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Wasn't there a rumor that the 5.5" model would be manufactured by another company than Foxconn? Maybe that could explain the lack of leaks?
Actually Foxconn assembly the iPhone and build few parts, an iPhone it's comprising parts from a wide range of suppliers, maybe an 5.5" model has parts from another new supply chain with better security, who knows, the new mac pro was a total surprise also for the most veteran and open mind.
I recon it will be in small quantities and Apple has kept it a tight secret, much like the rumored, but rarely questioned iWatch.
About the iWatch, given its an smaller product with am totally new supply chain and production line it's unlikely the people actually assembly it already know what they have on hands and such smaller devices are more suitable for a fully automated production this explains the lack of leaks, as historically other smaller iDevices as the iPod never provided leaks warning on huge design changes.

So, at this point believe on an 5.5" iPhone it's like believe on Santa Claus, notwithstanding the iWatch it's plausible speculation despite lack of leaks.

I may disagree with Tim Cook with somethings he has made, but can't agree with you on that he is changing Apple, launching an iPad mini it's a thing that Jobs would have been done too, as buying Beats (while Jobs would ended paying much less), but actually nothing had changed Apple still conservative on management as innovative on offerings as ever.
 
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Actually Foxconn assembly the iPhone and build few parts, an iPhone it's comprising parts from a wide range of suppliers, maybe an 5.5" model has parts from another new supply chain with better security, who knows, the new mac pro was a total surprise also for the most veteran and open mind.
I recon it will be in small quantities and Apple has kept it a tight secret, much like the rumored, but rarely questioned iWatch.

About the iWatch, given its an smaller product with am totally new supply chain and production line it's unlikely the people actually assembly it already know what they have on hands and such smaller devices are more suitable for a fully automated production this explains the lack of leaks, as historically other smaller iDevices as the iPod never provided leaks warning on huge design changes.

So, at this point believe on an 5.5" iPhone it's like believe on Santa Claus, notwithstanding the iWatch it's plausible speculation despite lack of leaks.

I may disagree with Tim Cook with somethings he has made, but can't agree with you on that he is changing Apple, launching an iPad mini it's a thing that Jobs would have been done too, as buying Beats (while Jobs would ended paying much less), but actually nothing had changed Apple still conservative on management as innovative on offerings as ever.


Note that the latest generation iPod nano and iPod touch were not leaked previous to their unveiling (if they were, it was like a couple days before at most).
 
How odd. I could have sworn it said A1533. Maybe I was just half-asleep.

In any event, if you look at the listing of iPhone 5c model numbers, A1524 would be right smack in the middle of them. Frankly, that makes me suspect it's an 8GB iPhone 5c, for the $0 price point.

At this point speculating is pretty pointless. I am sure we could all rationalize something or another, like when the invite goes out for the iPhone event... "THERE'S A CALENDAR ICON! IT MUST MEAN THERE'S A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON TIME!" :p
 
I dont give credibility to those 5.5" iPhone *leaks* as the supossed delays, Apple will never launch a phone at january, neither launch a 2nd phone at november, its agains its very succeful marketing model, and when a marketing model its succeful means little change on the model across the seasons.

What measures or defines a marketing model's success? Ultimately, it's revenue & profit. I think some of us think that it's "tradition" or some kind of past "pattern" that absolutely cannot be broken.

As I've said before:
-deliver a 4.7" and soak up the market that wants a phone bigger than about 4" and smaller than about 5"
-deliver a 5.5" and soak up the market that wants a phone bigger than about 5" and smaller than about 6"

Let "the Apple way" (some concept of unchangeable tradition) drive a decision NOT to roll out the latter and Apple is leaving those revenues & profits for Android competitors for up to another year. Why? Do that and they are not maximizing their marketing model but Samsung and others will be happy to take those sales.

I know we armchair marketers think we see some kind of pattern or tradition here, but the professional marketers at Apple want the MONEY. Apple will quickly flip-flop for revenue growth opportunities. For example, Jobs publicly proclaimed that tablets with screens less than 9.7" were too small… that customers would need sandpaper to file their fingers down to 25% of their size to make a smaller-screened tablet work. Apple stood by that stance for 3 iterations of a tablet and then, surprise, iPad Mini (no sandpaper required). Was the iPad mini breaking tradition a bad marketing move? Not at all. It was a hugely positive move in the metric most assigned to measuring good marketing.

Apple has a longer-term pattern of rolling out just one iPhone model each year (though I argue the 5s and 5c in the most recent round is 2). So, naturally, we imagine they can't stray from that very successful approach. Meanwhile Samsung and others are selling bigger-screen phones so well that the it's all but certain that the next iPhone is going to "copy" the bigger-screen "innovation" by expanding beyond "one handed use" and "perfect" at 4" (which in itself was beyond the previously (Apple) proclaimed "perfect" screen size at 3.5").

To leave the >5" screen phones to Android competitors makes no marketing sense to me… even for another year. Clearly people want premium smart phones with screens bigger-to-much-bigger than 4.7" too. Get the money or leave it for competitors? What should a smart marketing company like Apple do?
 
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I bring the rain...2 models is 1. larger iphone 6 and 2. iphone 5s as far as I can see.
 
Actually Foxconn assembly the iPhone and build few parts, an iPhone it's comprising parts from a wide range of suppliers, maybe an 5.5" model has parts from another new supply chain with better security, who knows, the new mac pro was a total surprise also for the most veteran and open mind.

The new Mac Pro was a complete overhaul of design- a complete change of pretty much everything about it. First tangible rumor hit 5 (FIVE) days before Apple was showing it to the public.

A 5.5" iPhone is an iPhone with a screen .8" bigger (DIAGONALLY) than than the rumored 4.7" iPhone. Case will be a little bigger. Much of the core guts could be identical. Per other rumors, it might have a few special hardware features for added differentiation.

A 5.5" iPhone is NOT even close to the comprehensive overhaul of the Mac Pro. And again, I go back to the money argument. Get the Android market money for those wanting a screen bigger than 4.7" or leave it for competitors like Samsung for up to another year?
 
What measures or defines a marketing model's success? Ultimately, it's revenue & profit. I think some of us think that it's "tradition" or some kind of past "pattern" that absolutely cannot be broken.

As I've said before:
-deliver a 4.7" and soak up the market that wants a phone bigger than about 4" and smaller than about 5"
-deliver a 5.5" and soak up the market that wants a phone bigger than about 5" and smaller than about 6"

Let "the Apple way" (some concept of unchangeable tradition) drive a decision NOT to roll out the latter and Apple is leaving those revenues & profits for Android competitors for up to another year. Why? Do that and they are not maximizing their marketing model but Samsung and others will be happy to take those sales.

I know we armchair marketers think we see some kind of pattern or tradition here, but the professional marketers at Apple want the MONEY. Apple will quickly flip-flop for revenue growth opportunities. For example, Jobs publicly proclaimed that tablets with screens less than 9.7" were too small… that customers would need sandpaper to file their fingers down to 25% of their size to make a smaller-screened tablet work. Apple stood by that stance for 3 iterations of a tablet and then, surprise, iPad Mini (no sandpaper required). Was the iPad mini breaking tradition a bad marketing move? Not at all. It was a hugely positive move in the metric most assigned to measuring good marketing: revenues & profits.

Apple has a longer-term pattern of rolling out just one iPhone model each year (though I argue the 5s and 5c in the most recent round is 2). So, naturally, we imagine they can't stray from that very successful approach. Meanwhile Samsung and others are selling bigger-screen phones so well that the it's all but certain that the next iPhone is going to "copy" the bigger-screen "innovation" by expanding beyond "one handed use" and "perfect" at 4" (which in itself was beyond the previously (Apple) proclaimed "perfect" screen size at 3.5").

To leave the >5" screen phones to Android competitors makes no marketing sense to me… even for another year. Clearly people want premium smart phones with screens bigger-to-much-bigger than 4.7" too. Get the money or leave it for competitors? What should a smart marketing company like Apple do?
Actually the most profitable product line from Apple it's just the iPhone, no questions period, the iPad and iPad mini are not as profitable but actually gives an better margin than the Mac line, so?

You see Jobs as the design Guru? You're wrong Jobs Was the Marketing guru, Apple's design guru it's Johnny Ive, I want to hear about phone and Phablet size.

There are a fact that you misjudge now, as phone centric devices the 3.5 size it's ideal, but as social networking device a 5" class device it's mandatory, while a 6" device it's too big except for a gaming centric device. I think this analysis will open you mind on why the iPhone perfect size ended it's lifespan and a new size it's required.

I own an Galaxy Note 2, excellent device especially for gaming and watching movies (sorry it's samsung crap support and bloat) after owning it nearly 18 months I considered the Note 3, but I tested the excellent HTC M8 and I noted how I missed the smaller one hand form factor (nevertheless I'm very tall so was surprisingly for me), the me as many Phablet owners we returned to non Phablet device coz are more comfortable and just as easy to watch (it's like compare a 47" TV vs an 55").

Where I see an big market opportunity it's on 6" gaming device as the 8" it's the niche of tablet size, 6" it's the niche for portable consoles, not too small and not too heavy with room for a large battery.
 
The new Mac Pro was a complete overhaul of design- a complete change of pretty much everything about it. First tangible rumor hit 5 (FIVE) days before Apple was showing it to the public.

A 5.5" iPhone is an iPhone with a screen .8" bigger (DIAGONALLY) than than the rumored 4.7" iPhone. Case will be a little bigger. Much of the core guts could be identical. Per other rumors, it might have a few special hardware features for added differentiation.

A 5.5" iPhone is NOT even close to the comprehensive overhaul of the Mac Pro. And again, I go back to the money argument. Get the Android market money for those wanting a screen bigger than 4.7" or leave it for competitors like Samsung for up to another year?
If you read my previous post, actually Phablet market it's shrinking, while tablets consolidated the 8“ class, and many Phablet owners (as me) updated their Phablets to 5" class devices.

And what you think makes the real difference on a Phablet and a phone? Not the <1" size difference but the Stylus this makes a lot of convenience functionality on hand to just leave.
 
Kill the 4 inch model already, if you are not man enough to use a bigger phone go get yourself a moto razer. By all means keep it for the ladies out there but turn in your man card if you want the 4 incher.
 
My Theory,
a 5.5" is in the works, but may or may not be announced on the 9th.

I think the release will be paired and marketed with the wearable device. That way you can get notifications on your wrist and then decide if you want to haul the big bad boy out of your pocket.

I've always had an IP and upgrade every second release. over these years I've gotten older and now my eyes suck. I use my IP more for everything else than talking. I've been tempted to get a big android phone that I can see better but I am heavily embedded in the apple ecosystem so I just keeping holding out that apple will make something I can use. This is the last shot tho. If there is no 5.5" I will be forced to switch.

fingers crossed
 
About the only place around the Internet that I see some people that don't want any larger screen then 4" is on here. If an all new 4" iPhone 6 were released alongside a new 4.7" or 5.5" model would it even be worth all the engineering resources? Except for a value driven model (less profit margin) a 4" would be a poor seller if released alongside a 4.7" or 5.5" model. I think the only people who are outright rejecting a larger screen on an iPhone are people who have never used a larger screen. After owning a 5.5" G3 there is no way I'd go back to a tiny screen again. You just don't realize how much more enjoyable content is on a larger screen until you own one.

First off the internet (especially tech forums) is hardly a diverse sample to base your opinions. Most of these forums are full of people who are at least above average in how tech savvy they are. They hold very different preferences than the average consumer. Second, you may be right about sales when it comes to screen size but I definitely think its debatable. As it stands, around 30% of phone sales are between 4 and 4.4in and around 15% are 5+in.

There are obviously a lot of things to consider here like the fact that the iPhone is such a huge seller in the 4in range. Moving the iPhone to any range would undoubtedly increase the sales there. There's also the fact though that practically no other high end phone is in that 4-4.4in range. The 5+ has a lot more high end models to push sales.

Third, I have used a 4.7in screen and I found it extremely clumsy. I use my phone while moving. I use it for navigation while driving. I use it for music while driving. I frequently text on it with another phone in my ear at work. I take one handed pictures all the time. I make phone calls and hold the phone to my ear. I run and workout with my phone at the gym. I don't need a lecture on what I should and shouldn't be doing with my phone, but literally all of these things is easier with a slightly smaller device. And before you ask if I have tiny hands, I'm a 6'6 male with fairly large hands. I understand the point about content but when I find myself reading a book, watching a movie, playing an in depth game, etc, I am typically at my house and on my iPad. I also understand that scrolling down my social network feeds, reading an article, etc is consuming content. I do this frequently on the go as well and it's obviously better with a larger device but, to me, this is like the difference in watching a movie on a 40in TV and a 45in TV. Sure it's slightly better on the 45in but it's not really make or break. This "slightly better" isn't worth the clumsiness of the larger phone.


Ever wonder why the 17" iMac doesn't exist anymore?

This is a different world altogether. You don't literally carry an iMac around all day.

With that said, I do think those of you who really want a 4" screen will still be able to get one, but I don't see it being the flagship phone going forward. Apple is following this time, but they to understand where the market is headed. Personally I think only a new 4.7" is coming and the following year the 5.5" will appear. Apple is smart when it comes to selling people a new phone every year.

I'm not even making a guess as to what Apple will release because I really don't know. I do know that I don't personally believe Apple to following here. I believe that sales of these larger screen sizes is due to a combination of factors but mostly because competitors have used screen size as differentiation from Apple and as often as consumers will buy a product because it's Apple just as many will buy it because it's not Apple. I believe a lot of Apples struggle is with the "mainstream." It's like a good band that everyone thinks is really cool until they're the biggest band in the world. It's odd how people work sometimes. This is a hard concept to explain but I hope you understand what I'm getting at.



What measures or defines a marketing model's success? Ultimately, it's revenue & profit. I think some of us think that it's "tradition" or some kind of past "pattern" that absolutely cannot be broken.

As I've said before:
-deliver a 4.7" and soak up the market that wants a phone bigger than about 4" and smaller than about 5"
-deliver a 5.5" and soak up the market that wants a phone bigger than about 5" and smaller than about 6"

Let "the Apple way" (some concept of unchangeable tradition) drive a decision NOT to roll out the latter and Apple is leaving those revenues & profits for Android competitors for up to another year. Why? Do that and they are not maximizing their marketing model but Samsung and others will be happy to take those sales.

So what about delivering a 4in screen and soaking up the market that wants a new phone that of that size? If what you say is true then logic follows...

To leave the >5" screen phones to Android competitors makes no marketing sense to me… even for another year. Clearly people want premium smart phones with screens bigger-to-much-bigger than 4.7" too. Get the money or leave it for competitors? What should a smart marketing company like Apple do?

I don't necessarily disagree that Apple should play in the bigger screen size market, but leaving doing what you are talking about is leaving a large portion of the market unattended as well. Something else to consider here is woman who have traditionally preferred the iPhone. I certainly think the smaller size plays at least some role in that. Does going larger put Android on equal footing for those customers?
 
If there's no 5.5" iteration this year or at least by early next year. Guess what Apple, you just lost me on the iPhone 6. I refuse to go another year compromising on screen size. I'll strictly stay with Android, at least I have options.
 
Actually Foxconn assembly the iPhone and build few parts, an iPhone it's comprising parts from a wide range of suppliers, maybe an 5.5" model has parts from another new supply chain with better security, who knows, the new mac pro was a total surprise also for the most veteran and open mind.

About the iWatch, given its an smaller product with am totally new supply chain and production line it's unlikely the people actually assembly it already know what they have on hands and such smaller devices are more suitable for a fully automated production this explains the lack of leaks, as historically other smaller iDevices as the iPod never provided leaks warning on huge design changes.

So, at this point believe on an 5.5" iPhone it's like believe on Santa Claus, notwithstanding the iWatch it's plausible speculation despite lack of leaks.

I may disagree with Tim Cook with somethings he has made, but can't agree with you on that he is changing Apple, launching an iPad mini it's a thing that Jobs would have been done too, as buying Beats (while Jobs would ended paying much less), but actually nothing had changed Apple still conservative on management as innovative on offerings as ever.

I suppose so. Although, I think theres a lot more we don't know about the iPhone 6, that will be unveiled on September 9th. Leaks just aren't as consistent as they were last year. This time last year we had a fully assembled iPhone 5C. The next few weeks will tell.

As for the iWatch, sometimes I question it's existence. But recent hirings within Apple have made it a bit more promising. I don't know where the whole "October release date" rumor came from and if it has any clarity, but I hope Apple announces it around then.
 
First off the internet (especially tech forums) is hardly a diverse sample to base your opinions. Most of these forums are full of people who are at least above average in how tech savvy they are. They hold very different preferences than the average consumer. Second, you may be right about sales when it comes to screen size but I definitely think its debatable. As it stands, around 30% of phone sales are between 4 and 4.4in and around 15% are 5+in.

There are obviously a lot of things to consider here like the fact that the iPhone is such a huge seller in the 4in range. Moving the iPhone to any range would undoubtedly increase the sales there. There's also the fact though that practically no other high end phone is in that 4-4.4in range. The 5+ has a lot more high end models to push sales.

Third, I have used a 4.7in screen and I found it extremely clumsy. I use my phone while moving. I use it for navigation while driving. I use it for music while driving. I frequently text on it with another phone in my ear at work. I take one handed pictures all the time. I make phone calls and hold the phone to my ear. I run and workout with my phone at the gym. I don't need a lecture on what I should and shouldn't be doing with my phone, but literally all of these things is easier with a slightly smaller device. And before you ask if I have tiny hands, I'm a 6'6 male with fairly large hands. I understand the point about content but when I find myself reading a book, watching a movie, playing an in depth game, etc, I am typically at my house and on my iPad. I also understand that scrolling down my social network feeds, reading an article, etc is consuming content. I do this frequently on the go as well and it's obviously better with a larger device but, to me, this is like the difference in watching a movie on a 40in TV and a 45in TV. Sure it's slightly better on the 45in but it's not really make or break. This "slightly better" isn't worth the clumsiness of the larger phone.




This is a different world altogether. You don't literally carry an iMac around all day.



I'm not even making a guess as to what Apple will release because I really don't know. I do know that I don't personally believe Apple to following here. I believe that sales of these larger screen sizes is due to a combination of factors but mostly because competitors have used screen size as differentiation from Apple and as often as consumers will buy a product because it's Apple just as many will buy it because it's not Apple. I believe a lot of Apples struggle is with the "mainstream." It's like a good band that everyone thinks is really cool until they're the biggest band in the world. It's odd how people work sometimes. This is a hard concept to explain but I hope you understand what I'm getting at.





So what about delivering a 4in screen and soaking up the market that wants a new phone that of that size? If what you say is true then logic follows...



I don't necessarily disagree that Apple should play in the bigger screen size market, but leaving doing what you are talking about is leaving a large portion of the market unattended as well. Something else to consider here is woman who have traditionally preferred the iPhone. I certainly think the smaller size plays at least some role in that. Does going larger put Android on equal footing for those customers?

Gee...all this back and forth for a few inches. if you believe the leaks, looks like Apple has taken great pains in making the 4.7 barely bigger than the 5s.

A bigger phone (or maybe 2) is coming and that's the 2014 reality, we better get used to it.
 
So what about delivering a 4in screen and soaking up the market that wants a new phone that of that size?

Actually, that makes sense to me too. If I was in charge, I'd roll out all 3 sizes to take a bite out of all 3 segments: 4" and below, 4" to about 5" and 5" to about 6". 4" has been very profitable and seems favorable to continue to be profitable.

Until the rumors piled up about the 4.7" iPhone, this crowd backed Apple's stance that all sizes above 4" were too big per "one-handed use" and so on. Words like "abomination" and similar were slung. Now we're in the "maybe" period where rumors have piled up and there's some pretty tangible evidence that Apple is going to go bigger than 4". So the crowd has shifted itself toward the likely 4.7" while "forgetting" about "abomination", "stupid" and "99.9% of the market don't want phablets".

So, if Apple believed what it said as recently as with the launch of the 5s, it should indeed roll out a 4" iPhone 6 too. Just as there are Apple laptops with various sizes of screens to appeal to various tastes, there should be iPhones at various screen sizes to appeal to each group.

Do I think that's going to happen? No. I think Apple can see the revenue math says that the <= 4" or bust crowd can be wooed up to 4.7". They may think the >=5+ inch crowd can be wooed down to 4.7" too. But if I was Apple, I'd be rolling out at least both 4.7" and 5.5" to bite into Android smart phone's most tangible hardware differentiator… and I'd roll out a 4" too.

But I'm not Apple, so I expect 4.7" and hope for 5.5"… with nearly zero expectations of the formerly "perfect" screen size of 4". Personally, I'm the opposite of the example you offered (I'm tall with big hands), thus in the 5.5" or bust camp.
 
Yes, I think the invitation will tell us a lot. Last year, it stated: 'This should brighten everyone's day.' If Apple is to do something similar this year, it might point at the larger displays. ;)

Also, does anyone know how many days it is before the event when Apple releases the invitations?

Exactly 1 week before the event.
 
A better combination would be 4.7 and a normal 4, wouldn't it? I mean, that keeps both the people who want the same size and the group that wants something bigger.

4 and 5 IMO. 4.7 still isn't "big", and a lot of people want a big iphone.

But really by the time everyone has their 4.7's in hand almost no one will be complaining about it. It's only a little yes usable than 4 but the screen size jump is huge for content.
 
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