Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Clearing Inventory for 'radically different' 3G iPhone?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well that would be just bad coding. The API is able to return the screen dimensions, and half-decent coders are using that for their UI code.
The story lacks credibility though, keyboards, flips, and sliders are 'so last century' (as someone once said)
Not even worthy of second page news. Why not just say that iPhone has cloned a Blackberry for their 2nd gen iPhone. That would be about as likely as this story. Move on.
I don't understand the resistance to a design change. I think a subtle, evolutionary design change is inevitable. (Form factor is another question, but aesthetic changes with more advanced hardware features in much the same form can equal "radical design change" as much as a form factor change.)
The flip version seems like a bad guess, but I wouldn't be surprised by a QWERTY keyboard slideout. (Many have been rumoring/hoping for a iPhone "nano", I think an iPhone "Pro" makes much more sense.) Add a keyboard slider at the top-end, and Apple eliminates the last complaint of many, particularly enterprise users. With the new enterprise features, it makes perfect sense, and if Apple makes a landscape touch keyboard a more pervasive element of the UI (another much requested feature), not only would a hardware keyboard be easy to add into the system, but you can imagine how it would elegantly and unobtrusively integrate with the iPhone OS (when the touch keyboard is onscreen, slide out the keyboard slider and the software version slides away, giving more screen real estate -- another plus).
Trashing keyboards wouldn't be a huge issue for jobs. It's not like he's obverse to reversals and feignts. The point was to get people to shift to and accept touchscreen keyboarding. To emphasive the ability to provide adaptive input methods and UIs through the large touchscreen instead of dedicated keys that limit and confuse software UIs. Adding a keyboard will just supplement these values and doesn't work against it.
I don't see it as hurting Apple's design goals and directions at all, would eliminate the biggest complaint while providing a high end option (which Apple always loves) that they could even add 32 GBs too if supplies are constrained (and a huge price tag), and it would be the smartest decision I could imagine for them. Not a "NO WAY!" scenario at all.
The flip version seems like a bad guess, but I wouldn't be surprised by a QWERTY keyboard slideout. (Many have been rumoring/hoping for a iPhone "nano", I think an iPhone "Pro" makes much more sense.) Add a keyboard slider at the top-end, and Apple eliminates the last complaint of many, particularly enterprise users. With the new enterprise features, it makes perfect sense, and if Apple makes a landscape touch keyboard a more pervasive element of the UI (another much requested feature), not only would a hardware keyboard be easy to add into the system, but you can imagine how it would elegantly and unobtrusively integrate with the iPhone OS (when the touch keyboard is onscreen, slide out the keyboard slider and the software version slides away, giving more screen real estate -- another plus).
Trashing keyboards wouldn't be a huge issue for jobs. It's not like he's obverse to reversals and feignts. The point was to get people to shift to and accept touchscreen keyboarding. To emphasive the ability to provide adaptive input methods and UIs through the large touchscreen instead of dedicated keys that limit and confuse software UIs. Adding a keyboard will just supplement these values and doesn't work against it.
I don't see it as hurting Apple's design goals and directions at all, would eliminate the biggest complaint while providing a high end option (which Apple always loves) that they could even add 32 GBs too if supplies are constrained (and a huge price tag), and it would be the smartest decision I could imagine for them. Not a "NO WAY!" scenario at all.
EagerDragon
macrumors 68020
I do not see Apple making radical changes like that. Most customers love the iPhone form factor and look. About the only thing is that they find it slippery.
I see 3G, front camera for video iChat, maybe true GPS, and obviously more software, but the actual look and interface I do not expect it to change.
A little thicker for a bigger battery would not hurt and dealing with the slippery issue would be good to. But nothing radical.
Nice they been ordered, but bull to the radical look.
I see 3G, front camera for video iChat, maybe true GPS, and obviously more software, but the actual look and interface I do not expect it to change.
A little thicker for a bigger battery would not hurt and dealing with the slippery issue would be good to. But nothing radical.
Nice they been ordered, but bull to the radical look.
tjcampbell
macrumors 6502a
There's not a chance that they will move away from the mutli-touch keyboard.
I think we will see:
3G
No more shiny chrome - matte black instead
Better camera
Maybe thinner
I think we will see:
3G
No more shiny chrome - matte black instead
Better camera
Maybe thinner
Take what Apple hates about all other smart-phones, add a now basically useless touchscreen (save for MonkeyBall...🙄 ), add a huge price tag because of the "innovation", and you get this [supposedly] new iPhone. NOT likely.
thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
Adding a keyboard would make me actually consider getting one. You may be perfectly happy without one, but I want buttons.
And I don't think I'm alone in this feeling. Also, giving it a keyboard would further differentiate it from the iTouch.
And I don't think I'm alone in this feeling. Also, giving it a keyboard would further differentiate it from the iTouch.
Keyboard - NO, Folder - very good possibility.
It is pretty clear that the idea of a keyboard just isn't going to fly. Steve has pretty much said so, further they really don't work all that well. At least in the sense of the mechanical and reliability trade offs one has to make to support keyboards.
As to a folder well that is an entirely different story altogether. With the advent of some very interesting OLED technology coming on line, Apple could very well deliver a folding screen machine. That is a folder that actually bends the screen. What is interesting is that one company has already speculated that they will have a cell phone with a roll out screen available late in the year.
Now that is a Black and White screen which I do not think will be acceptable to Apple. None the less color is a real possibility.
Dave
It is pretty clear that the idea of a keyboard just isn't going to fly. Steve has pretty much said so, further they really don't work all that well. At least in the sense of the mechanical and reliability trade offs one has to make to support keyboards.
As to a folder well that is an entirely different story altogether. With the advent of some very interesting OLED technology coming on line, Apple could very well deliver a folding screen machine. That is a folder that actually bends the screen. What is interesting is that one company has already speculated that they will have a cell phone with a roll out screen available late in the year.
Now that is a Black and White screen which I do not think will be acceptable to Apple. None the less color is a real possibility.
Dave
corrado7
macrumors regular
that proves absolutely nothing
the whole point about touch is to eliminate the keyboard.
corrado7
macrumors regular
johnnyjibbs
macrumors 68030
I call BS on the form factor changing, although I think they are definitely clearing inventory. It would be so un-Apple-like to introduce a mish-mash of versions, plus why revert to everything you've slagged off the year before when the current version is so successful?
The only reasons it hasn't sold so well in Europe is because of price and the lack of 3G. That will change.
The only reasons it hasn't sold so well in Europe is because of price and the lack of 3G. That will change.
randomrazor
macrumors member
slider is out of the question... it would make the chances of having it brake 100 times more than it is right now. I think apple releases this information to people like Times for free advertising and hype. I and like many of you are all suckers for it.. haha.. I but I like it. Of coarse it will have to look different to make the distinction of the version of phone. Apple lately has not disappointed me with the look and design of their products... i trust them
extraextra
macrumors 68000
The iPod touch? Have you been living underground?
Honestly, I don't believe this article. Definitely Page 2 kind of stuff, but whatever.
No!
OMG, everytime I hear someone say "it could be a flip phone" or "it could have a QWERTY keyboard" I feel the need to hit them.
The REASON the iPhone works so well, is because it's just a big freakin screen. No conforming to the physical limitations of a phone.
OMG, everytime I hear someone say "it could be a flip phone" or "it could have a QWERTY keyboard" I feel the need to hit them.
The REASON the iPhone works so well, is because it's just a big freakin screen. No conforming to the physical limitations of a phone.
Remember the rumblings the other day about a 15mm thick iPhone Pro? Perhaps that one has the slider keyboard. They also keep the basic form factor for the non pro version with no keyboard.
randomrazor
macrumors member
t0mat0
macrumors 603
RTFA!!!
Folks, it's well worth parsing out the article -
- What is the opinion of analysts, the writer, her unnamed sources (*cough* Phil Schiller *cough* 😉 ) and also general rehashing of old news.
Who says what?
The form change is conjecture;
"Industry sources told Times Online the device will have a "radically different" appearance to the current device
Then the writer doesn't differentiate between her thoughts, or whether this is still from the industry sources:
"Among the possibilities are flip version, which would enable the screen to be larger, and a sliding model with a regular qwerty keyboard - as opposed to a touchscreen one.
She quotes a Asia-based analyst "I think ultimately you going to see multiple versions"
More on another thread - but lets keep things distinguished.
A big screen helped make the iPhone what it is. The main next gen version is very likely to still have a large screen. (Agree with czeluff).
Jeez- how would developers feel if Apple came out with a itty bitty screen that they hadn't factored in their design of their app? Pissed off that's what. Bigger screen would be useful, smaller would be not useful for internet and video related things. (Think iPhone vs iPod nano for using video etc).
Folks, it's well worth parsing out the article -
- What is the opinion of analysts, the writer, her unnamed sources (*cough* Phil Schiller *cough* 😉 ) and also general rehashing of old news.
Who says what?
The form change is conjecture;
"Industry sources told Times Online the device will have a "radically different" appearance to the current device
Then the writer doesn't differentiate between her thoughts, or whether this is still from the industry sources:
"Among the possibilities are flip version, which would enable the screen to be larger, and a sliding model with a regular qwerty keyboard - as opposed to a touchscreen one.
She quotes a Asia-based analyst "I think ultimately you going to see multiple versions"
More on another thread - but lets keep things distinguished.
A big screen helped make the iPhone what it is. The main next gen version is very likely to still have a large screen. (Agree with czeluff).
Jeez- how would developers feel if Apple came out with a itty bitty screen that they hadn't factored in their design of their app? Pissed off that's what. Bigger screen would be useful, smaller would be not useful for internet and video related things. (Think iPhone vs iPod nano for using video etc).
corrado7
macrumors regular
No Way
Absolutely no way will there a physical keyboard. The touch screen works way too well. Definitely the wrong direction.
Thank you Time Online for stating the obvious: There will in fact be a 3G iPhone soon. Probably around the time of version 2.0. That's all we know.
Nevertheless, one more rumor making it very difficult to wait. Now if I can convince my wife that I need to sell my current iPhone for the new one!!
Absolutely no way will there a physical keyboard. The touch screen works way too well. Definitely the wrong direction.
Thank you Time Online for stating the obvious: There will in fact be a 3G iPhone soon. Probably around the time of version 2.0. That's all we know.
Nevertheless, one more rumor making it very difficult to wait. Now if I can convince my wife that I need to sell my current iPhone for the new one!!
