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iPhone 5 announcment very close !
It’s official! Apple sent invitations around to its October 04 event, and the invite readers “Let’s Talk iPhone”. I guess this is all the confirmation we needed for an already established rumor, right?
This should also be the first event with the new CEO, Tim Cook. Some are saying it will be a good test for him. Some are saying that anyone could grab applauses announcing the iPhone 5….
October Release for iPhone 5
Our friends over at Mac Rumors have today posted an article all about iPhone 5 release -
BGR briefly reports that an AT&T vice president has confirmed to some employees that the iPhone 5 is indeed slated to launch in early October as has recently been rumored by several sources.
Additionally, the VP communicated the following to a group of managers: “Expect things to get really, really busy in the next 35-50 days, so prepare your teams accordingly.”
Apple's carrier partners are frequently kept in the dark about Apple's exact launch plans, although AT&T has proven to be one of Apple's closer partners and hints from the carrier such as employee vacation blackouts have in the past narrowed down iPhone launch dates.
Update: The Loop's well-connected Jim Dalrymple just quoted the BGR report and added a single word response of his own: "Yep."
Dalrymple is known to have solid sources within Apple and has at times almost appeared to be an unofficial outlet for the company as when he quickly debunked last week's claim of a September 7th media event.
So, it looks like we'll be getting it pretty soon.
iCloud.com beta launches
The beta version of iCloud.com is now available to registered Apple developers, allowing testing and use of iCloud features within ios5 beta and OSX Lion. It's going to be a big part of your iPhone 5 experience, so why not give it a test now if you're one of the privileged ones.
However, we're yet to see any of the music features. Including iTunes match. They will be launched at a later date.
iPhone 5 in October ?
We're hearing rumours today that we might not get our hands on the iPhone 5 until October. According to the Wall Street Journal who quote the very reliable John Paczkowski, we're all in for "an October surprise." Paczkowski believes the tenth month on the calendar will bring with it the launch of Apple's next-gen
iPhone 5 Rumours
We all know the iPhone 5 is on the horizon but what exactly should we expect ? Will it just be an upgraded iPhone 4 or will it coming packing all sorts of new tech ? Here's a round up of our favourite rumours to date -
1/ iPhone 5: new design The Wall Street Journal reported that its 'in-the-know' contact believes the iPhone 5 will feature a “different form factor”, adopting a brand new design following the antennagate issues that resulted in signal issues and dropped calls. Since then Engadget has spoken to multiple sources who claim that a complete redesign of the handset body is on the cards and that the device is already being tested by staff at Apple HQ. However, leaked designs and mold engineering images tell a different story, suggesting that the only aesthetic change for the iPhone 5 will be a larger display and smaller bezel. Latest: The Wall Street Journal have once again claimed that the iPhone 5 will be “thinner and lighter” than previous models whilst sporting a widely expected 8-megapixel camera and September release date. Quoting sources at component suppliers, WSJ suggest that in the midst of a legal battle with the Korean tech giant Apple’s next-generation smartphone will do away with the current breed of Samsung CPUs instead opting for a Qualcomm produced processor. How likely? 3/5 2/ iPhone 5: A5 processor and Qualcomm chips The Wall Street Journal was again amongst the first to report that “people familiar with the matter” had confirmed the iPhone was to receive an overhauled chipset in order to contend with a rise in competitive high-end smartphones running versions of the Google Android operating system. Apple is tipped to ditch the 1GHz A4 processor found inside the iPhone 4 for the dual-core A5 CPU. Apple used the same A4 chip in its iPhone 4 as in its original iPad, so repeating this trick with the A5 chip like they have for the iPad 2, would see the iPhone 5 in line with upcoming dual-core processor powerhouses like the Samsung Galaxy S2 and theHTC Sensation. On the wireless chipset providers front, Infineon may make way for Qualcomm, likely in a bid to avoid connectivity issues previously faced with the iPhone 4. How likely? 4/5 3/ iPhone 5 screens made by Toshiba The new Japanese based factory, set to cost 100 billion Yen (£757 million) and be constructed during 2011, will double Toshiba’s current monthly production capacity of 8.5 million units. Part funded by Apple, the new factory will begin production this year with the Apple iPhone 5 expected to be one of the first devices catered for. How likely? 2/5 4/ iPhone 5: Near Field Communication (NFC) Apple has already filed a string of patents regarding NFC appearing on the iPhone, and Vigier’s appointment could well mean the iPhone 5 will see some of the action. Its arrival would essentially mean turning your iPhone into a virtual credit card, allowing you to pay for everything from cake to clothes by waving your smartphone across a dedicated reader. How likely? 4/5
Also on the cards for the iPhone 5 is an all-metal back, similar to that found on the original iPhone, reportedly in a bid to avoid the embarassing antenna issues experienced on the iPhone 4. The glass posterior of the iPhone 4 was also prone to unsightly cracks if treated roughly, and was rumoured to be the cause of the delay of the white model - a headache all round for Apple.
An Apple patent also points to the iPhone using smaller conductive nodes beneath the screen, allowing for the overall device to be slimmer. Tipped to also feature for the iPad 2, the new method could also use less power, giving you longer battery life from each charge of your iPhone 5.
Nikkei Business Daily announced last year that Toshiba was set to build a new factory in Ishikawa tasked with producing high-res LCD panels for Apple’s upcoming ranges of iPhone and iPod Touch devices.
Sucessfully trialled by 02 in 2008, the appearance of NFC in Google’s Android 2.3 update means it is likely to be on the radar for Apple as well. Benjamin Vigier, Apple’s new Mobile Commerce Manager joined the Apple ranks last year with his CV showing a lot of experience in the NFC field, having helped Starbucks create a bardcode-based way of paying for your morning coffee and even setting up Paypal Mobile.
