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Fourth-Generation iPhone: OLED Screen, Video Chat, 'Early' Launch?
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Ditto here. The removable battery thing is absolute BS, as well as the OLED rumor, which is just wishful thinking by some. Move along, citizens...
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Total fake. No way they will have a removable battery it would make the iPhone much bigger which no one wants. Also note the laptops no longer have removable batteries so why would they switch back to having them.
Total fake. No way they will have a removable battery it would make the iPhone much bigger which no one wants. Also note the laptops no longer have removable batteries so why would they switch back to having them.
I'll join the camp that says "removable battery" makes this extremely dubious.
That said, I think Apple really needs to get out of the annual release schedule. 6 months with a refresh would keep them much more competitive, even if the refresh isn't anything that substantial. It would also help break the overreaching expectations we all get when waiting for so long between a new model.
I agree. iPhone OS 4.0 would have to offer a substantial amount of jailbreak features to make it interesting to me:
multitasking
3G unrestricting
SBSettings like quick settings
thethering!
lockscreen widgets (less important, but still cool)
If they don't offer that stuff, there'll have to be something really really special that I can't think of to excite me - and video chat isn't it.
That said, I think Apple really needs to get out of the annual release schedule. 6 months with a refresh would keep them much more competitive, even if the refresh isn't anything that substantial. It would also help break the overreaching expectations we all get when waiting for so long between a new model.
I agree. iPhone OS 4.0 would have to offer a substantial amount of jailbreak features to make it interesting to me:
multitasking
3G unrestricting
SBSettings like quick settings
thethering!
lockscreen widgets (less important, but still cool)
If they don't offer that stuff, there'll have to be something really really special that I can't think of to excite me - and video chat isn't it.
I call shenanigans on this one.
Most of this sounds like the talk of the schoolyard. I can't see Apple doing any of this - not that I'd complain if they released the new iPhone early as the contract on my 3G is up in late February.
Most of this sounds like the talk of the schoolyard. I can't see Apple doing any of this - not that I'd complain if they released the new iPhone early as the contract on my 3G is up in late February.
Most of this story sound fake, but the one thing I would not be suprised is an early than normal release of an iPhone. Apple has to change its business model as it relates to the phone business. This business does not operate on a cycle similar to the cycle of computers. The life of a Phone is about 6 months, and after that people get bored and look for the next best thing and this is why so many people are willing to leave the iPhone to try other phones. Some come back but some do not therefore I would not be the least bit suprised if Apple reve up its phone production to compete in the phone cycle and not use the model it use currently that is more alligned with a computer model.
Didn't we hear tons of rumors about video chat last year?
And Apple doesn't really do removable battery.
And Apple doesn't really do removable battery.
Reasonable if Apple is targetting business users.
Like it or not guys removable batteries are a requirement for many business users. So if Apple is specifically targetting business user then this rumor is very possible. In todays world cell phone availability can be far more important than having that laptop on line.
As to the screen, OLED or not, I totally agree it needs to be daylight readable. Readable is not the same thing as photographicable though. I don't see this as a problem with state of the art OLEDs but we will have to see.
As to better performance, more tech and whatever isn't that kinda expected? Especially of interest to me is raw performance which needs to be a lot better than my 3G.
The other reality is that I don't think the 4G will replace the current iPhone. That is this will be an additional model that they will use to in part round out the iPhone line up. If the device is focused on different markets it doesn't need to have the same features, rather it needs the features demanded in the targetted market. Let's face it Apple needs more than one model iPhone which is the current situation.
Dave
Like it or not guys removable batteries are a requirement for many business users. So if Apple is specifically targetting business user then this rumor is very possible. In todays world cell phone availability can be far more important than having that laptop on line.
As to the screen, OLED or not, I totally agree it needs to be daylight readable. Readable is not the same thing as photographicable though. I don't see this as a problem with state of the art OLEDs but we will have to see.
As to better performance, more tech and whatever isn't that kinda expected? Especially of interest to me is raw performance which needs to be a lot better than my 3G.
The other reality is that I don't think the 4G will replace the current iPhone. That is this will be an additional model that they will use to in part round out the iPhone line up. If the device is focused on different markets it doesn't need to have the same features, rather it needs the features demanded in the targetted market. Let's face it Apple needs more than one model iPhone which is the current situation.
Dave
Unless the update the interface, it's not going to make a difference to me.
The reason I left the iPhone for the Nexus One is the horribly outdated interface and limited customization of the iPhone.. even with jailbreaking.
I'm by no means putting it down, in face I think it's a great device, just needs a major overhaul rather than adding more features on top.
The reason I left the iPhone for the Nexus One is the horribly outdated interface and limited customization of the iPhone.. even with jailbreaking.
I'm by no means putting it down, in face I think it's a great device, just needs a major overhaul rather than adding more features on top.
mhhhh unsubsidised iPhone Pro?
I really hope not - I'm looking forward to getting an iPhone 4G this summer to replace my 3G and don't want to increase my monthly cost.
Sounds like it might be a possibility though.
Fabian
I really hope not - I'm looking forward to getting an iPhone 4G this summer to replace my 3G and don't want to increase my monthly cost.
Sounds like it might be a possibility though.
Fabian
I agree. As far as fake rumors go, this one tipped it's hat with that removable battery assertion.
I mean, that would require
actually listen to it's customers when it comes to what they want in a phone. 
I agree the interface is getting stale. If fact I just started playing with Cydget this morning to see if I could spice up the lockscreen intelligently and functionally. I'm not interested in any of that Winterboard crap, though.
I'm not sure the Android interface is all that much better, but I don't have one. At least the Androids seem to be much more user customizable...and they tend to look more like our computers than a phone. Not sure that's good or bad. Only time will tell. I posted in another thread or forum about my friend who was all gaga over his Palm Pre he dumped his iPhone for...for about three weeks...then he couldn't take it any more and went back to the iPhone. I wonder how many Nexus One users will feel the same way.
I don't want to turn this into yet another iPhone vs Android thread, but I did want to agree with you that the iPhone needs more than just some hardware bumps to remain interesting for many people, they need to refresh the interface as well.
Why all the negativity? Nothing described is impossible.
If nothing else Apple has to respond to cutomers needs. Frankly for many businessman their cell phone and it's availability is far more important than a laptop or any other tool. Closely related is industrial use where a device might be used 24/7.
The problem you have is that you are looking at what the average consummer needs, there is nothing wrong with that, but there is a huge market for the capability of iPhone in different devices. It is not a one size fits all world. There are a lot of people out there gaze at iPhone with incredible lust but hold off because the current device doesn't meet certain needs.
Dave
What makes you say this? Several times last year rumors popped up that this is what Apple was in fact doing. That is designing an iPhone with a removable battery. Then you have push from your customers. Many demand easily swappable batteries.
If nothing else Apple has to respond to cutomers needs. Frankly for many businessman their cell phone and it's availability is far more important than a laptop or any other tool. Closely related is industrial use where a device might be used 24/7.
The problem you have is that you are looking at what the average consummer needs, there is nothing wrong with that, but there is a huge market for the capability of iPhone in different devices. It is not a one size fits all world. There are a lot of people out there gaze at iPhone with incredible lust but hold off because the current device doesn't meet certain needs.
OK what is wrong with OLED? Please don't bring up Zune which has an old low resolution OLED. In any event there is a good possibility that OLED is out of the running considering Apples patent on turnning an LCD into a touch screen. If that actually works with say an in plane switch LCD Apple could have a very nice high performance, thin screen without OLED
As to wishful thinking, nothing expressed here is impossible. Things like OLED are the near term alternatives to LCDs and can give excellent performance. So can the attitude and at least acknowledge the possibility.
Dave
You left iPhone but your rational is shallow and not focused long term.
No I think you are confused because you are asking for features. For example a more usable and tweakable lock screen is a feature. Mind you I don't think it is a bad idea at all but it is nothing more than a feature. Something Apple could easily add by the way.
The bulk of the interface isn't going away. It will certainly expand and improve in 4.0 but Apple has been doing that for awhile now. Some of the rumored tablet interface (3D) might migrate to newer iPhones but I'm not sure the old models have the required performance. In the end any thing is possible in the future, it just requires the right hardware and development time.
Dave
It doesn't make a difference because you left! Apple has updated the iPhine with every major revision, that should be obvious to anybody. Besides what you are asking for is specific features and not an update to the interface. The interface will be around for a long time.
The average person would read that as "I left iPhone for Nexus so that I can play with my cell phone". People value iPhone for a wide range of reasons and are seldom focused on constantly tweaking device. IPhone is a cell for users not players.
No I think you are confused because you are asking for features. For example a more usable and tweakable lock screen is a feature. Mind you I don't think it is a bad idea at all but it is nothing more than a feature. Something Apple could easily add by the way.
The bulk of the interface isn't going away. It will certainly expand and improve in 4.0 but Apple has been doing that for awhile now. Some of the rumored tablet interface (3D) might migrate to newer iPhones but I'm not sure the old models have the required performance. In the end any thing is possible in the future, it just requires the right hardware and development time.
Dave
He may have left, but Apple would probably like to get him back, don't you think?
But will they add it? No matter how easy it is, doesn't mean they will. They're kind of anal about that sort of thing, ya know?
FM radio??
Why would anyone want that when you can just get WunderRadio from the App store?
I have a very difficult time believing any of this, let alone all of it. I'm definitely a skeptic, however some rumors here seem plausible and these are usually the ones which come true. However, this seems like a bunch of crap. All parts of this rumor are either things Apple blatantly doesn't do, or perhaps at one time and are now moving away from them. I'll admit the switch from aluminum to plastic caught me off guard, but I think that was different than moving to a removable battery or releasing a product early to fight competitors.
Since when does Apple care what anyone else does?
Since when does Apple care what anyone else does?
On my wish list:
iChat AV with forward facing camera
Flash on back in the Apple logo (which would subtly glow like a MacBook the rest of the time
More control over landscape rotation locking (app based)
N-wireless chipset (Stop right there if you even have a glimmer of a thought about flaming me for wanting it for speed... I know that internet speeds are not as fast as the N standard. I don't want it for that!!! I DO want the N chip so that I can at least hop onto N "ONLY" networks. Our workplace has been set up like this for a couple years now and it is a royal PITA when needing to connect a G device for network usage.)
Don't care about the forward facing camera, but you're spot on with the rest...
OLED screen and early release sound good (my 3G contract is now over so i'm now officially in the market for a new phone), but like most others here, the removable battery just doesn't make sense with the direction apple is going...
I agree totally with you. I honestly believe it will go down this way:
1. The even in 14 days will be the announcement of the new iPhone, possibly set to release mid February.
2. Announcement of the iProd @ Apples WWDC with a release time frame of August/September.
I really believe that Apple wants to have this iPhone hit sooner than later, seeing how Google has been spitting out phones like a little kid with a bad case of hiccups.
When I goto work It looks like iPhone free for all. Well here in the last month its been looking like Droid fever. I was also able to play with not 1 but more than 25 N1's . I have been seeing more and more as the days roll on....
i reallly dont think soo
Apple isnt predicable so i doubt this whole thing is just too hyped up.. they might state something iphone related but not the iphone.. apple is NOOOTT scared of loosing sales because they know that when they relase there new iphone their sales will go UPPPP so very unlikely
ps. the new iphone better have a wow-factor because an android is doesnt look like a bad switch
i-c
Apple isnt predicable so i doubt this whole thing is just too hyped up.. they might state something iphone related but not the iphone.. apple is NOOOTT scared of loosing sales because they know that when they relase there new iphone their sales will go UPPPP so very unlikely
ps. the new iphone better have a wow-factor because an android is doesnt look like a bad switch
i-c