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So for the sake of discussion, lets say all of this is true and that Apple intends the iPhone 5 to have a tapered aluminum back, like the iPad 2. Should we expect to see some of the back covered in black plastic to allow the cell radio to get good signal? If not, how do you think Apple solved this issue?

I know that they applied for a patent for having a plastic Apple logo that would allow the cell signal to transmit freely, but would the iPhone sized logo allow enough transmission?

Also, the design geek in me wonders if they will finally find a way to put a glowing Apple logo on an iPhone.
 
I love the iPhone more than I love most of my family members. I've had them all, other than the 3G. I love the look of the 4, I think it LOOKS sexy as hell but when it comes to holding it, the 3GS definitely felt better.

I hope to little baby Jesus that this is a complete redesign. For Apple to release a new phone every year, but only redesign every two is just ridiculous. The thing about human beings is we always want something new. I don't wanna hold this 4 anymore, it's annoying and feels weird. If Apple effs this up and releases the 4S, I'm gonna personally destroy the intraweb. That's how serious this is.

And for all of those saying this is an effing Touch case, go jump off a bridge. Apple probably will change a few cosmetic things on the new Touch when it comes out, but to assume that Apple is going to change it to look like a skinny iPhone with all the same ports is ridiculous. Grow a brain.
 
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But I thought Qualcomm was releasing a low powered LTE chip this summer/fall. I figured that's the reason apple held off on LTE

I think they held off and are still holding off because chip sizes are still reportedly too large, not energy efficient enough, and most importantly because 4G networks in the US are not widespread enough to be useful.
 
I hope we are not going back to plastic.:(

That one of the things that I have loved about the iphone 4 the glass, never had a problem with it, never scratch it and no I don't use any cover, on it. I just take care not to throw it across the parking lot or leave it on top of the car.
 
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But I thought Qualcomm was releasing a low powered LTE chip this summer/fall. I figured that's the reason apple held off on LTE

Apple held off on LTE because, to my knowledge anyway, current LTE chips are LTE-only, which necessitates a separate 3G/2G chip, which is extremely bad on battery life. See the HTC Thunderbolt as an example. Also, Apple doesn't want to advertise a feature that most people won't be able to use... I can hear all the complaints now.
 
Maybe this is the case for the budget iPhone, which will likely be a an upgraded ipod touch. Weren't there rumours of apple finally taking the low price point pre-paid plunge.

That was a massive alliteration btw, one time for ya mind!
 
Maybe this is the case for the budget iPhone, which will likely be a an upgraded ipod touch. Weren't there rumours of apple finally taking the low price point pre-paid plunge.

That was a massive alliteration btw, one time for ya mind!

Doubtful. I'm sure a 'cheaper' iphone would have the same design of a previous iphone. No sense putting engineer/design time in a cheap iphone when they could easily use the iphone 4 or 3GS for that market.
 
Doubtful. I'm sure a 'cheaper' iphone would have the same design of a previous iphone. No sense putting engineer/design time in a cheap iphone when they could easily use the iphone 4 or 3GS for that market.

Well with iPod touch sales slowly declining, they could take the engineering for that, work in iPhone internals and sell it for 300 bucks. I don't think they can get away with using the 3GS, way too old for Apple to keep pimping. iPhone 4 I could see, but with a worse camera/non IPS screen or something.

Bah, too much speculation, guess we'll just see soon.
 
God, I really hope that this is for the lower-end iPhone (if it's true that's coming) or the ipod touch. I've always loved the look of the 4...breathtaking in comparision to the older phones.

So...what was the deal with that picture of the part on the blogs some time ago where they moved the flash to the opposite side of the phone from the camera lens. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

btw, the green plastic one that 9to5 Mac received looks exactly like picture of the one in mobilefuns post which they claim to be a mockup, with the exception that it's green instead of red.
 
As much as I love the looks of the 4 this could look pretty good as well I guess. Still hoping for a thinner iPhone 4 look though.
 
God, I really hope that this is for the lower-end iPhone (if it's true that's coming) or the ipod touch. I've always loved the look of the 4...breathtaking in comparision to the older phones.

So...what was the deal with that picture of the part on the blogs some time ago where they moved the flash to the opposite side of the phone of the camera lens. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

btw, the green plastic one that 9to5 Mac received looks exactly like picture of the one in mobilefuns post which they claim to be a mockup, with the exception that it's green instead of red.

Making it more believable......
 
I lost my 3GS last december (which was okay because I was refounded) but had no intention to buy the crappy iPhone 4

So instead I took an iPod Touch, and you know what? The same way it's hard to go from an iPhone to an Android, it's hard to switch from iPod Touch to an iPhone because the Touch feels GREAT.

Too bad it seems the bezel will be as big as of the iPhone 4 and not the iPod Touch, but they'll certainly make is so there is a bigger screen.
 
In further studying the cases, Im gonna say that the new 5 design will only be thinner and lighter w/ a curved back. Same screen size too which would be extremely unfortunate.
 
I requested a merge since you started the thread first, MacRumors is known to usually give credit to whoever started the thread if it turns out to be a front page item later on, so it should be merged. :)

They do? Haven't on 2 of my threads :)
 
although a part of me is thinking hmmmm really? im confident Apple will make it look gorgeous regardless. All i am saying at the moment is, i cant wait.
 
The iPhone 4 is a design classic

I always thought that the first 3 revisions of the iphone looked hideous. Completely undiscernible from their HTC/Samsung counterparts. The iphone 4 on the other hand looked fantastic! An Elegantly crafted and expensive looking device. I hope they don't go back to the crappy old plasticky 3G/3GS design. It would be a real shame...
 
volume buttons on wrong side

i noticed looking at the pictures that the volume button is on the side that the iPod touch has on. i think someone just added a mute button on the other side
 
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