Next Gen iPhone: 802.11n and Video Editing?

[TheOrioles33]

Its funny how people have criticized the iPhone for its lack of simple features that “all other phones have”. Now that a lot of those missing features are becoming a reality those same people are saying “welcome to 2004”. The iPhone hasn’t even been around 2 years and look how far its come and look how far it’s going to go. I think within the next couple years we will be telling those same douches “welcome to 2020!”.

 

[bobbleheadbob]

Can't wait for June, when I'm hoping this will be released.

Has there been any information or speculation yet on when/whether existing iPhone will be eligible to upgrade? I got the first gen on opening day in 2007 and upgraded to the 3G last year.

 

[megfilmworks]

30% is definitely a "STEAL" IMO but I'm afraid it's Apple that is doing the "theft".

Actually 50/50 splits are common between intellectual property owners and their distributors.
Can't see how 30% is a problem when Apple developed the platform, developed the store, maintained the store and gives a developer a new place to sell one's ideas.
Risk must be rewarded by profit if is successful,
if not who will do research and take the risk?

 

[elcid]

N wireless and video? I'll pass.

 

[Trajectory]

Depends who "us" is. There will be a segment of iPhone 2G and 3G owners that will moan because that is who they are.

iPhone users are easily the most obnoxious bunch out there right now.

And I suppose you two are exempt from these rude characterizations?

 

[eff pc]

I have to imagine that this will all be released the end of June when those millions of first gen contracts expire...

I got my first gen iPhone in December the year it came out so that means my contract doesn't expire until this December coming up but online it says my line is eligible for upgrade so I'm assuming I can get the subsidized price. I will be waiting in line for the new iPhone this summer because my first gen is starting to look beat up. Hopefully they go back to the metal back because this thing is a brick. I've dropped it so many times on hard surfaces and it's still kickin (you can barely tell but it's just time for a new one)

 

[Mjmar]

The new iPhone is sounding more and more compelling everyday! At first I told myself that my 1st gen. is fine, but now I'm seriously considering upgrading after it comes out.

 

[Sehnsucht]

It's going to be a mobile version of FCP for the iPhone.

 

[powers74]

yes

I agree they need something to really put it ahead not just barley.

Mmmmlike a metal body!

 

[Jamo12]

Idea for a metal iPhone back

Just asking... Would it be possible to make the backing of the iPhone into an antenna? Like a radio antenna is made of some type of metal, so couldn't you use the metal casing of the iPhone as an antenna?

 

[powers74]

antenna

Just asking... Would it be possible to make the backing of the iPhone into an antenna? Like a radio antenna is made of some type of metal, so couldn't you use the metal casing of the iPhone as an antenna?

I have wondered that myself, and having never asked, assumed there is a very good engineering reason as to why this is not a solution. That said, I remember when all the engineers around here were absolutely positive it was impossible to machine a laptop case out of a solid brick of aluminum, so take the answers you get, with, well... who knows, we might get a good answer. They're out there.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Just asking... Would it be possible to make the backing of the iPhone into an antenna? Like a radio antenna is made of some type of metal, so couldn't you use the metal casing of the iPhone as an antenna?

No. The short answer is that antennas are long and skinny for a reason. The long answer includes a lot of engineering, device safety, and material concerns.

 

[DELLsFan]

Cool. Too bad I just bought my iPhone 3G and they aren't likely to retro-fit the phone with N-hardware.

 

[powers74]

long and skinny

No. The short answer is that antennas are long and skinny for a reason. The long answer includes a lot of engineering, device safety, and material concerns.

OK. How about this; would it be possible to have a metal back, with a black plastic in place of the etched on - only a bit bigger - and have the antenna behind it for reception?

 

[chrmjenkins]

OK. How about this; would it be possible to have a metal back, with a black plastic in place of the etched on - only a bit bigger - and have the antenna behind it for reception?

Yes, but the reception wouldn't be very good. The direction of the signal from the cell tower depends entirely on where you are in relation to that tower. For every possible line of sight the tower has through the plastic apple, there are a hundred paths that involve the signal propagating through the metal backing.

If you notice, the entire bottom part of the first gen was not metal, but it still suffers from worse reception than the 3G.

 

[NewSc2]

The original iPhone will be over two years old when 3.0 comes out. Would you care if 3.0 stopped supporting the original 1st generation iPhone or iPod touch based on some "bloat" idea that having to support the older hardware somehow affects your newer iPhone? Does the ARM CPU version of OS X (iPhone/Touch) somehow 'bloat' your Intel Mac also?

My point remains -- Apple is giving extra free updates to a 2-year-old product, increasing its advertised capabilities. I didn't buy an iPhone to support iPhone OS 3.0, I didn't buy an iPhone to get video recording. I don't see how you can complain about something that they never advertised in the first place.

 

[iMacmatician]

Hmm, I can see Apple, in the future, slowly moving "iLife"-functionality to the iPhone. It will never be as sophisticated on such a small screen, but I wouldn't be surprised if we got "photobooth effects", simple picture editing (resizing because the integrated 3 MP camera will make photos too large to e-mail over 3G...). Maybe we'll even see "iWork for iPhone".

I thought they'd add iLife mobile and iWork mobile only to the rumored mini-tablet device (as a key distinguishing point), but it looks like some iLife features are likely to come to the regular iPhone (and iPod touch).

Although I wouldn't be surprised if the mini-tablet's versions of iLife/iWork are more feature-packed than the iPhone's.

 

[8CoreWhore]

I agree. HD video over G works fine. Nice HDMI cables transfer 10.2mb/s.

We know you meant 10.2GB/s not mb/s.

 

[powers74]

Plastic

Yes, but the reception wouldn't be very good. The direction of the signal from the cell tower depends entirely on where you are in relation to that tower. For every possible line of sight the tower has through the plastic apple, there are a hundred paths that involve the signal propagating through the metal backing.

If you notice, the entire bottom part of the first gen was not metal, but it still suffers from worse reception than the 3G.

Damn.

 

[months]

Haha I love how people with the 3Gs are trying to convince themselves that this next generation iPhone won't be that good and make themselves feel better.

 

[Rootman]

Hope they put a standard tripod mount on it.

 

[designgeek]

These features sound great. I'd be happy with just N and the ability to wirelessly sync as elves keep stealing my iPod cable. Most of the reason I don't have an iPhone is the cost of the monthly plan and the fact that it's really not that great as a phone. My Samsung that is now free through TMobile has never dropped a call and does MMS. I have an iPod Touch for everything else. I'm stoked for the next one, maybe it'll persuade me to go for it.

 

[AussieMike]

Damn.

...or....could they not build it into / around the edge of the phone such that it sits behind a rubber/silicone bead (or seal)? This would make it quite likely that you would always be able to maintain a decent line of sight signal to a tower regardless of the handset orientation PLUS you get to have a "sexy back"

 

[Digitalclips]

Not true.

Streaming HD over G to the Apple TV works perfectly fine.

Do you mean HD 1280 x 720 24 / 25 fps or 960 x 540 30 fps? Just curious, I had to split into two networks (.11g for iPhones and iBook and .11n for ATV and MacBooks) so ATV had .11n to get HD at 720p to work smoothly.

 

[bytethese]

802.11n is still in draft status, and is expected to be finalized only in January 2010.

If you buy an Apple 802.11n product (such as a MacBook or the alleged upcoming 802.11n iPhone), it will likely only run at 802.11n speeds only on Apple's "AirPort Extreme" Wi-Fi router. On routers by other manufacturers, it will likely run at sub-standard speeds. This is not the fault of the other manufacturers, as their routers are arguably much superior to Apple's (for example, AirPort Extreme does not have wired gigabit ports... there's no gigabit LAN ports, and there's no gigabit WAN port). Many people--especially people outside of the US in countries where FTTH is more common and will soon exceed speeds of 100 Mbps, gigabit WAN and LAN ports are highly important).

Airport Extreme has gigabit LAN and WAN ports:
http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/specs.html

While the 802.11n is still technically not ratified, any changes will be small that can be handled with a firmware upgrade and should not make a router incompatible.