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Next-Generation iOS Device Rumors: New iPods Soon, Smaller iPad and iPhone 5 in Early 2011?

Why shouldn't Apple start refreshing their phone hardware more often? The vast majority of those taking precious hours to days to wait in line for a new device already own an Apple phone, and many of those have the latest iteration. A lot of them would probably wait another day, again, in six months, for the latest-latest iPhone. Sounds like a smart business model to me, given Apple's customer demographic and behaviours displayed in the past...over and over again.

So what if a few whiners grumble in a web forum? They'll probably be the ones lining up the night before.
 
newdeal said:
Apple will probably release a iPhone 5 on version just to piss off AT&T since AT&T made them look like idiots by canning unlimited data a month after the iPad release
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Verizon is moving to the same type of data plans so I don't see how this would really be sticking it to AT&T.
 
juicedropsdeuce said:
Always looking for a handout. Hey dude, you made a BAD decision and bought a RevA from Apple. And now you want a handout because of a mistake you made? Steve doesn't care if you're pissed, he already has your money for 2 years.

Maybe you can use the money though, to buy 'som' sort of English lessons. :rolleyes:
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I can has revA device!?

Steve does care that people are pissed. And your attitude is embarrassing.
 
cvaldes said:
Your individual use case isn't valid for Apple to make a sweeping business decision.

Different people have different needs. I personally would rather have a 7" or 8" iPad rather than the currently-shipping model. There is a market for a smaller iPad, particularly if it comes in at a lower price point which would be expected since the touchscreen panel is the most expensive part in the bill of materials. Cost has been well documented barrier to iPad adoption.

The fact of the matter is Apple serves what the mass market consumer wants, not a individual commenter on a Mac rumors website. Apple isn't making devices for you. They are making devices for the Joe Consumers of this world, but most affluent ones with large amounts of disposable income, well educated, et cetera.
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I specifically said in my comment that Apple spent a long time coming up with the iPad size. So I'm not basing this on my own personal preference, but on the fact Apple doesn't do things for no reason. They obviously had a very good reason to make the screen 9.7 inches, and that is because based on their testing, they thought that size was the optimal form factor. I agree with that decision, and don't think 6 months later they will introduce a 2.7 inch smaller one.

7 inches is still too large for most pockets, so what would be the point? It would make it a little lighter maybe, but you're sacrificing screen space now, and pretty soon you realize that you might as well just get an iphone or ipod touch if you want something that compact.

Apple could make iPads in sizes 4-12 inches if it wanted, but they always are about simplicity. Having too many models of something defeats that and I don't think Apple will want to go there with a 7 inch model, at least not in the near future.
 
Well... we know from history that the iPod gets a refresh in September, just in time for the holiday season. It would not surprise me that the iPod Classic is dropped for a more beefier iPod Touch version.

iPad... doubtful. I think they already researched out the size and made it what it is for a reason. Although, a smaller size would be great for business use, like waitress order taking (like someone else pointed out). So... maybe if they want to go in that direction. But I think Apple is more focused on consumers.

iPhone... maybe. If anything a version for Verizon. I think any antenna changes will come sooner if they can tweak the current design. But I would not expect a huge change. Way too early and not on their yearly schedule.

What I really want to see is a major update to AppleTV, iMacs and Laptops. It's been minor tweaks on these devices for a long time and it seems like it's time for something big to set a new standard.
 
murkurb said:
I think the 7 inch iPad is overkill. I don't see a reasonable purpose for it. Sure, smaller is better sometimes, but is the iPad really that big? I don't think so. It's perfect for its intended uses. Just another way to make a buck I guess.
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I don't know...I've only used an iPad for a few minutes here and there in Apple Stores but every time I pick one up I'm surprised again at how heavy it is. The weight and to some degree, size, turns me off a bit. I've often thought that if it was a bit lighter that may push me toward getting one.

I know it's not "heavy" and it is a very beautiful and thin design. For me it just feels like it should be lighter.

As for iPhone in Jan, yeah, that seems like it could (finally) be the CDMA version for Verizon or maybe a 4G version for Sprint. Mabye "iPhone Pro" with 4G and 64GB storage.

Not sure about iPods...it is 2010 in the western world--who is left that needs an iPod? Folks over 50 is probably the only market left. Apple needs to run a "Get your mom/gram an iPod" campaign.
 
iphone 5 + Verizon = Huge ORGASM!

I have not upgraded my 3G (which is slow as heck right now due to the 4.0 upgrade). I have no contract with ATT and am now month to month since July 11th. I am thinking about going over to Verizon in Jan 2011 for the iPhone 5! Sorry to everyone that is locked in for another 2 years with ATT. LOL!
 
I'll be surprised if we don't see a new iPod Touch line that did include a camera for facetime since that is their new big hook.

I'll be interested to see how they may update the Nano line other than in capacity.

As far as the iPad, I don't see them selling a smaller one but as wildly successful as the current iPad is, a smaller version may be just as attractive. I kind of think that since they can't even keep up with the demand now, they won't be pushing any major design change soon.

I can totally see an iPhone 5 if they are opening to new carriers in the US. If it is released, it might be more like an iPhone 4(b) rather than a true iPhone 5. They may bring the antennas internal while still keeping the same design but the real difference would be support for Verizon. It would really just be Verizon's iPhone rather than a true iPhone 5.
 
nascimento said:
It would make no sense at all.
Having a new version of the same phone every 6 months would alienate most customers.
The only way they could do this in an acceptable way would be to have parallel versions, iphone and Igodknowswhat. Then maybe customers would accept something new every 6 months.
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Are you serious? Have you not heard of Android? This schedule would still be much more concise than what you get with Android phones, and allow Apple to combat the problem of tech being outdated within 6 months (the time frame of new tech becoming "old tech" is only going to keep shrinking, see Moore's Law).
 
Are we still talking about the same company?

The iPod Shuffle, should get dropped such a bad device, and combine that with a touch screen... No... Maybe that patent for a two sided iPhone with touch sensitive back was actually referring to this. I could see that, the scroll wheel on the back and a small screen on the front.


New iPods, ok... Screen size will remain the same... Probably will get some of the same internals as the iPhone 4, because the price to put all the parts in a iPod Touch for 199.99 would leave ZERO profit. iPod Touch will keep the screen, and get a A4 processor, with more memory.

No new iPad, that would be dumb, developers don't need to worry about to many screen resolutions, if so then the Apps turn to crap and it will look like android, the iPad is perfect. The iPad will get some changes though, I imagine a slight change to the design, some more memory, and probably a little price drop of 50 dollars each model. The 3G will probably get a 70 dollar price drop to promote more people to buy that one.

New iPhone doubt it, but possibly, if any new iPhone it will be the white one, I really don't care, the update to this iphone will be like a 3GS upgrade not too much. I imagine the antenna issue will be fixed by september, secretly, they will probably just ignore the white iPhone this time.

Hopefully in January we see a new iPhone OS with WIDGETS DAMN IT! I want to have the weather without opening the weather, and some design change to the lock and home screen.
 
iOS 4 for iPad

that will be released and let us see how it is going to be for folders and multitasking with low RAM compared to iPhone 4
 
grmatt said:
Are you serious? Have you not heard of Android? This schedule would still be much more concise than what you get with Android phones, and allow Apple to combat the problem of tech being outdated within 6 months (the time frame of new tech becoming "old tech" is only going to keep shrinking, see Moore's Law).
Click to expand...
Droid 1 - Released in Oct 2009
Droid 2 - Released in Aug 2010

People care more about iOS.
 
TUD said:
Not really... iPhone 4 is flawed (fact) and the well informed public knows this. Apple will resolve the issue somehow other than offering a free bumper. If you foolishly purchased an iPhone 4 then you have no one to blame, but yourself. Apple will do what it has to do to keep their image intact.
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Why do guys like you insist this is "fact?" Fact is, I can't cause my phone to die by the death grip, even after 4-5 minutes. So far, I'm good.
 
Bodhi395 said:
I specifically said in my comment that Apple spent a long time coming up with the iPad size. So I'm not basing this on my own personal preference, but on the fact Apple doesn't do things for no reason. They obviously had a very good reason to make the screen 9.7 inches, and that is because based on their testing, they thought that size was the optimal form factor. I agree with that decision, and don't think 6 months later they will introduce a 2.7 inch smaller one.

7 inches is still too large for most pockets, so what would be the point? It would make it a little lighter maybe, but you're sacrificing screen space now, and pretty soon you realize that you might as well just get an iphone or ipod touch if you want something that compact.

Apple could make iPads in sizes 4-12 inches if it wanted, but they always are about simplicity. Having too many models of something defeats that and I don't think Apple will want to go there with a 7 inch model, at least not in the near future.
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Apple has many product lines with different sizes (MacBook, iMac, iPod). The fact that they debuted the iPad in one size does not automatically mean that they determined that this specific size is "ideal" and that there is no market for other sizes.

Without a doubt, Apple prototyped many different screen sizes. It is highly likely that they will continue to do so and if they decide that there is a profitable market for a different size, they will release one.
 
nooaah said:
Droid 1 - Released in Oct 2009
Droid 2 - Released in Aug 2010

People care more about iOS.
Click to expand...

Droid Eris, Droid X... am I missing any?

You're missing my point. Apple could call it something else and it can be it's own thing, i.e. iPhone X (which I'm not suggesting, btw) with it's own unique quirks. So maybe I should've said two simultaneous annual release schedules offset by half a year.
 
nooaah said:
Droid 1 - Released in Oct 2009
Droid 2 - Released in Aug 2010
Click to expand...

Droid Eris - Released in November 2009
Droid Incredible - Released in April 2010
Droid X - Released in July 2010

(Yes, two different manufacturers here, yet all fall under Verizon's silly "Droid" brand.)
 
No way would Apple ever release a new iPhone just after the Christmas holiday! This rumor is crap.

I'm interested to see if the new iPod touch has a front facing camera for Face Time calls. Remember that Steve Jobs did say that there would be Tens of Millions of Face Time devices in customers hands in 2010!! Or how about a front facing camera on an iPad?
 
Danhattan said:
I have not upgraded my 3G (which is slow as heck right now due to the 4.0 upgrade). I have no contract with ATT and am now month to month since July 11th. I am hard right now thinking about going over to Verizon in Jan 2011 for the iPhone 5! Sorry to everyone that is locked in for another 2 years with ATT. LOL!
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Sorry, but the Verizon iPhone will never happen. Ok! People have been waiting for years. I don't know why everyone wants it to go to verizon? Have they actually tried verizon? Especially where I drive, and live, AT&T is the only way.
 
Ok here it is:

7" iPad is not meant for the pocket, except maybe a coat/jacket pocket.

It is easy to take out and put back into jacket pocket; purse, murse, messenger back.

You cannot do this with an iPad, nor would it be convenient to do so, if you want to just simply change a song, jot a note, read an article/book on the subway.

--Other uses: researchers who need to input small bits of data when in the field, or laboratory---this is what I want it for.

For people who don't read while commuting or away from home/office...well an iPad is perfect.
 
TUD said:
Not really... iPhone 4 is flawed (fact) and the well informed public knows this.
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Do they? How? How many of the "informed public" actually own Iphone 4s? How many Iphone 4 owners actually complain about the "factual flaw(s)" you point out? What people read and subsequently believe and reality are two very different things. My Iphone 4 is a huge improvement over the previous generation Iphone.

As Louis CK said, "Everything's amazing and no one is happy." Iphone 4 is amazing. I'm choosing to be happy.
 
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