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Apple will most likely release an Iphone 4.5. The Iphone 4 is great but has some flaws. Apple could easily fix some flaws that people have been asking for, and skip a complete re-design upgrade. Then 2012 BLAM! brand new re-designed Iphone with 4G (which should be covering a lot of the US by then) and probably new features that make sense.
 
Yep, I fully expect a 4 "S" type release this year.
I think not releasing a hardware update would be the smart move.

To me, if it doesn't have LTE or 4G speeds, why bother.
Apple already stated that is a year away.

So, without that, and every competitor already having it, what can Apple do to compete with that?

Just add a bigger capacity, maybe some fluff HSPA promised speeds (like the 3Gs was supposed to get) the white model, slash prices and bring out the big guns next year.
 
Wow... Someone starts a post and says Verizon is getting the iPhone, and people come out of the woodwork and whine.

Someone makes a post and says that no iPhone refresh this year, and the world is coming to an end.

As excited as I am to get the iPhone and use my other Apple products, I sure dont run my life by it.
 
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It's possible.
 
Yep, I fully expect a 4 "S" type release this year.
I think not releasing a hardware update would be the smart move.

To me, if it doesn't have LTE or 4G speeds, why bother.
Apple already stated that is a year away.

So, without that, and every competitor already having it, what can Apple do to compete with that?

Just add a bigger capacity, maybe some fluff HSPA promised speeds (like the 3Gs was supposed to get) the white model, slash prices and bring out the big guns next year.

Surely an "S" type update would mean a hardware update? The only example of an "S" type update was a hardware update. The 3GS has a faster processor, more RAM, and a different, faster, graphics chip...


It's possible.

Sure, it's also possible the OP is passing on unsubstantiated rumors as firsthand knowledge... I don't know if it's true or not, but the OP's post doesn't help answer the question.
 
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Surely an "S" type update would mean a hardware update? The only example of an "S" type update was a hardware update. The 3GS has a faster processor, more RAM, and a different, faster, graphics chip...

Yes, that's what he means. I agree, I think we'll see the specs bumped to match the iPad 2, along with perhaps a better camera and a near-field payment system. But a full redesign won't happen till 2012. The iPhone 4 took 18 months to develop...
 
A 4S makes sense. In fact I fully expect little to no exterior changes from the current iPhone. This will maintain accessory compatibility while offering some compelling updates.
Take the 3G and 3GS as an example. While they look the same, the 3GS is a vastly superior device. Out side of the display, the 3GS still holds it's owns pretty well.
Basically all they need to do is drop in a dual core A5 in place of the A4 and make an iOS5 feature or two exclusive to the new device. That's it and they are done with the yearly refresh.
 
How can you possibly go by Apple's past record to try and say that this years iPhone will be a minor upgrade?

The order went...

iPhone - New
iPhone 3G - Major upgrade from the original iphone
iphone 3Gs - Update to 3G
iPhone 4 - Major upgrade from the iPhone 3Gs

If we are going by apples past record, i would expect a large update this year, with a minor update to 4G in 2012.

There will also be another new iphone this year because believe it or not, the USA is not the only country in the world and just because another carrier got the iPhone there, doesn't mean the whole rest of the world will miss out just to make sure the small percentage of Verizon iPhone owners don't cry and regret not waiting a few months.

Just my thoughts...
I think that by minor updates you mean redesigns.
iPhone-new
iPhone 3G-redesign
iPhone 3GS- no redesign
iPhone 4- redesign.
The 3GS was a huge upgrade. Way bigger than the iPhone to 3G transition.
iPhone 3G "major" upgrade:
3G capability
Gps redesign.
iPhone 3GS "minor" upgrade:
2x speed
Faster 3G capability
Voice control
Compass
Oleophobic coating
Improved camera
Video recording.
Does it make any sense to call the 3G upgrade major compared to the 3GS? I don't think so!
 
I don't know whether apple will release a new iphone this year or not and whether that will include a new phone for Verizon. To say they will because of what they have done a few times in the past is fallacious. Also to say that Verizon would not get it this summer and would have to wait until next Feb for a 6 month old phone is just silly. It goes against what everyone is saying already, "why would someone want a phone that is behind the times when android is coming up quick", by this logic Verizon would not be left behind because face it they are the largest carrier with the best network in the U.S. It would be very bad business to leave a huge sector like that behind everyone else.
 
1. update iPhone 4 comes out for ATT ONLY in June, maybe just a speed bumb, camera upgrade etc..... to keep ATT fans happy with their yearly update
2. A couple of months later, they add the same specs to the Verizon iPhone 4 so the early adapters do not flip that 4 months later the iphone for Verizon was updated
3. June 2012, a brand new iPhone 5 with new design, LTE (4G) etc.... comes out and it's 1 iPhone that can be used on Verizon and ATT
none of this is fact, I did not hear it from the bumb that knows a guy at Rite-Aid that knows a neighbor who knows a friend that works as security in the mall that has an Apple store, just pure speculation a my opinion of what makes sense to make most users happy

That's probably right on. And haha, i'm sure that's where the OP got it from...
 
Well, it's plausible in a way. iPhone 4s are still selling out like hotcakes in some markets to this date. Apple could probably simply bump the subsidized price down, getting rid of the 8GB 3GS altogether, and maybe simply add a 64GB version at the top end. At the same time, there is the expectation from the market and bloggers so the risk is a huge negative blowback to Apple in terms of public's perception that the iPhone is not the "latest" phone anymore, especially with Android OEMs going to advertise crazy features like dual cores and whatnot.

All I want is for Apple to sell iPhones unlocked in the US. That's it. Is that too much to ask Steve? Or is de la Vega still holding your pancreas hostage?
 
I think that by minor updates you mean redesigns.
iPhone-new
iPhone 3G-redesign
iPhone 3GS- no redesign
iPhone 4- redesign.
The 3GS was a huge upgrade. Way bigger than the iPhone to 3G transition.
iPhone 3G "major" upgrade:
3G capability
Gps redesign.
iPhone 3GS "minor" upgrade:
2x speed
Faster 3G capability
Voice control
Compass
Oleophobic coating
Improved camera
Video recording.
Does it make any sense to call the 3G upgrade major compared to the 3GS? I don't think so!
You have a point there. It depends on how people think which features is more significant as an upgrade. I agree that to me the 3GS is a huge upgrade from the 3G (auto focus camera is HUGE for me). Some people said even the video recording capability of the 3GS is not a big deal compared to lack of it on the 3G. It all depends on what you want from the phone.
 
Given how big the phone market currently is and how other manufacturers are releasing new updated devices I doubt Apple will miss out on it.
 
You have a point there. It depends on how people think which features is more significant as an upgrade. I agree that to me the 3GS is a huge upgrade from the 3G (auto focus camera is HUGE for me). Some people said even the video recording capability of the 3GS is not a big deal compared to lack of it on the 3G. It all depends on what you want from the phone.

For me, I don't even think that the 3G was a good redesign. I liked the 2g design the best of all iPhones ever made.
 
Surely an "S" type update would mean a hardware update? The only example of an "S" type update was a hardware update. The 3GS has a faster processor, more RAM, and a different, faster, graphics chip...




Sure, it's also possible the OP is passing on unsubstantiated rumors as firsthand knowledge... I don't know if it's true or not, but the OP's post doesn't help answer the question.

I was using "S" as a comparison to the 3GS.
Which is basically a beefier 3G.

No doubt they will have new hardware, they want to charge the sheep $500-$700 every year.
Just don't expect the iPhone 5.
 
I was using "S" as a comparison to the 3GS.
Which is basically a beefier 3G.

No doubt they will have new hardware, they want to charge the sheep $500-$700 every year.
Just don't expect the iPhone 5.

I wouldn't classify it as "just a beefier 3G". The 3G to 3GS upgrade was actually more of a hardware upgrade than the 3GS to iPhone 4 was. The 3GS and 4 run virtually the same CPU, the exact same GPU, and only differ internally in the amount of RAM. If you owned a 3GS and now a 4, you know that there isn't really any noticeable speed difference in the two (I've owned all 4 iPhone versions so far). The 3G had the exact same internal hardware as the original iPhone (same CPU, same relatively weak GPU...can't even handle OpenGL 2.0). The 3GS was actually a huge upgrade, but unfortunately got the same external housing as the 3G, so most people think it was less of an upgrade than it actually was...just because it "looks the same".
 
I don't understand how people can think that the 3G was a larger upgrade from the original than the 3GS was from the 3G. Here's a desktop computer analogy:

Case 1) You buy a new case for your computer and take every part from your old case and put it in the new case. You also install a wireless G networking card.

Case 2) You buy a new processor, another stick of RAM, and a new graphics card. You install them in your current computer, replacing each respective component. You also install a wireless N networking card and replace your webcam with an updated model.

Case 1: you basically have the same computer that looks newer. Case 2: you basically have a brand new computer that looks the same.

Which upgrade is better?
 
To most people it appears that the upgrade = what they can "see". The 3G was a new "look" from the original, therefore, most people apparently think new outside = "big upgrade". The 3G to 3GS was the same outside as the previous 3G, so it seems that since people couldn't "see" the vast upgrade, and all they can see is no external difference, then it must have been a lesser upgrade (when in fact it was a huge upgrade). This whole "if I see a change it must be a big upgrade" is showing up again in the 3GS to iPhone 4 update. There's not a whole lot different between the two (architecture-wise), but the outer redesign and the fancy screen make people think it's a huge upgrade leap. If past history is any indication, Apple is due a huge internal hardware upgrade (this new talk of dual A4 CPU and dual GPU would be just that), but if they keep the external enclosure similar or the same to the current iPhone 4, we will hear people incorrectly saying that the iPhone 4 to 5/4GS/4S/whatever they call it is "minor" again, when if the rumors are true about the internal hardware, it'll be anything but "minor".


I don't understand how people can think that the 3G was a larger upgrade from the original than the 3GS was from the 3G. Here's a desktop computer analogy:

Case 1) You buy a new case for your computer and take every part from your old case and put it in the new case. You also install a wireless G networking card.

Case 2) You buy a new processor, another stick of RAM, and a new graphics card. You install them in your current computer, replacing each respective component. You also install a wireless N networking card and replace your webcam with an updated model.

Case 1: you basically have the same computer that looks newer. Case 2: you basically have a brand new computer that looks the same.

Which upgrade is better?
 
Why do you guys assume Apple has to upgrade the iPhone to iPhone 5 this year? Those of you saying they have to do it because of competition are wrong. What do any of the phones slated to come out this year do better than the current iPhone 4? The only thing I can think of is LTE and we all know apple isn't going to make that leap until the networks are ready.

Apple could completely skip upgrading for 2011 and they will still have the best phone out. Then come back with a massive leap in 2012...LTE, 4 inch screen, NFC, etc....
 
To most people it appears that the upgrade = what they can "see". The 3G was a new "look" from the original, therefore, most people apparently think new outside = "big upgrade". The 3G to 3GS was the same outside as the previous 3G, so it seems that since people couldn't "see" the vast upgrade, and all they can see is no external difference, then it must have been a lesser upgrade (when in fact it was a huge upgrade). This whole "if I see a change it must be a big upgrade" is showing up again in the 3GS to iPhone 4 update. There's not a whole lot different between the two (architecture-wise), but the outer redesign and the fancy screen make people think it's a huge upgrade leap. If past history is any indication, Apple is due a huge internal hardware upgrade (this new talk of dual A4 CPU and dual GPU would be just that), but if they keep the external enclosure similar or the same to the current iPhone 4, we will hear people incorrectly saying that the iPhone 4 to 5/4GS/4S/whatever they call it is "minor" again, when if the rumors are true about the internal hardware, it'll be anything but "minor".

The reason for this perception is because Apple users are more concerned about image than anything else. I know it's a shallow thing to say, but is very true.
 
My (Pipedream) hope:

Apple has had quite a while to develop the CDMA phone and it arrives at the END of the ip4 product cycle. Would they not have developed it with the ip5 in mind? I really doubt they are going to have two separate products in production (4g and 5g) for a year, and only then bring gms and CDMA to parity.

So, the Verizon phone released on 2/3/11 WILL BE the 5g phone, with a CDMA radio instead of a GMS radio. It will have several new features not yet announced (but will be on the 3rd). Remember that the Verizon phone is physically different (different case, different antenna configuration, different button locations). Verizon will have the new 5g phone "exclusively" for four months, for which "favor" Verizon will have paid Apple a boat load of cash. In June, 2011 the GMS version of the 5g phone will be released.

Then, in June 2012, there will be a dual radio phone/and or LTE phone that will result in "one phone to rule them all".

Probably completely wrong but it would make more sense than introducing a cdma phone and then obsoleting it four months later, pissing off a lot of verizon customers. PR disaster for verizon.
 
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Oh, I see. So the Verizon iPhone will have secret features that will be released over time. Basically it upgrades itself.

Wow, you must be drinking some good stuff.... :eek:
 
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