The iPhone 5 News Blog

Digitimes’ Siu Han and Steve Shen say that Apple’s new iPhone, which they expect to be released in the third quarter of 2012, will likely adopt in-cell touch panels sourced from Japanese OEMs Sharp and Toshiba Mobile Display (TMD), according to sources in Apple’s supply chain.

Their insider moles report that an improvement in yield rates of the in-cell touch panels at Sharp and TMD has persuaded Apple to cooperate with the two Japan-based panel makers, which will begin to ramp up in-cell panel production in this quarter.

Han and Shen say that in response, Apple’s current touch panel suppliers TPK Holdings and Wintek, will of course be negatively affected, and that in response, TPK has said it is developing TOL (touch on lens) single-glass touch solutions, which will be more suitable for the production of high-end customized devices, and that the market will accommodate more than one technology.

However, Focus Taiwan‘s Jeffrey Wu reports that Taiwanese OEMs have pretty much conceded iPhone 5 screen supply to their Japanese competition due to the latter firm’s technological leads in this field, with the new iPhone unlikely to benefit Taiwanese panel makers according to analyst David Hsieh, vice president of DisplaySearch in charge of the Greater China market.

“Of course, Taiwanese panel makers are also developing this technology, but Japanese suppliers still run faster,” Hsieh reportedly observed to reporters on the sidelines of the DisplaySearch Taiwan Flat Panel Display Conference.

Technical details on just what in-cell touch panels are and what their advantages might be are a bit sketchy, but Wu reports that compared with the older on-cell technology, in-cell touch panels can be made thinner, because the touch sensors are actually placed inside the color filters rather than on top of them.

A report by Redmond Pie’s Paul Paliath says in-cell technology integrates touch functionality into the TFT (thin-film transistor) manufacturing process, eliminating the need for additional glass, which not only reduces manufacturing costs but can facilitate development of a thinner and lighter device altogether.

According to AU Optronics Corp. , which unveiled two kinds of in-cell multi-touch panel technologies back in 2007, they integrate touch function features into the TFT-LCD manufacturing process without adding an additional glass and thus, are able to retain a thickness of 2.2mm with a resolution of 480 x 272 – thinner than conventional touch panel applications. They are also claimed to have superior anti-glare properties to retain proper image color saturation and readability even in bright sunlight, eliminate the inconvenience of frequently-required calibration of conventional touch panel applications, and feature real-time true multiple touch point detection which allows users to easily slide their fingers on the screen to better enjoy the touch panel experience.

By implementing the latest glass thinning technology and shrinking the thickness of related components, AUO demonstrated the thinnest reported 1.9-inch mobile device TFT-LCD at 0.69mm, 13% thinner than the thickness of a credit card. The new LCD screen with a weight of 2.2 grams and 400-nit high brightness accomplishes a multitude of desirable qualities – being light, slim, elegant and sunlight readable.

By Charles Moore

An Asian news source is reporting that a Foxconn recruit has admitted that Apple’s top assembler is hiring thousands of new workers at its iPhone facility ”Because it seems [the iPhone 5] will go on sale in June.”

A new report has emerged today out of Asia that further supports the theory that Foxconn’s recent dash to hire thousands of new workers for its iPhone assembly plant is in response to a planned June iPhone 5 release. The news came by way of Japan-based Macotakara, who is reporting that Foxconn HR recruiters are telling prospective applicants that the reason for such a sudden push for new workers is indeed to be prepared for intense production of the iPhone 5 leading up to a June release.

CNET reports: “In a conversation recorded . . .  by TV Tokyo and aired April 2, a Foxconn recruiter says the company needs to hire about 18,000 people to manufacture the iPhone 5. ‘Because it seems it will go on sale in June,’ the recruiter says in response to a question about the iPhone 5, according to a Japanese translation of the original Chinese.”

Is this yet another compelling piece of evidence that the iPhone 5 is in fact nearing full-production for a June release date?

It most certainly adds to a myriad of recent reports that point to a major increase in components production for a new iPhone, as well as preparations to assemble it. In addition, Tim Cook’s surprise visit to China, as well as Apple’s aggressive push to standardize their new nano sim design would also suggest  that iPhone 5 production plans have intensified.

At the same time, Foxconn recruiters are not necessarily made privy to the release date of the next iPhone. They most likely have similar access to information as a manager at an AT&T or Verizon Wireless store would have, with directives coming down from the corporate office to begin hiring and staffing for something big, without being told explicitly what that “big” thing is.

But when it comes to Foxconn recruiters getting directives to hire thousands of workers quickly, the assumption is easily made that it relates to the iPhone 5, and this recruiter’s assumption is probably based on past experience and more actionable information than anyone in the rumor mill has access to.

For as much as this rumor may seem to speculative to corroborate, Asian-based tech media sources should be able to deduce further evidence that this hiring push is for the iPhone 5, based on how Foxconn’s facilities and workers behave over the next two months. If a troupe of new staffers make their way into the iPhone plant, live sequestered in their dorms, and are kept under strict security — hence creating a kind of “black hole” of information surrounding what they are working on — it will become even clearer that a June iPhone 5 release is imminent.

By Michael Nace

There was a fairly clear dominant consensus among forum responses to my “What’s Your Ideal iPhone Screen Size?” blog on Monday that while a somewhat larger display would be welcome in the iPhone 5. However a substantial proportion of respondents were adamant that it shouldn’t be too much larger than the current iPhone 4S’s 3.5-inch, panel, the concerns being physical size for comfortable holding, easy pocket or purse-ability, and the ungainly aesthetics of existing large-display Android phones.

Upper thresholds cited by several commenters were specifically “no greater than 4.0” or “no greater than 4.3.” That’s reasonably consistent with results of a new Strategy Analytics Wireless Device Lab report, “Smartphone Owners Want Thin Devices with Larger Displays,” I cited, which found that the largest proportion of surveyed smartphone owner respondents said they prefer device screens in the 4.0-inch to 4.5-inch range, as long as the device is also thin.

So I’m wondering how it will set with fans if a new rumor out of South Korea that Apple will use in the iPhone 5 a 4.6-inch panel similar in dimensions at least to the one currently used in Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S2 HD LTE handsets, expected to also equip the forthcoming Galaxy S3. South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper Basic Mobility News column reports that the iPhone 5 will debut this summer, which could possibly mean June, and that parts have already been ordered from OEM suppliers, noting that according to market research firm DisplaySearch, 3.5-inch LCD panel price is OEM priced at $17, but a of 4.6-inch panel would be around $ 20.

The article notes that Apple will go along with Samsung’s display size, and has opted to not change the “Golden Ratio” 4:3 proportions of the current iPhone 4S panel. That would make a phone with 4.6″ diagonal 4:3 aspect ratio display necessarily very wide, a concern the Maeil Business story alludes to, noting that the iPhone’s 3.5 inch screen allows a form factor that can be easily held and manipulated with one hand.

In addition, the report says Apple would take a pass on the AMOLED (active matrix organic light-emitting diodes) technology Samsung uses in its 4.6″ screen phones, and instead go with higher-resolution LCD Retina technology.

I’m skeptical. A lot of iPhone users cherish its ergonomics friendliness and conveniently compact dimensions, and while many would welcome a bit more on-screen real estate, there would be resistance to compromising those other desirable factors to accommodate a much larger display.

Pocket-Lint’s Stuart Miles observes in a commentary today that he thinks 4-inches seems much more likely, and that a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, the same as the iPad 2, would result in a pixel density of 320ppi on a 4-inch screen, which would be close enough to satisfy Apple’s Retina display criteria. The iPhone 4S’s 3.5″ Retina display has a 960 x 640 pixel resolution for a pixel density of 326ppi. Miles calculates that getting close to 320 ppi with a 4.6″ display would require a roughly 1200 x 900 resolution, achievement of which would make the device very wide id a 4:3 aspect ratio is to be maintained.

I’m inclined to go with Miles’s deduction. It seems implausible that Apple would go with a screen as large as 4.6 inches on the next iPhone given the physical limitations of accommodating Retina-class resolution and the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Of course this is all speculative as yet, and we’ll have to see what Apple does when the announcement comes (I’m still leaning toward fall).

By Charles Moore

Last year, Sprint hung a great deal of hope on its upcoming 4G network and the iPhone. Now, however, analysts say that the 4G LTE iPhone 5 could potentially deep-six America’s third-largest mobile carrier.

Last year when the iPhone 4S launched, I remember tuning in to Sprint’s press conference just after the 4S launched. While Sprint CEO Dan Hesse gushed about gaining the iPhone, the press conference was much more focused on Sprint’s 2012 4G network rollout, boasting of a rash of new 4G LTE devices and a much stronger 4G network than what Sprint currently holds with its 3G network. If you look back at that article, there was a lot of excitement and hope in what 2012 would bring for Sprint.

And yet, at that time, analysts fretted over whether or not Sprint’s new 4G network could really hold up under the weight of a possible 4G LTE iPhone 5 release. We wrote an article about it, and now it appears that those fears are coming true.

According to Forbes, Sprint how has an alarming 50% chance of bankruptcy, and the prospect of handling (or mishandling) a 4G LTE iPhone 5 seems to be the driving thrust for Sprint’s possible death knell: ”We believe an LTE iPhone will likely be badly disadvantaged on Sprint’s network, potentially impairing sales … at a time when Sprint is subject to a punishing take-or-pay deal with Apple,” Forbes quoted Moffett as writing. “The problem is 4G. Sprint doesn’t have enough free-and-clear spectrum on which to launch a competitive LTE network, and it doesn’t have the money to clear spectrum that’s already in use. We expect Sprint’s competitiveness to begin to backslide when LTE becomes the nation’s de facto standard.”

This is a horrible report for Sprint, and its customers, who are excited about the iPhone 5. If Moffett’s predictions are true, one wonders if Sprint would offer the iPhone 5 without 4G connectivity — or no iPhone 5 at all? If it was determined that the iPhone 5 would hurt more than help, there’s no way that Sprint would release a product that would destroy it.

And there is reason to believe that this could be a possible scenario for Sprint and the iPhone 5. After all, where is the iPad 3? Where is the Samsung Galaxy Note? These are this year’s two premier 4G devices, and neither are available on Sprint. It’s a bad sign — an ill omen that 4G isn’t going so well at Sprint.

It’s easy to dismiss Sprint as a viable carrier for Apple products, since AT&T and Verizon garner such a large percentage of the U.S. coverage for the iPhone and iPad. But there’s more bound up in the success of Sprint than making shareholders happy; millions of Sprint customers choose the third-largest network mainly for its value pricing, and don’t necessarily want to jump ship in order to own an iPhone 5 or iPad 3. However, as popularity of the iPad 3 and excitement over the iPhone 5 continue to grow, Sprint will see major churn in its subscribership if they don’t get their 4G straight.

By Michael Nace

Using just a bit of deductive reasoning, the final piece of evidence — this time from Verizon — cements the long-standing speculation that the iPhone 5 will be Apple’s first 4G LTE smartphone.

Few people would appear to be in doubt as to whether or not the iPhone 5 will be 4G LTE, given the fact that the iPad 3 has ushered in 4G connectivity to the Apple brand. But a report today indicating that Verizon will release only 4G LTE smartphones this year is perhaps just as convincing as the iPad 3 that we can expect a 4G LTE iPhone 5.

According to the Christian Post, “The fact that the carrier has declared this means that the next generation iPhone will most likely be an LTE device, since that smartphone is sure to launch sometime this year.”

Implicit in Verizon’s announcement is that fact that Verizon is obviously looking to switch over to selling 4G smartphones only — not just in 2012, but 2012 and beyond. Therefore, it is not only a big announcement for the future of the iPhone 5, but also a leading indicator that 4G LTE has truly arrived, and Verizon is not looking to continue to propagate 3G smartphones. This is essentially a confirmation that 3G is on its way out.

No doubt, the iPhone 5 being 4G LTE will indeed finally mainstream 4G connectivity (at least in the U.S.), and it is safe to assume that AT&T and Sprint will follow suit with this decision. You’ll also recall that, when Sprint announced the iPhone 4S last fall, they also said that they would be investing heavily in 4G. We wrote about it back on October 10th, revealing that Sprint was essentially going all in with 4G in 2012, and planning on releasing a bevy of LTE devices — with the iPhone ostensibly being one of them: “We were explicitly told in the press conference that Sprint’s first 4G devices will be dual-mode CDMA/LTE devices — including tablets and smartphones — and that they will begin to be available in mid 2012, expecting 15 4G-ready devices in the first wave.”

At the beginning of the year, we also reported on how analysts were beginning to see an LTE iPhone 5 as the harbinger of mainstream 4G LTE adoption. It would seem that that prediction is coming true, with the iPad 3 laying down the framework for a 4G LTE iPhone 5.

By Michael Nace

The prevailing logic about NFC and “wave and pay” technology for iOS and the iPhone 5 is that it’s not quite ready to go mainstream. But a new study finds that an overwhelming number of mobile users want to begin using their smartphones to pay for goods and services.

we’ve been talking about NFC and the iPhone 5 for almost as long as this blog has been around (since August 10th, 2010, just as a reminder). Considering that Google has already experimented with NFC “wave and pay” technologies in the Android domain — albeit abortively — many feel that it is up to Apple to make NFC payments a reality by perfecting and mainstreaming it on the iPhone 5 (just as consumer expected Apple to mainstream the tablet and are still waiting for the wide launch of 4G LTE.)

Unfortunately, indications from Cupertino have been discouraging when it comes to NFC for the iPhone 5, which has caused its plausibility for the next iPhone to swing wildly over the past year or so. I reported on October 20th on a study finding that there was low consumer demand for NFC in the marketplace, compounded by the fact that a successful NFC implementation is not only about fitting the iPhone 5 with it, but also getting the vast majority of major retailers to invest in it as well. there is also the lingering concern about privacy and interfacing one’s financial details with iOS.

And yet, the NFC rumor has slowly crept back into the conversation.

Charles discovered an interesting angle on NFC back on November 24th, which showed Apple to be looking closely at it for short-term implementation. More recently, MasterCard gave some serious hints that the iPhone could become a short-term contender for NFC technology.

But perhaps the most compelling news about NFC to come along in quite a long time is a new study, which refutes earlier indications that mobile users aren’t ready for NFC payments. According to Appolicious, “71 percent of smartphone customers are willing to use their smartphones to pay for transactions at physical stores, and 29 percent go to their smartphones for information when shopping. The numbers come from the third quarter of 2011, according to Nielsen, which finds that plenty of users rely on their smartphones for all manner of shopping help.”

Perhaps more compelling than emerging technology rumors or comments from MasterCard executives is this finding, as Apple will undoubtedly take notice and seriously investigate NFC  for the iPhone 5 if they think they can make a big profit from it.

The only thing that could dog Apple in implementing NFC are the continued concerns over privacy and information sharing, which could filter down into discussions and debates about NFC. A few bad PR stories in the early going of NFC for the iPhone 5 could have a devastating impact on its success. It’s a big gamble for Apple, and it could break either way.

By Michael Nace

SodaHead.com, an online opinion-based community, has released the results of a poll asking consumers what is the “Most Anticipated Tech Product of 2012″ and iPhone 5 came out on top with 35% of the vote.  Runner-up was the iPad 3 with 20%.  Rounding out the top five was the rumored Google tablet (16%), the PlayStation Vita (12%), Wii U (11%) and the Kindle Fire 2 (7%).

Another infographic, with the results of all of SodaHead’s “2012 predictions” polls can be found here.

iPhone 5 – More Than Just The Phone

Computerworld’s Jonny Evans has posted a wishlist of features he’d like to see in the iPhone 5, and notes that the future of mobile isn’t just about phones, it’s about homes, so be ready.

Evans’s list includes:

• A faster quad-core processor. My take is that it appears unlikely that the iPad 3, rumored to be already in mass production and slated for a March release, will have quad-core A6 power. What I’m deducing from scuttlebutt is that Apple will stick with the A5 CPU for iPad 3, and possibly release an iPhone 4 (or 3S?) in October. At least that’s the timeline the Taiwan-based journal Digitimes is hearing from its insider moles.

Also, CNET’s usually reliable and well-researched Brook Crothers reported recently that analyst Tavis McCourt of the Morgan Keegan investment bank predicted an iPhone 5 for this fall in a research note.

On the other hand, it’s also been recently reported that that the latest iOS 5.1 beta includes updated processing-core management software that not only supports the dual-core processing enabled by the A5 iPhone and iPad chip, but also quad-core processing, so it appears that the software is ready whenever Apple decides it’s time to pull the A6 trigger.

That presents the conundrum of whether Apple would introduce A6 quad-core power to iOS devices in an iPhone. I still think its possible that we’ll see iPhone 5 at Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference in June, but the way the universe is unfolding, that even may be focused on a major MacBook laptop family overhaul announcement, with Intel Ivy Bridge Core i processors and a case redesign for the Pro models.

If that plays out, iPhone 5 could get bumped back to October, a year after the iPhone 4S release, and possibly for a simultaneous rollout with iPad 4/3S. In that instance, I think an A6 chip would be highly likely. If it’s June for the iPhone 5, less so. It’s been ventured that with Asus’s recent release of a quad core Android Tablet it’s unlikely that Apple would let Android tablets get a year out in front before matching the hardware. However, while demand for the dual-core iPhone 4S is reportedly softening somewhat, it’s still selling well, and I don’t think raw processor power is a tier-one concern for most iPhone users, at least yet.

• Wireless charging – Evans notes that Apple already supports wireless sync with iTunes, and maintains that it’s time to enable wireless recharging, as well, along the lines of Mobee Technology’s Magic Feet range of Mac wireless inductive charging peripherals introduced at CES this week. Observing that Apple already holds patents for inductive charging, Evans is hopeful. I’m skeptical for the iPhone 5, but it wouldn’t be a total shocker.

• LTE and NFC support – I’m from Missouri on this one as well. It wouldn’t surprise me greatly if one or the other is part of the iPhone 5 feature set, nor would it if neither is included. It really depends substantially on infrastructure and component issues beyond Apple’s control. When those are resolved to Apple’s satisfaction, I’m confident that we’ll see both LTE and NFC in the iPhone. In 2012? That remains to be seen.

• Better Security – With NFC the iPhone will become an iWallet, which raises a concatenation of new security concerns. Evans says that fortunately, help is coming in the form of a sophisticated security set-up Apple’s been quietly developing, as reported by Patently Apple this week to use a combination of facial recognition, biometrics (potentially) and a split device security reminder system, with development being led by one of Apple’s most senior minds, Bud Tribble.

• Serious Siri – I’ll cop to being something of a Siri skeptic — Luddite if you wish —, as I am about 3D. In either case, is it the shape of the future, or are these technologies novel gimmicks? I think the jury is still out. I detest 3D, but I do use voice input technology a lot as a production tool, such as with Nuance’s excellent and free Dragon Dictation for iPhone and iPad. However, there’s the bandwidth-hogging issue, and having people jabbering search queries and whatnot to their iPhones (and soon iPads as well) in company or public raises the level of digital communications etiquette obnoxiousness by several magnitudes.

That said, I think voice control and input are here to stay, but will they ever dominate? I hope not. However, Evans is confident that eventually we’ll be able to use an iPhone and Siri to control household appliances and integrate with home security systems. He’s probably right, but I wouldn’t look for more than an optimized and enhanced Siri in iPhone 5.

Evans assures us that in a relatively short time Apple won’t just be in your den, it will be all over your home, what he calls “the Machine-To-Machine (M2M) gold rush we’re going to see become a major industry trend this year.” He concedes that it’s a little like the Jetsons or Star Trek, and that from an air traffic control point of view it’s probably still quite a good thing the world’s 7 billion people don’t have jet packs yet, but can’t the same be said of bandwidth-clogging technologies like Siri?

Just sayin’.

A new rumor suggests that Apple is testing a new quad core processor for the iPhone 5, ostensibly alongside earlier reports of a stacked 3D design.

When we talk about the proposed chip for the iPhone 5, we typically refer to it as the A6 processor, since Apple will most likely stick to that nomenclature going forward. But just because we are guessing that the next CPU will be called the “A6″ doesn’t necessarily tell us how it will differ from the A5. And new rumors today suggest that Apple currently has a few different iPhone 5 species in the works, testing new processor technologies.

According to InRumor, “The Cupertino-based company is reportedly working on multiple configurations of its next smartphone. German Mac site Macerkopf cites two sources that claim Apple is testing quad-core CPU’s in order to see the viability of a quad-core iPhone. The site also writes that two iPhone models are being tested at present, one equipped with a dual-core, the other with a quad-core processor.” At first, it’s hard to reconcile this new rumor with the long-running belief that the iPhone 5 was close to being released, but was shelved at the last minute due to issues with components. But considering that the 2011 iPhone 5 prototype most likely featured the A5 processor — which may have been the problem in and of itself with the early iPhone 5 prototype — then it becomes more easy to believe that Cupertino feels it needs a much more powerful chip to make the iPhone 5 do what they want it to do.

Like run on LTE and power a larger, more sophisticated screen.

The idea of a quad core A6 processor for the 2012 iPhone 5 is impressive, especially when you consider the processing power of MacBooks. But this isn’t the first time that we’ve heard of impressive, new processor technology coming down the pike for the iPhone 5. On August 29th, Charles Moore reported about a “3D” chip technology for the iPhone 5, stating that “TSMC is applying its latest 28-nanometer process and 3D stacking technologies to produce the A6, which will also benefit from TSMC’s cutting-edge silicon interposer and bump on trace (BOT) methodologies.” It remains to be seen how this technology squares with the quad core rumors, but given the fact that TSMC’s relationship with Apple may have been short-lived, it is possible that Samsung is helping to shape a new design for the A6.

Another thing to consider is how all of these processor rumors for the iPhone 5 will relate to the iPad 3, since it will most definitely make its debut in March, months before the iPhone 5. Charles’ article had stated in August that “It is widely anticipated that the A6 chip will make its public debut in an iPad, although it won’t necessarily be the iPad 3, which is expected to roll out in February or March of next year. However, if rumors that an upgraded iPad 2 with a Retina Display will be released before the iPad 3 — possibly before the end of this year — bear out, that could provide Apple with some breathing space to delay release of the iPad 3 until the A6 is ready toward mid-year.”

Charles was reporting on the “iPad 2 Plus” rumors that abounded in the Summer and, although a Fall 2011 iPad 2 Plus never came to pass, Charles’ comment about the retina display is still valid: if Apple is planning an overhaul of the iPad 3, you can rest assured that its processor will need to support any new advancements. And because we’ll get to see the new processor in the iPad 3 before the iPhone 5, it will give us some insight into what we can expect from the iPhone 5.

By Michael Nace

On Wednesday communications silicon maker Qualcomm announced availability of Gobi 4000, the company’s latest addition to its Gobi family of embedded data connectivity platforms that could be the heretofore missing enablers of iPhones with 4G LTE support.

Based on Qualcomm’s multimode 3G/4G wireless modems, the MDM9600 and MDM9200, share a common software interface (Gobi API) for connection management development. The Gobi 4000 platform allows Qualcomm’s customers like Apple, which has standardized on Qualcomm communications chippery for the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPad 2, to offer both LTE/HSPA+ and LTE/EV-DO designs to meet the growing worldwide demand for embedded 3G/4G connectivity in mobile devices.

“Embedded modules based on our new Gobi 4000 technology are designed to give consumers an uncompromised mobile connectivity experience, both in terms of download speeds and flexibility,” says Qualcomm CDMA Technologies senior vice president of product management Cristiano Amon. “To make Gobi 4000 available to as many consumers as possible, Qualcomm has worked hard to ensure that OEMs can use the platform on many commonly used personal computing, tablet and e-reader operating systems.”

Compatible with CDMA2000, 1xEV-DO Rev. A, and B, HSPA+, dual-carrier HSPA+, and LTE connectivity standards, and supporting integrated backwards compatibility to HSPA and EV-DO, Qualcomm’s Gobi 4000 platform also includes software enhancements for select MDM (mobile device modem) chipsets that enable a common software interface to help connect, locate and manage 3G/4G devices regardless of wireless interface and operating system. This interface will help streamline product development efforts, spur application development among third-party software developers, and deliver greater flexibility to device manufacturers.

System designers like Apple will appreciate Qualcomm’s diverse chipset and software product portfolio spanning multiple device classes, and will now have the flexibility to choose an embedded Gobi 4000 platform to give their devices high-speed 4G LTE support as well as an embedded Gobi 3000 platform for worldwide 3G connectivity on a single chip, presumably with the enhanced power efficiency, the lack of which has heretofore been an impediment to Apple’s offering 4G support on the iPhone.

Last February, then acting Apple CEO Tim Cook commented that offering LTE support on the iPhone “would force design compromises we’re not willing to make.” However, the new MDM9x00 series chips supporting both 4G LTE and 3G with enhanced power efficiency should open the door to Apple being able to include LTE support in the iPhone 5 (and the iPad 3 as well if they so choose). Qualcomm’s projected release date for the MDM9615 chip is reportedly sometime in Q1 2012, which would be nice timing for Apple to be able to incorporate it in a World Wide Developer’s Conference iPhone 5 release next June.

Steve Jobs may have passed away, but Apple’s former CEO and visionary made sure to leave behind plans and concepts for four years worth of new products, including new iPhones.

The sadness and grief surrounding Steve Jobs’ death still looms large in the wake of his passing on October 5th. It has been a complex series of emotions for Apple customers over the past week: the mixed feelings over the release of the iPhone 4S, together with the loss of Apple’s CEO and pioneer, have left hopeful iPhone 5 adopters in a state of bewilderment, having expected this week — and the weeks and months to come — to be filled with the fresh, new experiences of a groundbreaking new iPhone, with no sense that Steve Jobs would ever really die.

There is no doubt that Jobs’ death has cast a pall over the release of the iPhone 4S. We have yet to receive any reliable word about initial pre-sales, but it can be assumed that the “sticker shock” of getting the iPhone 4S instead of the iPhone 5, together with Jobs’ passing, has undoubtedly had some effect on pre-orders. Anecdotally, we’ve seen it present on this blog’s comments.

While some are still contemplating whether they will invest in the iPhone 4S or not, still others are wondering what the future of the iPhone will be without Steve Jobs at the helm. If you are one of these people, fear not: Steve Jobs has left four years worth of plans for new Apple products — including new iPhone concepts.

In an article from the Mail, they explain that, “Despite knowing he was dying, Steve Jobs worked for more than a year on the products that he believed would safeguard the company’s future,” and that “Blueprints for new  iPod, iPad, iPhone and MacBooks [are] in place” for four more generations of Apple’s groundbreaking products.

Obviously, there are no details to be had from these blueprints, which are most definitely vaulted away at Cupertino. But to know that perhaps as many as the next four iPhone models will have Steve Jobs’ fingerprints on them is incredibly reassuring — not only to investors, but to customers who believed in Jobs’ vision as well.

Another interesting revelation from the Mail article is that Jobs had “also been overseeing the development of the delayed iCloud project, which will allow Apple users to store their music, photos and other documents remotely and masterminding updated versions of the iPod, iPad, iPhone and MacBooks, ensuring at least four years’ worth of products are in the pipeline, according to Apple sources.” There is no indication that Jobs was heavily invested in the iPhone 4S product, but rather iCloud, which suggests that Apple will continue to develop and enhance the Apple ecosphere in ways that we cannot even imagine.

Steve Jobs Loved You

While it may seem sentimental and over-sensational to say, Steve Jobs had a love and commitment for you, the Apple customer, that is almost hard to grasp. Facing his passing from this world, and knowing that his legacy as a great innovator and leader of industry was intact, J0bs still sought to steer the direction of Apple’s products even in death. What would his motivation had been for wanting to do this? It isn’t as if he felt he had to preserve Apple Inc. from the grave — the company is more successful and solvent now than it ever has been.

No, Steve Jobs’ motivation was purely based on a commitment to his customers, and sense that his products made a positive impact in peoples’ lives. Sales gurus will tell you that this is the only way you can be a successful salesperson — to believe that your products make a difference. There is no doubt that the iPhone has had such an impact; the passion for the device on this blog is a testament to that.

So, it should be reassuring to iPhone users that, for the foreseeable future, the next iPhones will still bear the creativity, commitment, and quality that Steve Jobs came to embody as an innovator and public figure.

Knowing that Steve Jobs has left behind four years worth of blueprints and concepts for the iPhone, what do you think that the iPhone in 2015 will be like?

By Michael Nace