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Just got back from the Apple Store in Plano, TX, and I have answers. According to a Genius, the shortage has nothing to do with a refresh, and everything to do with the USB Power Adapter for the iPhone 3G that Apple just recalled.

Apparently, Apple has been planning this recall for a while now, and this particular Apple store already had replacement 8Gb iPhones packaged with new USB power adapters. He even showed me the box for the new 8Gb iPhones that had just arrived yesterday...there was a little green circlular sticker on the back of the box to denote that it included the newly designed USB adapters, and not the faulty recalled ones.

So for all you hold-outs thinking 32Gb phone will arrive this Tuesday, the smart money is on not seeing a refresh of the iPhones until after Christmas. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
You know, somehow I thought this might be tied into the power adapter recall. It seemed silly to me that Apple would sell someone an iPhone and tell them, "Oh, by the way, don't use the power adapter that comes in the box. It's bad. We'll get you one that actually works in a few weeks." They'll probably get the good adapters into the current iPhone supply first before they try replacing those already out there.
 
There is only 1 spot for flash memory in the iPhone 3G. The chip is f*ing huge - go look at the ifixit pictures from launch day.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iPhone3G

The next level of NAND modules (sub 40nm chips) wont launch until the first half of 2009. Thats when we'll see the 32GB iPhone. If the nation isn't in a depression by then...

My post from August 17:

I don't think it's going to take as long as some suggest. Toshiba recently announced a 32GB flash module that doesn't take up more space than the 16GB one. Bulk shipments are expected this fall. So it's possible that we could see a 32GB iPhone before Christmas or early in '09.

And, for those who question the need for >16GB, I say that the ability to store and view documents on the iPhone (thanks to apps like DataCase) has changed the playing field. For example, I'd love to be able to carry Keynote and PowerPoint presentations on my iPhone, but many of them are hundreds of MB in size.

Now, I have no idea whether the 8GB shortage has anything to do with an upcoming 32GB model, but it's certainly possible.
 
Hey guys,

I am having a replacement 3g black 8gb iPhone being shipped out to me from Apple - the order was placed on September 3rd and shipped on the 19th from China. Apple's page showed 1-2 days shipping but it ended up taking over 2 weeks.

I have a few good contacts at Apple and they informed me there was a major backorder - I dont know if it relates to the power plug replacement or what not, they informed me that ALL iPhones were on backorder. I should be receiving my Wednesday but the UPS page doesnt have scheduled delivery date anymore.
 
The problem now with the 32GB model is not NAND price but there is really not enough room in current iPhone 3G design for extra NAND chips.

iPhone and iPod Touch uses 8 GB NAND chips and since iPod Touch doesn't have all the extra gsm, HSDPA and bluetooth chips, it can fit 4 of those 8GB NANDs. iPhone can only fit 2 of them.

Frankly, I don't know if there is one single 16GB NAND chip for iPhone, don't even know how expensive it is either.

Someone might be able to do some research on this.

Anyway, I don't see Apple release a 32GB version of iPhone until 1Q 2009.


But… Samsung has developed and is releasing for commercial use the equivalent chips in 32 GB( NAND MLC) by the new year and working, and they have developed a 64 GB version that they hope to be able to ship by the middle of 2009.

This is old news, with various articles published in various Mac magazines aprox 6 moths ago. (touting the possibility of >200GB iPods)

The details of the releases and even the specs, and (if you’re a manufacture) the order details for the 32 GB chip are on the Samsung web site

Whether Apple will incorporate these in a new model iPhone so soon is the question.
 
Who cares? Does anyone actually buy the 8GB?

I did. Well, sort of.

Rogers's data plan is so expensive (more than $90 per month, voice and taxes accounted for) and the phone is so well locked that I will have no choice but to bring it back to where I bought it.

I really like Apple's products most of the time, but they got this one really wrong in Canada. They should have forced Rogers to provide decent voice+data plans; come on, $30 gives you unlimited data in the US and many parts of the world, plus, a MY5 plan should already include call display and such. And it's a promotional rate ! Usually, 6GB is $100 at Rogers's!! Then they have no intermediate plan between 2 megabytes and 6 gigabyte for users with a decent voice plan, and you're forced to keep the 6GB plan for 3 years if you want it. That's the real deal-breaker here.

Then, locking the phone to the only 2 GSM players here (same company) is nonsense; might as well sell it unlocked, and people would still buy their service as there is no alternative.

So, look for my slightly used iPhone in a Rogers' store in Repentigny soon ;) They said they have "plenty" 8GB models left.
 
Guessed this was due to the new power adapters after I read the title.
At the Menlo Park apple store and saw some 8GBs being bought with a green circle on the back. Asked a specialist and said they come with the new power adapters, and thinks they may come with 2.1 on them already.
 
Well Eventually someday apple will introduce 32gb Iphone, but they probably will keep 8gb model just to keep price as low as possible. They will make money on those who wants more +100 for 8 gb and + 200 for 32 gb
 
What's your source? I know for sure that's the reason why there was no 32GB iPhone when 32GB iPod Touch was introduced. There are a couple of sites that have opened and teared everything apart on iPhone and couldn't find any extra room for 2 8GB NAND chips in there.

The only question is: is there a single 16GB NAND chip now and how expensive is it.

Well yeah you would be correct a few months back but look closely at the pic of the new Touch tear down. Do you see two flash chips on that device? The point is technology has moved on and it is very possible that 32GB flash devices exist now. Actually I'd say more than possible as the SD and Compact Flash markets both have that capacity device on the market.

The other possibility is that they go with a stacked die chip module. That would be expensive relative to a single chip solution but might work out in the long run. As to your question about 16 GB Flash chips look on Microns web site, you can find them there and likely on other web sites form a number of different manufactures. For example MTFC32GHKDN-WT is a 32GB device with MMC interface built in that Micron has on its web site and is listed as "Sampling". Then we have the MT29H32G08GCAH2-15 which is also sampling and has a more traditional interface. Now obviously one could get tripped up with the term sampling, I would suspect that the volumes Apple demands could lead to early release of the product for their specific application. The iPhone could simply be waiting for production capacity to catch up

In any event unless they have a hidden Flash position on the new Touch or are wiling to stack boards I don't see a 64 GB iPod any time soon. Which is a rotten shame if you ask me as I was really looking forward to a 64 or 96 GB model. Oh they do have one other possibility that might be a smart move on their part. That would be to go with a thicker back and extend the logic board the full length of the device. That should make it easy to incorporate three flash devices. Frankly the current line up of iPods has me a bit confused as there is a huge capacity gap between the Touch and the Classic.

In any event I would not expect the 32 GB iPhone announcement until the Christmas shopping season starts. If for nothing else then to drive traffic in the stores while at the same time making sure manufacturing capacity matches demand. In a nut shell though I'm not to concerned about iPhone as I was really hoping for a beefed up Touch like device. That is a high capacity device with a reasonably larger screen.

Dave
 
There is only 1 spot for flash memory in the iPhone 3G. The chip is f*ing huge - go look at the ifixit pictures from launch day.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iPhone3G
Much the same could be said about the Touch: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iPod/iPod-Touch-2G/Page-5
Which to my mind indicates that Apple already has access to production quantities of 32GB flash chips. Of course I've found nothing on the Micron web site to indicate the chips come from Micron as all their high density stuff with public info is high performance. Since that Micron chip in the 2 gen Touch has a standard interface they could simply be using a chip form some body else. What is clear is that Touch is on the bleeding edge here.
The next level of NAND modules (sub 40nm chips) wont launch until the first half of 2009. Thats when we'll see the 32GB iPhone. If the nation isn't in a depression by then...

Well there I have to disagree as has been pointed out above they have managed to get the Touch gen 2 to that density with a single flash site. (note an assumption here is that the 32GB Touch has the same motherboard as the lower capacity units) That could be accomplished with hardware not yet released for general sale or they could be stacking dies to double capacity on the chip module. Interestingly here Samsung is into that tech big time and is how the IPhone/Ipod Touch processor manages to have 128Meg of RAM.

To me it simply looks like a marketing and supply issue at this point.

Dave
 
Its probably just because it is a more popular (read: cheaper) model.

Although it would be cool if we had 16GB as the base model with the same price as the current base model!
 
iphone rumors : 5,103,954,839

mb/mbp rumors : 3


haha jk it'd be nice to bump up the low end iphone anyway

what? you apparently don't follow macrumors trends.... there have been TONS of mb/mbp rumors.
 
I say bring on the 32GB 3G iPhone and I'll take (2)! Funny thing is when I bought another MBA last month, I picked up the 32GB iPod Touch for $399 (minus $299 for the rebate, so it only cost me $100 plus tax), which was more expensive than my 3G 16Gb iPhone. Everything about it reminded me of an iPhone, so maybe the rumor or speculation isn't that far from the tree...:cool:
 
I can't think of a good reason for Apple to release a 32Gb model at the moment the 3G has only been out a few months and they're still selling well.

Sure NAND prices are coming down, but that means more profit for Apple - they wouldn't make extra profit from releasing a 32Gb model at the moment.

I reckon it will be at least 6 months if not longer before we see a 32Gb model.
 
Received my new 3G black iPhone this morning straight from China - has the green dot on the box for the new power plug as does the plug itself. I guess thats what the whole hold up was (waiting since the 3rd for it)...
 
I'm doubtfull this is the case, seams like bad timing, not to mention it seams as though few users (not I) even want/need additional memory in thier iPhone at his point.

It SEAMS like some users could use the extra memory to run a spell checker. :p
 
I'll be waiting until my Sprint contract runs out mid October. If there are no page 1 rumors about a 32GB iPhone model by then (including a before XMas release date), I'll just pull the trigger for the 16GB version. Technology is relative, what I buy today is slower or has less features than tomorrow... I'm used to it. :rolleyes:
 
None till Oct 15th!!

A friend of mine tried to order an 8gb yesterday through O2 in the UK and was told that stocks were depleted and phones would not be available until Oct 15th !! Go figure!

Also Apples website was saying yesterday that the Apple store Sheffield, UK would not have any stock of iPhones this weekend. Now i feel that the short supply is just a result of recent launches around the world and inevitable lack of available stock worldwide but the nothing till Oct 15th does seem somewhat suspicious...

What do you think?
 
Hmmm...

...if they were going to refresh iPhone 3G to 32gb for the holidays they might have snuck it in with the iPod refreshes, no?

I guess it wouldn't have fit squarely with the "Let's Rock" event theme...

One things for sure - there'll be a whole heap of disgruntled iPhone users who, only a couple of months ago, signed up for 8gb phones on 18 months service plans.

Derwood
 
...nothing till Oct 15th does seem somewhat suspicious...

What do you think?

Isn't Oct 14th the date for the rumoured MacBook and/or MBP refresh? Could make a joint announcement about both.

Wait and see I guess.

Derwood
 
Again... I have received a new 8gb from Apple this past Wednesday after waiting since the 3rd of September. Thats 3 weeks when shipping showed 1-2 days. It was held up because of the adapter recall, just as ALL IPHONES WERE.
 
Though I so wish they would have kept the previous metal back.

Actually I was in a apple store a few months ago and someone asked a genius why they were getting rid of the metal back. He said that the metal blocks signal and makes downloading slower so I think its safe to say that apple will not be putting the metal backing on a phone anytime soon.
 
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