iPhone 7 to Feature Longer Earpiece Cutout, Relocated Ambient Light Sensor

[2457248]

i don't know if that's been said already, but if that's true, new ambient light sensor could mean the iP will have the true tone display, like the ipad pro 9,7".
why change otherwise something that's been functional since the first iphone and has mostly never changed?

 

[Mac 128]

Or the steering wheel of a car. Oh wait, Apple is rumored to be building a car. Maybe we'll see a touch pad steering solution prioritizing gestures to control the car's direction. I mean, this damn steering wheel has been around since the advent of automobiles, who wants that old tech?

That's right, the car of the future will be self driving. There won't be a steering wheel. Just like the headphones of the future will be wireless, they won't need a headphone jack. Switching the steering wheel to a joystick, or 3.5mm to Lightning isn't the point. You're missing the forest for the trees.

 

[redman042]

Nope -- Apple is known to use the WSJ to leak bad news so the market can adjust to it ahead of a product release. I would virtually guarantee that yesterday's article came straight from the horse's mouth.

Ok you're right. I somehow missed that WSJ was reporting on this. Though I still believe there are internal upgrades that go beyond what is discussed in the WSJ, likely including big leaps in camera quality, and possibly including things like true tone and pencil compatibility. But even with these, people will say it's a modest upgrade, like they did with the 6s (even though I consider it a HUGE upgrade simply because the improved CPU and added RAM make it FAR more fluid to use than the 6).

 

[nia820]

A longer earpiece finally! That's the innovation we've been waiting for.

 

[recoil80]

perhaps the reciever is longer and thinner to counter water intrusion

Waterproof could be the key feature of iPhone 7.
They need to show something new and appealing to the average customer and ditching the 3.5 jack is not really a feature.

 

[8692574]

Let's piss customer even more

 

[iGeek2014]

I'd eat my hat (if I owned one, that is) if the rumoured iPhone slated for Autumn 2017 was the one announced this coming September.

So all of these rumours touted for this year's model were just a smoke screen!

 

[Bone Ranger]

Part of me wonders whether Apple is seeding rumors that make the phone sound mediocre, while secretly planning BIG upgrades. Would be great if it was true. I certainly don't believe they are really going to release a new iPhone with almost NO changes. The 6s CPU is already blazing fast, so a CPU bump isn't going to make nearly as much of a difference anymore. But a big camera improvement, perhaps a true-tone screen, and who knows, maybe even Apple Pencil capability, could do a lot.

No doubt Apple secrecy team has a few tricks they play.
[doublepost=1466673379][/doublepost]

It went from "tick-tock" to "tick-tock-wtf?" schedule.

What about a springtime release?
Did it this year with the iPhone 5se.
[doublepost=1466673494][/doublepost]

Tim Cook has said that line every single year since he became CEO. When do you stop believing?

$10 billion in R&D.
Must be something interesting in the pipeline if the board approved that kind of outlay.
[doublepost=1466673538][/doublepost]

A longer earpiece finally! That's the innovation we've been waiting for.

"Can't innovate my ass!"

 

[Superrjamz54]

Apple went from "tick-tock" to "tick-tock-tock" schedule. Disappointing. And I won't buy a phone without a 3.5mm jack anytime soon. I have $500 worth of 3.5mm connector earphones that work just fine and want none of this Lightning port stuff.

As if Apple is the only company that is doing this. Moto has eliminated the jack from the new top of the line Z series and no tech sites even mention them doing it just heap all the blame on Apple. Not saying that Apple is right but it's not like they are the only one and this is going to be an issue with every other company.

 

[AnthonyHarris]

Would a longer opening for the earpiece make the glass more prone to cracking?

Earhole-Gate.

 

[TommyA6]

Ok you're right. I somehow missed that WSJ was reporting on this. Though I still believe there are internal upgrades that go beyond what is discussed in the WSJ, likely including big leaps in camera quality, and possibly including things like true tone and pencil compatibility. But even with these, people will say it's a modest upgrade, like they did with the 6s (even though I consider it a HUGE upgrade simply because the improved CPU and added RAM make it FAR more fluid to use than the 6).

Unless we get at least another 75% bump in CPU/GPU speed, at least an extra 1 GB of RAM, and a massive upgrade in camera quality (especially low light), this will be the worst iPhone upgrade ever (not counting original iPhone --> iPhone 3G), and people will be rightfully disappointed. Redesigning the case isn't a prerequisite for an upgrade to be called big, but if Apple plans to cheapen out on performance like they did with iPhone 6 (25% better CPU, 50% better GPU), then the 2016 iPhone should be avoided. The 6 at least offered a huge redesign, including a bigger display so a minor spec bump wasn't that huge of a deal. This time though...

 

[Juicy Box]

How can you hate windows when you just admitted to never using it?

I hate it, and I never (legally) owned it. Considering Windows is the OS used in most offices, there is a good chance that many people are exposed to it, even if is not their preference.

I never realized how much I dislike Windows before I used it every day for work.

 

[MacBH928]

its weird how Apple tries to implement these weird feature like lightening connectors for earphones but refuses to solve simple stuff like having to type in your password everytime you write an app review.

 

[ryuworks]

iPhone 6 - people are disappointed now that the iPhone just looks like an Android phone
iPhone 6s - people are disappointed because there are only internal changes and the exterior looks the same
next iPhone - people are disappointed about so and so...

iPhone, the phone of disappointments. LOL.

You can always go buy a Samsung if you really like how the S7 edge looks. Or just skip a year and buy the next iPhone instead.

 

[medazinol]

Yeah, I think I'm definitely skipping this generation. The good stuff will happen next year. Wife is going to inherit my 6+ and I'll get a Android to hold me over for a year.

 

[Tycho24]

Let's piss customer even more

Lol, the article is about a rumored longer light sensor!
Wtf are you talking about???????!
How could that POSSIBLY "piss customer even more" (sic)???
[doublepost=1466686428][/doublepost]

Yeah, I think I'm definitely skipping this generation. The good stuff will happen next year. Wife is going to inherit my 6+ and I'll get a Android to hold me over for a year.

Sounds like wifey is the big winner in that scenario... ;0)

 

[8692574]

Lol, the article is about a rumored longer light sensor!
Wtf are you talking about???????!
How could that POSSIBLY "piss customer even more" (sic)???

There's more in an article than a title : "rendering existing iPhone 6s and 6s Plus cases unusable with the new devices".
If you are keeping the same design, at least let me use my cases, oh and there's no need to swear if you don't agree....

But I agree, "How could" (they) "POSSIBLY piss customer even more"?

 

[AlphaTeam]

I hate it, and I never (legally) owned it. Considering Windows is the OS used in most offices, there is a good chance that many people are exposed to it, even if is not their preference.

I never realized how much I dislike Windows before I used it every day for work.

Its funny you say that. I'm just the same. I've always used and supported Windows computers. I got a new job where I have to support Macs, so they bought me one for daily use so I can get to know it. I hate it. Everything is opposite, just for the sake of being EXACTLY opposite it seems.

 

[dk001]

I have no accessories other than a 12 South Book Book case. I really like the case, but it's becoming less useful. I had too many plastic cards in it, and it looked like a George Costanza wallet. I've tried to cut back on the number of cards, and the pockets are too loose to hold them securely. If I don't pick up my phone carefully, cards fly everywhere.

Honestly, I was looking forward to September as an excuse to get a new case. I'm waiting to see whether the dual camera is coming this year. That will heavily influence my decision.

True Tone sounds nice, but if it really makes a big difference, maybe I'm better off without it. Next year could be True Tone OLED. Waterproof sounds nice, but I can risk it until next year. I want 3D Touch, but I don't have it on my iPad Pro 12.9", so maybe I should stick to the old 2D touch for another year.

Apple could surprise me, but it looks like dual lens camera is the killer feature for me. After crushing my hopes yesterday, this article says it's back. So, yay!

Sounds like you are trying to rationalize getting one.

 

[Tycho24]

There's more in an article than a title : "rendering existing iPhone 6s and 6s Plus cases unusable with the new devices".
If you are keeping the same design, at least let me use my cases, oh and there's no need to swear if you don't agree....

But I agree, "How could" (they) "POSSIBLY piss customer even more"?

Ahh... good catch, thx.
I don't "disagree", btw... just didn't know wtf the OP was talking about.
Thanks for clearing it up! YES! It would be cool (in a very small way) if I could get three years out of a single $15 case; however, I'd obviously MUCH rather have upgrades to cameras & the additional true tone support that I've been loving on my 9.7" iPad Pro, EVEN if it means getting only two years out of my $15 case.. Sooooo... I guess, it's one or the other, yeah?

 

[dk001]

No doubt Apple secrecy team has a few tricks they play.
[doublepost=1466673379][/doublepost]
...

$10 billion in R&D.
Must be something interesting in the pipeline if the board approved that kind of outlay.
...

No doubt Apple likely has some really cool stuff going on in R&D. The big question is whether any of it will see the light of day. A lot of that could be tech going into their new campus... or something new in the server farm / data center area...

 

[maxsix]

Much ado over nothing... It's just a phone.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

The space for the earpiece will be longer because it's moving to a new digital proprietary Apple connector called 'VeryVeryFrightening'.

Galileo, figaro......

 

[talkybear]

I'm having a feeling that this is not going to be called iPhone 7, as Apple won't call the totally redesigned next gen iPhone 7S. The name will probably be iPhone 6SX

 

[doelcm82]

Sounds like you are trying to rationalize getting one.

Then you misread me completely. Getting one was my default position, because my 6 plus is going on two years now (though I have no problems with its performance or battery life). I was looking forward to it. The dual-lens camera was all the rationalization I needed.

If the dual-lens camera is not going to be offered in September, I'm now leaning towards saving my money this year and waiting to see what Apple brings to the table in 2017. There's an MBP update coming, or if the backlash from the tepid iPhone update isn't already baked into AAPL's share price I can pick up a few more shares "on the dip".