New iPhone Article by Gizmodo

[newyorksole]

It lists semi-credible iPhone specs.

We know, we know, it's just a week away. But this round of rumored specs for the 3G iPhone comes via Leander Kahney who has deep tentacles in Apple, and should have a solid source BS detector. The two most salient points are that it's 22 percent thinner (mighty specific, but goes against "it'll be thicker" tide) and will be subsidized to hit $200 (backing oft-wrong Kevin Rose's latest blurb). Otherwise mostly standard checklist: 3G, GPS, more storage (16GB and 32GB), better battery life (though prolly not w/ 3G or GPS on). One more week.

http://gizmodo.com/5012362/latest-ro...ercent-thinner


What do you think? I strongly think that Apple would make the phone thinner vs. making it thicker. Just because of one of their latest products, the MacBook Air. It is thinner and brushed with metal. I wouldn't mind a thicker iPhone though, to accomodate a better battery. Guess we'll have to wait and see. Also, the 16GB and 32GB seems credible because with all of the apps coming, we need more storage. And with all of the carriers that will have the iPhone, I think that they will be able to offer subsidies.

[rockstarjoe]

We'll know for sure soon enough, but I agree with you that it will probably be thinner. 9mm? Sounds pretty awesome if true.

[hobbbz]

I can't wait for the day I can look at my sexy-as-hell 1st gen iPhone and laugh at how clunky it looks compared to whatever's current.

Compare a 1st gen (or 2nd or 3rd) iPod to the current one and think about how awesome the iPhone will be in 5 years.

[Stately]

Originally Posted by hobbbz

I can't wait for the day I can look at my sexy-as-hell 1st gen iPhone and laugh at how clunky it looks compared to whatever's current.

Compare a 1st gen (or 2nd or 3rd) iPod to the current one and think about how awesome the iPhone will be in 5 years.

Haha, I like that.

[sam10685]

Will the ipod touch get this work also?

[extraextra]

I hope the more storage stuff + cheaper price is true!

[Xjett]

Yeah this looks great. We will know for sure next monday

[pavvento]

There must have been some HUGE advancements in one year if they can double the storage, add GPS, add 3G, maintain battery AND make it 22% thinner.

[rayward]

Originally Posted by pavvento

There must have been some HUGE advancements in one year if they can double the storage, add GPS, add 3G, maintain battery AND make it 22% thinner.

The battery will be an issue. Talk to anyone with a 3G phone and they'll tell you how fast actually using 3G drains the battery. the new iPhone is supposed to have an option to turn off 3G, which suggests that there's no quantum leap forward in battery technology.

They're simply adding the 3G technology that many have been clamouring for, and giving you fair warning that you'd better not stray too far from a power supply with it fired up.

[thingamajigidid]

Originally Posted by rayward

The battery will be an issue. Talk to anyone with a 3G phone and they'll tell you how fast actually using 3G drains the battery. the new iPhone is supposed to have an option to turn off 3G, which suggests that there's no quantum leap forward in battery technology.

They're simply adding the 3G technology that many have been clamouring for, and giving you fair warning that you'd better not stray too far from a power supply with it fired up.

i wonder if the ipod touch will have gps. that would be interesting.. knocking out all other gps makers
ohh what dreams are made of....

[captain kaos]

Originally Posted by rayward

The battery will be an issue. Talk to anyone with a 3G phone and they'll tell you how fast actually using 3G drains the battery. the new iPhone is supposed to have an option to turn off 3G, which suggests that there's no quantum leap forward in battery technology.

They're simply adding the 3G technology that many have been clamouring for, and giving you fair warning that you'd better not stray too far from a power supply with it fired up.

Yep, im with you on this. They will of course say its going to have 3g, GPS thinner and better battery life, but unless they have secretly come up with a new amazing power source, you wont have all these new toys switched on at the same time AND still have a better battery life!

[marc8773]

Originally Posted by rayward

The battery will be an issue. Talk to anyone with a 3G phone and they'll tell you how fast actually using 3G drains the battery. the new iPhone is supposed to have an option to turn off 3G, which suggests that there's no quantum leap forward in battery technology.

They're simply adding the 3G technology that many have been clamouring for, and giving you fair warning that you'd better not stray too far from a power supply with it fired up.

If there's an option to turn 3G off (which I've heard as well), I wonder if EDGE would still be an option giving the iPhone owner a choice between EDGE, 3G or Wireless.

Wishful thinking? Probably...

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by pavvento

There must have been some HUGE advancements in one year if they can double the storage, add GPS, add 3G, maintain battery AND make it 22% thinner.

Flash memory, as usual, has become much cheaper, and GPS chips went from $20 and change for each system to $5.

[eddietr]

Originally Posted by Kar98

Flash memory, as usual, has become much cheaper, and GPS chips went from $20 and change for each system to $5.

But the battery life is the issue. Thinner means smaller battery.

GPS and 3G mean larger drain on that battery.

It doesn't add up.

[wizard]

Originally Posted by pavvento

There must have been some HUGE advancements in one year if they can double the storage, add GPS, add 3G, maintain battery AND make it 22% thinner.

Well remember the iPhone was a project done in secret over a number of years, so in many ways it is a technological old kid. Some things to keep in mind.

There have been estimates that battery technology, for portable devices, has been improving at 8 to 9% a year. Not super fast but every little bit helps in a portable device.

Second; portable device have been hot as of late and a lot of companies have been dumping R&D into the various chips and hardware that make up these devices. Even things like the class D sound chips have seen substantial improvements since the release of iPod / Touch. It is actually surprising that things like Class D sound chips can still be improved as much as they have.

Third; many SoC processors have been developed since iPhone again targeting the portable devices market. This doesn't even take into account Apple having a custom spin done for a high performance SoC. Remember PA Semi was purchased, allegedly, so that they could finish a "project" for Apple. If Apple could move an ARM processor to 45nm and obtain integration of RAM, and a good portion of the required I/O they will have a very compelling processor.

Fourth; Flash upgrades should be easy. They have two possible avenues here. One is the new tech coming on line the other is the simple use of two devices instead of one. Either approach is enabled by the move to a higher integration SoC.

There is a lot of potential here with this spin of iPhone. I can't of course know what Apple is up to as I'm on the other side of the country. On the other hand I'm wired into the electronics industry enough to realize they should be able to make great strides with this rev. Especially on a lower cost iPhone 2, the high end phone will simply have more parts to deal with anyways.

Dave

[winterspan]

[quote=arn;5517741]I don't see how it can be thinner, better battery AND 3g/GPS. Something has to give. /QUOTE]

Originally Posted by eddietr

But the battery life is the issue. Thinner means smaller battery. GPS and 3G mean larger drain on that battery. It doesn't add up.

First of all, If the claims of better battery life is true, Then I'd surely bet that there will be an asterisk next to the claim that points out that the stated battery life is measured with WIFI, GPS, Forward-facing cam, and potentially even UMTS/3G disabled.

But at the same time, a lighter/thinner 3G iPhone with better battery life is not necessarily wishful thinking. With regards to hardware improvements, people need to remember how fast integrated-circuit technology moves, particularly in microprocessors, embedded systems, telecommunications, etc. Since the first iPhone's parts were sourced, embedded chip manufacturers have moved to smaller processing nodes, with many chips going from 110/90nm down to 55nm/65nm. This leads to smaller die sizes and better power efficiency.

There are also always continuing advancements in chip integration and optimization. For communications, Maybe iPhone 3G has a special SoC ARM processor that not only is more power efficient from a die-shrink, but has improved architecture and algorithms. Maybe the iPhone 3G uses an advanced baseband chip that is smaller, yet includes UMTS, WiFi, and GPS all on one chip and thereby saves significant physical space which and allows the iPhone to be thinner, but have a larger battery at the same time. All I'm saying is that most of us don't know enough to be able to accurately predict whether they can pull this off the type of improvements in the rumor or not. We need an experienced mobile phone/embedded systems engineer to comment on recent developments in this technology area.

One final thing to think about that someone else mentioned in this thread is that Apple probably didn't use the smallest/most power efficient/most modern components available, so as to save some headroom for iPhone v2 improvements (and reduce costs).

Originally Posted by rayward

The battery will be an issue. Talk to anyone with a 3G phone and they'll tell you how fast actually using 3G drains the battery. the new iPhone is supposed to have an option to turn off 3G, which suggests that there's no quantum leap forward in battery technology. They're simply adding the 3G technology that many have been clamouring for, and giving you fair warning that you'd better not stray too far from a power supply with it fired up.

Well I have had a few different 3G phones, and it really comes down to the model. There are many that have *terrible* battery life in the 3-3.5 hour talk-time range, and there are those that have 8-9 hour talk-time. We'll just have to see when it comes out, but it is good that Apple let's people voluntarily restrict their phone to GSM/EDGE to squeeze more talk-time out of it. Most UMTS chips use more power when in use for voice/data than GSM chips, but they are actually a little bit more efficient while idling.

Originally Posted by Enuratique

My concern is that it will come with the GPS module but to actually make use of it, you have to buy GPS software from a third party such as Garmin.

Highly unlikely, at least for basic access through Google maps, et al. You may be correct in regards to full-featured "3d view" navigation software akin to that on automotive GPS devices. However, I wouldn't doubt that Google has something similar in the works for android that may end up on the iPhone as well. Or something that Apple will include in the new iPhone OS. I'm sure Apple and google could team up and make a sweet-ass GPS navigation app!

Originally Posted by overcast

Am I the only one that really doesn't care about GPS? I mean honestly I don't see a PRACTICAL use for it. I'm not going to be staring at my iPhone while driving, and it's certainly not going to top the features of a Garmin. Ok, geotargeting pictures or something, wonderful.

Um, yes, I think you are. No, but seriously, I think you are underestimating all of the possible applications. GPS is certainly not just useful for interactive driving directions, although I'm absolutely sure people will use it for that with a dashboard iPhone mount. GPS is great for quick retrieval of
location-based information when you are out of town on a trip. The first thing I do when I get to a hotel room or friends house in a new city is look up google maps (over WiFi on my ipod touch) and check out where I am at relative to everything else --- areas of interest I will want to check out, restaurants close-by, movie theaters, seedy porn shops , etc. The same thing applies closer to home if you live in a large city and are trying to find something.

GPS positions can also be shared among friends and family, allowing crazed overprotective mothers to track their children around town or keep them in a certain perimeter, among other uses. And the commercial possibilities of so called "location-based services" are going to be huge during the next decade.

Originally Posted by jicon

I don't see a use for a GPS chipset in a phone. If you have cellphone coverage, it should be possible to triangulate your position thru cell towers. Good technology if you are out in the boonies, but for most in North America, not needed.

HAHAHA! Are you saying most in North America don't actually live "out in the boonies"? I know that of two phones I've had with google maps, neither has been able to get a location in any city I've been in. And besides the fact that cellular triangulation is never going to be suitably accurate, you surely don't want the cellphone companies controlling the positioning services of your phone with so-called A-GPS or whatever. Look at Verizon for god sakes, they CHARGE $20/month just to get cell-tower assisted GPS directions. Rip-off! I want an actual GPS chip that I can control, and for which I can always have different software to use it with.

Originally Posted by indiekiduk

There is no GPS support in the iphone OS 2.0 betas so I am 97% certain the new iPhone won't have a GPS and it will continue to use the cellular and wifi technique which is faster and works indoors.

I'm 97% sure that it was already reported that extensive references to GPS and location services were found in the new firmware code. The Cellular/Wifi technique sucks because it only works in major cities, and even then only in certain locations. I sure haven't been able to get it to work well with Google maps. Also, you want a GPS chip so that any standard software application will be able to use the coordinates, and it will always be much more accurate, good enough for real driving directions.

[dicklacara]

Originally Posted by winterspan

GPS positions can also be shared among friends and family, allowing crazed overprotective mothers to track their children around town or keep them in a certain perimeter, among other uses.

Someone in another thread proposed a chat app that tracked the location of the participants... so an acquaintance would know when it was OK to rob your house

[Enuratique]

I'm sort of excited by the prospect of a bona fide GPS module inside the iPhone. I live in a relatively small town so having a standalone GPS for my day-to-day driving isn't very practical. An iPhone with GPS however would be ideal for those occasional road trips I'm forced to take - just mount it to third party windshield bracket when needed.

My concern is that it will come with the GPS module but to actually make use of it, you have to buy GPS software from a third party such as Garmin. My guess is they'd charge as much as they do for their conventional GPS modules to help stave off the cannibalization of their own products. No doubt they're worried about being pushed out of the market completely by Apple with this one.

What is the likelihood of GPS working out of the box (assuming there truly is GPS in the next revision)? I know Steve has a penchant for things that "just work" out of the box so I'd be pleased if this were the case. I know other phones that have GPS (like ones from Nextel) don't work out of the box and require the purchase of software

Would a likely scenario be integration with Google maps for a "poor man's GPS" (kind of like what they have now but which would automatically update your position but not dictate to you what turns are coming up)

[indiekiduk]

There is no GPS support in the iphone OS 2.0 betas so I am 97% certain the new iPhone won't have a GPS and it will continue to use the cellular and wifi technique which is faster and works indoors.

[Iphtashu Fitz]

Originally Posted by Enuratique

My concern is that it will come with the GPS module but to actually make use of it, you have to buy GPS software from a third party such as Garmin. My guess is they'd charge as much as they do for their conventional GPS modules to help stave off the cannibalization of their own products. No doubt they're worried about being pushed out of the market completely by Apple with this one.

What is the likelihood of GPS working out of the box (assuming there truly is GPS in the next revision)? I know Steve has a penchant for things that "just work" out of the box so I'd be pleased if this were the case. I know other phones that have GPS (like ones from Nextel) don't work out of the box and require the purchase of software

Would a likely scenario be integration with Google maps for a "poor man's GPS" (kind of like what they have now but which would automatically update your position but not dictate to you what turns are coming up)

Considering the nice integration with Google Maps in the current iPhone I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Google provide more integration with the new iPhone if it does include GPS. Even if Google doesn't do this themselves, now that there will be third party application support I'm sure somebody will do it sooner or later. It would just be too lucrative a thing to pass up. If Garmin were to charge even $100 for an iPhone app & maps there would be plenty of others willing to undercut their pricing using Google Maps virtually free of charge. Garmin & the other GPS vendors are likely scared to death that the iPhone will include GPS support for these very reasons.

[wildcardd]

It basically was the same info that Arn got over the weekend, except it spells out that it is 22% thinner. Their source was a site that got a tip, similar to Arn.

I hope it is not some person just trying to drum up rumors.

Perhaps it is the Apple Misinformation Dept working their magic

Grain of Salt week folks. As stated before "we will know soon enough".

[colocolo]

About the Apple misinformation department:

it would be weird for them to spread rumors of a "better" iPhone than the one that actually hits the street, as it would disappoint customers. If the seed fake information, they would play down their product instead of overhyping it.

What I'm saying is that I think this rumor (if it is indeed a rumor and not actual information) did not come from Apple itself.

[arn]

I don't see how it can be thinner, better battery AND 3g/GPS. Something has to give.

arn

[blakintosh]

Originally Posted by arn

I don't see how it can be thinner, better battery AND 3g/GPS

Thats what i thought and i came up with this:

if its thinner and has a better battery it wont have GPS
if it has a better battery and gps it wont be thinner
if its thinner and has gps it wont have a better battery

[Chaszmyr]

Originally Posted by arn

I don't see how it can be thinner, better battery AND 3g/GPS. Something has to give.

arn

I agree. Kahney's concept sounds like a miracle device, and you know the old saying; if it sounds too good to be true...