Apple : Taiwanese sources say cheaper iPhone will soft-launch in emerging markets

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Taiwanese sources say cheaper iPhone will soft-launch in emerging markets Posted: For months it's been rumored that Apple is developing a cheaper iPhone to appeal to previously unattained markets, but a report published today said the cheaper version may not get a full launch at first. DigiTimes cited the tremulous source "speculation currently circulating in the iPhone supply chain in Taiwan," which does not instill much confidence in the report. But according to the site, Apple will release the budget-priced iPhone in emerging markets with 2.5 to 3 million units a quarter in order to test those markets' response to the device. A subsequent launch in more established markets like the U.S. and U.K. could presumably follow, though there was no mention of that in this latest report. Cheap iPhone rumors The cheap iPhone rumors flying around have varied, but the most important thing is the price, and speculation suggests that a cost of around $330 (UK£210, AU$310) might be enough to lure new in new segments of consumers. There have been few hints about the budget iPhone's release date, though it's possible we might here something by the end of the summer, or even at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Other reports have claimed that the cheap iPhone would sport a screen size of 4 inches and a cheaper-looking plastic chassis. There's even a rumor that the more affordable iPhone will come in a variety of colors to match the latest iPods. Apple isn't likely to comment on these rumors and reports, but we've reached out to the company nonetheless. So far we haven't heard back.

Apple patents curved battery design, could hint at next-gen iPhones Posted: Until now it's mainly been Samsung beating the drum for oddly-shaped phone technology with its flexible displays, but Apple may soon join in if two recently unearthed patents are any indication. The Apple patents (1 and 2) in question are titled "curved battery cells for portable electronic devices" and "non-rectangular batteries for portable electronic devices, respectively. Unearthed by AppleInsider, the patent filings don't point to any specific technology or indicate any particular plans on Apple's part. Rather they simply hint at where Apple's design language might go in the future. Curves ahead The patents dug up today were filed in October 2011 and describe the processes by which curved and irregularly-shaped batteries might be designed and created. For the curved battery, a flexible pouch housing the battery's layers is exposed to pressure and heat in a process that could take up to four hours to set it into a curved shape. The patent claimed that the purpose of the curved battery can be "to facilitate efficient use of space inside a portable electronic device," though by the literal looks of things, the device itself could have an added curvature. The non-rectangular battery, on the other hand, can feature rounded corners and might fit more snugly inside a similarly shaped device (like an iPad). Apple archeology These two latest Apple patents are hardly the first patents to hint at where Apple's mind is wondering. As AppleInsider pointed out, these unique battery designs might even have something to do with a previous Apple patent for an iPhone with a wraparound display. That's pure speculation, of course, but it's interesting to consider how Apple might try to shake things up in a market increasingly filled with similar-looking devices.

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