The iPhone 5 News Blog

Will Google seek to craft the Motorola Atrix 3 into a competitor to the iPhone 5 by ditching its TI chips for one of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chips?

The recent report of a supply shortfall among the new 28nm Qualcomm S4 Snapdragon chips and its possible implications for the iPhone 5 has spurred a few new stories — namely, what other 2012 smartphones might be vying for the same chips. Just today, we explored the possibilities that the Samsung Galaxy S 3 might soon debut with many of the hardware features that are rumored for the iPhone 5. The Samsung Galaxy series is often considered to be a natural rival to the iPhone, so all eyes are on Samsung starting today to see what the GS3 will deliver.

But what about the Motorola Atrix 3? After Google’s acquisition of Motorola, it has been assumed that the search engine giant would use the Motorola brand to design and manufacture their first truly in-house smartphone that could take on the iPhone from top to bottom. By having total oversight and control over the design and manufacturing, a model like the rumored Atrix 3 could live up the same quality, performance, and features that have propelled the iPhone to enjoy evergreen success.

Coincidentally, the Atrix 3 is back in the news, and guess what — rumors suggest it may use chips from the same set of Qualcomm S4 Snapdragon chips that are currently in short supply.

According to Droid Matters:

“. . . a recent GLBenchmark result for an AT&T Motorola device going under model number MB886 is showing that it will feature Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor- the same one found in the HTC One XL which is rumored to launch sometime next week on AT&T. The MB886 is rumored to be the Atrix 3 and will reportedly have a screen resolution of 1196 x 720- similar to the Galaxy Nexus, meaning that the Moto phone may get on-screen buttons.

With NVIDIA still in the process of designing their LTE-capable chips, Motorola opted for Qualcomm, because of their known compatibility with LTE networks. The S4 processor is already getting great feedback from the tech community and the recently leaked benchmarks for the AT&T HTC One X can prove it.”

This great report from Zack Nebbaki clearly reveals the Atrix 3 will be outfitted with the same rumored 28nm chips for the LTE iPhone 5. It is very possible that both Apple and Google/Motorola have managed to exhaust supplies of these chips in a production ramp-up for summer releases.

But what I also found interesting was Droid Matters’ mentioning of on-screen buttons for the Atrix 3. The home button issue for the iPhone 5 is long-running, with early speculation wondering if Apple might finally forego the home button. The inclusion of the home button on the iPad 3 seemed to have dissipated any fresh speculation about the iPhone 5 ending up with no home button, but with recent rumors of seamless bonding, edge-to-edge screens, and a LiquidMetal back, now the suggestion that a top rival like the Atrix 3 featuring on-screen buttons makes one wonder if the iPhone 5 could replace the physical home button with an on-screen variant in order to create a completely smooth, seamless form factor. To be sure, the proposed longer screen would allow for this functionality. In any case, it will be interesting to see what happens with the Atrix 3 — whether it’ll be released before or after the iPhone 5, and if it will be able to live up to some of the hype surrounding it as Google’s eventual answer to the iPhone franchise.

By Michael Nace 

A purported photo of the GS3. Whoop-dee-freaking-do.

A 4.6-inch screen, 8 megapixel camera, 16Gb of storage and NFC technology — at first glance, this seems like a list of long-rumored features that could very well end up on the iPhone 5. But while Appledom has been imagining these features on the next iPhone, so too has the Android sect prognosticated them for Samsung’s new Galaxy S 3, the 2012 Android smartphone set to give Apple its stiffest competition in the marketplace. And with Samsung being first to market with features that are highly coveted for the iPhone 5, the tech community is left wondering if Samsung will manage to siphon off potential iPhone users, thanks to their strategy of preempting iPhone launches with their own competing device.

Samsung has been trying to channel the buzz and mystery that perennially propels the new iPhone each season by setting up a cryptic countdown clock at tgeltaayehxnx.com, which, in true Android form, crashed as a result of heavy traffic. But the heavy traffic is at least a good sign for Samsung, who appears to have made more of a buzz-worthy impact on smartphone consumers this year thus far, what with a relatively successful string of sales reports of the Galaxy Note, and now a steady crescendo of interest for what the Samsung Galaxy S 3 will offer.

The question is, will the GS3 be a true iPhone 5 killer?

In terms of features, the GS3 may very well end up offering the same hardware features as the iPhone 5, and maybe even more: if Samsung delivers on a 4.6-inch screen, it still may turn out to be a larger display than the iPhone 5, which could turn out to have a longer yet thin display. And while NFC payment technology is heavily rumored for the iPhone 5, it could still be a year away, leaving the GS3 as the flagship device for NFC in 2012. More memory, more RAM, an improved 8-megapixel camera sensor, and LTE — all of these iPhone 5 features could be matched by the Samsung Galaxy S 3.

But where the iPhone 5 could excel is in its form factor and software, alla iOS 6.

The photo above depicts a purported photo of the GS3. While it might turn out to be bogus (as photos like these usually do), chances are the GS3 will probably turn out to look something like what is depicted here: a kind of boxy, plastic, Androidy design.

Conversely, the iPhone 5 could turn out to reinvent the already impressive glass and metal design of the iPhone 4 with the advent of a molded LiquidMetal back. LiquidMetal Technologies themselves stipulate that their unique metal alloy, while offering many benefits, such as being lightweight, strong, and moldable, also has the capabilities of being crafted into beautiful designs. The metal alloy is used in jewelry and high-priced watches, after all. So, in terms of pure aesthetics, the iPhone 5 could look like a completely different species of smartphone next to the GS3. That might not count for much to the hard core tech geek, but for the average user, they will seek out the device that makes them look and feel unique, even in spite of the fact that the singular iPhone sells almost as many units as all of Android combined. Finally, just as 2011′s iPhone 4S showcased some major software upgrades via iOS 5, we could see iOS 6 deliver some next-generation user interfaces and voice command functionality that will make it stand out from its Android competition. Apple has long searched for software solutions in contrast to its competitors, who strap on more hardware to keep their new devices fresh. The combination of an impressive, new form factor and mind-blowing iOS features will be hard for even a high-performance smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S 3 to compete against, no matter how many crashed countdown websites or new features they throw up. By Michael Nace

Qualcomm’s admission of a production shortfall in their 28-nanometer chips has led analysts and tech pundits to assume that the iPhone 5′s release date will be delayed because of it. Read how Qualcomm’s supply issues may have been caused by iPhone 5 production in the first place.  

Last week, thanks to the analysts at  Piper Jaffray, the iPhone 5 rumor mill swung wildly back to being resigned to an October release date. Their analysis came after a report from Reuters indicating that Qualcomm’s series of 28-nanometer S4 Snapdragon chip inventories have been constrained since December, and as a result, they will not be able to meet production demands for their clients in upcoming months. The report concluded that because the iPhone 5 will “support LTE and utilize the Qualcomm 28nm baseband modem,” Piper Jaffray expects the iPhone 5 release to be delayed.

It didn’t take long for tech pundits to broadcast Piper Jaffray’s conclusions about the Qualcomm chip shortage being bad news for the June iPhone 5 release date rumor. CNET weighed in early, with Lynn La parroting the Piper Jaffray report: “According to an industry note from investment banking firm Piper Jaffray, Apple will most likely continue its trend of October launches and wait until this fall to release the iPhone 5. This later release date is said to be due to a supply issue with Qualcomm’s 28-nanometer modem chip, which will enable the new iPhone to be LTE-compatible.”

Chris Burns at SlashGear sees the Qualcomm admission as a kind of tip-off to the October iPhone 5 release, saying, “At this stage it appears that if this indicator tied with Piper Jaffray’s analyst Gene Munster’s predictions can be collectively strewn into a date – we’re looking at October of this year for the next generation iPhone.

On top of this, according to new reports, Qualcomm is scrambling to ramp up production of their 28-nanometer chips, which is being interpreted as further proof of a later iPhone 5 release, as the chip manufacturer moves to meet demands for summer iPhone 5 production. According to EDN, “Fabless chip vendor Qualcomm Inc acknowledged Wednesday that it was turning to other foundry suppliers amid a shortage of 28-nm capacity at its longtime foundry partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd.”

Amidst all of this banter about Qualcomm’s shortage and how the iPhone 5 will suffer an October release because of it, few have considered the other possibility: is Qualcomm’s 28-nanometer chip shortage a result of iPhone 5 production, thus pointing to a June release after all?

To support this idea, let’s go back to the original Reuters article, since it doesn’t assume or reference anything about the iPhone 5. The article quotes Qualcomm Chief Financial Officer Bill Keitel as saying, ”Demand went so far ahead of availability that we’ve decided to start spending more money to get more supply as soon as possible.” Keitel’s comments confirm that the shortfall of chips was not a result of some kind of manufacturing snafu, but rather from excessive demand that Qualcomm’s supply could not keep up with. Since we know that Qualcomm is suffering from supply constraints across all of its S4 Snapdragon 28-nanometer chips, this implies that someone has been buying up their chips over the past months.

Couldn’t that have been Apple?

Tiernan Ray at Barron’s seems to br thinking along these lines. Reporting on CitiGroup’s Glen Yeung, who issued a “buy” rating after the Qualcomm news, he explains that “While the company attributed the shortfall to supply constraints for newer chips with 28-nanometer feature sizes, Yeung thinks it was all about Apple. Specifically, Apple’s forthcoming transition to the as-yet-unannounced “iPhone 5,” he speculates, means the company has less need for Qualcomm’s existing 45-nanometer chips this quarter.”

Yeung is assuming an October iPhone 5 release as well, but why is it not possible that Qualcomm’s current dearth of 28-nanometer chips is a result of Apple’s big iPhone 5 order for them, and that it will be the iPhone 5 competitors who will be delayed? After all, we’ve already heard about the Foxconn hiring rumors, and since assembly is the last process in manufacturing, Apple may have its Qualcomm chip components already in place.

It’s worth noting that Qualcomm themselves never attributed any specific client or device to the heavy demand that led to this shortfall.

What’s interesting, however, is that, when you look at the list of S4 Snapdragon chips, very few appear to be deployed in current devices. According to Wikipedia, only the MSM8960 and MSM8260A have been used on a smattering of Asus, HTC, and ZTE devices this year — certainly not enough to put Qualcomm in the production hole that they now find themselves in.

This story can be likened to the recent LiquidMetal rumors as well: we reported last week on how LiquidMetal Technologies released this statement to the press on the morning of March 7th, when the iPad 3 was announced:

Liquidmetal Technologies today announced that its manufacturing operations are currently in the midst of shipping commercial parts to several of its customers world-wide. Parts delivery began this past December with continuing shipments scheduled for the months ahead.

Tech media analysts blundered this report badly, excitedly assuming that it was making reference to the New iPad being constructed of LiquidMetal’s alloy. Now, in 20/20 hindsight, that admission may have been pointing to the iPhone 5, instead — or on other products entirely. “Several of its customers” certainly doesn’t indicate Apple directly.

By no means does Qualcomm’s chip shortage clearly indicate a June iPhone 5 release. But if also doesn’t point to a delayed October release, either. All we know is that the shortfall was driven by huge demand, and none of the 2012 devices using the 28-nanometer chips are selling well enough to substantiate the shortage. Thus, I believe there is just as much reason to believe Apple drained Qualcomm’s warehouses for a June iPhone 5 as there is evidence to support the October release.

By Michael Nace

Production rumors out of Asia indicate that suppliers have received orders to produce components for 6 million Mini iPad units, to be released in the third quarter of 2012. But will a 7-inch Mini iPad’s top competitors in the marketplace be the New iPad and iPhone 5?  

Mini iPad rumors persist, with more whispering coming out of Asia that the tech manufacturing sector is receiving component orders for 6 million units, with a release window sometime in the third quarter. The Chinese-language tech blog Netease, which covers production-related news and rumors for consumer tech, had this to say (via Google Translate): “the appearance of the chassis are arranged by the Hon Hai Group, the new co-operation in some parts partners. In addition to the previous markets confirmed AUO and Shuo Following the New iPad this year, has re-received the iPad Mini Order,” going on to say that, “according to Taiwan media reports, the recent market came iPad Mini supply chain has been finalized, with the exception of David overseas, and the master also won the assembly order.”

Netease appears to be drawing from sources from within the tech manufacturing sector. But for as much as the article points out specific component suppliers purported to have received orders for Mini iPad parts, the sources remain unfounded.

But I found another quote from the Netease article that is worth thinking about:

They also had this to say about the viability of a 7-inch Mini iPad in the consumer tech marketplace: “However, foreign analysts pointed out that if Apple launched a low price the iPad Mini, most affected is probably the market share of more than 60 percent of the iPad, and may generate crowding out effect size similar to the iPhone.” Broken English and yet another unfounded source aside, this is an important consideration: what could the unintended consquences be of releasing the Mini iPad, and could it lead to reduced sales of this year’s New iPad and eventual iPhone 5?

Joanna Stern at ABC News is quick to point out that Steve Jobs was never a fan of the smaller iPad. she had this to say in a recent article:

Steve Jobs had been quite outspoken about smaller tablets; during one earnings call he even said that a 7-inch tablet would be “dead on arrival.” On that same call he said, “While one could increase the resolution of the display to make up for some of the difference, it is meaningless unless your tablet also includes sandpaper so that the user can sand down their fingers to around one quarter of their present size.”

Jobs’ explanation for why the smaller iPad would be a problem doesn’t include any discussion of how it could affect sales of other Apple devices, or if it could be profitable in an of itself. Though Jobs was also known to have said more than once that the smaller tablet (or large-screened smartphone) can be confounding to consumers, since it strattles both the smartphone and tablet design. As a result, Jobs seemed to be implicitly suggesting that a device like this could in fact hurt the iPhone and full-sized iPad.

In addition, there is even question as to whether or not a Mini iPad can in fact be a profitable product for Apple, based on what we know about the cost of components that go into the current iPads. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes at ZDNET has an interesting cost breakdown estimate of the Mini iPad, which bears out questions as to how Apple would ever make any money selling it:

“[T]ake a look at the cost of a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 [graphic above]. It’s down as a shade over $245. We can take this as a starting price for the mini iPad. A smaller iPad would have a smaller screen, smaller touch screen and, one would assume, a smaller battery. But how much realistically can these smaller items shave off the price? Even shaving $40 off the overall bill of materials (BOM) and manufacturing costs would mean that even at $299 the mini iPad would have the smallest gap between BOM plus manufacturing costs of any iPad. It just doesn’t make sense that Apple would release a mini iPad, a device that could potentially cannibalize sales of the more expensive models, at such a poor margins. A mini iPad might make sense if iPad sales were flagging, but there’s nothing to suggest that Apple is having a problem selling full-sized (and high-margin) iPads.

We already know that, thanks to Apple keeping the new iPad prices steady, it isn’t particularly profitable on its own — Apple’s profits from the iPad come mostly from brute sales numbers. Now, the Mini iPad appears to be even less profitable at the unit level. But as Kingsley-Hughes points out, it could end up cannibalizing sales of the iPhone 5 and New iPad. Of course, Kingsley-Hughes’ computations are based on the rumor that the Mini iPad would essentially be exactly like the iPad 3, only smaller. It remains to be seen if Apple would be willing to make the Mini iPad an el cheap-o model in order to make it more profitable. It is, after all, possible to make much lower-performance tablets than what Apple produces. But what would possibly come with it is a drop in quality and performance that Apple customers may not be comfortable with. As Apple enthusiasts, its much easier to imagine the viability of new products like the Mini iPad based on our own wants and wishes than to be sober enough to ask, “will it make Apple money?” If the answer to this question is “no,” then there is no way that we’ll ever see a Mini iPad. They might have a couple promotypes sitting around in the Cupertino labs, but that’s where they’ll be destined to stay.

By Michael Nace

Production rumors coming out of Asia often provide interesting fodder for the iPhone 5 rumor mill. Read about how an analyst now believes that the iPhone 5‘s touch panel could be manufactured in Japan — not Taiwan.

Apple’s famous (and sometimes infamous) Worldwide Loyalty Team (WLT) is notorious for keeping a tight lid on secrets surrounding upcoming Apple product releases. With the exception of a few blunders — such as the famous lost iPhone 4 (was that a blunder or a publicity stunt? I never could tell) — the WLT does a thorough job of keeping the new iPhone and iPad under wraps until its official unveiling at a time and place of Apple’s choosing.

While the WLT has a strong grip on Cupertino, however, policing Apple’s component manufacturers and assemblers in Asia has proven to be more difficult. Over the years, we’ve received hints about production from the likes of Foxconn, Pegatron, and Samsung, just to name a few. Most of the time, the purported leaked photos that come out of these manufacturing facilities prove to be bogus. But the whispers of new hirings and production schedules help to paint a picture as to when the next iPhone or iPad will be released.

Today, we’ve gotten an analysts’ opinion of the direction Apple might be moving in for its display technology on the iPhone 5 and, if his hunch is accurate, Japan could become the new hotspot for iPhone 5 release date rumors.

According to David Hsieh, vice president of DisplaySearch in charge of the Greater China market, “Apple Inc. is likely to use display technology provided by Japanese panel makers rather than Taiwan-based suppliers for its next-generation iPhone in order to achieve a thinner profile for the device,” as quoted in a report from Focus Taiwan. The reason for this is that Japanese display manufacturers like Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba, are creating in-cell displays, as opposed to the on-cell displays currently used on Apple devices. The newer in-cell technology fosters a thinner design: “Compared with on-cell technology, touch panels that use in-cell technology can be made thinner because the touch sensors are actually placed inside the color filters rather than on top of them, he explained.”

Hseih went on to explain: “Of course, Taiwanese panel makers are also developing this technology, but Japanese suppliers still run faster.”

Hseith, I believe, is simply connecting the dots here: he is taking the rumors of Apple developing a thinner iPhone 5 form factor and imagining that Cupertino will opt for the in-cell variety of touch panels, since they are thinner than their on-cell counterparts. And because Japan’s in-cell touch panel displays run faster than those in Taiwan, he is looking to Japan as an obvious supplier for the iPhone 5. Of course, Hseih could be shilling for Japanese suppliers, trying to drive up shareholder interest in companies like Sony, Sharp, and Toshiba in a play to get some market buzz going from the increasing excitement surrounding the iPhone 5 release date. We have, after all, seen this before, where analysts make claims in order to shift the market in their favor. To date, rumors associated with the iPhone 5′s screen have come out of Korea, home of Samsung, and not Japan — or at least not from Japanese sources. So, this report should be taken with a grain of salt, and we will have to see if there is any follow-up out of Japan over Hseih’s predictions.

By Michael Nace

America’s third-largest mobile carrier is back in the iPhone 5 rumor mill again, with new evidence that they are working quickly to roll out 4G LTE coverage in some of the biggest U.S. mobile markets. Is this in anticipation of the 4G iPhone 5? And does it point to a June release?

[UPDATED April 17, 2012, 12:08pm EST -- Sprint's media department responded to the iPhone 5 News Blog's enquiries on this story with the following statement from PR Representative Kristen Wallace: "Sprint has announced it will largely complete the rollout of Network Vision by the end of 2013. In order to meet that timeline, Sprint has begun work and is at varying stages of completion at every cell site across the country." The last sentence, while not directly confirming the leaked documents to the left, certainly corroborates the reports that they are in fact working widespread across the U.S.. Sprint did not respond to whether or not this heightened work on the 4G network has anything to do with an upcoming iPhone release.]

Since the launch of the iPhone 4S on Sprint’s network last fall, there have been several dubious reports concerning Sprint, and how the company’s hefty investment in the iPhone — as well as its gutsy gamble on its 4G networks — is leaving subscribers and shareholders alike wondering what the future of the company might be. In spite of this speculation, however, Sprint appears to be admirably pushing forward on its promise to build a robust 4G network across the U.S. and offer a wide selection of impressive 4G mobile devices. Many have assumed that the iPhone 5 will be one of them.

A new report citing a purported leaked document appears to point to Sprint aggressively rolling out its 4G network across top U.S. mobile markets, perhaps in a bid to prepare itself for a massive 4G iPhone 5 release that could be coming sooner rather than later.

The document comes by way of TechnoBuffalo, who reports that “We have received internal intel revealing that Sprint’s Network Vision deployment is further along than many critics would expect. The internal documents suggest Sprint’s Network Vision campaign has been underway in Akron, Chicago, Fort Worth, Nashville, New York, Rialto and Stockton since late last year.” These cities join the ones we already know are coming, thanks to a Sprint press release: Kansas City, Mo., Baltimore, Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta and Houston. Just these cities alone will cover 120 million people by the end of the year.

TechnoBuffalo tethered this document’s revelations with that of an earlier Wall Street Journal report that Sprint already has a 4G LTE network up and running, and that “A Sprint spokeswoman said the carrier has 4G LTE towers operating in several other markets, but wouldn’t identify them.”

WSJ points out that “Sprint’s phones-first strategy for its new network is part of its push to catch up with rivals AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless in offering what has become the industry standard for fourth-generation wireless broadband.” However, if the iPhone 5 is coming soon — June perhaps — and it is to be 4G, Sprint may have to ramp up its 4G rollout ahead of the announcement in order to maximize on sales. Sprint is planning to release two 4G smartphones, the LG Viper and Galaxy Nexus, on April 22nd, well ahead of any plans to fully implement whatever 4G coverage they are planning for 2012. There is already concern that Sprint subscribers could resent this “phones first approach” — and it remains to be seen if they would risk it with the iPhone 5, considering how coveted 4G capability for the next iPhone is in the U.S., according to a survey taken just after the iPhone 4S’s launch.

Another little-discussed possibility is that Sprint would like to begin selling the iPad 3 in earnest, and that getting their 4G network moving might be what it will take to make that happen for 2012.

Like most rumors we’ve been hearing lately, such as the sundry iPhone 5 production rumors coming out of Asia, this story is by far a smoking gun piece of evidence for a June iPhone 5 release. But it could be yet one more piece of circumstantial evidence that is worth considering.

Note: Sprint did not immediately respond to the iPhone 5 News Blog’s enquiry into this matter, but will update the article if and when we receive a response. 

 By Michael Nace

A recent Apple job posting for a 3D technology expert is an intriguing, encouraging sign that some exciting, new technology could be in the works for future Apple devices. But for the iPhone 5, it seems less likely.

I happened across an interesting article this morning on 9to5Mac regarding a recent Apple job posting that is worth mentioning here on the blog. They explain that “[r]ecently, Apple has posted a new ‘Computer Vision specialist to strengthen its multi-view stereo research group.’ job opening on its careers website that hints towards the Cupertino-based company’s continued pursuit to integrate 3D technology — which hasn’t yet been done.” The job posting applies the title of “iOS Software Engineer” to its description, which appears to be searching for a lettered software-side programmer who has proven expertise in the disciplines associated with 3D.

9to5Mac’s Jake Smith remarks that “What’s interesting is that Apple is continuing to hire, with what looks to be serious credentials, to work on 3D technology,” which, along with a long list of 3D patents and rumors over the past year or so, lead one to believe that 3D display technology is bound to show up on a future iPhone in one way or another. Whether it will be 3D photo taking or otherwise some kind of 3D holographic user interface, no one really knows.

Smith points out that “Apple has yet to include in 3D technology into its products, however over on Android, both HTC and LG have included 3D cameras and passive 3D displays onto some of their handsets,” highlighting that indeed there are competing device out there in the Android sphere with 3D devices — a feature that Apple may want to garner in the future.

That being said, are we really set tp see major 3D technology on the iPhone 5?

I don’t think so. There are basically four rumor types in the iPhone 5 rumor mill: approved Apple patents, “inside” sources about production and components, purported leaked photos, and gaffes from stupid executives of companies partnered with Apple. To me, inside sources leaking information about production and the “stupid gaffes” are usually the most reliable and accurate rumors — they seem to have the highest rate of coming true. Leaked photos almost never pan out, and Apple patents — while markedly more revealing than leaked photos — usually serve as harbingers of what the more distant future may hold for Apple, rather than what is going to happen soon with a rumored device for the iPhone 5.

Given the fact that all we have to go on for 3D technology for the iPhone are patents and a job posting, it would seem that 3D might be a feature slated for a future iOS device, like the iPhone 6. Also, of the iPhone 5 production rumors we’ve heard about coming out of Asia, nothing has been mentioned about 3D displays. That doesn’t mean that Apple couldn’t be clandestinely manufacturing 3D displays for the iPhone 5, but for my part, I don’t think there is really much buzz about the iPhone being 3D. Like Smith says in his article, “I really don’t think we will see a 3D display or 3D camera on an iPhone anytime soon, as Apple would most likely rather stick with its stunning Retina display.” I think that’s spot on.

Still, it is promising that Apple is looking into 3D technology for a future feature. Something tells me that the efforts Cupertino is making to bolster its 3D R&D will yield more than just a cheesy 3D display effect, or the ability to take 3D photos that give a certain segment of the population a migraine. Maybe it will usher in a truly holographic user interface down the line that will serve to replace gesture control as we know it.

By Michael Nace

A recent Apple patent filing outlines a plan for a wireless headset, complete with built-in mp3 player. Could this little do-hickey become the proprietary headset for the iPhone 5 — or something else entirely?

I always enjoy checking out Jonny Evans’ musings over on iPhone 5 and iPad rumors over at Computerworld, as he always comes up with a unique angle to write about. His post yesterday highlights a recent patent filing by Apple for a wireless headset with integrated media player, and how he imagines that this device — should it make it to the production floor — could become a kind of proprietary headset for an iPhone. Maybe even this year’s iPhone 5.

Evans explains that the patent is essentially an iPod shuffle with a microphone and built-in set of stereo earbuds, arranged in a headset that would ostensibly wrap around the back of your head when worn.

If we were just talking about an iPod Shuffle with an integrated headset, that would be one thing, but this is something else entirely: the inclusion of a microphone, as well as the ability to listen to voice messages — and of course the paten title — makes this a true headset/media player hybrid. Wouldn’t it seem to have a bit of an identity crisis?

Evans doesn’t think so, assuming that the driving thrust of introducing a new headset makes total sense for Apple from a sales standpoint: “there’s approximately 316 million iOS devices in use worldwide. That’s a huge market for an Apple headset, particularly one that integrates strongly with iOS 6, including the capacity to cue up tracks using Siri voice controls if the headset were twinned with an iPhone, for example.”

But he also imagines that this headset could become an integral component of the iPhone 5: his post in entitled “The iPhone 5 Headset — the iPod Shuffle,” positing the notion that the design “takes the iPod shuffle and transforms it into an essential item for any iPhone user.” However, why would any iPhone user need a Bluetooth headset with a built in media player? Wouldn’t that be a completely redundant piece of hardware? After all, the device it is attached to would have a much more advanced media player, attached to iCloud. This patent design doesn’t accommodate the ability to connect with iCloud, so it would be a much less advanced, smaller-capacity device for holding media.

Evans suggests that the benefit of a design this because “The headset can be pre-loaded with music over USB, so you get to play music even when you aren’t carrying or don’t own an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.” As an alternative to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod? Maybe. But as an essential item for the iPhone? No. I don’t see a design like this being bound up in the iPhone 5 launch.

There is, of course, that a patent like this could come to integrate into a more complex design that Apple could pitch against the “Google Glasses” concept, with the headphones and microphone forming the audio portion of a mobile device that incorporates a hands-free concept.

Can you imagine how this patent could work for the iPhone 5?

Postscript: I still think that Pranav Mistry’s SixthSense device is a sleeper technology that could rival Google Glasses. His design is still bulky, but who better to slim it down and make it practical than Apple? 

By Michael Nace

iOS 5.1 is purported to contain 4G LTE code, suggesting that the iPhone 5 could be announced in June, even if iOS 6 is still in beta production. But would Apple launch the iPhone 5 without iOS 6?

A few weeks back, CNET blogger Joe Aimonetti put together an interesting blog post, laying out a discovery made by iDownload Blog tipster Krishna Sagar that code within iOS 5.1 that would allow for 4G LTE connectivity. Aimonetti explains that “Using iFile on a jailbroken iPhone 4 (running iOS 5.1, of course) Sagar was able to find code strings indicating 4G connectivity actions during phone calls, including code that ends a 4G call when FaceTime is activated.” He hedges any absolute claims of the iPhone 5 will be 4G, saying that the discovery of this new code “doesn’t necessarily mean the next iPhone will be 4G LTE-ready,” but he does note that it appears the software side of “4G connectivity is already inserted into iOS and, if the hardware allows, can be implemented.” In other words, all we need at this point is the hardware.

The angle of this particular story is that Apple is indeed working on a 4G LTE iPhone 5 — a story line that is all but assumed at this point, thanks to the 4G connectivity of the iPad 3. For this reason, some may have passed over this iOS 5.1 4G code revelation as a mere retread of what we already know. What I find interesting about it, however, is that, if the current form of iOS 5.1 would enable a 4G LTE iPhone 5, could this mean that Apple will launch the iPhone 5 with iOS 5.1 (or maybe an iOS 5.2), giving them the opportunity to debut iOS 6 beta at the WWDC and releasing it in full sometime in the fall? Clearly, Apple could do this if iOS 5.1 contains all of the functionality needed to equip the iPhone 5 with 4G.

But would Apple release a new iPhone with a mere refresh of the current iOS?

Apple enthusiasts are always looking for discernible patterns in their products’ release schedules, in spite of the fact that Cupertino seems to go out of its way to explode expectations. One thing has been fairly consistent, however: the new iPhone has religiously debuted with an alpha version of a new iOS. Even last year, when the WWDC came around, revealing only the testing version of iOS 5, we didn’t get an iPhone 5 to go with it; it wasn’t until the fall, when iOS 5 was ready to roll that we got the 4S hardware to go with it. Using this model, we’d need to see iOS 6 beta introduced very soon in order for it to have a chance at debuting at the WWDC in June along with the iPhone 5.

If Apple were to run and ship the iPhone 5 with iOS 5.1 or 5.2 instead, it would most certainly break with tradition. It appears that the current operating system — or perhaps one more refresh of it — could handle the job of ushering in Apple’s first 4G smartphone, but would Apple really go this route?

The answer, in my opinion, depends heavily on marketing, not technology. Last year’s iOS 5 and iPhone 4S emphasized software innovations, not major hardware advancements. While there were some hardware upgrades, such as the camera sensor and A5 processor, Apple made iOS 5, iCloud, and Siri the centerpieces of its marketing campaign for the 4S. And it should come as no surprise: Apple has been very clear that they often seek to innovate on the software side of things first.

Whereas the iPhone 4S’s marketing strategy had to be predicated on software enhancements — since it didn’t get the form factor or larger screen upgrade that many were hoping for — the iPhone 5 is slated to be a big hardware overhaul. By all accounts, we are going to see a new form factor and a larger screen, along with a new processor, an even better camera sensor than what we’ve got on the 4S, and who knows what else.

If these features are going to be the major selling points for the iPhone 5, could Cupertino skate by with iOS 5.1? It isn’t an easy question to answer, since as recently as the iPad 3′s launch, we saw Apple utilizing all of the new apps and software updates to really highlight the new iPad’s Retina display. With that in mind, one can imagine that they will want to do the same with the iPhone 5, rolling out a ton of new software enhancements that will inevitably come with iOS 6.

But let’s not forget: shipping the iPhone 5 with iOS 5.1 or 5.2 and not the brand-new iOS 6 will not be a deal-breaker for the average user. While geekdom will wring its hands over a move like that, the vast majority of people who will come to own an iPhone 5 won’t even bat an eyelash; if it looks cool, they’ll buy it.

What we can take out of this, however, is that, even without iOS 6 ready to go at the WWDC, it appears that Apple may indeed have the software means to still release the iPhone 5 in June.

By Michael Nace

Just a day after a couple of tech enthusiasts suggested a new aspect ratio and longer 4-inch screen for the iPhone 5, 9to5Mac has posted an early mockup of how it might look.

Occasionally, tech readers and commenters make the news in the iPhone 5 rumor mill, usually by posting purported leaked photos of new devices, all of which have turned out to be bogus. The story that broke yesterday, however, was a bit different, with two savvy iPhone enthusiasts concocting a new scheme for how to give the iPhone a 4-inch screen without widening the iPhone’s chassis. By tweaking the aspect ratio, we end up with a longer iPhone 5 that would ostensibly increase the touch surface, but could also lead to fragmentation issues.

Yesterday I thought to myself: how long will it take for the mocker-uppers to come up with an iPhone 5 concept with these new envisioned specs? Well, apparently just one day. Click below to take a look:

9to5Mac has posted a mock-up that utilizes the 640 x 1152 pixel dimensions suggested by the Verge forum, which puts the proposed 4-inch display into better focus by giving us more than just the screen dimensions. The mock-up, rendered by 9to5Mac reader Spencer Caldwell, gives us a quite realistic view of the iPhone 5 with the longer screen: it essentially still bears some similar features to the iPhone 4/4S. But 9to5Mac points out that “The mockup fits the sixth-row of apps nicely.”

I’m not sure if the best-selling point of this new design is simply that it allows for a sixth row of icons, but seeing the 640 x 1152 framed by a relatively familiar iPhone form factor reveals a concept that is perhaps not as extreme as it have seemed to some while imagining it in the abstract.

There’s one more detail in this iPhone 5 mock-up worth mentioning, and I mention it with a bit of mirth. You may notice that the home button’s shape is somewhat familiar; you may be having iPhone 5 mock-up home button Déjà vu, even. That’s because the home button on this iPhone 5 concept photo comes from one of the biggest iPhone 5 conspiracy theories of 2011: “As for the home button on the device, Spencer took the Photo Stream leak from last summer . . . and implemented it on the device.”

I totally forgot about it!

You’ll recall that last year, the infamous Photo Stream page on apple.com appeared to show a small icon with a much larger screen and elongated home button, which the tech community took to be a sneak peak at the 2011 iPhone 5. Geeks spent countless hours measuring the icon with rulers, counting pixels, and conjuring up theories as to how this unassuming little icon could be the “smoking gun” clue to how the iPhone 5 would turn out.

In the end, however, that little icon turned out to be nothing more than a generic smartphone icon. Perhaps Apple was trying to make the point that that tiny pictorial representation of a smartphone — a representation that looks a lot like a wide range of Android smartphones — pales in comparison to the iPhone’s form factor. In any case, Caldwell seems to have appropriated the elongated home button to good ends, as 9to5Mac notes: “On a larger iPhone like this, it definitely looks better over the circular version.”

the question remains: are we indeed getting a larger — or longer — iPhone 5?

By Michael Nace