More 'Confirmation' of 3G iPhone... in June?

[SkippyThorson]

If the iPhone will only be allowed to run one app at a time, it would not be possible to run a GPS application and answer the phone while you are en route to your destination.

Integrated like the iPod would work, but would be pointless. GPS is no big deal to me either.

When you receive a call, the audio stops and then restarts after your phone call is through. So, if you're on the Autobahn, and you miss your turn... whoops.

 

[nagromme]

2nd-generation iPhone in June - sounds right.

3G - for sure, though I could see some chance of that model being a later release this year.

GPS - certainly a possibility. I'd be very happy!

Dual cameras - why not? Would be kind of cool but I remain skeptical.


The one rumor I hope is NOT true is the OLED display. Aside from the short longevity (OLED is best for screens that aren't on much--which may apply to most phones but an iPhone begs for frequent use), OLED is apparently impossible to see in direct sunlight--just like a typical laptop. No thanks! I like the partially-reflective screens of iPods and iPhones, which are readable in sunlight.

If the iPhone will only be allowed to run one app at a time, it would not be possible to run a GPS application and answer the phone while you are en route to your destination.

The iPhone OS can be made to do whatever Apple needs it to.

3rd-party background apps would have unpredictable RAM usage and battery usage--they could kill your talk time, or at least kill themselves (or other apps) when RAM runs out, and that would be a poor experience. But what Apple builds in themselves (or works with specific partners to allow) could be designed to fit available RAM reliably. As for battery--better not use GPS too much without a charger cord or external battery!

 

[vandy1997]

That's exactly my point. If the music stops and restarts, it's not a big deal. If you are on your way to a meeting at a certain time and a call comes in and you miss a turn, thereby causing you to arrive late to your meeting, then that can become problematic. Maybe you will have to allow yourself more time in case a call comes in. The way in which the iPhone functions would not result in a feasible resolution to this combination of telephone call or SMS with GPS running simultaneously. You can turn off the phone, but then why not just have a separate GPS system?

Integrated like the iPod would work, but would be pointless. GPS is no big deal to me either.

When you receive a call, the audio stops and then restarts after your phone call is through. So, if you're on the Autobahn, and you miss your turn... whoops.

 

[vandy1997]

You are probably right about OLED. In addition, I believe that it is still pretty expensive. So the phone would in turn be more expensive than necessary.

With respect to video calls, those will probably be fun for the first month. Then they will likely be pretty useless, unless if you are trying to show something to somebody on a realtime basis. I don't see it as a must-have feature at all. The image will likely be slow and choppy, and people will not have the camera on most of the time. Maybe for headline news people to show a live stream?

2nd-generation iPhone in June - sounds right.

3G - for sure, though I could see some chance of that model being a later release this year.

GPS - certainly a possibility. I'd be very happy!

Dual cameras - why not? Would be kind of cool but I remain skeptical.


The one rumor I hope is NOT true is the OLED display. Aside from the short longevity (OLED is best for screens that aren't on much--which may apply to most phones but an iPhone begs for frequent use), OLED is apparently impossible to see in direct sunlight--just like a typical laptop. No thanks! I like the partially-reflective screens of iPods and iPhones, which are readable in sunlight.

 

[spydr]

If the iPhone will only be allowed to run one app at a time, it would not be possible to run a GPS application and answer the phone while you are en route to your destination.

Answering calls is not counted as an application - I think it will be just like now how you can browse the web on wifi and answer the incoming call if you like.

 

[Nanaki]

Integrated like the iPod would work, but would be pointless. GPS is no big deal to me either.

When you receive a call, the audio stops and then restarts after your phone call is through. So, if you're on the Autobahn, and you miss your turn... whoops.

Excuse me if I'm mistaken, but wouldn't the GPS be built into the Google Maps app and not be its own separate app? That would only make sense. And in that case, you could talk on the phone and use the GPS at the same time, perchance.

 

[Cappy]

If such a phone was going to be released(assumption is released to public) doesn't such a device have to go through the fcc first which tends to take some time?

My feeling is that when the next iPhoto comes out and has special features to take advantage of photos that have gps data stored in them, there's a good chance that if it's not out already that an iPhone with gps will be right around the corner. I believe that's an area that Apple can exploit and will as I think more people are likely to be attracted to taking pictures and having that gps data automatically stored in the photo than someone merely needing to find their lost *ss or wanting to find their way to a specific destination.

GPS to me almost seems like the old fad where everyone thought they needed to get a CB back in the seventies. Just like lots of people got a CB to end up talking to no one there are many who want GPS without having a good realistic reason. Having photos tagged with such data and iPhoto knowing what to do with it would wake up a new world for some.

And for what it's worth some cameras are beginning to have this ability. Such a feature would likely help drive sales but Apple needs their software to know what to do with such data. Integration is very important to Apple.

 

[distortedloop]

Excuse me if I'm mistaken, but wouldn't the GPS be built into the Google Maps app and not be its own separate app? That would only make sense. And in that case, you could talk on the phone and use the GPS at the same time, perchance.

Far more important to me would be the ability to actually check traffic in Google Maps while on the phone. Ridiculous to have to hang up to check traffic.

Back on topic, I've been saying June as the release date as a no brainer ever since Mac World:

June 29 = one year anniversary of the phone. What better date to release it's younger brother?

June is the set date for Firmware 2.0, which is being tweaked for the iPhone 2nd gen phone without a doubt.

June is the scheduled date to open the App Store.

Picture the event now. Jobs on stage showing off the great new apps from a few of its early partners and the App Store, and then the famous "oh, and one more thing...here's our new improved iPhone to take fullest advantage of some of these apps." It almost seems such a no brainer call that I could doubt it for that reason alone.

 

[iansilv]

They can't release it in June- the FCC needs a public window of 6 months to test it, during that time the FCC approval application is publicly viewable... or something... am I wrong on this? I thought that was the reason the original iPhone was announced 6 months in advance? I could see them ANNOUNCING it at macworld, but then, they would miss Christmas. I think they will announce it at the end of April, for release by black Friday of thi year.

 

[joeshell383]

GPS to me almost seems like the old fad where everyone thought they needed to get a CB back in the seventies.

You're right. There is no good reason to have an accurate method of self-location for the Maps application.

There is no way the iPhone will carry GPS

You're right. If the $99 Motorola Q offered on AT&T has had GPS since February of 2007, there is NO way the iPhone will have it.

Why does this sound excessively doubtful? GPS in the iPhone would probably still slaughter battery life. Apple knows a phone (or any device) no matter how powerful or useful, is no good with a dead battery.

3G - Yes
June - Possibly
GPS - Not this soon

I'm sticking with my original phone no matter what they decide to do. I have no urgent needs to upgrade, and I can say that I got the original product that introduced a tech revolution.

Sounds to me like you just want to justify your decision as an early adopter.

why is GPS so valuable? if I get lost on my day-to-day travel between work and home, I probably shouldn't even operate a remote.

Ever think that it might not be for your trip from work to home?

Instead of adding GPS, just allow full Bluetooth functionality so that we can achieve a Bluetooth GPS option. There would be plenty of companies who would create GPS software for the iPhone. I do not see myself using GPS on a phone that often, as it is awkward to have GPS running and then answer a call at the same time. If the iPhone will only be allowed to run one app at a time, it would not be possible to run a GPS application and answer the phone while you are en route to your destination.

That sounds like an extremely elegant, streamlined solution. Far more streamlined than just having GPS integrated.

 

[joeshell383]

delete

 

[joeshell383]

delete

 

[joeshell383]

delete

 

[AlphaAnt]

Far more important to me would be the ability to actually check traffic in Google Maps while on the phone. Ridiculous to have to hang up to check traffic.

Well, one of the major features of AT&T's HSDPA network that they keep touting is "Simultaneous Voice and Data" which you don't get with EDGE (or any other technology for that matter), so the limiting factor in what you describe would be the OS.

 

[ubersalad]

no I didn't, genius. what's wrong with the existing "cheap" solution to GPS. I remember the days of carrying mapquest printout, and that was quite sufficient for me.

 

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

Interesting but I'm also not sure about Kevin's track record with predictions. It will be really cool to have these features though.

 

[joeshell383]

They can't release it in June- the FCC needs a public window of 6 months to test it, during that time the FCC approval application is publicly viewable... or something... am I wrong on this? I thought that was the reason the original iPhone was announced 6 months in advance? I could see them ANNOUNCING it at macworld, but then, they would miss Christmas. I think they will announce it at the end of April, for release by black Friday of thi year.

Yes, you are wrong on this. The FCC does not need 6 months to test it.

I believe Apple originally wanted to show the iPhone later than MWSF 07 (like March 07), but had no choice but to plan for reveal will all the rumors swirling around in Nov/Dec 06. Some people also believe it was revealed early so people could plan their contracts around it.

It is a fact that they were still finishing the iPhone software between initial announcement and release. It wasn't like the whole thing was done in Jan at MWSF 07 and they were forced to release on June 29 because of the FCC.

 

[justflie]

has kevin made a lot of money off of digg?
Seems like its a ploy to get visitors to his site

He's made plenty of money off his site. There's no reason for him to make it up just to get more hits. Digg is already popular enough to bring down plenty of websites that are listed as popular stories.

 

[hotzenplotz]

Instead of adding GPS, just allow full Bluetooth functionality so that we can achieve a Bluetooth GPS option. There would be plenty of companies who would create GPS software for the iPhone. I do not see myself using GPS on a phone that often, as it is awkward to have GPS running and then answer a call at the same time. If the iPhone will only be allowed to run one app at a time, it would not be possible to run a GPS application and answer the phone while you are en route to your destination.

My TomTom and iPhone like each other over BT already

 

[iansilv]

Yes, you are wrong on this. The FCC does not need 6 months to test it.

I believe Apple originally wanted to show the iPhone later than MWSF 07 (like March 07), but had no choice but to plan for reveal will all the rumors swirling around in Nov/Dec 06. Some people also believe it was revealed early so people could plan their contracts around it.

It is a fact that they were still finishing the iPhone software in the announce to release window. It wasn't like the whole thing was done in Jan at MWSF 07 and they were forced to release on June 29 because of the FCC.

Oh- ok. That's good then- because I think a June release is more likely than an earlier release. But- wait- didn't Steve Jobs state outright that he did not want it to be revealed by the FCC when he announced it?

Also- I'm still hoping for a 480 by 800 screen- do you think this will happen? (I agree with you about gps btw )

 

[joeshell383]

But- wait- didn't Steve Jobs state outright that he did not want it to be revealed by the FCC when he announced it?

He did, but I'm not sure if he'll take the same approach on updates. We already know a 3G iPhone is coming out, and if there are any other new features (GPS, iSight) those details can be blocked from the public. We will only know that a new model was approved, and not much more.

To the people that say an announcement or FCC approval will crash sales, I say you're partially right, but many people already know an update is imminent and have bought anyway.

 

[vandy1997]

I have a TomTom BT that I used with my Windows Mobile phone. How did you get the TomTom software on the iPhone? Or are you using the TomTom BT receiver and another GPS app on the iPhone with turn-by-turn directions? I assume that Google Maps does not work realtime. Or is TomTom alpha testing an app for the iPhone? Please shed some light on this configuration.

My TomTom and iPhone like each other over BT already

 

[xamkil83]

We all know a 3G iPhone is comming, the other new features that I would like are fully functional Bluetooth, more memory i.e. 32gb or more, iChat and iSight camera for video chat, some kind of Voice Dialing feature, and I guess GPS altough I dont know if I would us it that much. I hope we at least get half of those, but I guess time will only tell.

 

[sjo]

There is no way the iPhone will carry GPS. It is simply too power hungry. It is encouraging to see more confirmations for a 3g June release though. It seems likely as the 2.0 update is already scheduled for June. Just one more thing anyone?

apple really needs to hire some engineering talent from nokia. they are going to sell 35m phones with gps this year and have been selling a couple of hundred of million of 3g phones during the past five years and never whined about not being able to make the battery last.

 

[berkleeboy210]

Will Apple give iPhone 2.0 to all it's employees as well? I have a job interview on Sunday to work at the new store in Boston. So I should be on by June if I get the job.