Prototype Next-Generation iPhone Front Panel Reveals Identical Design to iPhone 4

[murdercitydevil]

I refuse to believe that this is the iPhone 5, and, after today, I refuse to believe that a "4S" exists. I think the 4 will be tweaked with a redesigned antenna and maybe less storage, that's it. As for these leaked case parts, I'm pretty convinced that they are either nothing more than prototypes (i.e. they are used for testing, and are completely unrepresentative of Apple's final devices), or that these are cases being used to test iPhone 5 internals. I DO believe, however, that Apple has a redesign planned for the iPhone 5, and that the reason we haven't heard anything about it is because they're doing everything they can to avoid a Gizmodo-type leak like last year. Something tells me they're not stupid enough to release a phone 15 months after the iPhone 4 that gives current iP4 users virtually no incentive to upgrade.

 

[yadmonkey]

If this is the real deal, I have no idea what Apple has been doing for the last 14 months.

Just guesses, but:

• Selling a ****-ton of iPhone 4s.
• Engineering an unexpected redesign of the antenna.
• Designing an inexpensive iPhone 4 to sell to China, as well as increase market share in the U.S.

BTW, none of these things necessarily exclude a redesigned iPhone 5... they just point to a cheaper iPhone 4 or an iPhone 4s.

 

[MacintoshMan]

Yeah, we already went over this with the 3GS. It absolutely trounced the 3G in performance but people refused to see it as new since the casing was the same. It's actually an exercise in marketing though. You have to show the consumer why the new one is better if it looks just like the old one. That's why Apple has an incentive to change the look every year.

You are wrong. There are a ton of companys that sell the same product year over year that is identical in look to its predicessor.

Take for example the IBM/Lenovo thinkpad. That laptop has looked the same since the 90's and they only change the internals. That continues to sell very well amongst the business community.

or

Porche has had the 911 running with the same body style for like 60 years now.

 

[DroidRules]

I demand a non-glass backed phone. I don't think it's too much to ask that you build a phone from better materials than glass.

There are plenty of options out ther that don't have a glass back. You are more than welcome to move onto one of those phones if it will make you feel better about your device.

I for one love the i4's desing and hope it continues the same form/factor. I would be happy with a bigger screen but it's not a deal breaker for me. I have purchased every iPhone at launch (less first gen, picked it up a few days later) and this one will not be the exception. I am excited for the faster processor. Any new sweet design features will simply be icing on the cake.

 

[chrmjenkins]

You are wrong. There are a ton of companys that sell the same product year over year that is identical in look to its predicessor.

Do those people buy the same product every year, or at least ever other year? Did I say it translated into no sales, or poorer sales? I don't think you understand my argument.

Take for example the IBM/Lenovo thinkpad. That laptop has looked the same since the 90's and they only change the internals. That continues to sell very well amongst the business community.

Absolutely irrelevant as businesses do not make decisions for corporate PCs based on looks.

or

Porche has had the 911 running with the same body style for like 60 years now.

And they continue to give it subtle updates to make it modern and appealing, just like apple continues to make slight updates to the casing of a phone that still has the same: 3.5" screen dimension, home button, volume buttons, mute switch, unlock button, connector location etc.

 

[Number 41]

I don't want to go back to the metal back! That's definitely many steps backward. My iPod with the metal back has so many scratches it looks like brushed aluminum whereas my iPhone does not have a single scratch! I don't use a case for either.

I can drop a metal-backed iPhone without fear of spiderweb cracking all over the device. That's a monumental step forward, IMO. It's a phone, not a museum piece -- build the thing out of materials that can take a drop or two.

And, as far as processor speeds go -- how do you sell a phone with an updated clock speed when nothing in the OS or the App Store requires it? Why does the consumer need more speed if Apple itself isn't taking advantage of the additional processing horsepower?

 

[BowTheMan89]

Antenna

IF this is the "iphone 5" and its really just an updated 4 it must have taken them FOREVER to figure out their antenna problem. And i'll have spent 3months with a shattered screen 3gs for no reason..guess ill go pick my self up a super-hip white iphone 4.

 

[canucksfan88]

You are wrong. There are a ton of companys that sell the same product year over year that is identical in look to its predicessor.

Take for example the IBM/Lenovo thinkpad. That laptop has looked the same since the 90's and they only change the internals. That continues to sell very well amongst the business community.

or

Porche has had the 911 running with the same body style for like 60 years now.

no, not identical - similar but not identical.

looking at the IBM ThinkPad, you have to look at the market in which IBM is catering/selling too. This is not the typical consumer electronic, but a business machine. I could type up an entire essay about the ThinkPad and why I think IBM has not changed the style, but that would be way to long. Ill just say it hasn't changed because the ThinkPad as become a brand on its own. It has become the brand of choice for the corporate setting.

Now looking at the Porche 911, same thing, it is a product that has been around for quite a long time. It operates in a niche that signifies wealth, status, etc. The classic look that Porche would be dumb to change.

Finally we get to the Apple Iphone. This product operates in a market where aesthetics have become highly important. People want a nice looking, sleek phone. Turnover is extremely high in this market, with new designs released every few months (not by each company). Now the examples you have used are only usable because they have not been changed for quite a long time. So, if you want to use your Porche and ThinkPad example, you will have to agree that you would like the iPhone case for the next 5 years. I guarentee no one here, as much as they like the iPhone 4 case, will want it for 5 years. It would just get to stale, in a market where change occurs rapidly.

Look at the consumer laptop market, cases are redesigned every year. I know Apple has not changed their laptop case, but as I said above, this is the brand Apple is creating.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I can drop a metal-backed iPhone without fear of spiderweb cracking all over the device. That's a monumental step forward, IMO. It's a phone, not a museum piece -- build the thing out of materials that can take a drop or two.

And, as far as processor speeds go -- how do you sell a phone with an updated clock speed when nothing in the OS or the App Store requires it? Why does the consumer need more speed if Apple itself isn't taking advantage of the additional processing horsepower?

They are making tools available to the developers in the App Store, challenging them essentially. Also, I don't think there's any question the iPad 2 runs iOS 4 faster than the iPad 1. Otherwise, you're essentially saying the iPad 2 has no reason to exist besides a thinner case and a camera.

 

[Trius]

I would give my balls to know when this announcement is going to take place.

You sir, are one serious fan...

 

[itsmemuffins]

I wonder why John Gruber hasn't commented on any of this?

 

[iMaconApple]

Same size iPhone but I want more screen I love my iPhone 4 but I see a lot of room on it to make the screen a bit bigger and push the headphone speakers and front camera a bit up..iPhone is very pocket friendly I love the size..

 

[Number 41]

They are making tools available to the developers in the App Store, challenging them essentially. Also, I don't think there's any question the iPad 2 runs iOS 4 faster than the iPad 1. Otherwise, you're essentially saying the iPad 2 has no reason to exist besides a thinner case and a camera.

How many developers are going to cut off a large segment of the market by requiring the latest hardware?

Eventually the market is pushed forward by faster processors and it allows phones and iPads to do cool, neat things. But that won't happen until enough people have the advanced phones to make it worthwhile to write apps specifically for them.

Until that happens, the extra speed is just wasted. And, until that happens, there's ZERO reason to turn in your iPhone 4 (or even your 3GS).

What's the compelling reason to upgrade in this product cycle? No LTE. No expanded screen. No NFC. No more durable, glass-less build. No new features in iOS unlocked by the faster chip speed.

 

[chrmjenkins]

How many developers are going to cut off a large segment of the market by requiring the latest hardware?

They don't. They include enhancements for the later models, and this is a common practice. Infinity Blade is a great example.

 

[hayesk]

And they continue to give it subtle updates to make it modern and appealing, just like apple continues to make slight updates to the casing of a phone that still has the same: 3.5" screen dimension, home button, volume buttons, mute switch, unlock button, connector location etc.

Uhm... the iPhone 3GS looked just like the iPhone 3G, and lots of people upgraded.

 

[mms13]

Nooooo it can't look identical because when I get the iPhone 5 I need everyone who see's me using it to know how important I am!!!!

 

[Ubele]

I have a friend at Apple (the guy with the red camera -- I hope Tim Cook doesn't have the photo enhanced and identify him via his fingerprints) who gave me the scoop: This is the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 5 will have a bigger screen -- 9.7", to be exact. The iPad is getting phone capability, and the iPhone 5 and the iPad 3 will be merged into one product: the iPhad! You'll carry it around your neck using the iLanyard, but once it catches on, consumer demand will force clothing designers around the world to include a large pocket on most items of clothing. Once people get over the "lighter and thinner" craze, the iPhad will just become accepted as the normal size for smart phones.

 

[pirateRACE]

A new iPhone 5 (with A5) and an 8GB iPhone 4 (with A4) makes the most sense. It would keep the simplicity of the new phone, with new processor and new OS, every year. I have no idea what the iPhone 5 will be, but I'm sure the 8GB iPhone 4 will be slightly redesigned, probably for 'world mode'. The 'S' added to iPhone 3GS was probably to just play catchup for the phones/os to match. Also makes sense why A4 wasn't called the A3 with iPhone 4.

 

[theperipheral]

Uhm... the iPhone 3GS looked just like the iPhone 3G, and lots of people upgraded.

the 3g was horrible. its an easy sell when you see how horrible something is in comparison to the new device.

the iphone 4 is perfect, other than the feel of it. so, it's a much harder sell to get people to upgrade from the current device.

 

[Pink∆Floyd]

This can't possibly be the iPhone 5, it has to be the iPhone 4S...

Please Apple, moar big screen!

 

[cajun67]

The iPhone 5 will be exactly like the iPhone 4. Except it will incorporate that night-vision technology that Sony had that lets you see though clothes.

It'll sell in the millions.

 

[chrmjenkins]

Uhm... the iPhone 3GS looked just like the iPhone 3G, and lots of people upgraded.

Never said it didn't. I said there's a contingent of buyers, greater than 0, that will not see a phone as an upgrade unless it actually looks different. I also argued that this group is sufficiently large such that re-designs should be done to attract their dollars.

 

[Lesser Evets]

Did people believe it would be round-shaped? Rhombus-shaped? What were they expecting? 2 cameras? A fold-out keyboard? ...wth.

 

[Unlocker]

This looks just like any other non genuine iPhone 4 LCD to me, have fitted over 50 of them and looks just the same.

The stickers and the labels all seem familiar but the biggest giveaway is the hole for the front camera. A genuine one has a plastic 'guide' that holds the front camera in place, the non gen ones don't, like this image.

Looks like a wind up to me!

 

[vitzr]

I really hope they can use larger screen...

Samsung threatened to sue Apple for "Copying"... ha..ha..ha