Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Apple : Updated: iPhone 5 rumours: what you need to know

Apple : Updated: iPhone 5 rumours: what you need to know

Updated: iPhone 5 rumours: what you need to know

Posted: 16 Feb 2011 06:43 AM PST

iPhone 5 (or the iPhone 5G, as some are calling it) rumours are flying thick and fast already.

Will there be a rush release to erase memories of the iPhone 4's antenna problems?

Will the 5th generation iPhone deliver ultra-fast mobile internet? Will it ever end up on Verizon in the US?

Let's raid the iPhone 5 rumour fridge to find the tomatoes of truth amid the stinky stilton of baseless speculation.

The iPhone 5 isn't the Verizon iPhone, and vice versa

The Verizon iPhone rumour has been around forever, and one day it'll come true - but it won't be the iPhone 5. The Wall Street Journal said a Verizon iPhone was nearly ready back in October, and we'd take that one seriously: the WSJ is the paper Apple tends to share its secrets with.

It says that "the [Verizon] phone would resemble the iPhone 4 currently sold by AT&T, but would be based on an alternative wireless technology used by Verizon, these people said." Which people? "People familiar with the matter".

The iPhone 5 will have a different form factor to the iPhone 4

WSJ: "Separately, Apple is also developing a new iPhone model, said people briefed on the phone. One person familiar said the fifth-generation iPhone would be a different form factor than those that are currently available… it was unclear how soon that version would be available to Verizon or other carriers."

This has since been backed up by reports from Engadget we reported on 17 January 2011, which state the design will be a 'total rethink'.

Of course, since the iPhone 3G was followed by the 3GS it's possible it won't be a total refresh and we'll see an iPhone 4S before an iPhone 5.

There might also be a cheaper, smaller iPhone 5 - an iPhone nano

A prototype version of a smaller iPhone is said to exist, built to ward off competition from cheap Android handsets.

Rumours around an iPhone nano picked up again on 13 February when the Wall Street Journal claimed that the so-called 'iPhone nano' exists and may even be on sale later this year.

The iPhone 5 specs will be evolutionary, not revolutionary

According to the Chinese Economic Daily News (via AppleInsider), with the exception of Qualcomm chipsets - which would replace the current Infineon chipsets in the iPhone 4 - Apple's sticking with the same suppliers for the 2011 iPhone 5G components.

We'd expect the basics of the iPhone 5 specs to get a bump - more memory, faster processor, more storage - but DVICE quotes a single insider who claims to have handled Verizon prototypes.

The specs? A new antenna, 1.2GHz processor and a larger screen: 3.7" instead of 3.5". The iPhone 5 may also be made from a new kind of alloy, or maybe meat.

In other rumours which surfaced on 15 February 2011, Digitimes is reporting on information supposedly leaked from component suppliers that claim the iPhone 5 will feature a larger, 4-inch screen. Digitimes quotes the source as saying that Apple is expanding the screen size "to support the tablet PC market as the vendor only has a 9.7-inch iPad in the market."

We're also hearing word of a multi-core design, in keeping with the rest of the mobile world, as Apple looks to improve both battery life and performance.

The iPhone 5 will also get a massive graphical boost as it moves to a dual-core GPU - this could herald true 1080p output from the new device, according to our news story on 18 January.

The iPhone 5 specs may include a digital wallet

There's been some speculation that Apple might include Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in the iPhone 5G, turning it into a kind of credit/debit card. However, as Techeye.net notes, "Apple has looked into NFC before" so this might not be imminent.

Near field communication

PAY PHONE: Apple patents show how a near field communication-equipped iPhone 5 could act as a kind of credit card

The iPhone 5 release date will be in the summer…

Apple's established a rhythm with iPhone releases, with new models appearing in late June or early July each year. It's a safe bet that the iPhone 5 release date will also be late June or early July.

As Beatweek magazine points out, Apple's A-Team can't be everywhere at once; by staggering the releases of the iPad 2 and the iPhone 5, they get to work their magic on both devices.

…or maybe the iPhone 5 release date will be earlier

iLounge said its source reckoned Apple would push the iPhone 5 release date forwards - possibly to January 2011 - because of the iPhone 4 antenna problems, although iLounge itself said the claim was "hard to believe". The source could be confusing the Verizon iPhone and the iPhone 5.

The usual July release date was mentioned by Engadget's source too in January 2011 - meaning the standard release cycle looks set to continue.

The iPhone 5 specs may include LTE support

At least one analyst thinks the iPhone 5 will support LTE, super-fast mobile broadband, in the US. That would make the iPhone 5G a 4G phone, which won't be confusing at all. LTE is certainly coming - AT&T plans to roll out its LTE service in 2011 - but an LTE iPhone has been rumoured for a while. USA Today floated the idea of an LTE iPhone on Verizon last year.

The iPhone 5 price won't change

If the iPhone 5 is an evolutionary step like the move from the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS then we'd expect the price to stay more or less the same, although in the UK higher VAT rates may well mean a higher price tag.

Warner launches 'app editions' of Inception and The Dark Knight

Posted: 16 Feb 2011 02:42 AM PST

Warner Bros has announced new 'app editions' of feature films, Inception and The Dark Knight for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Warners promises a 'fully-loaded, connected viewing experience' with downloading, streaming, bonus content, music, games, soundboard and social media integration.

Geek-flicks

Which all sounds like fun, although it is the choice of two of the greatest geek-favourite flicks from recent years that is the real genius move here.

"Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD), a market leader in video-on-demand and electronic sell-through, today announced the groundbreaking launch of the 'App Editions' of feature films Inception and The Dark Knight, giving consumers around the world an entirely new way to own special edition movies with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad," reads Warner's release.

App Editions let you view the first five minutes of the movie – and access a few extra bits and bobs such as trivia, games and soundtracks – for free. If you are then tempted to buy the movie you can do so within the app. Ingenious.

Watch the movie or Twitter?

While watching a film, fans can connect with their friends by "sharing favorite movie quotes through Facebook and Twitter and watch a feed of social networking chatter directly related to the movie in real-time."

Which would kind of take something away from the experience of watching a movie, but hey, any self-respecting digital content delivery system has to have Facebook and Twitter integration, right?

Thomas Gewecke, President of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution said: "For many, watching a movie is a social activity and App Editions are the first mobile product to deliver this capability on a global scale.

"They offer a fully connected experience, allowing viewers to engage with others around the world in real-time through Facebook and Twitter.In 2011, Warner Bros. will release a full slate of App Editions including new release and catalog films."

The The Dark Knight: App Edition and the Inception: App Edition and are now available on the App Store.

T3 iPad app gets Apple app subscription

Posted: 16 Feb 2011 01:28 AM PST

T3 magazine, made by the same publishers as TechRadar, has announced that it is among the first in the world to offer a subscription service for its T3 magazine iPad edition.

T3 magazine has enjoyed great success with its iPad edition, with the digital mag consistently listed as the highest grossing lifestyle app in the UK.

Perfect timing

T3 is no stranger to embracing new technologies. It was the first UK magazine to be available on the iPad, and it immediately became one of the best-selling UK magazines on Zinio.

In October 2010 it was the first UK magazine to launch a monthly, paid-for, fully enhanced iPad edition on the Woodwing platform.

Nial Ferguson, Group Publishing Director of Future's Technology portfolio said about the service: The arrival of subscriptions to the T3 iPad edition comes at the perfect time, as we have just published our 5th monthly edition.

"We are now able to offer a selection of value offerings from a free trial and single issue purchase, through to 90, 180 and 360 day subscriptions."

To try out the T3 iPad edition, head over to iTunes now.
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