. Now that the iPhone 4 has a front-facing camera, passcode lock could end up going the way of the dinosaurs.

Imagine holding your iPhone up and the device automatically unlocking to reveal your home screen. The neat trick is that your iPhone won't do this for anyone else. If the software on the iPhone recognizes your face, this replaces your passcode. Some Apple patents have recently been revealed that could lead to iPhones recognizing the shape of your hand, which could also replace the four-digit passcode.

Other interesting uses for the technology include automatically tagging people in photos and recognizing FaceTime callers from contact information. As the photographs taken on the iPhone improve, various image analysis algorithms could also be used to automatically classify and organize photos by type or subject.

Apple's iPhoto currently recognizes faces in pictures for tagging purposes. It's possible Apple is looking to improve and expand this functionality. Polar Rose removed its free tagging services for Facebook and Flickr earlier this month, citing interest from larger companies in licensing their technology. Staying true to form, Apple has not confirmed the acquisition of Polar Rose.

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iPhone Radiation Monitor App Rejected by Apple

The fact that cellular devices emit radiation is nothing new, and the debate over how much exposure is harmful is far from settled. Tawkon has developed an app for BlackBerry and Android devices to help those concerned about the issue. The company was hoping to bring an iPhone version to the App Store but the software was rejected by Apple.
apple iphone SAR radiation monitor Tawkon app

Tawkon has made the app available on the Cydia app store for jailbroken iPhones and is appealing to customers to help urge Apple to lift the ban. Reports have indicated Apple CEO Steve Jobs himself responded to the company with a short email stating simply, "No interest."

All cellular phones emit different levels of radiation depending on distance from cell towers, local environmental conditions and even the position of the device. The iPhone is no different, however Apple has been keen to reduce perceptions that the iPhone 4 external antenna suffers from the so-called death grip. Some users have experienced a drop in signal strength when holding the iPhone 4 in specific ways. Tawkon has used their RRI (real-time radiation indication) technology to demonstrate an increase in predicted radiation when this signal attenuation occurs.

The problem is not limited to iPhones by any means. When it comes to the app in question, Tawkon seeks to educate interested mobile phone users on the radiation levels they are exposed to from their devices. Using RF parameters and other data such as information from the proximity sensor, RRI measures emission and exposure as the phone is used. The app will track long-term statistics of exposure and recommend changes in behavior such as turning the phone or using a headset when conditions are right to reduce absorption.

In normal operating circumstances the iPhone SAR (specific absorption rate) is well within levels considered safe by the US Federal Communications Commission. Unfortunately for those who are interested in more details on their iPhones, jailbreaking is the only way to get Tawkon at the present time.
Suorce: http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971315

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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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iPhone 5 Begins Production as Hardware Details Leak

China Times reports that the iPhone 5 has entered a trial production phase and will feature a larger screen. Purported iPhone 5 parts have already leaked that seem to match the claim of a four-inch screen. The iPhone 5 itself is expected to have a similar form factor as the current model, with the display reaching all the way to the edge of the device.
apple iphone 5 mockup four inch screen

The rendering above by Piotrek Photos shows how a larger iPhone 5 screen might compare to the current iPhone 4 display. This news comes as the New York Times has confirmed Apple is working on near-field communication (NFC) technology so that future iPhones can easily make wireless mobile payments at specially equipped cash registers. The NFC hardware would be integrated with the iPhone processor and linked directly to the owner's iTunes account.

Although Apple is working on NFC technology it's not clear whether or not the feature will make its way onto the iPhone 5. The company could be saving this functionality for a future model iPhone, as there are many different versions of the e-wallet concept currently entering the market. Competing Android phones are already getting into the act, with the Samsung Nexus S already equipped with NFC.

Other highlights of the iPhone 5 design include the switch to a metal back, much like the original iPhone. Apple could completely redesign the iPhone 5 with a curved aluminum back, to bring it more in line with the iPad 2 and recent iPod touch designs. More recent information points to a next generation device much more similar to the iPhone 4, except replacing the back glass panel with metal. A redesigned antenna would be integrated into the smartphone to help prevent the reception issues that were cited by Consumer Reports when they refused to recommend the iPhone 4.

According to China Times, the iPhone 5 is on track for a summer 2011 release. This contradicts some reports that the iPhone 5 could be delayed until September. Apple typically updates the iPhone every year in late June to early July. Plenty of time left for more rumors, leaks and speculation before an official Apple announcement.
Source : http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971313#42

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iPhone 5 to Feature Aluminum Back, New Antenna?

Previous reports have indicated the iPhone 5 will be completely redesigned by Apple. Now Economic Daily News, a Taiwanese publication, cites sources who say the next generation iPhone will have an aluminum back. This would bring the iPhone 5 in line with recent iPod touch and iPad 2 designs and highlight one of Apple's favorite materials.
apple iphone 5 rendering aluminum back

A move back to aluminum would also reduce durability problems experienced by users of the iPhone 4 and its glass back. The conceptual rendering above by Taiyo-Fujii is unrelated to statements by Chinese manufacturing insiders, however it clearly receives its cues from the iPad 2. The original iPhone featured an aluminum back along with a plastic bottom to help alleviate reception issues with the internal antenna.

The return to an aluminum back would likely be launched in tandem with a new internal antenna design. Apple patents have pointed to designs similar to that found on the original iPad, with the Apple logo in plastic serving as a window for radio signals. Designing the iPhone 5 in this way could cut down on reception issues from attenuation, currently a problem on the iPhone 4. The external antenna design on this model improves reception in low-signal areas, but also drops signal strength when the iPhone antenna gaps are bridged by the hand.

It remains to be seen whether or not aluminum unibody construction would allow Apple to give the iPhone 5 a slimmer profile while improving antenna reception. Manufacturing the glass panels has certainly been tough for Apple engineers, as evidenced by the missing white iPhone. Light leaks in the back of the white iPhone 4 have caused problems with the camera and suspended release of the device. Even the black iPhone 4 manufacturing process is difficult, as painting the glass properly and treating the material takes time.

Aluminum would reduce the chance of breakage and scratches and possibly reduce weight on the iPhone 5. Not to mention it looks sharp and is recyclable, too. We'll be on the lookout for further information leaks and photos of the iPhone 5 as they become available. The device is expected to launch sometime between July and September of this year.
Source :
http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971300

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Apple To Launch White iPhone 5 This Summer

Apple still hasn’t managed to ship the elusive white iPhone 4. But there is huge rumors going around with regards to the launch date of the iPhone 5 which is estimated to be this summer. The leak this time comes from sources who spoke to the Economic Daily News who have hinted that Wintek has been asked to supply touch panels for a white iPhone 5 to Apple. This contract is also said to be an exclusive for Wintek.

According to Economic Daily News, there will be a white iPhone 5 too! It will feature a touch panel supplied exclusively by Wintek, which is a Chinese electronic components company.

The iPhone 5 is expected to have a 4 inch display, no “Home” button, NFC integration ”with a twist”, a built-in FM radio, an integrated SIM and a front-facing camera, complete with PhotoBooth.

Of course, we have yet to see the white iPhone 4 appear, so Apple may decide to just drop that and focus on the next generation model.
Source : Bestdigitaltrends
http://bestdigitaltrends.com/2011/02/23/new-cellphone/rumour-apple-to-launch-white-iphone-5-this-summer/

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iPhone 5 and iPad 2 will have embedded NFC chips?

Pete Doherty of Envisioneering Group consulting firm said he had spoken with several people from the teams working on hardware for next generation devices with the brand of Apple, which has received some interesting information. In all likelihood we can expect iPad 2 and iPhone 5 would have NFC chips.

According to Doherty we could expand the availability of devices to hope and change iTunes from Apple. In particular, it comes to using the information anyway Apple already has for you and your credit cards, make it easy settlement in different places. Meanwhile, Apple has patented a certain amount of software technologies for potential use of NFC in their portfolio.

How much of these assumptions will be confirmed remains to be seen, but certainly expect Apple to make a step in this direction, since after the Asian market and now the west there is a movement in the direction of contactless payments. As we know, Google incorporated NFC chip in the Nexus S, and Nokia added such in C7.

Source
http://iphone.pandaapp.com/news/01292011/184840332.shtml

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New iPhone 5 Part With Edge To Edge Screen Appears

A Chinese site (iDealsChina) has reportedly displayed a front panel part which appears to have a different structure when compared to panels of previous iPhones and may therefore come from the iPhone 5 (via 9to5Mac).

As can be seen from the image, and with the enormous caveat that this could simply be a mock-up part or a fake, the part appears to show a screen that is wider and longer than the current iPhone, with edge to edge display. Also of interest is the fact that there is a hole for the iPhone Home Button which had been the subject of much discussion when it was suggested that Apple was looking to remove it in the next generation of iOS devices.

While increasing the size of the iPhone screen would not pose very many technical challenges in itself, the problem comes with the number of pixels that applications utilize. Increasing the screen size would mean that developers would have to make changes to their apps to reflect the increased number of pixels available for use.

Previous rumors from Digitimes had suggested that Apple would implement a 4 inch screen in the next generation iPhone 5. At the time, many people had assumed that this meant a 4 inch screen across but we hypothesized that they could actually be talking about a vertical increase in the screen size rather than both horizontal and vertical. We even posted a concept image of how it could be implemented, but let’s be clear, we’re not saying that this is what we think the iPhone 5 will look like, simply a concept on how a larger screen and no Home button could work.

Source : applebitch
http://www.applebitch.com/2011/02/26/rumor-new-iphone-5-part-with-edge-to-edge-screen-appears/

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Prediction: iPhone 5 Concept With 4 Inch Screen And ‘Home Dock’

Several rumors have been circulating recently suggesting that Apple would apparently be increasing the screen size in the next generation iPhone and that the iPhone 5 may come with a 4 inch screen rather than the current 3.5 inches (via Digitimes). While the source of this information may be accurate, it is possible that the dimensions have been misinterpreted. Some excellent concept mock-ups of an iPhone with a screen that is 4 inches measured diagonally have appeared, among them this one from 9to5Mac. However, we would suggest that Apple would not be looking to increase the screen size when measured diagonally, but would rather get rid of the Home button and increase the screen dimensions vertically.

As can be seen from our concept above (and yes, we do appreciate that we are rather crap when it comes to Photoshop) , the new iPhone would have a 4 inch screen measured from top to bottom. The main difference in this concept would be that an extra dynamic ‘Home Dock’ would be added at the bottom of the screen which would provide not only the core functions originally provided by the Home button such as returning to the home screen or engaging the search function, but would also provide additional functionality. This portion of the screen, almost an inverse version of the excellent SB Settings app available on the Cydia Store, would essentially remain separate from the rest of the display, meaning that Apple could still retain the original iPhone resolution, making it easy on developers.

The new ‘Home Dock’ would act as an area where all the core functions of the iPhone could be controlled (we also appreciate that our icon selections in the picture do not make sense, but you get the idea). The volume buttons on the side of the iPhone could disappear, as could the lock button on the top of the iPhone. The new ‘Home Dock’ could control functions such as power, locking, volume, search, brightness, NFC, Mobile Hotspot and Bluetooth as well as a number of other functions.

The lack of a Home button fits with recent rumors that have circulated suggesting that the next generation iPhone and iPad will lose the Home button. This new ‘Home Dock’ function may or may not appear in the next iPhone, but a 4″ vertical screen is worth thinking about.
Source : applebitch
http://www.applebitch.com/2011/02/16/prediction-iphone-5-concept-with-4-inch-screen-and-home-dock/

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iPhone 5 Concept Design is Ultra Thin

A little iPhone 5 love to go with your Sunday morning coffee, anyone? If you answered yes… read on!

Concept designs and rumors are something that go hand-in-hand with upcoming generations of anticipated gadgetry…. especially when it comes to our beloved mobile devices. Case-in-point this morning, a new iPhone 5 design concept I stumbled across. Yes, it’s September 2010, and I’ve already spotted a next-gen concept. Have mercy. icon smile iPhone 5 Concept Design is Ultra Thin (and Ultra Fake)

Pictured above, this iPhone 5 design from the folks at HandyFlash gives us a glimpse (possibly) into what the next generation of Cupertino’s iOS-powered device could look like. Note how thing they’ve made the darn thing. Reminds me of that old iPod Nano I have sitting on my desk. Also, by the looks of things they’ve done away with the external ‘band’ visible on the 4th gen. No ‘antennagate‘ with the next generation according to the designer.

Of course, this is all fiction, so take this for what it’s worth… it’s something cool to look at and think about. What do you think we’re going to see packed-in to the iPhone 5? Or is this.
Source Intomobile
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/09/05/iphone-5-concept-design/

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