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[Merged] 64GB for next-gen iPhone (2010 / 4th Gen)
- Thread starter VenusianSky
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Do I remember that reports about the Gizmodo iPhone claimed it had a 40GB drive? Maybe adopting a different format flash chip that would get them on the 40GB-80GB-120GB etc type that is in a lot of computers.
Idk, it seems like this would be the type of thing that we would have been able to hear about. If one of the major memory fabs got the first huge contract to make 48GB or 64GB chips, that information would have gotten out.
Idk, it seems like this would be the type of thing that we would have been able to hear about. If one of the major memory fabs got the first huge contract to make 48GB or 64GB chips, that information would have gotten out.
And you have lousy reading comprehension if you haven't read everyone here acknowledge that 64GB flash chips are being produced, they just might be too expensive for inclusion on the next iPhone.
Both Toshiba and Samsung have begun producing 64GB NAND flash chips this year. Back when they were announced in December, 2009, the speculation was that these would if fact be used for the 4G iPhone. However, production has not been as high in capacity and prices have remained EXTREMELY high for these chips. Way too high to keep a $299 subsidized price. So unless Apple raising the subsidized price to $399 or even $499 (both very doubtful), we probably are not seeing a 64GB iPhone in June. Whether there is one later this year probably depends on where prices go.
BTW - Pretty agressive thread consolidation here by the mods. I can't believe my thread got rolled into another that was a year old. Nice.
Tony
Subsidy has NOTHING to do with it. We're just looking at the base cost of building the device.
It's not just low supply, the pricing for the NAND chips is roughtly the same as it was last year. So we are not going to benefit from they typical "costs the same for double the capacity this year as last year" situation. If we want double the capacity, it will cost more.
We're not naive, but you my friend are very uninformed.
The issue isn't the type of flash, it's about space. A PC has TONS of space to include multiple NAND chips. Even the iPad could handle tons more.
I don't think we've heard this before. But if we did it would most likely come from Digitimes which I get daily and I haven't seen any mention of it. What we have heard is that the chips exist and have begun mass production.
The magic questions are
1) Is there a high enough yield to fulfill Apple's req's?
2) Did they reach that yield in time to get them to Foxconn for June launch?
2) Is the price in a range that Apple can comfortably fit in their price point goals?
BTW - Pretty agressive thread consolidation here by the mods. I can't believe my thread got rolled into another that was a year old. Nice.
Tony
Wow, just noticed that!
I would guess the answer is probably NO to all 3 of those questions, unfortunately.
I'm just hoping they are all YES in September with the new iPod Touch launch. I'm really starting to think this will be the case: In September the production volume will be enough and thus prices might come down enough for an 128GB Touch (which will then allow the Classic be discontinued), and if they do that, they HAVE to simultaneously release a 64GB iPhone. I think this is probably the best case snenario that we can reasonably hope for.
Hope I'm wrong and that it's announced Monday, though.
Tony
Well...unfortunately the sd cards in android phones CANT be used for apps! You can store music on them...that's about it.
I am even running froyo on my nexus and the sd card storage is only working for some apps...(ive found none to work myself).
So...you are really only getting 512mb or a gig max for app storage...and the rest is for music and movies or whatever..
This actually makes the iPhone MUCH better in this aspect...all of the 32g on the iPhone can be used for anything....and you don't even need to keep your music on the phone anyways since there are several streaming services that will allow you to stream all of your iTunes music. In fact, you can even stream your movies to your phone...so you get to save all that space for apps.
There are just so many reasons that android phones aren't quite up to the level of iPhone os. I speak from experience...i have had a 3G for a few months...then i got the 3GS on launch. Eventuslly i wanted to try out android so i bought the nexus one for tmobile...then sold it and bought the AT&T version of the nexus. I used it for a month or two, but there were so many things that pissed me off about it....typing text messages being my number one complaint. Every other feature in android takes many more steps than the iPhone equivalent....i couldn't handle it any more...i am now back to my jailbroken 3GS and i love it. The screen on the n1 wasn't even that great...colors were unrealistic, and the oled display made text look shoddy...the subpixel layout makes even high res oled screens seen "dotty".
Btw, i have a nexus one running froyo for sale if anyone is interested..
There are already several Android phones (Samsung Galaxy S amongst others) and some to come that have 16GB internal storage that can be used for ANYTHING (including apps) and ALSO support simultaneously a 32GB storage card for media. That to me is much better than a 32GB iPhone. Let's not forget how small the microSD cards are - they can easily be carried and SWAPED when you want to listen to or watch some other media not on your other card.
Tony
Not that I think it's going to happen but internet streaming is no substitute for actual storage capacity at this point. Here in Australia I cannot get a reliable 32kbps radio stream let alone 128 or higher. With all the bad things I hear about AT&T, the situation is probably even worse for the bulk of iphone users.
Back on topic: Any chance of Apple sourcing 64gb chips from more than 1 supplier?
Back on topic: Any chance of Apple sourcing 64gb chips from more than 1 supplier?
I absolutely agree. There is no way that I can stream consistently at 128 kpbs without continuous drop-outs, especially in a moving vehicle. I get drop-out every 20 seconds with rebuffering. So the thought of cloud based music storage is a complete joke given the nature of AT&T's network right now. And most of my library is 256 kbps, so their REALLY no way it streams in that quality.
I need more internal CAPACITY. Remember, for most of us this is our primary music player since I know I don't want to carry around TWO devices. For a long time, my 160GB iPod CLASSIC was my primary music player, which has 128GB MORE than the iPhone, and I had THAT pretty much filled up. It's really hard to cut back that much, and it's a shame Apple has not focused more on capacity with it's newer devices the way they used to with iPods Classics.
Tony
It has everything to do with it ... even if the chips are ridiculously expensive, they ARE in existence, therefore Apple could still OFFER the 64Gb version.
Where's this evidence? DEMAND is growing, but I don't see facts in terms of last years price for a 32Gb chip and this years.
Probably not, but enough to at least OFFER a 64Gb version. Most people purchased an 8Gb 3G while the 3GS was in existence purely due to cost. At least Apple could offer a 64Gb version so that those that want one can pay the premium
Seeing as these chips have been in production for over half a year, I would say yes, given that the final iPhone probably only began production this week, maybe a week ago. I
Once again, they don't need to offer the 64Gb version to EVERYONE, just make it an option ... nor does it have to be cheap!
So I did a google search and it turns out that back in December there was a bunch of news reported about Toshiba's new 64GB NAND chip that was going to reach mass production in Q1 2010... mass enough to supply for iPhone?
Maybe, but I'm just betting that we won't get 64GB because it seems like something that we would have heard about through supplier channel leaks.
Edit: if they have limited supply, maybe $199/$299/$399 2 year contract prices for 16GB, 32GB, 64GB? $400 on a 2 year contract would be the most expensive phone I can think of in the past 5 years, might be able to control 64GB consumption to a manageable level.
Maybe, but I'm just betting that we won't get 64GB because it seems like something that we would have heard about through supplier channel leaks.
Edit: if they have limited supply, maybe $199/$299/$399 2 year contract prices for 16GB, 32GB, 64GB? $400 on a 2 year contract would be the most expensive phone I can think of in the past 5 years, might be able to control 64GB consumption to a manageable level.
Yes, there was a LOT of press on the 64GB chip from Toshiba in December, and it seemed CERTAIN at that time it was destined for the next iPhone. Since then, there has been absolutely positively NO NEWS from any source of these chips, nor can you find an actual quoted price of any kind. Any Google search just results in the same December announcement from 100 sources but NOTHING AT ALL since.
This to me is very bizzare in this day and age. Maybe Apple immediate made a deal to swap up all the supply at a fixed costs and it was extremely confidential. That's best case scenario.
Tony
They also use Toshiba chips. And yes, Toshiba produces 64 GB NAND flash chips. Next to that, Apple will find something on it. They are not going to 'ruin' the tradition. It might be more expensive than the 16 and 32 GB chips, but Apple won't lose money if they are going to sell a 64 GB phone.
Easy solution if the quality is not an issue...change your compression settings when importing music, and download a free converter and change the compression on your current files.
It's actually MUCH easier than that. iTunes can convert your existing library ON THE FLY when transferring to your phone from whatever it is to 128 kbps AAC, just by checking a box on the first iTunes tab when the phone is plugged-in. It takes FOREVER to convert the first time through (it took me DAYS to convert 25+ GB of music), but after that it will just convert any changes you make. Note that you keep your music in whatever compression rate you imported it in in iTunes itself, so no need to change your import compression. It does not change your computer files, only the iPhone files.
Most of my music is in 192 or 256 kbps AAC format in iTunes on my PC, but with this on-the-fly conversion I could store almost about 75% MORE music on average. I STILL need more storage on my iPhone, as my music library still is not close to fitting on it, but this definitely is a cool feature. If I get a 64B iPhone AND use this feature, I will FINALLY be able to fit my entire 100+ GB music library on my iPhone!
Tony
You replied to a post from Sept 2009. So his statements were based on what was happening back then.
Me either, but NAND prices haven't dropped and it appears that Apple has invested a lot in upgrading the rest of the hardware (camera, A4 processor, much more complicated PCB, larger battery, possibly zirconia back....)
So I don't see prices dropping.
Good point, although I don't think the cost of 32GB NAND has come down that much since last year, so in theory a $299 cost might still be justified. Still, people might not PERCEIVE it this way since typically capacity has gone up at the same price points from the previous year.
Tony
Exactly ... if the chips are available, they'll offer it, because there will definitely be some sort of market. As we have seen with the iPad costs (huge margin, not taking R&D or admin into account), I'm sure they'll reap some sort of profit with a 64Gb version, considering that if they put it at $400, they're still subsidizing ...
I doubt Apple does a $400 subsidized phone - it's just way more expensive then anything else out there. And that would probably mean a $650 or so unsubsidized phone with a 2 year contract and probably a $1,000 unsubsidized phone with no contract - no way that would work in this economy, although I myself would certainly pay these prices for 64GB.
Tony
1) The economy is in a better state now than it was just after the 3G's release, let alone last summer's 3GS' release.
2) It's not like Apple has never offered an expensive phone ($499, $599)
3) Like you said, you would buy one .. as others in this thread would (myself included)