New iPhone Rumors Reiterate Claims of Smaller Dock Connector, No Change to Screen Aspect Ratio

[manu chao]

Transferring data to any iOS device via Thunderbolt, is not beneficial to anyone?
Other things of that nature = any iOS device.
They have flash storage, batteries to power hi-resolution displays that are packaged in a small volume, and there is the need to transfer data fast.

Have you actually measured the speed of transfer between a computer and an iOS device via a USB 2 connection? Because if you did, you knew that we are still far from hitting the USB 2 speed limit.

I would like to believe that with newer technology, like Thunderbolt, there is potential to provide more electrical power and allow the possibility to charge the batteries faster that with USB.

You don't have to believe anything, you just have to lookup the standards of USB, Firewire and TB. In them it is specified very clearly how much power each interface can provide. TB can provide up 10 W, USB 2 in its latest incarnation 9 or 10 W (I have seen both numbers), FW up to 45 W. Standards can of course be extended, not in the voltage used (that would not be backwards compatible) but in the maximum amperage a device can draw (and USB 2 has been extended upwards in newer definitions, Apple made use of that when they introduced the iPad which because of the large battery it contains needed a 10 W charger to charge sufficiently fast).

BTW, Firewire has its high power rating largely because it operates at 30 V instead of 5 V for USB.

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And what about the future ones? Isn't this about the New iPhone rumors?

Sure, but are you suggesting that the iPhone gets faster (in its flash storage and interface protocol chips) by a factor of three or more in one generation? That is not what the history of these improvements from iPhone to iPhone have shown us so far. And really, syncing speed is something that is very rarely complained about.

 

[Mr. Gates]

New dock connector.

So all of my accessories won't work with this ?

Yay .....

I think I'll pass.

How does this help anyone ?

 

[clibinarius]

New dock connector.

So all of my accessories won't work with this ?

Yay .....

I think I'll pass.

How does this help anyone ?

Because the dock connector is a dinosaur, its too big, and can it EVER support USB 3? And it won't support Thunderbolt-that's for sure.

 

[Ayemerica]

I like it, it's time to progress the connector.

 

[McGiord]

Have you actually measured the speed of transfer between a computer and an iOS device via a USB 2 connection? Because if you did, you knew that we are still far from hitting the USB 2 speed limit.


You don't have to believe anything, you just have to lookup the standards of USB, Firewire and TB. In them it is specified very clearly how much power each interface can provide. TB can provide up 10 W, USB 2 in its latest incarnation 9 or 10 W (I have seen both numbers), FW up to 45 W. Standards can of course be extended, not in the voltage used (that would not be backwards compatible) but in the maximum amperage a device can draw (and USB 2 has been extended upwards in newer definitions, Apple made use of that when they introduced the iPad which because of the large battery it contains needed a 10 W charger to charge sufficiently fast).

BTW, Firewire has its high power rating largely because it operates at 30 V instead of 5 V for USB.

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Sure, but are you suggesting that the iPhone gets faster (in its flash storage and interface protocol chips) by a factor of three or more in one generation? That is not what the history of these improvements from iPhone to iPhone have shown us so far. And really, syncing speed is something that is very rarely complained about.

I have not measured it, but I did noticed the speed reduction from a FireWire iPod to the USB connection. And most of the times it takes a very long time to transfer movies, podcasts and music files to the iOS devices.

About increasing this speed by a factor of 3, Why not?
If they develop or have the technology, and can do it, why not?

Even the trend is make improvements in wireless data transfer with the cloud and all, but consider it. Not only for data transfer, but for charging the battery.

Having the faster charging battery in the market, is something that most users will like to have. And Apple love to promote things like that.

Those bar charts that they like to show up during the keynotes.
Showing an improvement by factor of 2x or 3x, or 4x.

They always do things like that. If it will happen to this very next iPhone model or not, it is up to us to speculate and discuss as MR participants.

If they do not continue to push the technology forward, what will be happening? Stagnant products with the same old tech for years to come?

 

[chado53]

here's a simple apple style way to do this: edge to edge screen while keep its same size and form factor. bigger screen and way more elegant. if only, apple.

 

[Giuly]

I have not measured it, but I did noticed the speed reduction from a FireWire iPod to the USB connection. And most of the times it takes a very long time to transfer movies, podcasts and music files to the iOS devices.

About increasing this speed by a factor of 3, Why not?
If they develop or have the technology, and can do it, why not?

Even the trend is make improvements in wireless data transfer with the cloud and all, but consider it. Not only for data transfer, but for charging the battery.

Having the faster charging battery in the market, is something that most users will like to have. And Apple love to promote things like that.

Those bar charts that they like to show up during the keynotes.
Showing an improvement by factor of 2x or 3x, or 4x.

They always do things like that. If it will happen to this very next iPhone model or not, it is up to us to speculate and discuss as MR participants.

If they do not continue to push the technology forward, what will be happening? Stagnant products with the same old tech for years to come?

iPods had hard drives, which are faster. Redesigning the dock connector to connect the iPod Classic via Thunderbolt is kinda overkill.

 

[powers74]

I like the current design, don't mind if it doesn't change. After all, no other phone looks like the current iPhone. It's symmetrical, simple, and pretty much scratch resistant - though not very tough, which is something I miss from the good old days of Nokia.

erm...

PS: isn't Thunderbolt an Intel thing? I don't think it is even possible to implement it in iDevices, but then again, what the hell do I know?

PPS: I love/have the iP4/iP4S design, it is a classic... but still...

 

[earl310]

I will be very disappointed if apple does not make the screen larger. That is the one thing i hate about the iPhone such a small screen. I have been holding off from using my upgrade waiting for the iPhone 5 to drop with a much need larger screen.

 

[fpsBeaTt]

Thunderbolt is not designed to fill the role of USB. It's made to cover the niche market of high speed data transferring such as external SDD's, HDD's, external GPU's/Apple Cinema Display and other things of that nature.

I wouldn't call it a niche market, since it's also designed to accomodate the general and advanced/pro user in simplifying accessory integration, i.e. implementing all necessary features over a single cable, which is what the Thunderbolt display and other thunderbolt connectors accomplish. To say that it's 'designed for a niche market' will only serve to perpetuate a limited mindset of the possibilities this technology holds.

 

[ixodes]

Internet on the go is only growing and the 3.5 inch screen is a joke for internet browsing, heck 4 isn't much better but it'd be an improvement. Sides .5 inches won't make single handed navigation any worse.

Let's work with facts:

In millimeters:
The Galaxy S with a 4.0" display is only 5.4mm wider than the iPhone 4S.

In inches:
Thats only 0.21" wider, which is less than 1/4". Barely noticeable.

It's time for Apple to get out of the past & use a display that's at least 4.3".



For those who are math impaired: 25.4mm = 1.0"

 

[fertilized-egg]

Let's work with facts:

In millimeters:
The Galaxy S with a 4.0" display is only 5.4mm wider than the iPhone 4S.

In inches:
Thats only 0.21" wider, which is less than 1/4". Barely noticeable.

It's time for Apple to get out of the past & use a display that's at least 4.3".

That's because Galaxy S' aspect ratio isn't as wide. The Galaxy S display is only 3mm wide than iPhone's display. A 4.3" iPhone display will be 11.3mm wider than the current iPhone display. That's significant.

Of course, all bets are off if Apple decides to change the aspect ratio. An iPhone with less bezel top and bottom would look pretty good, but I wonder about the app compatibility and utility of such a long screen.

 

[mrsir2009]

Well, then isn't it obvious what the advantage would be? Smaller port = less area for dust to accumulate.

And is that worth all the headaches changing the port would cause?

 

[applefanDrew]

Pretty obvious what apple does with the next iPhone... They will give it the necessary features to make it a great product. That's always their motivation.

 

[mrsir2009]

That can be accomodated through the use of weaker magnets.

Yeah, but the magsafe adaptor was originally designed so that if your laptop is on the table charging (which they frequently are) and the power cord is running across a walkway to a power point (which they frequently are) that if someone comes along and trips over it the adaptor won't get bent, and more importantly, the laptop won't get pulled off the table.

With the iPhone, you generally don't use it while it's charging, so it'll probably be out of the way (ie: sitting on the floor next to a power point rather than sitting on a table with the power cord running across a walkway).

 

[AppleScruff1]

New dock connector.

So all of my accessories won't work with this ?

Yay .....

I think I'll pass.

How does this help anyone ?

It helps Apple. You'll have to buy new accessories so they make even more money. And that's all that is important. Apple.

 

[ixodes]

That's because Galaxy S' aspect ratio isn't as wide. The Galaxy S display is only 3mm wide than iPhone's display. A 4.3" iPhone display will be 11.3mm wider than the current iPhone display. That's significant.

You're missing the point & misleading readers. You've dodged the facts by talking about display dimensions, instead of staying on topic.

We're talking about the size of the phone. It's a proven fact that a Galaxy S with a 4.0" display is only marginally larger at 5.4mm wider.

I know, I own both of them.

 

[jvmxtra]

Apple needs to make multiple size. This one size fits all was when there was no choice and all other competitor sucked. For me apple going 4.0 inch will be not enough. They need to make 3.5 , 4.0 and 4.5 inches.

Why the hell not?
Build a sandbox screen for 3.5( just like pc) and for larger screen give user choice to expand The app beyond 3.5 if they want to. Why not?
Apple you are becoming Microsoft. Stop being boring and innovate and think out side of box for a change.

If you keep one same size this fall, at least fire iPhone designers for doing nothing for past 3 years

 

[kalsta]

Yes, it's making progress. Have you tried watching Netflix on a 3.5"? If so, it's horrible.

No I haven't. You know it's funny, but when I want to watch a movie I have this 50 inch screen on the wall. It's called a television. And I have these boxes attached to the walls, front and back, where the sound comes out. They're called speakers. The picture and sound quality are really amazing. If you're watching movies on a 4.3 inch screen you really are missing out.

Have you tried it on a 4.3" screen? It's much better. We use our phones for media consumption way more than 2007. We NEED a bigger screen.

What you NEED is to get yourself a dictionary and look up the meanings of these words you like to use, like 'PROGRESS' and 'NEED'. It's not 'progress'—it's your subjective preference. And it's not a 'need', it's a want. You WANT a bigger screen, and you WANT to watch movies when you're on the train, or wherever it is you find yourself without access to a TV, iPad, etc.

 

[Bemopti123]

Well, that would obsolete a lot of very expensive docking devices like speaker systems which can run into the hundreds of dollars. I for one would not be happy, but I really do not see this happening. The Apple connector standard is now ubiquitous in the market from speakers to cars. I just don't see it happening. There is no benefit to Apple and it would slow adoption through upgrade.

If they go with these plans, they better work in making a decent and reliable adapter for the older Apple connector devices.

 

[nfl46]

No I haven't. You know it's funny, but when I want to watch a movie I have this 50 inch screen on the wall. It's called a television. And I have these boxes attached to the walls, front and back, where the sound comes out. They're called speakers. The picture and sound quality are really amazing. If you're watching movies on a 4.3 inch screen you really are missing out.



What you NEED is to get yourself a dictionary and look up the meanings of these words you like to use, like 'PROGRESS' and 'NEED'. It's not 'progress'—it's your subjective preference. And it's not a 'need', it's a want. You WANT a bigger screen, and you WANT to watch movies when you're on the train, or wherever it is you find yourself without access to a TV, iPad, etc.

Understandable.

 

[Ramchi]

Can't they make a round (circle) phone with the same 4S aspects other than shape !

 

[cjmillsnun]

There is actually a lot of credibility in the rumour of the dock connector changing.

Eventually Apple will be required to fully comply with EU laws on phone chargers, which are to use the micro usb standard.

They are in the workaround phase at the moment, as they have their dock connector to micro usb adaptor.

 

[StyxMaker]

Apple needs to make multiple size. This one size fits all was when there was no choice and all other competitor sucked. For me apple going 4.0 inch will be not enough. They need to make 3.5 , 4.0 and 4.5 inches.

Why the hell not?
Build a sandbox screen for 3.5( just like pc) and for larger screen give user choice to expand The app beyond 3.5 if they want to. Why not?
Apple you are becoming Microsoft. Stop being boring and innovate and think out side of box for a change.

If you keep one same size this fall, at least fire iPhone designers for doing nothing for past 3 years

You want Apple to 'innovate' by building computers with screens just like all the others are building? That doesn't sound like innovation to me.

 

[theluggage]

So is FW and the FW on the original iPad was superior to the current USB 2 based dock connector in the speed aspect.

That was then, when the alternative was USB 1.1 (ugh!) which really was cripplingly slow. Nor was there a WiFi option. Firewire was on many Mac models, quite a few PCs and could be easily added to PCs via. a cheap PCI or PCMCIA card.

Like FW and USB, TB is hot swappable so I'm not really sure what you are trying to say when it uses "daisy chain".

2011 MacBook Pros have a single TB port which doubles up as the external display port. If you have more than one Thunderbolt device, or if you use an external display, you have to "daisychain" devices. The display (unless its an Apple TB display) has to be the last item in the chain. Cheapskate Thunderbolt devices that don't have a "thunderbolt out" port are a potential deal-breaker (its a pity Apple/Intel didn't make a thru- port mandatory for Thunderbolt licensing).

If I wanted to connect a Thunderbolt iDevice, I'd have to disconnect my external display every time. If you had a Seagate GoFlex TB hard drive or a Sonnet ExpressCard adapter (both of which skimp on the daisy-chain port) you'd have to disconnect that (yeah - its hot-plug but you'd still have to close files, dismount drives etc.)

Unlike Firewire or USB, you can't add a multi-port hub or easily add extra Thunderbolt ports via a PCI or ExpressCard. If Apple were going to add TB support, the best bet would be a Thunderbolt iDevice dock that could sit permanently in your daisy-chain and talk to the iDevice via some proprietary high-speed protocol, without needing any Thunderbolt chipper in the iDevice.