Anticipation Gels For Sept. 12 New iPhone Announcement; Sept. 21 Release; In-Cell Panel Supply Permitting
Posted by CharlesMoore on Thursday Aug 16, 2012 Under iPhone 5 News, iPhone 5 Predictions, iPhone 5 RumorMore evidence of a late September new iPhone release keeps coming, BGR’s Jonathan S. Geller reports that according to a trusted AT&T source, the company is currently planning to launch the next-generation iPhone during the third or fourth week of September, with second AT&T source affirming that a large training event for regional employees has been rescheduled from the first week of October due to a conflict with a “huge” announcement.
iMore’s Rene Ritchie says that Apple will announce the iPhone 5 on September 12, with pre-orders currently planned to begin that same day in the U.S. at least, with consumer release of the product planned for 9 days later, on September 21, which, as we’ve previously noted here is technically still late summer, with the 2012 Autumnal Equinox happening on Sept. 22, but probably close enough to a Apple’s pledged and reiterated “fall” release for iOS 6. Ritchie also says he’s learned that a second wave of iPhone launches in international markets will begin in the first week of October, likely October 5, the provenance of that information being sources he says have provided iMore with accurate iPhone related launch dates in the past.
In-cell touchscreen technology is also looking more and more like a shoo-in for the iPhone 5. The Register’s Tony Smith reports that Apple has been granted a US patent, number 8243027, detailing in-cell LCD touchscreen technology.
Conventional on-cell touchscreens used in current and earlier-model iPhones consist of a two-layer configuration where the outer contact glass is bonded to the the display unit beneath that incorporates the touchscreen sensors. By integrating the contact surface and touchscreen sensors into a single TFT (thin-film transistor) layer, both physical screen thickness and production costs can be reduced (the latter at least in theory) with a manufacturing step, a glass layer, and the use of expensive optical grade bonding agents eliminated, according to the patent description of a “mobile telephone incorporating an integrated liquid crystal display touch screen,” adding that in other “embodiments, “The electronic device can take the form of a desktop computer, a tablet computer and a notebook computer. The electronic device can also take the form of a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a media player, and a mobile telephone.”
In-cell touchscreen displays are also claimed to have superior anti-glare properties, to retain better image color saturation and readability in bright sunlight, to eliminate the inconvenience of frequently-required calibration of conventional touch panel applications, and feature real-time true multiple touch point detection that allows users to easily slide their fingers on the screen for a more satisfying touch panel experience.
Sounds like an improvement all-round, but the snag has been, as Digitimes’ Siu Han and Jessie Shen recently reported that yield rates of in-cell touch panels at Japan Display, LG Display and Sharp, all reportedly panel producers for Apple’s next-generation iPhone, are rumored to be too low to generate profits, with Apple reportedly even having offered subsidies — estimated at US$10-15 per panel produced — to its panel suppliers as an incentive to produce in greater volume and ensure stable shipments after the 2012 iPhone launches. Han and Shen further suggested that the poor yield rate of in-cell panels is “likely to disrupt Apple’s shipping schedule” for the new iPhone.
On the other hand, a Reuters report earlier this month, cited Sharp president Takashi Okuda commenting at the company’s latest financial results announcement, that shipment of screens for the new iPhone will begin this month.
Unfortunately, Sharp has other, worse problems than low in-cell production yields, with Dow Jones Newswires reporting this month that heavy losses and perceived strategy failures have driven the company’s stock prices down to their lowest level since 1974, wiping nearly a third off the company’s value, and that Sharp has announced that it will be cutting some 5000 jobs, or roughly 9 percent of its global workforce, in an effort to reduce fixed costs. Guess they can really use those Apple in-cell subsidies.
Of course, display panel thickness is just one element facilitating an overall device slimming effort, and battery thickness is likely a more significant factor in that context, which would be consistent with recent reports that the new iPhone’s battery capacity will not be increased over that of the iPhone 4S. A matter of what users want more, I guess — a thinner handset profile or longer battery life. Given the objective physics and technology limitations, enhancement of one quality will necessarily compromise the other. Which would you prefer?
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August 16th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
I’m willing to bet that Apple makes the iPhone 5 thinner, but keeps the same battery life.
They just did the same thing with the new MBP w/ RD. they made it waaay thinner, and added a much more powerful screen, but kept the same battery life. Yeah they upgraded the battery to a better one, but it’s still the exact same battery life. S they can say “all of these powerful improvements and still the same battery life.”
I’d loveeee a longer battery life, but honestly I think they’ll improve the battery just enough to be able to say they have the same battery life as before. Since they already did that this year with the new MBPs. I have a MBP and I want longer battery life, but I didn’t get it this year, even with an entirely new designed MBP in every aspect, the battery life wasn’t improved (as I recall).
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August 16th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
battery and its not even close. a few mm won’t make that much difference day in and day out but having to bring a charger everywhere because your phone dies too quickly is highly annoying. And yes I currently do that with my old android phone, it’s no fun.
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August 16th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I would guess that if Apple sticks to the same battery or just 10 more mAh it would be because they have found improved efficiency in technology to consume less battery power, thus increasing battery life. With all the research that Apple does, I’m sure they are aware of the concerns of battery life. If they choose to ignore the fact that it needs to be better then shame on them, but I would be willing to bet that we will see better battery life out of the new phone. If not I’m sure they’ll have many other very strong selling points that they will be able to tout, all while maintaining at least the same amount of life….just like they did with the ipad 3.
Personally, I’d prefer at least a 25% increase in battery life…especially over a decrease in thickness of about 1mm. I wouldn’t have any heartburn over my phone not being 1mm thinner, but battery life does get annoying when you constantly have to charge it.
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August 16th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Put me in the battery life column.
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August 16th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
I want more battery life too! I hope they bring it.
Separately, is anyone having Siri trouble? For the past day she’s responded once out of about 50 tries. My coworker got about same.
Bad news on Sharp, I have a 60″ tv of theirs that is incredible and that’s being modest. To their recovery, cheers.
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August 16th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
@Dragonj,
With Siri, I’ve had that problem with women too… get ready for “it’s not you… it’s me.”
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August 16th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
@Jeff – too funny! Robot women should be better….oops…did I say that out loud?
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August 16th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I would prefer battery life. I saw this report on engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/15/korean-carbon-coated-lithium-ion-battery-could-cut-recharge-times/) about these carbon coated batterys that recharge in life a couple of minutes. I hope someday these come to iphones! Imagine charging your phone from dead to full in 5 minutes! I think apple could get away with shorter battery life.
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August 16th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Guys, dont every turn off hover card on the gravatars. Searched for like 20 minutes on what it did, it puts a cookie in our computer that you have to find (or clear cookies). Oh and michael, I think the images look better without the borders.
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August 16th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
@undfeatable, how do I turn it off, so I don’t do it?
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August 16th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Nevermind… I just saw how.
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August 17th, 2012 at 1:37 am
I may be way off base here, but wasn’t there an article on this site showing the different processors apple was working on? To be specific: a processor that runs faster and uses less power? Do you think it’s possible that they could be using that and keeping the battery around the same as the 4s? Hopes, dreams, and random speculation aside, I think it would be a very smart move.
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August 17th, 2012 at 3:56 am
I’m not really upset with my battery life … in my iOS 6 (currently beta 4), nothing dramatic has happened (noticeably) with battery life. I mean it’s definitely just as good, but it may be just a little bit better? I don’t really notice much. With battery life, of course the battery plays a big part, but we have to also think of the processor and the software running the device. These will also help, so hopefully @JoshOrange is right about those processors running faster on less power, that would definitely help. And let’s not forget iOS 6, Apple still has a couple more betas to release for us developers before the gold master release, so I’ll let you guys know about any significant increase (or decrease, although that will probably be a glitch due to the software being in beta) in battery life. But again, the biggest parts in battery life are definitely the battery itself, first and foremost, then the processors, and finally the software. So we shall see what Apple says on the 12th (I’m hoping).
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August 17th, 2012 at 4:15 am
“Which would you prefer?”
Battery life! Every time i get fed up with ay gadget it tends to be due to the darned battery running out or telling me it’s about to.
Shave 1mm of the phone? I doubt i’d even notice or care.
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August 17th, 2012 at 4:17 am
@Dragonj and @Jeff
In the UK, Siri is a man’s voice (and an irritating one as well). I blame Apple for the fact that I can often end up shouting at, and arguinging with, my phone. After all, it couldn’t possibly be my sanity that’s in question…
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August 17th, 2012 at 6:39 am
I want more battery life but you know they won’t do it, or not by something like 25%. Battery capacity increase of X% might be possible but the “life” in terms of battery “time” i doubt they will do too much, chances are if battery life is so much better, first thing a lot of people won’t go and buy the external batteries, second they won’t sell as much “authentic” cables that i’m sure they make a few hundred percent margin on… u know it would damp the accessories market, and obviously that hurts themselves and may reduce the number of accessories out there for Apple products, which in turn will make it less popular / have less publicity.
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August 17th, 2012 at 9:14 am
“Put me in the battery life column.”
Throw me in there as well.
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August 17th, 2012 at 9:18 am
@iamaloser – Unfortunately, I tend to agree with your perspectives.
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August 17th, 2012 at 10:06 am
@iamaloser, I hadn’t thought of it that way, it’s a cynical outlook but it does have merit. I’d hope that the big tech companies wouldn’t resort to that level of profiteering but, sadly, I’d not be surprised if they did
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August 17th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
@Oscar – I just tried the UK voice for Siri and that is scary! I’d yell at him too. Can you change in your settings to the English US setting? Female Siri is annoying but not so challenging if I could put it that way. ‘He’ definitely invites an argument!
More battery!
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August 17th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
battery life… couldn’t care less about a thinner screen
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August 18th, 2012 at 9:54 am
@Willem, Same here…
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August 18th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
I’ll take a thinner screen if it means a thicker battery…
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August 19th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Throw me in the battery column with everyone else.
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August 19th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I switched Mrs. In Everett’s Siri voice and yes, I did want to punch the English guy, and the Australian woman wasn’t much better. It’s odd that you can’t use any voice but the US one in America… Heck, we’re a melting pot, right? It must have something to do with the search settings, like UK Siri will only search the UK, likewise for Austrailian Siri for Austraia.
Oh well, maybe I should get in the developers program just to see what’s next…
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August 20th, 2012 at 4:39 am
It’s a shame that Apple doesn’t give you the choice of voices for Siri, after all, it’s just the interface so it shouldn’t matter.
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August 20th, 2012 at 7:42 am
Battery Life for sure!
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