Apple Starts Field Testing Next Generation iPhone (3,1)

[DeepIn2U]

This new iPhone thing better not be taking resources away from the Newton II

PS: the iPhone IS the Newton II!
Having expandable memory and adapters like Newton had is no longer useful/feasable - however its possible the rumored tablet is the Newton II. For now, the iPhone does EVERYTHING that the Newton could today.

I will not care until:

A.) AT&T's coverage covers my area

or

B.) The AT&T exclusivity bind ends.

Oh this will happen with regulatory approval of Ericsson's purchase of GSM/GSM-R technologies of Nortel Networks (which AT&T's core backbone is built on).

For me:

-Phone redesign
-Slightly larger screen
-iChat
-Better camera
-Flash (camera)
-Cheaper/free docking station
-3GS as standard

Probably some more, but none I can think of!

I'd rather the following:
- Phone redesign (more design queues)
- marginally larger screen, but I prefer higher resolution XVGA or WVGA. This would break quite a few apps in the process though. Games would grow increasingly though.
- IMPROVED Battery capacity: 1500mAh- 2100mAh
- More frugal battery consumption
- iChat along with iSight camera (seperate from main equaling 1MP)
- Main Camera 5MP +AF, Touch Focus, Video Focus, and dual-LED FLASH!!!
- Docking station included!
- HSPA+ bandwidth 15+Mbps down/5Mbps UP.
- iPod: ability to adjust playlists on iPhone, create new playlists & titles (not the lead song)
- Safari - built-in search!!! I wish to search a specific word within a webpage.
- ability to install add-ons (I'd like the alternative to Flash for flash sites OR Apple proxy that implements HTML5 alternative to render in iPhone).
- so many more software adjustments, features needed BEYOND multitasking.

There are several 1GHz phones out there already.

It's not about the cpu speed, especially in the cellphone/smartphone computing space. Its about computational power and battery management!! Snapdragon is still using something similar to Cortex A8 [The Snapdragon application processor core is called Scorpion and is similar to the ARM Cortex-A8 core.[1]

I prefer the TI OMAP4340 using Cortex A9 with SMP (or Dual-Core cpu, not multi-core cpu's which most smartphones on the market currently use. This means 2 or more applications processor seperate from baseband/DSP core cpu's). Much more powerful than 1Ghz along. Btw, to make you all feel better, both TI or Samsung has 1Ghz Cortex A9 based cpu's in the pipeline if not in production already.

 

[SactoGuy18]

By the way, that "iPhone 3,1" identifier could also possibly be a way to test the cellphone functionality through HSDPA downloading of data to the much-rumored Apple tablet computer without disclosing what device is actually using this identifier.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I still want iChat to come out to rival the BBM on Blackberrys though I guess that would be hard because they'd have to limit it to just iPhones.

NOW we're talking!

I'd like an iChat API that allows us to use TXT, Media (pictures/small video), send Map locations & routes (due to using Google we may have issues with Apple utilizing this with licensing), Group chat and management, ability to verify message communications where received (with iChat on Mac OS X via Update), privacy feature, groups managed by central server admins (for corporate implementation); ALL without a NOC!

THEN we'll see some serious BlackBerry competition.

Better features with Exchange Active Sync or Lotus Notes Traveler implementation - with focus of Exhange Server 2010 being implemented across many corporations by end of 2010. Many are STILL on last legs of Exchange 2003.

Its time iPhone engineers at Apple begin to think of Unified Collaboration!!

Don't you think it would have to include LTE and the 700 MHz frequency?

With Verizon planning on going LTE by end of 2010, along with Bell Mobility & Telus Mobility (the latter here in Canada) I feel the Dual-Mode (HSPA/EDGE + CDMA EVDO) radio chipset just adds needless weight and mobo complexity. There is STILL not a lot of handsets offering both in the smartphone space. Then again Apple could do this for 2010 release and then offer LTE iPhone in 2011.

Right now Verizon going with 700Mhz WhiteSpace frequency is the only carrier I'm aware of doing that. So get ready for all kinds of multiple band support in 2011, yet again.

 

[David29]

Verizon, please ...

For the love of God ..... Please ... Apple .... get the iPhone on Verizon already. Don't make me sign up with AT&T...

 

[jav6454]

Looks stamped to me. I think it'd be pretty common knowledge if it were milled. Like the fact that some parts of the air were milled out of solid aluminum. Besides, what's unibody about gen1? it's two separate parts. The current iPhone is more unibody than that.

Um no.... The iPhone is two exterior pieces, just like a MacBook Pro.

Incorrect. LTE is not a simple "software update". LTE will require a new IP based core, fiber/metro-ethernet backhaul, VOIP protocols, new mobile chipsets, cell-site reconfiguration and tweaking (a lengthy process seeing that new frequencies, using new propagation techniques, are required), etc.

The only advantage AT&T will have over Verizon is a fallback in to its HSPA network. Verizon's advantages are its head start in R&D, deployment, and its fiber-to-cell site program.

Also, the forum member you rail against actually has some valid points. You simply regurgitate marketing speak terms such as "software update" without any technical understanding.

Keep trying again. HSPA+ (which is the standard AT&T will use a bridge) is what is going to be software updated. No, it's not a marketing BS. I know, I am EE. There is going to be changes to the core GPRS network in order to make all IP (AIPN). That is the only hardware update AT&T will need to set-up (on a large scale note). Oh, that's the backhaul BTW.

Mobile chipsets is up to the phone sellers, so carriers have no say on that. VOIP protocols are built into AIPN, so that's another down. Fiber is already in place (see: U-Verse), all AT&T needs to do is connect to it.

All AT&t needs to really do is do the essential Cell tower tweaking as you say which is new 700MHz Block A (or B) radio waves and software upgrading the units to allow LTE to HSPA+ systems.

Also, take into account LTE is an enhancement to the 3GPP's (3rd Generation Partnership Project) UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). It's being set as Release 8 but being named as LTE (Long Term Evolution).

 

[nyboilermaker]

What about UMA?

What about UMA? It's the best secret out there.

Off load 60% of the data problems and enable UMA on the iPhone, why everyone hasn't caught on to this yet amazes me.

 

[Drag'nGT]

I'll add to the list of wants.

These are needed for this to be a successor to the 3GS:
> 4.3" screen (see HTC HD2)
> 5mp or better camera with xenon flash
> faster processor
> multitasking running more than one app at a time
> better battery
> Google's new map/GPS app

Anything else they add is just icing on the cake. I would like to see and plan on seeing a new design. I think it's hard to improve when they set the bar so damn high in the first place and since it's just a screen I have to really ask "how do you improve that?"

Even with Google this is all I found that looks good.

 

[dmelgar]

Didn't at&t invest $18,000,000,000 in their network this year alone? While they might not be "meeting demand", could any carrier?

Amazed to see people defending AT&T.
I don't care how much AT&T spends. The fact is they cover very little area in the US with 3G vs. Verizon. In the 2+ years I've had them I have seen ZERO improvement in coverage, which pretty much stinks in my metro area and is non-existent outside the metro area for 3G in 90% of the state.

Verizon covers every inch of this state and everywhere I've been with 3G.
There is no comparison.
Not even close.
Pick a different battle.

 

[jav6454]

Amazed to see people defending AT&T.
I don't care how much AT&T spends. The fact is they cover very little area in the US with 3G vs. Verizon. In the 2+ years I've had them I have seen ZERO improvement in coverage, which pretty much stinks in my metro area and is non-existent outside the metro area for 3G in 90% of the state.

Verizon covers every inch of this state and everywhere I've been with 3G.
There is no comparison.
Not even close.
Pick a different battle.

Your experience =/= everyone's experience.

Also, Verizon's 3G is much slower than AT&T's and can't handle data/voice connections at the same time. That's a fact given by the ITU and any CDMA carrier.

That's +2 AT&T. -2 Verizon

Also, Verizon's network is empty with respect to the amount of data and usage going thru AT&T's.

 

[powers74]

uni

Um no.... The iPhone is two exterior pieces, just like a MacBook Pro.

ok. Obviously, all these machines are comprised of multiple parts. When Apple says unibody, they are talking about the entire upper section being milled from a block of aluminum. That's also how I am defining unibody. The MBA is not a unibody in that only part of the main body of machine is milled. Same for the new MBs. Polycarbonate unibody. The entire upper section is milled of one chunk of plastic.

I mean, I really don't understand what you're talking about. Which iPhone original/3G? original iPhone 2 exterior pieces. 3G 1 exterior piece. Unless you're counting the screen. Still, that's why I say 3G is more unibody than the original...

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

 

[jav6454]

ok. Obviously, all these machines are comprised of multiple parts. When Apple says unibody, they are talking about the entire upper section being milled from a block of aluminum. That's also how I am defining unibody. The MBA is not a unibody in that only part of the main body of machine is milled. Same for the new MBs. Polycarbonate unibody. The entire upper section is milled of one chunk of plastic.

I mean, I really don't understand what you're talking about. Which iPhone original/3G? original iPhone 2 exterior pieces. 3G 1 exterior piece. Unless you're counting the screen. Still, that's why I say 3G is more unibody than the original...

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

Lol crazy pills. The 1st Gen iPhone (the one back in June 07) was unibody. True it had a plastic piece, but you could say that was the cover to what 2009 MacBook's battery cover was to the whole design.

In that sense, the iPhone is unibody. One whole Aluminum body. The 3G and 3GS are one plastic piece which I hate. A close unibody style, but not quite to match the Aluminum unibody Apple taunts in their laptops.

 

[kdarling]

You've got to be kidding me. So you are claiming that if the pressure AT&T's network is under (a 2000% percent increase) is never going to bring Verizon's network down?

Eh? My response was directly to the claim that "Verizon would have just as much trouble as AT&T if they had as many data consuming iPhone users"

For the clear technical reasons that I gave, they simply would not have had as much trouble handling the extra 3G load. (It doesn't mean, and I didn't say, that they wouldn't have had any trouble.)

Verizon will have to buy new hardware and infrastructure for LTE radios while AT&T will happily just software update the existing hardware.....

That is absolutely incorrect. You seem to mistakenly believe that LTE is based on GSM. It is not. It is something new and different.

ATT will have to add just as much, if not more, new hardware and infrastructure for LTE.

(re: cell planning) 2. So? Verizon will have the same problem with EV-DO ...

Again, incorrect.

Both Verizon and ATT use a CDMA air protocol for 3G.

When Verizon planned their cells, they took into account such CDMA-specific factors such as cell breathing. ATT did not, since they started with TDMA radios.

The consequence is that, as the number of voice and data users rose on many of ATT's 3G cells, users could fall outside of shrinking cell coverage and/or be blocked from falling over to cells overloaded by data.

Remember, EV-DO is much slower than UMTS. EDGE beat EV-DO Rev0.

Verizon's entire EVDO network was upgraded to Rev A back in mid 2007.

 

[dmelgar]

Your experience =/= everyone's experience.

Also, Verizon's 3G is much slower than AT&T's and can't handle data/voice connections at the same time. That's a fact given by the ITU and any CDMA carrier.

That's +2 AT&T. -2 Verizon

Also, Verizon's network is empty with respect to the amount of data and usage going thru AT&T's.

BS.
Is not just "experience". Look at a map. Regarding coverage, its not even close. No room for debate.

Verizon's 3G is NOT slower than AT&Ts. AT&T may have one tower somewhere running supposed 7.2mbps. Users tests show Verizon as fast or faster. Boy genius had user reported tests. AT&T did not fair well.

AT&T can't do data and voice at the same time with EDGE which is what covers the majority of the area of the US.

 

[powers74]

meh

Lol crazy pills. The 1st Gen iPhone (the one back in June 07) was unibody. True it had a plastic piece, but you could say that was the cover to what 2009 MacBook's battery cover was to the whole design.

In that sense, the iPhone is unibody. One whole Aluminum body. The 3G and 3GS are one plastic piece which I hate. A close unibody style, but not quite to match the Aluminum unibody Apple taunts in their laptops.

Ok, I see where you're coming from, I guess I just don't completely agree. At least we can agree to hate the plastic!

 

[Ronlap]

Multi-core? Good lord, just give me a camera with flash and a removable battery!

Last year I lost my passport in Germany and had to go to the US consulate. Visitors are required to remove the batteries in their cameras and mobile phones before they are allowed to enter the consulate.

I had to miss my appointment and make another one so that I could go all the way back to my hotel to drop off my iPhone because i couldn't remove the *&^%#$@ battery.

 

[trajen]

I'd like to see a water proof iPhone with shatter resistant glass. Too many people drop their iPhone and are screwed out of their warranty.

 

[jav6454]

Eh? My response was directly to the claim that "Verizon would have just as much trouble as AT&T if they had as many data consuming iPhone users"

Something we agree on.

For the clear technical reasons that I gave, they simply would not have had as much trouble handling the extra 3G load. (It doesn't mean, and I didn't say, that they wouldn't have had any trouble.)

Agree again

That is absolutely incorrect. You seem to mistakenly believe that LTE is based on GSM. It is not. It is something new and different.

ATT will have to add just as much, if not more, new hardware and infrastructure for LTE.

You are right, LTE is not GSM based, it's UMTS based, which AT&T is currently rolling out, hence when LTE comes around software update to LTE.

Again, incorrect.

Both Verizon and ATT use a CDMA air protocol for 3G.

When Verizon planned their cells, they took into account such CDMA-specific factors such as cell breathing. ATT did not, since they started with TDMA radios.

The consequence is that, as the number of voice and data users rose on many of ATT's 3G cells, users could fall outside of shrinking cell coverage and/or be blocked from falling over to cells overloaded by data.

W-CDMA =/= CDMA =/= TDMA

Very different protocols, similar name.

Verizon's entire EVDO network was upgraded to Rev A back in mid 2007.

Yet Verizon displays areas covered by Rev 0 as 3G speeds, blatant lie that is.

BS.
Is not just "experience". Look at a map. Regarding coverage, its not even close. No room for debate.

Verizon's 3G is NOT slower than AT&Ts. AT&T may have one tower somewhere running supposed 7.2mbps. Users tests show Verizon as fast or faster. Boy genius had user reported tests. AT&T did not fair well.

AT&T can't do data and voice at the same time with EDGE which is what covers the majority of the area of the US.

I am not debating coverage, you are. I am debating speeds. Also, yes, Verizon's 3G is slower than AT&T's. Difference in HSDPA and EV-DO make it so. EDGE is not marketed as 3G (even though technically it's 3G)

BTW, I can cite Gizmodo's results where all test where done cross nation and Verizon did not beat a single one. Bare in mind, this was done with AT&T's 1.8Mb/s network, not the new 3.6Mb/s or 7.2Mb/s

 

[appleguy123]

I'll add to the list of wants.

These are needed for this to be a successor to the 3GS:
> 4.3" screen (see HTC HD2)
> 5mp or better camera with xenon flash
> faster processor
> multitasking running more than one app at a time
> better battery
> Google's new map/GPS app

Anything else they add is just icing on the cake. I would like to see and plan on seeing a new design. I think it's hard to improve when they set the bar so damn high in the first place and since it's just a screen I have to really ask "how do you improve that?"

Even with Google this is all I found that looks good.

That concept is ugly!

 

[sonnyjames]

Deaf Demands Videoconferencing

I want to see front facing camera and the ability to make/receive video calls.

 

[andrei.barbuta]

Some of my thoughts.

1. Regarding the new design that was posted with what seemed to be edge-to-edge glass I believe it's not a good idea. The metal bevel around the screen, although i don't find it especially pleasing visually but necessary to protect the screen.

2. The screen resolution....we would all prefer to be bigger. Yet think about when the iPhone was first made. Take into consideration it;s resolution and more importantly it's DPI. It was the most gorgeous screen on any mobile communication device. The problem is that we have gotten used to it and we saw what kind of apps we can have on this kind of screen and hardware...and now we want more. Like someone said earlier they have to take into account the 100.000 apps already created that would be immediately obsolete on the new iPhone. This will come with screen resolution...2 years, after OSX 10.7 introduces it and then will be integrated in iPhone OS and of course find a solution to zoom the old apps on the new screen automatically. Or dare I say it...dynamic resolution screen?

3. I use the 3G Phone and played a little with the 3GS. Most importantly i think it is a better battery life. This is crucial. Next I would really like front facing camera. Although this wasn't a commercially successful features of modern phones i think it was because of poor implementation. Apple can do here what they do best, take good ideas with bad rep and make them commercially viable and consumer friendly....and if it f... up the mobile networks that's there problem.

Keep on posting.

 

[onfire4g05]

Please come to verizon.. PLEASE

I'm not begging, but if they want my business that's what they're going to have to do. No way I'm switching to AT&T. They don't even have 3G anywhere but in parts of the major city around here. My coworkers have to go outside to make a phone call that isn't dropped or filled with static on AT&T. haha

So, come to Verizon and then I'll say the new multiprocessor feature is nifty. Until then, *yawn*.

 

[valanchan]

No, Apple please, no!

Every carrier will be begging Apple not to include a video iChat on the iPhone.

It is on other phones but it is not used and that is why the networks are still up.

Can you imagine iPhone users not using it?

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Jah.

1. Make it out of metal (the plastic has serious durability issues)
2. AT&T OR Verizon compatibility (or... both? tight squeeze...)
3. Front Facing Video Cam + iChat (even if only enabled on wifi)
4. Include a damn dock!

If AT&T lost of percentage of pissed off customers to Verizon, think of all the bandwidth you guys would be available for everyone, and how much longer AT&T could go without spending any money upgrading their ruddy network. And those of us who switched would then fully realize just how miserable the state of cellular networks in the US really is.

 

[richd5481]

its called the "call" button.

* Better battery life/energy consumption
* Redial button (I mean... come on. I can't believe that's missing.)
* Limited third-party multi-tasking. (I understand and agree with the benefits of limiting MT to built-in functionality, but there's no reason not to have some kind of "white list" preference setting where you can list apps that are allowed to run in the background.)
* Allow javascript bookmarks in Safari (you can hack them in but I don't see why Safari blocks that.)

hit call twice and it will redial last number

 

[oldwatery]

Wow a new i-Phone is coming....sometime!!
Let's all get soooooo excited

Meanwhile......every time I use an App someone knows about it?
That is downright scary
Am I the only one to pick up on this bit of Big Brotherhood?