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I don't think the 2 tone back will be a big issue for most, considering most are likely to wear a cover for protection.

Just hope I can afford one to replace my 3Gs :)
 
At some point through the lifecycle of the product they're probably going to drop the "new" title. There would only ever be one "new" product at a time with a gap in between the titles of "new" products so people don't get confused. It could definitely be less confusing though.

They're doing just fine every time they introduce a new MacBook, iMac, Mac Pro, etc. and call them the new MacBook, etc. for about a month. Nobody seems to get confused. Eventually they go by generation or year in Apple Support.
 
As I already said, calling it the iPhone 6 would be idiotic and would confuse the general public. It's more likely to be called the iPhone 4G or 'The new iPhone' than the iPhone 6.
Yeah, it's more likely they just call it "the new iPhone."

After all, that's what did with the third-generation iPad.

It isn't likely that they would call it the iPhone 4G unless the cellular hardware supports LTE worldwide. They already had to remove the 4G marketing references in Australia for the third-generation iPad since the device does not work with their LTE frequencies, just AT&T's and Verizon's.

Anyhow, what Apple finally ends up calling it will be one of the least interesting aspects of the device, something destined to end up being one line in a Wikipedia entry in the not-too-distant future.

I'm not surprised that it's a topic of discussion here at MacRumors though.
 
Yeah, it's more likely they just call it "the new iPhone."

After all, that's what did with the third-generation iPad.

It isn't likely that they would call it the iPhone 4G unless the cellular hardware supports LTE worldwide. They already had to remove the 4G marketing references in Australia for the third-generation iPad since the device does not work with their LTE frequencies, just AT&T's and Verizon's.

Anyhow, what Apple finally ends up calling it will be one of the least interesting aspects of the device, something destined to end up being one line in a Wikipedia entry in the not-too-distant future.

I'm not surprised that it's a topic of discussion here at MacRumors though.

Calling it the 4G would certainly work from a marketing stand point. It worked for the Evo 4G. I wonder how many people still think they're getting 4G speeds when they've never even had it once.

I think it'll be "the new iPhone" though.
 
Again, they might get into trouble if they prominently market the device as "4G" yet aren't compatible with the LTE networks throughout the world.

If they can cram in an LTE chip with the filters and power amps to support the various 4G frequencies being used through the world, yeah, the "iPhone 4G" name might be fine.

I'm not sure it really matters much. iPhone sales growth is shifting to countries that haven't been strong smartphone markets before.
 
Interesting. Still not sure how i feel on the two tone back. I expect it could look better when the finish product is released and we're not just relying on dodgy photos of prototype devices.

Don't trust the Chinese web sites. Might be wrong
 
If they use the design that was leaked, than they lost a customer here.

I think the phone looks incredible. I do a lot of gaming and I guess I'm looking at that side of it as well. The thinner, longer design is perfect and it answers my only issue with the 4,4s which was screen size. Bring it On
 
Ok, so the other big issue being discussed here is screen size. I'm probably on the outer about this. Firstly, I'm one of the rare people who actually think the current iPhone screen size is great. Sure it looks small compared to Android devices, but in terms of ergonomics, it's absolutely perfect for what I need. If I want a bigger screen, I'll use an iPad or Mac.
I'm not posting to challenge you or argue, simply to offer another take on screen size.

I'm a very mobile user, that chooses a smartphone for what they are designed to do. That's to give us easy access to our email, our calendar, contacts, the web, and messaging. When one travels as much as I do, having a device that I can have in hand, or in a case on my belt, or in my pocket, is extremely advantageous.

I know this based on the fact that I have two lines, and carry both an iPhone 4S and my new SGS III with it's 4.8" display. Until you've tried one, it's hard to imagine just how beneficial a larger display is.

I stand in line at the airport, at the concessions, or wherever and as such, having a smartphone with a larger display makes it a whole lot easier on ones eyes (and I have 20/20, no glasses) when it's used so frequently throughout the day.

Yet in reading your post, it just hit me... by keeping the size down, besides all the reasons people have for liking that size, it does give someone like me, incentive to buy an iPad. Yet that's no where as easy to use when standing, carrying a bag, etc when moving around, being in a taxi for a short drive etc.

It had never occurred to me until now, that Apple's motivation could very well be just that. By keeping the iPhone rather small, the incentive to buy an iPad is huge.
 
iPhone 4GS or the "new" iPhone

Can we please stop calling it iPhone 5? It's the least sensible name possible for the 6th generation iPhone.

The New iPhone, iPhone 4G, and iPhone 6 all make more sense.

Actually, the iPhone 4GS seems more likely than just 4G. Though, I think it'll be called the new iPhone. People haven't had a problem with the new iPad naming much. Perhaps the new iPhone could eventually be called the quad-core iPhone (if it has a quad core CPU), or the tall iPhone (for the taller 16:9 ratio screen). "New" is less than a year, but there is only one first quad-core or tall iPhone.
 
I have personally met hundred of persons who didn't buy the Iphone4S just because of the name.

You have personally met hundreds of people who didn't buy the iPhone 4S just because of the name? Where do you hang out?
 
I find the mockups of this phone... unsatisfying... I really need to see what this actually looks like, because I'm not sure how I feel about the design, based on the speculative mockups... But, with a fall release, I suppose we won't have to wait too long...



It seems very likely this is the design we will see this fall, the sad part is this sorry excuse for a re-design will be around when the next iPhone is released next year as well, since apple only refreshes the hardware after a new design
 
I'm not posting to challenge you or argue, simply to offer another take on screen size.

I'm a very mobile user, that chooses a smartphone for what they are designed to do. That's to give us easy access to our email, our calendar, contacts, the web, and messaging. When one travels as much as I do, having a device that I can have in hand, or in a case on my belt, or in my pocket, is extremely advantageous.

I know this based on the fact that I have two lines, and carry both an iPhone 4S and my new SGS III with it's 4.8" display. Until you've tried one, it's hard to imagine just how beneficial a larger display is.

I stand in line at the airport, at the concessions, or wherever and as such, having a smartphone with a larger display makes it a whole lot easier on ones eyes (and I have 20/20, no glasses) when it's used so frequently throughout the day.

Yet in reading your post, it just hit me... by keeping the size down, besides all the reasons people have for liking that size, it does give someone like me, incentive to buy an iPad. Yet that's no where as easy to use when standing, carrying a bag, etc when moving around, being in a taxi for a short drive etc.

It had never occurred to me until now, that Apple's motivation could very well be just that. By keeping the iPhone rather small, the incentive to buy an iPad is huge.

Interesting food for thought there Ixodes. I have used an S3 in a store, but can't say I'm mobile enough to need a screen that big. My iPhone is only used for calling, texting, twitter, flipboard and thats about it. Everything else I do, I do on my iPad or Mac.

It's possible that they'll reach a middle ground between both of our positions and just elongate it slightly so it's longer and not wider. I do like this idea as it would allow the iPhone to have the same number of icon rows an iPad has without it becoming too wide to use comfortably, which I think the Android phones suffer from.

I also think that at the September iPhone launch keynote they will introduce an iPad mini. That would be a huge hit. I'm not saying people don't want devices sized between the phone and the iPad, in fact I think people want them badly, but what I am saying is, for MOST people, phones/personal assistant devices should be small because they need to be ultra portable and fit in your pocket/hand comfortably.

To me, the bigger phones are really the manufacturers trying to sneak into the tablet market because their actual tablets are failing.
 
I still need to be sold on the two-tone back, but the the black antenna on some mockups is sleek.

iPhone-5-black-mockup-314x156.jpg

my word that's a sexy looking phone, here's hoping
 
Wow again over 100 posts and no real talk about the phone, just more naming posts. Holy crap! Talk about beating a dead horse.

Here is my thought on the new iPhone. If these mockups are correct and it's slightly longer, has 4G, another little "S" type spec bump and mini connector, I'm pretty sure I will not be upgrading from the 4S. I only went from the 4 to the 4S for SIRI. Right now my 4S is awesome. Works with my car (special 30pin Y-Cable), works with my living room dock, computer room dock, clock radio beside my bed dock, etc. So if the truth about a smaller connector is true that in itself will cost me money or wait times for getting new cables to work with various stuff I have lying around as well. Also from having iOS6 for a bit now it's pretty solid but looking at it from a consumer not a fanboy what will be the draw over people who have a 4/4S to switch?

I can just see trying to explain this to someone who asks me "Hey you're a Apple geek, tell me about this new iPhone that's out how is it different then my 4S"
Me: "Well, it's longer, so you get another whole row of apps"
Them: "I like the size now"
Me: "You get 4G so it's faster"
Them: "It's not available in my area"

I have had every iPhone on launch day since the original launch day but really not excited about this one. I admit I did want a larger screen but also for landscape browsing, txt and email, to me this looks like it will still be cut off by the keyboard unless they make some strange long keyboard. I honestly think upgrading to the 4S was a waste of money. SIRI is great (esp now that I have it working with my new car and it can read and send txts). I don't really see the "WOW" factor anymore. Hopefully the rumors, betas are leaving that "wow factor" hush hush because this is the first time since the first one that I will probably skip.

Hopefully I'm totally wrong and they pull something out of their hat but I really think that I would be fine with my 4S for another year and even people with a 4 would be also.
 
huh? Neither of you are correct. The 1st iPhone was just "The iPhone". The 2nd was the 3G. The 3G was for the network technology, not 3rd gen. 3GS was for SPEED, 4 was for 4th gen, and 4S was for Siri.

The new one will be the 6th generation. They will NOT call it the iPhone 5 or iPhone 6. It will be called The New iPhone (aka 6th gen)

And what will the iPhones be called after this 'The New iPhone'? It's much simpler if they just go with a number scheme, unless they want to give a real name to the iPhone, like HTC does with their phones.

The New iPhone? The New iPad? Silly names that don't make sense.
 
Id quite like it if they just switched to the years, like I have a MacBook Pro 2011, why not iPhone 2012?

What will they call the next iPad? the new NEW iPad?
 
Not Happening

My guesses:
1. Apple will NOT use the rumored two-tone back;
2. The new device will NOT be called iPhone 5, it will be called "the New iPhone" :D

We will see how it goes... :apple:
 
Wow again over 100 posts and no real talk about the phone, just more naming posts. Holy crap! Talk about beating a dead horse.

Here is my thought on the new iPhone. If these mockups are correct and it's slightly longer, has 4G, another little "S" type spec bump and mini connector, I'm pretty sure I will not be upgrading from the 4S. I only went from the 4 to the 4S for SIRI. Right now my 4S is awesome. Works with my car (special 30pin Y-Cable), works with my living room dock, computer room dock, clock radio beside my bed dock, etc. So if the truth about a smaller connector is true that in itself will cost me money or wait times for getting new cables to work with various stuff I have lying around as well. Also from having iOS6 for a bit now it's pretty solid but looking at it from a consumer not a fanboy what will be the draw over people who have a 4/4S to switch?

I can just see trying to explain this to someone who asks me "Hey you're a Apple geek, tell me about this new iPhone that's out how is it different then my 4S"
Me: "Well, it's longer, so you get another whole row of apps"
Them: "I like the size now"
Me: "You get 4G so it's faster"
Them: "It's not available in my area"

I have had every iPhone on launch day since the original launch day but really not excited about this one. I admit I did want a larger screen but also for landscape browsing, txt and email, to me this looks like it will still be cut off by the keyboard unless they make some strange long keyboard. I honestly think upgrading to the 4S was a waste of money. SIRI is great (esp now that I have it working with my new car and it can read and send txts). I don't really see the "WOW" factor anymore. Hopefully the rumors, betas are leaving that "wow factor" hush hush because this is the first time since the first one that I will probably skip.

Hopefully I'm totally wrong and they pull something out of their hat but I really think that I would be fine with my 4S for another year and even people with a 4 would be also.

I think we've left the realm of revolutionary with smart phones for a while now. I don't believe Apple can do a whole lot more on the iPhone that's really gonna WOW people in the short term. Kinda the same with the iPad for now actually. Once Retina's in them, Siri too, and the camera's are HD, there's only so much you can do. Here's what I predict we'll see in September.

1) New, faster, smaller dock connector (I personally want this as I think the current dock connector is way too susceptible to water damage).
2) Bigger screen (almost definitely 16x9, which will be great for movies).
3) Better cameras.
4) Faster processor with better graphics.
5) More RAM.
6) Haptic feedback (this could be big if done right).
7) Thinner and lighter (of course).
8) LTE.

As mentioned, Apple have gone all out in 2012 in terms of the iPad, MacBooks and now iPhone. I predict that interest will plateau with those products soon and they will divert attention in 2013 to the iTV (or whatever it's going to be called) and iMac redesigns with retina. Next year will be all about the big screens.
 
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I think apple will pack in serious performance hardware in the next iPhone. Quad core processor with industry leading gpu. That's something to think about. And who knows, maybe an improved screen technology, brighter, better color accuracy, whatever. And apple knows this design well. I expect their antenna design will provide excellent reception. The next iPhone can be a great phone, even with a modest screen size change in an ongoing design.

But what I really hope for is a phone that starts to change the game with US wireless companies. How about one phone that will work across all carriers? The new 28nm qualcomm LTE chipset rumored to be in the next iPhone has great potential. It may be a pipe dream, but I would love to have a phone that would work on AT&T or Verizon or Sprint or Tmobile or ... This would empower users more than some gimmicky feature set that plays to the iOS v. android war.

edit: and September would be wonderful for release.
 
I couldn't care less what the back of the phone looks like because as soon as it's out of the box its going into a nice comfy case. All I care about is the screen and the additions to ios.
 
This design is growing on me. Hope they are indeed thinking an earlier launch. Still rocking the 3gs and I am definitely in need of an upgrade!

You're a trooper for holding on to your 3GS for so long. I'm sure you will be heavily rewarded for your wait with the awesome new iPhone. :D
 
this new iPhone launch, combined with Apple's upcoming deal in 2013 Q1 with China's largest mobile carrier means that profits are going to be truly something for AAPL

i have the iPhone 4S 32GB but if this upcoming generation is good enough, i would consider buying it full price and flipping mine on craiglist
 
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