Now that all the rumors of a delayed iPad 2 have been put to rest with its pending March 11th release, we can get back on track with an end of June/beginning of July iPhone 5 as it has been every year since release. We can also proclaim Apple has figured out how to make a white casing for the beloved iDevice since Steve Jobs himself told the crowd in San Francisco today at the iPad 2 event that white would be available “on day one” of release. Since the iPhone and iPad share so many parts, it’s almost a no brainer to think we will see a white iPhone 5 the same day as the black brother is pushed out to consumers across the nation.

What this also says is yo can forget any hopes of an iPhone 4 in white. Since it didn’t arrive with the Verizon iPhone, the perfect time for introduction, there will be no need at this point to even try. It’s possible Apple could seed the white version in the iPhone 4 body to get an idea of how well it will work; however, with the iPad 2 being in white just next week, this idea losses most credibility.

So now that we can put the white iPhone to rest, let’s start talking about the silver one like the iPod Classic went to a few years ago.

Scores of guesses fill the blogisphere about what Apple’s next iPhone will offer. I’ve already heard one new rumor saying goodbye to the home button and I could see that happening. What I do not see coming to the half-decade mark from Cupertino’s finest is anything mind blowing.

Nope, not this year.

Now that the number one complaint about the iPhone has been dealt with — poor service via AT&T — I think the second issue is on the list for attack: battery life. We’ve seen what Apple did with the iPad and its amazing power life, but sadly, the iPhone doesn’t have that kind of real estate as the “over-sized iPod Touch”.

Lots of talk has been bubbling about battery technology with Apple’s name attached, and I’m fairly certain that Steve Jobs has this issue high on his priority list of getting fixed. We’ve seen amazing leaps in battery life across the entire spectrum of mobile gadgetry, from the impressive Li-Ion battery cells onboard Apple’s laptops to other devices such as Amazon’s Kindle.

It’s now time for the iPhone to follow suit.

Now don’t worry, we won’t just be wooed by better battery life — there will be more under the hood, too. You’ll also see a “world phone” where both GSM and CDMA will be supported. Apple doesn’t want to manufacture two different phones, and this is why it waited so long on bringing the Verizon iPhone. Apple had to answer the Android onslaught now and thus, temporarily, we have two iPhones.

But come July, there will only be one.

LTE you ask? Remember, one phone and AT&T hasn’t even taken off the anti-static bags from its LTE radios yet. LTE will come next year…when a multi-band GSM, CDMA, LTE chip is created…and priced lower than today’s LTE chips.

Let’s see, what else can we hope for? Mmm, an antenna adjustment to relieve that death grip issue as already seen in the Verizon version (don’t fall for Apple’s marketing spin about CDMA requiring the change.) That loss of the Home button sounds about right. Oh ya, some more memory, like 64GB on the high end. Probably a better speaker, too. Oh yes, for the third time, non-smudge glass that maybe might not absorb finger prints as easily as the last four phones. Speaking of glass, the iPhone 5 will resist cracks better than the 4. Maybe Bluetooth 3 — though Apple doesn’t seem to really show any affection for it.

So, that’s what I see in the iPhone 5. Better battery life, world phone, more memory, less smudges, no death grip, louder speaker, and possibly cutting edge Bluetooth. You know, the more I think about it, scratch the Bluetooth 3.0 support. Well get that next time.

Originally published at iPhone 5 News Blog, the first blog to cover news, rumors & opinions about the iPhone 5. ]]> http://svenontech.com/2011/01/18/predictions-iphone-5-to-be-a-simple-refresh/feed/ 2 http://svenontech.com/2010/12/01/verizon-lte-announcement-video-features-an-iphone-4/ http://svenontech.com/2010/12/01/verizon-lte-announcement-video-features-an-iphone-4/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:50:32 +0000 Sven Rafferty http://svenontech.com/?p=8770

Verizon Wireless today announced it’s faster service LTE, Long Term Evolution, capable of reaching download speeds of 12 Mbps and uploading up to 5 Mbps. This new wireless broadband will free many users to not only view HD content on portable devices such as phones and laptops but also upload high-def material right from a phone or other device. This is a leap for mobile broadband as all carriers limit uploads to or under 1 Mbps. Coupled with half the latency of 3G networks, Verizon’s LTE will be a welcomed improvement to mobile broadband.

Verizon showcases its new announcement with a video explaining all the bells and whistles of LTE but it is at the 2:35 mark (view) of the video that is of interest. Lindsay Notwell, Executive Director, 4G LTE Startegy and Planning, talks about “connected cars” with a video shot of an iPhone 4 running onStar’s app. Now while this could be just a still shot pulled from GMs site and nothing more than that, wouldn’t Verizon at least wish to show off one of its phones? With the ability of any phone to connect to a FordSync equipped vehicle, for example, Verizon could have easily picked up on some Ford marketing for a shot to better fit the Verizon Wireless line of handsets. Instead, the hottest smartphone on the market only available on its competitor network was shown. Mmmm.

So, is this just a mere oversight on Verizon or a hint that the iPhone 4 is just around the corner? I believe this is just another tea leave exposing that indeed, Verizon and Apple will be soon announcing the iPhone 4 coming to the largest network in the United States. My guess is we will Steve Jobs pulling his infamous One More Thing at the iPad 2G announcement and bring out on stage Verizon’s CEO Ivan Seidenberg to make the announcement this January.

Yes, the new year is looking mighty good.

The iPhone 4 is out and while still suffering from the antenna controversy, it is time to think of the next big thing from Apple. Many are talking about an update to the Apple TV which would include a complete overhaul down to using iOS 4. But do we care about Apple’s “hobby” as much as the possibility of a refresh to the iPad? Speculation is that it could indeed be revealed at the near certain September iPod update event this fall. Apple has already confirmed that the iPad would get iOS 4.x in the fall and it would make sense to show it off with other iOS 4 devices such as the iPod touch and maybe an all newly redesigned Apple TV. Many have refuted and dismissed the idea of a hardware revised iPad so soon after the initial release of the tablet wonder pad; however, indicators would seem to point to a strong possibility of such an update.

First, hardware tear down sites like iFixIt have made light of the open space in the top of the iPads bezel where a camera could have easily fit in the first generation release. It appears as if Apple has already designed the placement of an eye. Dropping in the electronics would be an easy measure for the manufacturing process. Second, with the release of iPhone 4s front-facing camera, this gives further support to lead one to reason that the cavernous hole in the iPad will be filled soon. Third, rumors are running very high that the next iPod touch will indeed have a camera this September. Granted, we’ve heard this rumor before, but now with FaceTime, it seems more likely. Lastly, FaceTimes mode of transport, Wi-Fi, seems to be another strong reason for the iPad to gain a front-facing camera.

Let me elaborate more on my last point. Many were surprised by Apple’s details for FaceTime and how it would only work on Wi-Fi networks and not on the cellular network as well. Speculation is that Apple did not wish to further burden AT&Ts already dismal network performance and thus funneled FaceTime through Wi-Fi only. Well, what does every iPad have? Wi-Fi support. What does Apple need to do to sale more of the antenna troubled iPhone 4? Bolster its main trick feature, FaceTime. In fact, a recent poll indicated the number one reason for purchase of the iPhone 4 was the video conferencing feature. An amazing 68% polled said FaceTime was why they purchased the iPhone. With more people to conduct FaceTime conversations with on either the iPad or iPod touch, this will increase demand for the iPhone prompting the “I might as well just upgrade my phone, too” reasoning.

I can see Apple indeed releasing a new iPad with a front-facing camera, maybe even a rear camera as well, along with a slew of new iPods that could contain cameras as well to push the FaceTime software and its API. Apple wants everyone to use FaceTime, not Skype, so it needs to give more than one way to use it. If Apple can become the number one outlet for music sales, even over taking the mighty Wal-mart, then it can easily, with hard work, become the king of video conferencing. The possibilities for FaceTime go for beyond the iPhone or even the iPad. Apple knows this and I do not think it’s going to waste any time waiting for the next “proper” product cycle update to begin its video take over.

Our feelers are telling us that AT&T will charge $30 a month for 3G network use for the new thinner second-generation iPhone. There is no details if this is on addition to the $20 it currently charges for unlimited Internet or if it is just a $10 increase in the current fee. Either way, this would increase users fees from $120 a year minimum making the cost of use more expensive killing any savings from the Apple markdown in price within a two year contract.

If you have to have your data quicker and you don’t live in a Wi-Fi available neighborhood, then you’ll be paying more for your data. Additionally, those that find themselves traveling may not be happy with the current AT&T coverage map, though the cellular company claims nearly all metro areas will be covered by years end.

UPDATE: According to the AT&T’s iPhone 3G Conference Call held today, this will be in leu of the current $20 charge. So, the unlimited Internet will be increased from $20 to $30 a month on AT&T for 3G access from the next-generation iPhone due July 11th. Further, the phones will be either activated IN STORE at either AT&T or the Apple Store differing from the current iTunes activation scheme used today.

With the rumors running rampant on the Internet of 3G iPhones to be subsidized by AT&T for a final cost of $199 with a two-year contract, it seems that time is running out for supposed exclusive carrier for US iPhones. Signs seem to indicate that this rumor has substance. Apple’s reported recent deal with Italy’s Telecom Italia Mobile to sell the iPhone unlocked and with a lack of firmware updates from Apple here in the states to re-secure an easily hacked 1.1.4 release in February, one would presume Apple desires more sales than headaches.

Seeing the huge demand in China alone for hacked iPhones, Apple can no longer ignore the demand for the Super Phone it released nearly a year ago last June. If the Cupertino iCompany does indeed decide to sell an unlocked iPhone, then AT&T needs to find another way to lock in its customer base. It will have to do it the old fashion way by eating a loss on the phone hardware in exchange for two years of your life. At a 50% discount of the initial cost of the phone, this will surely spawn new sales to the phone as well as retain current iPhone users desiring the faster mobile data access and possibly other hardware upgrade goodies such as rumored GPS (which I say is most unlikely.)

With a lack of a large GSM pool in the States, there may be not a huge splurge in unlocked iPhone sales locally, but where GSM is king, such as Europe and China, Apple could make a killing on the next generation iPhone if it truly will be sold as an unlocked device. Apple stands to make a greater profit with this business plan than skimming a few dollars a month per AT&T customer as it is suggested it is doing currently. While Apple is nearly half way to Steve Jobs self-commissioned 10 million phones sold by the end of 2008, sales have sagged in the last few months. International sales are even lower. An unlocked phone will change all that and meet, if not exceed, that 10 million mark for sure.

Looks like Apple may have a surprise for us all on March 6th, a week later than Apple’s originally announced February release of its iPhone SDK. In its invite, Apple specifies that, “Some exciting new enterprise features,” will on the agenda at the Town Hall in Building 4 on Apple’s Cupertino campus on March 6th. Could this be the Exchange Direct-Push SvenOnTech first reported on last January that Apple is working on?

With e-mail push for corporate customers the number one request of the iPhone, such an “enterprise feature” would put another boast into iPhone sales for sure and finally giving Blackberry some mean competition. It’s clear Apple is aware of business men and women’s needs based just on this statement contained within the invite. It’s even possible that Apple may announce support for Blackberry BAS (push) server as well which would then cover the two most popular methods of receiving e-mail for business professionals.

Time will tell and it is our hope that Apple will impress with such an announcement next week.

Netflix has wisely been adapting to the future fairly well with adding Blu-ray and HD-DVD (yanking the last from the queue just recently, however) to the mix. Netflix has also playing around with movie downloads. Many have been excited by the latter and with only a Windows version currently available, Macintosh fans are sitting at the table with fork and knife, ready to dive in. But you may want to put down the silverware as it’s most likely you’ll never see Netflix downloads on your Mac.

According to a source at Netflix, Apple is making things very difficult for it, and every other company with digital content, to bring this new exciting technology to OS X machines. The difficulty? FairPlay. Apple has a long history of not playing fair with it’s DRM (digital Rights Management) from shunning RealNetworks’ Rhapsody to work with the iPod to ignoring Sonos‘ constant requests for access to FairPlay to allow the music player to play content from the iTunes Store. Apple simply does not want to license out its DRM scheme as Microsoft has freely done with its Windows Media format.

Hollywood is very stringent with its content and has signed onto Window Media and FairPlay after much work by Microsoft and Apple. To add another DRM to the fold may not go down very well with Tinsel Town. Further, the cost of coming up with a new protection scheme may be too extreme for many companies. Lastly, the “bullet proof” aspect of the DRM would be questioned by all the studios and that would become the deal breaker. In the end, it has to be FairPlay on the Mac.

As long as Apple plays deaf to all the outside requests for licensing of FairPlay, one will never see Netflix movie downloads on their Mac. With Apple having its own movie rental scheme now, it’s highly unlikely Netflix movie downloads will come to the Mac. Like RealNetworks, Apple doesn’t want competition on its platform. In the end, if you really have to have those movies from Netflix on your Mac, get Parallel’s Desktop.

Macworld was a great time last week even if nothing ground breaking happened other than a very thin and a very expensive laptop was released. In my book, Apple TVs update and HD movie rentals was the big news. But what bugged me more than anything was the lack of something and that something was the missing feature of Cut-n-Paste in the iPhone. Without a doubt, this has got to be the most annoying omitted ingredient of the iPhone and yet still, Apple continues to ignore this chasm. Yes, chasm! I can’t understand why there isn’t more of an uproar about this must-have option in such a versatile device. I’m tired of typing in long web addresses from notes, address book notes, and iCal note fields that the iPhone seems to ignore and translate into hyperlinks. I’m tired of typing in redundant information into notes or iCal entries. I’m tired of hand copying text from web sites into other applications. Heck, try typing, from memory at best, long WEP keys for protected wireless networks! Tired, tired, tired! What gives?!

Well, I hunted someone down at Macworld to give me the answers and after a long search and pass off after pass off from Apple employee to Apple employee, I finally got an answer. The deal is, Apple is aware of the desire for this option and it is working on it in the labs as we speak. The trouble it is having is implementation. How to easily call up a copy or cut option and then the paste action. It’s probable that the zoom bubble (the one that brings up the edit cursor) is the issue as it has removed the obvious tap and hold position from Apple to use for a pop-up menu of some sort. Text selection is another difficulty to sort out. Certainly, the cursor could be added to the menu selection; however, Apple wants to keep this as simple as possible and that added step would not lend itself to simple.

My source would not give me any details other than to say that it has been working on the solution for some time and that there was no immediate release for it. So at best, we can hope that the interface hurdle will be leaped over very soon.

As to Exchange, a straight answer was more difficult to pull out of my Apple source. Yes, Apple knows that there are business professionals that want support for it (and Blackberry Enterprise Server) and Apple is not ignoring this demand. The source would not go as far as to say that it’s being worked on, but when I asked for clarification by questioning, “So is Apple not working on a solution?” he simply laughed and said, “Apple’s aware of the Exchange need.” So, take that at face value, business professionals.

While there is a slew of other unanswered features many have called for since day one, such as voice dialing, these two were my main concern and I was glad to at least get some kind of answer. My source suggested letting Apple know of my fire desires in encouragement that this would help push for a quicker resolve. So, folks, if you agree with my needs, head over to Apple and let them know now!

Could it be the reason so many in the media and bloggers in general have had a hard time wondering what will be announced at Macworld is because we’ve all forgotten about…the Beatles? The catalog is prime for release and just in the last year alone, there has been indicators pointing to the fleetly release of the most sought after catalog in the music world. EMI’s experiment with DRM-less protected music on iTunes under the “plus” banner has done the label very well. EMI is the parent label to the Beatles catalog. Those close to Apple Records, Ltd. have publicly stated that all songs by the greatest and most successful bands of all time is coming. Not may be, but is coming. It’s also well known how huge of a Beatles fan Steve Jobs. Look at what was on his iPhone last years Macworld (pictured). Top it all off with the fact that now all the solo material of each Beatles member is available on iTunes today. It just seems Macworld is ripe for an incredible announcement next week.

If Apple, EMI and Apple Records, Ltd. announce the release of the entire Beatles catalog next week from San Francisco, this news will saturate not only the tech media but the media at large. It will trump CES, again, and put Apple on front pages of magazines and newspapers for weeks to come. It’ll also give us all a day of rest from Brittany news!

Things just seem very ideal for the Beatles to go digital and iTunes is the premium place to do it. While it has been well documented that the Beatles will be widely available, Apple’s relationship with EMI is obviously strong and Apple’s recent settlement with Apple Records, Ltd. was undisclosed to the public. Want to bet Steve didn’t put some limited exclusive clause in it for the digital versions of that honey pot? It’s just, soooo Steve.

Yes, folks, I do believe Billy Shears will be raising a smile next week from Moscone! ]]> http://svenontech.com/2008/01/08/macworld-big-announcement-the-beatles/feed/ 6