No Hardware Announcements at WWDC 2011? [Updated: No New iPhone Until FY 2012?]

[mandis]

do these help a bit?

No not really... sorry

- It's a Developer's Con in June. They have a new OS with drastic changes coming very soon.
- iPhone 4 still sells good + Verizon version has arrived recently.
- So many people are still binded to long contracts.
- September has always been an "iPod month" but now iPod line is not at all as exciting as it used to be so it doesn't really require a "big" event. It may very well be replaced with iPhone 5 even this year (if it is coming this year).

last but not least...
- North Carolina.

I think the reasoning behind the release of the ipad 2 was so that they could maintain their competitiveness.
It is logical to assume that the same rule applies for the iphone.
The iphone 4 regardless of network compatibility is still a 2010 phone. How could apple compete against the army of tegra2 droids of today? I think handing out more of their market share to google is not within their intentions.

 

[milo]

There's no way apple would skip the entire year, that's unthinkable. But a three month delay doesn't seem like that big a deal, especially if it lets them sync up the verizon and ATT versions. Who knows, maybe they would be able to do unified hardware for both next time around, or even 4G? I think lots of people are getting by the headline and just reading FY 2011 and thinking calendar year 2011. And I think the notion that many people would switch over a three month delay is ridiculous. If someone is happy, they'll stay, if not they'll switch regardless of release date.

Yes, precisely. Android and other handsets are moving to Tegra 2/Orion based platforms with maybe quad core SoCs coming in Fall '11 from nVidia. An A5 equipped iPhone shipping around September would be outdated the minute it hits the shelves as far as hardware is concerned.

At this point, what apps on a phone would require quad core? How many phones are shipping with tegra 2 now? And what other phones match or beat the screen resolution of the iPhone?

If the geeks decide the larger customer base elsewhere is more enticing...

And where would that be? Even if android ends up with a larger user base, so far app sales have been a tiny fraction of those on the iPhone (and don't forget the ipod touch and the iPad as part of the user base for apps). Maybe that's because android users just don't buy as many apps, maybe it's easier to pirate them on that platform. But devs will decide based on what makes them the most money, and so far that has been iPhone by an order of magnitude.

While you may not care your iPhone has a single core SoC, ChAir software might for their next game and decide to simply forgo releasing it on iOS.

Considering the iPad 2 can drive its own screen AND 1080 external with separate content, it's hard to imagine what software would pass up the huge iPhone/iPad/touch market for want of more power.

Yes, and 2. and 3. are more and more lagging behind Android in iOS.

In respect to devs getting paid, iPhone (which don't forget, includes touch and iPad) is lagging behind Android? Better have numbers to back that up - link?

 

[rman726]

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For all of you happy that the iphone 5 is delayed, you do realize that you will still be under contract when the iphone 5 comes out, and would probably not even buy the iPhone 5 when it comes out, and instead wait for the iPhone 6? Well guess what? If the iPhone 5 isn't coming out in June (2011), then the iPhone 6 isn't coming out in June (2012) either.

 

[HyperZboy]

My theory is the ATT/T-Mobile merger is the reason for the delay.

That clearly requires a change in at least software and possibly hardware and lots more testing to see if it will work well from the T-Mobile towers that ATT will eventually own.

That's my take on the delay.

 

[BC2009]

Might like to point out that part of the problem with Android updates is not the manufactures but the Carriers.
AT&T being by far the worse offenders. If AT&T had its way the iPhone would never get more than security updates. To upgrade your OS you would have to buy a new phone.
This is no were more apparent that looking no farther than the GalaxyS phones. AT&T GalaxyS phone (Captivate) still is waiting on its Android 2.2 update when over seas it is already getting its Android 2.3 updated. Clearly it is not the manufacture causing problems but the carrier.
I hope the manufactures start taking a cue from Apple and MS to say screw the carriers and start supply updates for their phones. No more blocking the updates from the carriers.


Apple is about the only company that can get away with the delay. Most others would be fried for it. iPhone is already starting to show its age and delaying it longer will only make it worse.

Very good point -- the carriers are a big problem here. In some cases its the manufacturers being slow to produce their personal version of the latest Android operating systems, but the carriers are used to telling those manufacturers how and when updates will come. So with HTC you might have to wait for their latest variant on the Sense UI, but even after they are done, the carrier is yet another middle man.

I would agree that Apple is the only one who could get away with not updating the hardware for a 15 month period. They sell the customer an overall experience and they see the software updates as improvements to that experience -- the hardware is one factor -- and in many ways they are right. Like I said, I love the fact that my iPhone 3GS does so much more than it did when I bought it -- it is still a very good phone in my opinion, but I am sure that once iPhone 5 ships it will begin to get to the forgotten-child treatment from Apple like the iPhone 3G did this last year.

In this case I am hoping the schedule change on the hardware is to put out an LTE iPhone-5. If other customers are like me they might hesitate to pull the trigger on a yet another 2-year contract if it meant locking into a phone that did not support LTE. While I can do without LTE while they build out the network, I am certain that within 6 to 8 months I am going to want it very badly.

 

[KnightWRX]

In respect to devs getting paid, iPhone (which don't forget, includes touch and iPad) is lagging behind Android? Better have numbers to back that up - link?

Links were posted already in the thread. Keep reading. Tegra 2 phones ? Look up the Atrix 4G and its laptop/media dock. Look up the LG optimus 2X. Both shipping phones.

 

[basesloaded190]

My theory is the ATT/T-Mobile merger is the reason for the delay.

That clearly requires a change in at least software and possibly hardware and lots more testing to see if it will work well from the T-Mobile towers that ATT will eventually own.

That's my take on the delay.

Doubt it. That could take a year before it's fully approver and the merger is actually put in place. Apple isn't going to delay their phone (which they sell in tons of countries) because att hasn't fully taken t-mobile in yet

 

[Jcoz]

Links were posted already in the thread. Keep reading. Tegra 2 phones ? Look up the Atrix 4G and its laptop/media dock. Look up the LG optimus 2X. Both shipping phones.

Any posted links/numbers showing Android ahead of iOS is not including non-smartphone devices....

 

[darbus69]

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childish-let's consume, consume, consume! what is wrong with using a great piece of technology for more than a year? didya buy AppleCare???

 

[Thex1138]

Why would Apple delay in shipping their key product from a cycle they have had in place for so long?
They may announce but not begin production.
But personally I doubt they would do such a thing and it seems next month the fox conn parts leaks might bed rest this months delay notions...

 

[KnightWRX]

Any posted links/numbers showing Android ahead of iOS is not including non-smartphone devices....

The Pocket Legends story is.

 

[sarper]

The iphone 4 regardless of network compatibility is still a 2010 phone. How could apple compete against the army of tegra2 droids of today? I think handing out more of their market share to google is not within their intentions.

The way that they compete with many other products out there with a lot better hardware units.

What's the point of buying a Tegra2 powered Android with no application that takes advantage of it, anyways? Don't say multitasking.

 

[Jcoz]

Hm, yeah, that disclaimer makes a helluva difference. Free vs paid — no comparison. Not to say ads are a bad revenue source, especially for a big hit like Angry Birds. That's the problem with ad businesses: you basically have to be #1 to get the revenue.

Also remember that 40% of all Angry Birds players on the iPhone have paid extra for the Mighty Eagle extra, plus all those who bought the special seasonal games. The iPhone is likely to be quite a nice source of income for Rovio...

On a sidenote I played Angry Birds on an Android today and quickly realised how much I'd miss the Retina Display. Not to mention the smoother action in general of iOS. The ads are bloody annoying, too.

The thing I dont get, is that if ads based models work great, then offer the same on iOS and remove the paid version or increase the paid version price.

Starting to make more on android to me would say little about iOS and more about the profitability of ads-based vs paid app....

Its seems that this is much more the question instead of iOS vs Android...

 

[Elweezy]

There should be no problem with an extra 3 months. People complained about having the iPhone 4 because it wasn't tested enough. Sit back and see if they use these three months towards actually releasing an awesome product that they usually do. And if it is released with something say... Antenna gate... I'll be pissed.

 

[Jcoz]

The Pocket Legends story is.

I'm saying the installed base is no where near equal last I checked.

I understand that article states they make more from Android, but the number of iOS device users is still much more than Android.

Maybe I missed it, are you saying that iTouch+iPhone+iPad users is less than Android phones and tablets now?

 

[destroyboredom]

This is pretty disappointing. If anyone that's on a 3G or 3GS wants to feel better, I'll be upgrading from the original iPhone. Hopefully it's only delayed until Sept. I think it's possible we could see 4G speed phones if this is the case.

I'm still wondering how they would go about this. Preview iOS 5 to developers that would be available at a later date (sept?) with no mention of new hardware and leave people to linger and wonder when a new phone might arrive? That just seems a little odd. You would think if it has to be delayed they would at least say "here's what we're work on" it will be available in Sept. (Kind of like the original iPhone, iPad AppleTV)

 

[wordoflife]

This is pretty disappointing. If anyone that's on a 3G or 3GS wants to feel better, I'll be upgrading from the original iPhone. Hopefully it's only delayed until Sept. I think it's possible we could see 4G speed phones if this is the case.

I'm still wondering how they would go about this. Preview iOS 5 to developers that would be available at a later date (sept?) with no mention of new hardware and leave people to linger and wonder when a new phone might arrive? That just seems a little odd. You would think if it has to be delayed they would at least say "here's what we're work on" it will be available in Sept. (Kind of like the original iPhone, iPad AppleTV)

I'm pretty bummed about having to wait, but my 3GS should be perfectly fine until then. I'm pretty glad I didn't sell it yet.

 

[milo]

Not really.

What will matter to devs is how much money they can make......ads vs initial and in-app sales....matters little which one is bringing in the bacon.

The bottom line is where is my app more profitable?

And that story doesn't answer the question. Not only does it not know how much has been made on either side, it's less a comparison of the two platforms and more a comparison of paid versus ads. Of course a free version of a given app is going to be downloaded more than a paid one, that's just basic common sense. If they switched the iOS version to free/ads I'm sure they'd see it spike up.

Links were posted already in the thread.

Two games? And one of them is a free version versus paid. I'm talking about overall numbers, obviously it's always going to be possible to find a couple exceptions.

Look up the Atrix 4G and its laptop/media dock. Look up the LG optimus 2X.

And does either of those match the screen resolution of the iPhone 4?

 

[splashnader]

It would be nice if Apple would release an updated version of Pages. I think the Pages 09 has run it's course. It would also be nice if they released iWork 11 and put iWeb with the suite. I can't believe that Apple hasn't updated iWork since 2009.

 

[cult hero]

Wow. Just... wow.

Three whole months delay!? WHATEVER SHALL WE DO!?

And even if it was year, I don't think it would ultimately matter all that much. The number people who buy a phone based on whether it has a dual core processor or not are tiny and it's a market Apple never has and never will care about.

I wonder how long Apple has expected this delay. The weird timing on the Verizon iPhone makes a lot more sense now if this has been known.

 

[rmwebs]

My theory is the ATT/T-Mobile merger is the reason for the delay..

Silly theory. The iPhone doesnt revolve around crappy ATT. There are other networks all over the world carrying iPhone which generate a hell of a lot more income than ATT.

 

[rman726]

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The Pocket Legends story is.

I'm saying the installed base is no where near equal last I checked.

I understand that article states they make more from Android, but the number of iOS device users is still much more than Android.

Maybe I missed it, are you saying that iTouch+iPhone+iPad users is less than Android phones and tablets now?

The real reason is that pocket legends sucks compared to thousands of better iOS games. Pocket legends is one of the best games for android. So if you are making a mediocre game, like pocket legends, you might make more money on android.

 

[johnnyrb]

That's fine with me. By then my contract with be up and hopefully I will have enough money to pay for a new iPhone!

 

[iBug2]

Considering the iPad 2 can drive its own screen AND 1080 external with separate content, it's hard to imagine what software would pass up the huge iPhone/iPad/touch market for want of more power.

Not to mention just because a summer release doesn't happen, it doesn't mean Apple is not going to release an iPhone 5 in the near future anyway. So any software company not deciding to go ahead with an iOS port of their next game will be doing something utterly stupid if they do it "only" because there wasn't an iPhone 5 in June.

 

[xwk88]

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Apple has been repeatedly bashed for focusing too much on iOS devices, to the detriment of their core computer product line. (They took people off of working on OS X to finish fixing things on the iPad, etc. etc.)

Now, it sounds like they're trying to bring the focus back to the Mac again for a little while, and people are complaining??

Why would you feel a need to get a new cellphone every single year? Contracts tend to run 2 years, discouraging you from upgrading that often anyway. But regardless, all of the recent "smartphones" I've seen are built well enough so they'll easily hold up for a good 2 years of use. All of the things I'd really need to do on a mobile phone will work fine next year, just the way they work this year. Even if you're just hung up on having "the latest thing"? If Apple delays release of the iPhone 5, then the 4 remains the "latest thing" from them for a while longer.

More to the point of the original topic though? I can definitely see why this WWDC would be a critical one, in many ways, to talk about a lot of software changes! Apparently, the Linux community is rapidly switching over their software to the "GPL3" license, which has a lot of "gotchas" in it that try to restrict what commercial businesses can do with the code. Essentially, they're trying to keep companies like Apple from benefiting from their free, open-source projects, and keep them for Linux users instead. The Apache web server is moving to a GPL3 license, for example, as is the gcc compiler and Samba.

Apple has to start moving to alternate products for all of this core functionality and get developers up to speed on the changes, or we're in for a LOT of reduced functionality in future OS X versions.

That's just getting complacent in my opinion, people like myself like changing phones yearly, no new iPhone means no return business, I'll try something else instead, bad move if true.

Or they can just make osx free lol not like they make a lot from os x sales anyway