Post by amily on Sept 6, 2012 5:15:33 GMT 2
Apple laid months of occasion rumors and speculation to rest on Tuesday when it sent out official invitations to a particular media presentation on September 12. Not surprisingly, now that we know for sure that an event is happening, the real speculation starts.
A brand new iPhone is likely, depending on reading the invitations tea leaves or, in this case, by interpreting the imagery Apple put on its invites. But what else may well Apple have in store when enterprise executives take the stage at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater? We look at the most likely possibilities along with the pie-in-the-sky recommendations.
A new iPhone
Apple's event image features the cheeky, teasing tagline "It's practically here," together with the shadow of a 5 lurking beneath a large bolded 12. So yes, its likely properly see the successor for the iPhone 4S make its official debut. Although lots of speculated that the iPhone might adopt the naming scheme of its iPad sibling and only be introduced as the new iPhone-after all, the iPhone 4S was technically Apples fifth-generation phone-the invitation implies otherwise. So it surely looks as although we may possibly stick using the number monikers for one more generation.
LTE: As for the device itself, rumors have pegged it as potentially thinner, lighter, and packed with 4G/LTE connectivity. Even though Apple already touts its networking speeds as 4G on its existing iPhones (because of a software update), the truth is that even the fastest from the iPhones wireless connectivity is still largely beneath the aegis of 3G. LTE, which can be at the moment becoming deployed in lots of markets by wireless carriers, is most likely to offer a far more noticeable speed boost for customers inside the coverage region. If the subsequent two sim card phone does function LTE assistance, expect a demonstration of the speediness with the new technologies.
Even though it would certainly make factors quick on buyers (and retailers), a globe LTE iPhone is most likely not in the cards, because of the many frequency bands of 4G/LTE service that carriers are applying all through the globe. The most beneficial model to appear to currently is definitely the iPhone's sibling, the third-generation iPad. In North America, you can get one particular of two models: an AT&T model, which uses LTE service in areas that support it and falls back to DC-HSDPA/HSPA+ elsewhere; and a Verizon model, which falls back to that carrier's 3G CDMA network even though in the United States. Both models support worldwide GSM bands, so you'll be able to roam the globe on 3G networks-just not LTE. A new iPhone could follow suit with multiple models: LTE that falls back to DC-HSDPA/HSPA+ (AT&T), and LTE that falls back to CDMA (Verizon, Sprint). There's a slim possibility that Apple may figure out a way to fit all the radio components into one iPhone model, but we wouldnt bet on it.
It is unclear what this means for LTE service in other countries, however. If Apple wants to help the faster cellular network abroad, it may have to resort to making international models that support frequencies not used within the U.S.
We say: Likely.
Bigger display: A new, larger display has also been pegged as a single way that the following iPhone may differ from its predecessor. Reports have suggested that such a screen may possibly keep the same width as the current incarnation, but instead add additional true estate inside the height department. Such a move would offer you a friendlier way to view widescreen content in landscape, as well as only offering a lot more information at a glance in portrait orientation. To date, the iPhone's screen size hasn't changed from the 3.5-inch size it is sported since 2007, although Apple has added more resolution using the Retina display on both the iPhone 4 and 4S. Other smartphone makers have added larger screens to their phones, although generally in such a fashion that you'd be excused for thinking that they were instead small tablets.
We say: Likely.
A new dock connector: There have also been whispers of a brand new, smaller dock connector to replace the 30-pin connector that presently occupies the bottom in the iPhone 4S. The current dock-connector port can perhaps most politely be described as venerable, as it is adorned Apples portable devices since the third-generation iPod was released in 2003. As such, it has support for some outdated technologies no longer used by any of Apple's devices (FireWire, for example). Revising the dock-connector port would allow Apple to reclaim some much-needed and increasingly valuable space inside the iPhone's situation.
If there is, in fact, a new dock connector on the horizon, we hope Apple decides to provide a free (or very cheap) adapter for accessories that use the old connector. Otherwise, come September 12 there may be a whole lot of happy accessory-makers and grumpy buyers.
What we don't expect, however, is a non-proprietary dock connector, such as a mini- or micro-USB port. For 1 thing, those technologies don't present the breadth of capabilities that the dock-connector does. From a financial perspective, Apple licenses hardware access to iOS and iPod devices, as well as the means for doing so is definitely the dock connector. As long as it remains proprietary, Apple can continue to rake in those licensing fees, even for something as seemingly innocuous as a third-party charger. That said, the business has also moved increasingly to wireless forms of connectivity where possible, with improvements like AirPlay and streaming Bluetooth audio.
We say: Probably.
A new camera: Pretty a great deal every iteration of your iPhone has offered an improved camera over its predecessor, so itd be silly not to count on at least some changes in the subsequent model. Even though a great deal from the attention inside the past has been focused on the back-facing camera-which no doubt will see some changes, possibly including a megapixel increase-we wonder if it's not time for Apple to improve its front-facing FaceTime camera. Most Macs now present an FaceTime HD camera for video-conferencing, and with FaceTime over cellular data coming to iOS 6, it is possible that the corporation will want to tout even higher-quality video chatting for customers on Wi-Fi and LTE networks.
We say: Most likely.
Bigger (and better) battery life: Even though its far from certain, we hope better battery life makes the iPhone's function list. Device batteries have been getting bigger and more powerful, but it is mainly been to keep up with the increasing demands from high-power processors, larger and higher-quality displays, and fancy features. We use our iPhone for quite a few factors throughout the day; it'd be nice when the next iPhone could beat its predecessor on usage time, rather than basically shoot for par.
We say: Maybe.
A tougher skin: A single other thing wed like to see Apple beef up is the iPhone's resilience. We all know someone whos shattered the front or back glass plates from the iPhone 4 and 4S, despite their touted sturdiness and scratch-proof nature. Some online rumors have suggested that the new iPhones rear casing will trade within the glass of its predecessor for some form of metal, similar for the original iPhone. While that may not exactly help fend off scratches, it does make at least one particular in the phones sides less likely to completely shatter upon contact. But any additional measures that could possibly be taken to avoid accidents that result in broken screens would undoubtedly be welcome.
We say: Maybe.
New headphones: The iPhone has shipped with all the same set of headphones since its 2007 debut-and that's unfortunate for the iPhone. Save for a built-in microphone, these are the same white earbuds that ship with Apple's iPods and that have created a thriving market for third-party headphones. The iPhone's earbuds are not particularly comfortable to wear, they're as probably to pop out of of your ears as they are to stay in place, and they're not terribly durable. No wonder then that our hearts skipped a beat upon seeing a video of Apples purported headphone redesign. The video, which originated in Vietnam, claims to show off headphones with a smaller profile and a single integrated part that won't fall to pieces. We want to believe.
We say: Maybe
Wireless payments: There's been much talk about whether or not the next iPhone may possibly include Near Field Communications (NFC), a short-range wireless protocol that's often used for processing payments. Some cheap android phones have begun to give this capability in conjunction with Google's Wallet payment system to allow you to pay for goods at supporting retailers by just swiping your telephone over a reader. (It is also a practice thats not uncommon overseas in Europe and Japan.) Apple's announcement of your Passbook app in iOS 6 may seem to lend credence to this theory, but it nevertheless seems unlikely that the corporation will build NFC options into the new iPhone when deployment on the retail side continues to be limited. Apple has shown within the past that its far more than happy to wait for technologies to become a lot more widely used (3G, LTE) before adopting. And, as mentioned above, keep in mind that space inside the iPhone is at a premium, and the addition of NFC would likely require not only a brand new chip, but also yet one more antenna.
We say: Unlikely.
A new iPad
Second only to iPhone rumors have been whispers that the enterprise may bring out a new model of iPad with a 7.85-inch screen. Dubbed the iPad mini, the device would likely feature a non-Retina display with all the same resolution because the iPad 2, and would allow Apple for the first time to stake a claim in a market segment to date occupied mostly by Android 4.0 tablet PC as well as the Kindle Fire. Such a device would likely be priced between the iPod touch and also the 10-inch iPad.
That said, we doubt a smaller iPad will make an appearance at this event. It seems unlikely that Apple will want to diminish the introduction of a brand new iPhone-its flagship product line these days-by introducing an entirely new product. Some rumors have suggested that a second event featuring the new iPad announcement could come subsequent month, so we may end up revisiting this question at that point.
We say: Unlikely for now.
New iPods
And what about the iPhone's kissin' cousin, the iPod touch? A brand new iPod touch is probably inside the cards-particularly given that Apple didn't release a radically new one last year. But there are a few factors that get inside the way of such an announcement, and none are technical.
First, like the purported iPad mini, it's unlikely that Apple wants to dilute the announcement of its next iPhone. Even though numerous may think with the iPod touch as an iPhone without the phone, that's not an angle that Apple has pushed-in the company's eyes, the iPod touch is a gaming and media consumption device. Linking the two in next week's announcement does the iPhone no good.
And once you mention the iPod touch, there's the expectation that you'll additionally discuss the entire iPod line. Will the traditional iPod (shuffle, nano, and classic) survive, or will the touch become The iPod along with the others quietly disappear? From Apple's perspective, this is even much more message-muddying. The firm will undoubtedly address the iPod line, but our money's on doing it at yet another time-perhaps later in the fall, along with a brand new iPad model?
We say: Unlikely for now.
iOS 6
We heard quite a bit about iOS 6 at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference; given its fall release date, it is probably we'll see a rehash of announced features-and maybe a few new surprises.
iPhone-exclusive attributes: The following iPhone will be Apple's latest and greatest bit of hardware-as such, it really is no surprise the company may be saving a little something for its September 12 debut. The iPhone 4S had Siri; the new iPhone may not have anything quite so huge, though we've heard mention of AirPlay Direct, a rumored function that would allow you to send audio and video to an AirPlay device without an intermediating wireless network.
We say: Probably.
Passbook details: Apple unveiled its new Passbook app at WWDC in June, but the limited time Apple spent discussing it left us with more questions than answers. The program is designed as a centralized location for all your reward and stored value cards, along with digital versions of concert and sports tickets; tap on a card and you'll see a barcode for the retailer to scan. The Passbook section of Apples iOS 6 page suggests that among the company's partners are Target, Fandango, Starbucks, Amtrak, United, the San Francisco Giants, and the W Hotel; its hard to imagine the corporation would use those as examples if it didn't already have some partnerships in place. Apple could definitely take some time in the September event to explain Passbook further and unveil a few powerful new partners to make the app shift from confusing to a compelling offering.
We say: Most likely.
Maps improvements: Weve already seen Apple demo Maps's spiffy new 2D and 3D offerings, as effectively as long-awaited turn-by-turn directions. But could there be more that Apple has yet to show off? The mapping app removed user-favorite options like Street View and Transit directions in iOS 6, as Apple no longer uses Google's Street View and transit databases; there's been no mention of a different partner for street-level view, but Apple may add much more 3D city renderings to its mapping database to compensate. We may also hear additional about Apples plan for dealing with transit directions, and also the third-party routing apps who are partnering with all the corporation.
We say: Maybe.
Siri's new tricks: Siri's ears must be burning, because the virtual assistant got quite a bit of attention during Apple's WWDC keynote. We already know that Siri will gain additional capabilities, like the ability to answer questions about sports and movies, but as one of your most prominent characteristics of your iPhone (and, with iOS 6's release, the iPad), it is entirely possible that Apple has extra to reveal about its now iconic virtual assistant.
We say: Maybe.
Audiobooks app: Apple recently spun off podcasts into a standalone app, rather than packing them in using the rest of your audio media; despite the relative merits (or lack thereof) of the Podcasts app, it is possible that the company may choose to do the same with audiobooks. They've often gotten short shrift within the Music app, so it doesnt seem out from the question that Apple could decide to create a place that fans of spoken content can call their own. Just after all, like podcasts, audiobooks are often listened to in a different manner from music-you want to pick up where you left off, speed or slow the playback rate, and navigate between chapters. Even though numerous of these capabilities are available within the Podcasts app, Apple has lately been taking the different apps for different jobs route, so its possible there may well be some news about audiobooks subsequent week.
We say: Maybe.
What else?
Those are our predictions, hopes, and rumor debunkings. What do you hope Apple announces on September 12? Tell us in the comments.
A brand new iPhone is likely, depending on reading the invitations tea leaves or, in this case, by interpreting the imagery Apple put on its invites. But what else may well Apple have in store when enterprise executives take the stage at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater? We look at the most likely possibilities along with the pie-in-the-sky recommendations.
A new iPhone
Apple's event image features the cheeky, teasing tagline "It's practically here," together with the shadow of a 5 lurking beneath a large bolded 12. So yes, its likely properly see the successor for the iPhone 4S make its official debut. Although lots of speculated that the iPhone might adopt the naming scheme of its iPad sibling and only be introduced as the new iPhone-after all, the iPhone 4S was technically Apples fifth-generation phone-the invitation implies otherwise. So it surely looks as although we may possibly stick using the number monikers for one more generation.
LTE: As for the device itself, rumors have pegged it as potentially thinner, lighter, and packed with 4G/LTE connectivity. Even though Apple already touts its networking speeds as 4G on its existing iPhones (because of a software update), the truth is that even the fastest from the iPhones wireless connectivity is still largely beneath the aegis of 3G. LTE, which can be at the moment becoming deployed in lots of markets by wireless carriers, is most likely to offer a far more noticeable speed boost for customers inside the coverage region. If the subsequent two sim card phone does function LTE assistance, expect a demonstration of the speediness with the new technologies.
Even though it would certainly make factors quick on buyers (and retailers), a globe LTE iPhone is most likely not in the cards, because of the many frequency bands of 4G/LTE service that carriers are applying all through the globe. The most beneficial model to appear to currently is definitely the iPhone's sibling, the third-generation iPad. In North America, you can get one particular of two models: an AT&T model, which uses LTE service in areas that support it and falls back to DC-HSDPA/HSPA+ elsewhere; and a Verizon model, which falls back to that carrier's 3G CDMA network even though in the United States. Both models support worldwide GSM bands, so you'll be able to roam the globe on 3G networks-just not LTE. A new iPhone could follow suit with multiple models: LTE that falls back to DC-HSDPA/HSPA+ (AT&T), and LTE that falls back to CDMA (Verizon, Sprint). There's a slim possibility that Apple may figure out a way to fit all the radio components into one iPhone model, but we wouldnt bet on it.
It is unclear what this means for LTE service in other countries, however. If Apple wants to help the faster cellular network abroad, it may have to resort to making international models that support frequencies not used within the U.S.
We say: Likely.
Bigger display: A new, larger display has also been pegged as a single way that the following iPhone may differ from its predecessor. Reports have suggested that such a screen may possibly keep the same width as the current incarnation, but instead add additional true estate inside the height department. Such a move would offer you a friendlier way to view widescreen content in landscape, as well as only offering a lot more information at a glance in portrait orientation. To date, the iPhone's screen size hasn't changed from the 3.5-inch size it is sported since 2007, although Apple has added more resolution using the Retina display on both the iPhone 4 and 4S. Other smartphone makers have added larger screens to their phones, although generally in such a fashion that you'd be excused for thinking that they were instead small tablets.
We say: Likely.
A new dock connector: There have also been whispers of a brand new, smaller dock connector to replace the 30-pin connector that presently occupies the bottom in the iPhone 4S. The current dock-connector port can perhaps most politely be described as venerable, as it is adorned Apples portable devices since the third-generation iPod was released in 2003. As such, it has support for some outdated technologies no longer used by any of Apple's devices (FireWire, for example). Revising the dock-connector port would allow Apple to reclaim some much-needed and increasingly valuable space inside the iPhone's situation.
If there is, in fact, a new dock connector on the horizon, we hope Apple decides to provide a free (or very cheap) adapter for accessories that use the old connector. Otherwise, come September 12 there may be a whole lot of happy accessory-makers and grumpy buyers.
What we don't expect, however, is a non-proprietary dock connector, such as a mini- or micro-USB port. For 1 thing, those technologies don't present the breadth of capabilities that the dock-connector does. From a financial perspective, Apple licenses hardware access to iOS and iPod devices, as well as the means for doing so is definitely the dock connector. As long as it remains proprietary, Apple can continue to rake in those licensing fees, even for something as seemingly innocuous as a third-party charger. That said, the business has also moved increasingly to wireless forms of connectivity where possible, with improvements like AirPlay and streaming Bluetooth audio.
We say: Probably.
A new camera: Pretty a great deal every iteration of your iPhone has offered an improved camera over its predecessor, so itd be silly not to count on at least some changes in the subsequent model. Even though a great deal from the attention inside the past has been focused on the back-facing camera-which no doubt will see some changes, possibly including a megapixel increase-we wonder if it's not time for Apple to improve its front-facing FaceTime camera. Most Macs now present an FaceTime HD camera for video-conferencing, and with FaceTime over cellular data coming to iOS 6, it is possible that the corporation will want to tout even higher-quality video chatting for customers on Wi-Fi and LTE networks.
We say: Most likely.
Bigger (and better) battery life: Even though its far from certain, we hope better battery life makes the iPhone's function list. Device batteries have been getting bigger and more powerful, but it is mainly been to keep up with the increasing demands from high-power processors, larger and higher-quality displays, and fancy features. We use our iPhone for quite a few factors throughout the day; it'd be nice when the next iPhone could beat its predecessor on usage time, rather than basically shoot for par.
We say: Maybe.
A tougher skin: A single other thing wed like to see Apple beef up is the iPhone's resilience. We all know someone whos shattered the front or back glass plates from the iPhone 4 and 4S, despite their touted sturdiness and scratch-proof nature. Some online rumors have suggested that the new iPhones rear casing will trade within the glass of its predecessor for some form of metal, similar for the original iPhone. While that may not exactly help fend off scratches, it does make at least one particular in the phones sides less likely to completely shatter upon contact. But any additional measures that could possibly be taken to avoid accidents that result in broken screens would undoubtedly be welcome.
We say: Maybe.
New headphones: The iPhone has shipped with all the same set of headphones since its 2007 debut-and that's unfortunate for the iPhone. Save for a built-in microphone, these are the same white earbuds that ship with Apple's iPods and that have created a thriving market for third-party headphones. The iPhone's earbuds are not particularly comfortable to wear, they're as probably to pop out of of your ears as they are to stay in place, and they're not terribly durable. No wonder then that our hearts skipped a beat upon seeing a video of Apples purported headphone redesign. The video, which originated in Vietnam, claims to show off headphones with a smaller profile and a single integrated part that won't fall to pieces. We want to believe.
We say: Maybe
Wireless payments: There's been much talk about whether or not the next iPhone may possibly include Near Field Communications (NFC), a short-range wireless protocol that's often used for processing payments. Some cheap android phones have begun to give this capability in conjunction with Google's Wallet payment system to allow you to pay for goods at supporting retailers by just swiping your telephone over a reader. (It is also a practice thats not uncommon overseas in Europe and Japan.) Apple's announcement of your Passbook app in iOS 6 may seem to lend credence to this theory, but it nevertheless seems unlikely that the corporation will build NFC options into the new iPhone when deployment on the retail side continues to be limited. Apple has shown within the past that its far more than happy to wait for technologies to become a lot more widely used (3G, LTE) before adopting. And, as mentioned above, keep in mind that space inside the iPhone is at a premium, and the addition of NFC would likely require not only a brand new chip, but also yet one more antenna.
We say: Unlikely.
A new iPad
Second only to iPhone rumors have been whispers that the enterprise may bring out a new model of iPad with a 7.85-inch screen. Dubbed the iPad mini, the device would likely feature a non-Retina display with all the same resolution because the iPad 2, and would allow Apple for the first time to stake a claim in a market segment to date occupied mostly by Android 4.0 tablet PC as well as the Kindle Fire. Such a device would likely be priced between the iPod touch and also the 10-inch iPad.
That said, we doubt a smaller iPad will make an appearance at this event. It seems unlikely that Apple will want to diminish the introduction of a brand new iPhone-its flagship product line these days-by introducing an entirely new product. Some rumors have suggested that a second event featuring the new iPad announcement could come subsequent month, so we may end up revisiting this question at that point.
We say: Unlikely for now.
New iPods
And what about the iPhone's kissin' cousin, the iPod touch? A brand new iPod touch is probably inside the cards-particularly given that Apple didn't release a radically new one last year. But there are a few factors that get inside the way of such an announcement, and none are technical.
First, like the purported iPad mini, it's unlikely that Apple wants to dilute the announcement of its next iPhone. Even though numerous may think with the iPod touch as an iPhone without the phone, that's not an angle that Apple has pushed-in the company's eyes, the iPod touch is a gaming and media consumption device. Linking the two in next week's announcement does the iPhone no good.
And once you mention the iPod touch, there's the expectation that you'll additionally discuss the entire iPod line. Will the traditional iPod (shuffle, nano, and classic) survive, or will the touch become The iPod along with the others quietly disappear? From Apple's perspective, this is even much more message-muddying. The firm will undoubtedly address the iPod line, but our money's on doing it at yet another time-perhaps later in the fall, along with a brand new iPad model?
We say: Unlikely for now.
iOS 6
We heard quite a bit about iOS 6 at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference; given its fall release date, it is probably we'll see a rehash of announced features-and maybe a few new surprises.
iPhone-exclusive attributes: The following iPhone will be Apple's latest and greatest bit of hardware-as such, it really is no surprise the company may be saving a little something for its September 12 debut. The iPhone 4S had Siri; the new iPhone may not have anything quite so huge, though we've heard mention of AirPlay Direct, a rumored function that would allow you to send audio and video to an AirPlay device without an intermediating wireless network.
We say: Probably.
Passbook details: Apple unveiled its new Passbook app at WWDC in June, but the limited time Apple spent discussing it left us with more questions than answers. The program is designed as a centralized location for all your reward and stored value cards, along with digital versions of concert and sports tickets; tap on a card and you'll see a barcode for the retailer to scan. The Passbook section of Apples iOS 6 page suggests that among the company's partners are Target, Fandango, Starbucks, Amtrak, United, the San Francisco Giants, and the W Hotel; its hard to imagine the corporation would use those as examples if it didn't already have some partnerships in place. Apple could definitely take some time in the September event to explain Passbook further and unveil a few powerful new partners to make the app shift from confusing to a compelling offering.
We say: Most likely.
Maps improvements: Weve already seen Apple demo Maps's spiffy new 2D and 3D offerings, as effectively as long-awaited turn-by-turn directions. But could there be more that Apple has yet to show off? The mapping app removed user-favorite options like Street View and Transit directions in iOS 6, as Apple no longer uses Google's Street View and transit databases; there's been no mention of a different partner for street-level view, but Apple may add much more 3D city renderings to its mapping database to compensate. We may also hear additional about Apples plan for dealing with transit directions, and also the third-party routing apps who are partnering with all the corporation.
We say: Maybe.
Siri's new tricks: Siri's ears must be burning, because the virtual assistant got quite a bit of attention during Apple's WWDC keynote. We already know that Siri will gain additional capabilities, like the ability to answer questions about sports and movies, but as one of your most prominent characteristics of your iPhone (and, with iOS 6's release, the iPad), it is entirely possible that Apple has extra to reveal about its now iconic virtual assistant.
We say: Maybe.
Audiobooks app: Apple recently spun off podcasts into a standalone app, rather than packing them in using the rest of your audio media; despite the relative merits (or lack thereof) of the Podcasts app, it is possible that the company may choose to do the same with audiobooks. They've often gotten short shrift within the Music app, so it doesnt seem out from the question that Apple could decide to create a place that fans of spoken content can call their own. Just after all, like podcasts, audiobooks are often listened to in a different manner from music-you want to pick up where you left off, speed or slow the playback rate, and navigate between chapters. Even though numerous of these capabilities are available within the Podcasts app, Apple has lately been taking the different apps for different jobs route, so its possible there may well be some news about audiobooks subsequent week.
We say: Maybe.
What else?
Those are our predictions, hopes, and rumor debunkings. What do you hope Apple announces on September 12? Tell us in the comments.