Chinese Vendors Already Taking Orders for 'iPhone 5' as New Physical Mockup Photos Surface

[AbSoluTc]

If the iPhone 5 turns out to be nothing but a stretched out iPhone 4, there's gonna be a major customer bleed to sexier looking Androids or Windows phones this go around.

The iPhone has become so ubiquitous that every schmo you see walkin around has got one. As one of those dudes who bought the original the day it came out I can say it's been a loooong time since you could pull out your iPhone and have people's heads turn.

And given that this "redesign" is going to be what we're stuck with for the next 2 years with the 5 and 5S, I don't think Apple'd be positioning itself well in this increasingly competitive market.

The iPhone 5 HAS to be a sexier redesign than this. And I think it will be... (fingers crossed)

Vanity at it's finest!

Who gives a crap what phone you have and let alone if it turns heads? Jesus, all phones look alike now anyway. Flat, brick like devices. Literally, all the same. Only way to tell them apart is to hold it. If you want to turn heads, carry around a bag phone.

 

[Poisednoise]

Except that it was Brooklyn.

The idiom refers to con men selling the Brooklyn Bridge to tourists.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/n...80f176c64&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge#Cultural_significance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swampland_in_Florida#cite_note-0

How fascinating: I acknowledge your superior knowledge. I had always been led to believe that the etymology of the phrase was as I had stated, but it's quite clear I was wrong.

And I think this bizarre sub-topic is much more interesting than a whole lot of people blithering on about whether the new iPhone 5 will be like the circulating pictures, whether Steve would have wanted it, etc. I say we just wait and see what we get. We're all like kids on Christmas morning shaking the parcel to see if we can figure out what it is before we're allowed to open it.

Notwithstanding the fact that that's kind of the whole point of a rumours site....

 

[Orange Furball]

I suppose you're right, but I thought the leaks were from a parts supplier for repairs. If I'm remembering correctly it wouldn't make much sense for a repair house to get half of the display units. I believe, and let me know if I'm mistaken, if you break the glass and want it replaced they swap out your lcd too, and replace with an entirely new fused display.

If I'm right on all that, then why would some supplier happen to get the corning gorilla glass 2 (pre-fused) and a completed back plate? Those seem like they'd come from completely different parts of the supply chain. It just doesn't fit to me.

Well I'm stumped. This just doesn't make any sense

 

[Blue Fox]

Why does the mockup look like it was set on fire at some point?

(that's a horrible looking mock-up. Looks like balsa wood sides painted badly with a brush)

 

[AFDoc]

I see a lot of complaining from people stating apple would never make a device that looks like this ect ect. Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't they keep a design that allows them more internal space for the important things? Why not stretch it out so it's 16:9 ratio? Why not have a unibody design? All of you telling me what apple would or wouldn't make have no clue. You have no clue why they simply stretched the glass, no clue why they have the 2 tone back, no clue what iOS 6 will mean to/for the new device. I think the leaked design is 100% apple and hope its the next iPhone. So please for those of you that feel you know what is and isn't "apple" please just offer your personal opinions on the design and let apple speak for themselves.

 

[pysl]

If Steve was around - no way he would release this thing. If they don't clean up the act pretty soon, in 4 years there will be no apple inc. Anyone else looking at samsung or htc as alterantive to this? I am invested heavy in apps store and all, but come on this is ridiculous. sammy's phones have bigger displays where you can watch movies, news, youtube videos. 4.3 at least and in a wider way.

I have seen quite a lot of people in Singapore changing from iPhone to samsung S3.... like it or not, there are people who love larger screens.

 

[Lindsford]

That thing is ugly.

 

[2IS]

What does this have to do with being left-handed? It's not in the way either way - or are you gripping it top-to-bottom? I don't.

That comment confused me too. I was imagining myself being left handed and how that would affect anything vs being right handed with the headphone jack on the bottom.

 

[sputnikv]

this mockup looks like it was fished out of the ocean

 

[gamerish]

That is really quite ugly. I like the aluminum backing we've been seeing over the last few months but who wants a screen that's just taller? That's just stupid.

 

[AFDoc]

I'll take just a taller screen. The engineers at apple do have an idea what they're doing so I'll trust them to put out a device that's top quality and useful. There is a reason they are keeping the same width and only making the screen taller, we'll find out at the official unvail.

 

[Mahler12x]

Vanity at it's finest!

Who gives a crap what phone you have and let alone if it turns heads? Jesus, all phones look alike now anyway. Flat, brick like devices. Literally, all the same. Only way to tell them apart is to hold it. If you want to turn heads, carry around a bag phone.

It isn't about vanity, it's about keeping current, or in Apple's case, continuing to leave your COMPETITION looking outdated. If you think all phones look the same, like flat bricks, you're obviously not paying attention.

Most folks don't go out and buy a new iPhone because of a spec boost, they buy it because it's NEW and DIFFERENT than what they've grown overly familiar with. You and I may value function over style, but Apple's reputation was built on the idea that you don't HAVE to choose between one or the other, but you can have BOTH.

Stretching out a design for 4 years would be idiotic in virtually ANY industry. If Nokia did it, it's just more of the same. If Apple does it, reviews across the world will read, "What? Is that really all we get??"

----------

I see a lot of complaining from people stating apple would never make a device that looks like this ect ect. Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't they keep a design that allows them more internal space for the important things? Why not stretch it out so it's 16:9 ratio? Why not have a unibody design? All of you telling me what apple would or wouldn't make have no clue. You have no clue why they simply stretched the glass, no clue why they have the 2 tone back, no clue what iOS 6 will mean to/for the new device. I think the leaked design is 100% apple and hope its the next iPhone. So please for those of you that feel you know what is and isn't "apple" please just offer your personal opinions on the design and let apple speak for themselves.

If you don't see how this would be received by the entire world as a disappointment, you're deluding yourself.

 

[AFDoc]

It isn't about vanity, it's about keeping current, or in Apple's case, continuing to leave your COMPETITION looking outdated. If you think all phones look the same, like flat bricks, you're obviously not paying attention.

Most folks don't go out and buy a new iPhone because of a spec boost, they buy it because it's NEW and DIFFERENT than what they've grown overly familiar with. You and I may value function over style, but Apple's reputation was built on the idea that you don't HAVE to choose between one or the other, but you can have BOTH.

Stretching out a design for 4 years would be idiotic in virtually ANY industry. If Nokia did it, it's just more of the same. If Apple does it, reviews across the world will read, "What? Is that really all we get??"

----------



If you don't see how this would be received by the entire world as a disappointment, you're deluding yourself.

I disagree with pretty much everything you wrote. 3GS sold better than the 3G and 4s sold better than the 4 so by that very comparison your argument doesn't hold water. People did buy on specs as the phones looked identical to the preceding model. I buy iPhone for the ecosystem. I enjoy the phone above the other phones I've tried and we have many models in my home. I personally like the 4/4s design and really like the designs being seen on the interwebs. I don't believe iPhone needs a drastic redesign. I would like a larger than 4" screen (>4" <5") but will be perfectly happy with a taller 4" screen. I know I will be picking up at least 2 iPhone 5's and I'd be perfectly happy with the supposed leaked design. I believe you'd find the majority of iPhone owners would be more than satisfied with the design. I know my older teens need the newest designed "cutting edge" phone with me ALMOST jumping to an S3 simply for the screen size but after a bit of PMCS I decided against the change. IMHO nothing feels nicer than an iPhone. Now I dont put the 3G/3GS in the same category, those were a step backwards for me but I still purchased and loved those devices as well. Your statement about the world seeing this design as a disappointment is silly and in no way based in reality.

 

[alexN350z]

If iPhone 5 isn't radically different, Apple will fall further behind in the mobile market.

I can't agree with you anymore. If this is true, I will stop iOS and develope apps for Android.

 

[pkson]

Simple honest question... Has anyone actually found any indication in ios 6 on this new elongated screen? Usually people find hints in the software first.. Like the retina iPad... Right?

All I remember is reading some theories on how the screen can be made larger this way, but I don't remember reading any post on someone discovering artifacts in the OS.

Could it be that rumors just multiply and perpetuate until it becomes the consensus?

If anyone knows of any reports on the new screen resolution and such hidden in the software, could you please post a link?

As much as I read up on apple, I guess that must've slipped through...

For the record, I've looked around, read techcrunch, gruber, and stuff, but none of them actually quote any code...

 

[MartiNZ]

Good to see that headphone jack on the bottom pic again. The single best improvement to the iPhone that has (will have) ever been made.

 

[Mad-B-One]

That comment confused me too. I was imagining myself being left handed and how that would affect anything vs being right handed with the headphone jack on the bottom.

Well, it pretty much doesn't. Some people are always against change. They come up with things like "But now, it could get rain into it." Really? Rain? Then, they complain that their car docking station won't work anymore with the jack on the bottom. Well, you will have a longer phone to begin with and another dock connector. So, where does the headphone jack make a difference? You gotta replace it anyways. We don't know yet what kind of connector it will be. Maybe the Micro USB due to the European Union guideline "M/455" (Standardisation mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI on a common Charging Capability for Mobile Telephones). That is what I am hoping for. Apple doesn't have to be different all the time. Would be nice to follow the industry standard at least on charging.

 

[powers74]

sarcasm font!

Yes, thank you. But that was not meant to be taken seriously. I've been using an iMac since 2001, I bought the design that originally got Ive hired. His bubble iMac design that Jobs liked so much.

Ha! ok! Yeah, all these comments calling for something new and different are killing me.

NEWS FLASH EVERYONE: It Is New And Different! IT HAS A METAL BACK!

Yes, it retains a similar form factor and many of the same details... Ever hear of building brand image or brand recognition? Think about the solid, chamfered sides of the MacBooks. Look at the MacPro. The first iPad had this look and I expect it will return to it. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple is a company that hones in on a particular design after thousands of hours of revision and design and engineering refinement. They do NOT design something new and trendy just so it looks new and trendy.

Think of a Porsche 911. Apple redesigns their products to be better than they were the last time. Unlike a pair of shoes or most american cars (Tarus --> 500 / Sebring --> 200 anyone?) which are exactly the same as they were before but just look a little different, Apple tries to focus on real design and engineering issues that push their own envelope rather than pour time and energy into superfluous styling exercises.

At least that's the way I see it. But what the hell do I know, I'm just an industrial designer.

 

[mono1980]

I just tried this on my iPad, and the home screen most definitely rotates

I was talking about the iPhone.

 

[george-brooks]

Looks to me like someone in China took all of the renderings floating around and decided to make a plastic model of the most common one. While the design looks nice, the construction of this particular FAKE is awful.

 

[DanteMann]

Ha! ok! Yeah, all these comments calling for something new and different are killing me.

NEWS FLASH EVERYONE: It Is New And Different! IT HAS A METAL BACK!

Yes, it retains a similar form factor and many of the same details... Ever hear of building brand image or brand recognition? Think about the solid, chamfered sides of the MacBooks. Look at the MacPro. The first iPad had this look and I expect it will return to it. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple is a company that hones in on a particular design after thousands of hours of revision and design and engineering refinement. They do NOT design something new and trendy just so it looks new and trendy.

Think of a Porsche 911. Apple redesigns their products to be better than they were the last time. Unlike a pair of shoes or most american cars (Tarus --> 500 / Sebring --> 200 anyone?) which are exactly the same as they were before but just look a little different, Apple tries to focus on real design and engineering issues that push their own envelope rather than pour time and energy into superfluous styling exercises.

At least that's the way I see it. But what the hell do I know, I'm just an industrial designer.

Yeah, we're all industrial designs, scientists, professianl x,y,z, etc...behind a keyboard.

Bottom Line: Regardless of what the next iPhone looks like or features, the blind followers will spin it in a way that "makes sense" to them.

-It has a 4+ inch screen, turns into...."Apple did it the right way"
-It has LTE, turns into..."Apple did it the right way"
-It has NFC, turns into..."Apple did it the right way"
-It becomes longer but not wider, turns into..."Apple did it the right way"

Know what I mean?

 

[HarryKNN21]

I somehow believe in the physical mockup. We can think about how does the iPhone case industry work nowadays. They can create different bumpers that come with exchangeable back plates because of the current form factor. There are so many possible combinations in back cases design and this keep the industry growing fast.

If the next iPhone is redesigned like, let say, an Android phone, then the advantages of iPhone's design over an Android Phone is destroyed and the iPhone accessories industry would definitely go decline after that. I believe people would lose fun with their iPhone then as well.

Just for an example, the HTC One X is a good looking phone, but the reason for so narrow choice of cases is obviously because it doesn't allow many combinations in design of the accessories.

 

[Sackvillenb]

Meh. Seems potentially cool, but not exactly mind-blasting. But that's ok, for now. We'll see what it looks like in real life. And we'll see what other beta features apple might be putting on it. I do like the repositioned headphone jack though.

 

[powers74]

Yeah, we're all industrial designs, scientists, professianl x,y,z, etc...behind a keyboard.

Bottom Line: Regardless of what the next iPhone looks like or features, the blind followers will spin it in a way that "makes sense" to them.

-It has a 4+ inch screen, turns into...."Apple did it the right way"
-It has LTE, turns into..."Apple did it the right way"
-It has NFC, turns into..."Apple did it the right way"
-It becomes longer but not wider, turns into..."Apple did it the right way"

Know what I mean?

Yeah, now that you put it that way everything really comes into focus.

 

[wesg]

Apple's done a great job handling the scaling of different devices (3G -> 4 Retina) and it seems to me that a change to the aspect ratio would introduce problems for many, many apps. If this is indeed legit, I'm not looking forward to all of the app updates I have to do.