Apple Reportedly Developing Large Curved Screen iPhones For Late 2014, Better Touchscreen Sensors
Apple is said to be working on two curved display iPhone models for
the “second half of next year,” according to a source speaking to Bloomberg,
with a likely released planned for the third quarter, and building
better touchscreen sensors that introduce fine pressure sensitivity for
later devices to be introduced after that.
These new iPhones for 2014 would come in 4.7 and 5.5-inch flavors,
according to the report, meaning that Apple would be introducing not
one, but two different models at the same time, in theory. We’ve seen
reports of Apple working on different models of large-screen devices in
the past, including one from the Wall Street Journal
that suggests it’s been working on different tests of devices with
screen sizes between 4.8 and 6 inches. This is the first time we’ve
really heard firm information about a possible release date for said
devices, from a source as generally reliable as Bloomberg. A Japanese
iOS rumor site claimed a September launch for a large-screen iPhone late in October, however, and two reliable analyst sources predict a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 bound for stores in late 2014.
Apple also introduced precedent for doing two models of new iPhone at
once this year with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, so the idea that it
could do so again in the future makes some sense. But two new
larger-screened devices at once does seem like a stretch – thought if
Apple retained an iPhone 5c as its third, budget device and added two
more to the mid-tier and high-end range, that might allow it to do so
without adding crazy complexity to its product lineup.
The sensor developments are potentially more interesting to those who
find the current screen size of the iPhone adequate; true pressure
sensitivity (currently, some crude extent of that is possible via the
iPhone’s accelerometer) would make drawing and handwriting applications
on the iPhone and iPad much, much better. Apple could sell the devices
as professional-level artistic devices if it introduces those kinds of
features, in addition to just making things better for everyday users
who want to jot notes and doodle, for example, or perform minor photo
touch-ups.
It’s very early days to make any kind of judgement about the likely
accuracy of these claims, but the source gives it some weight. Apple’s
iPhone joining the ranks of bigger-screened devices definitely makes
sense as a next move for the lineup, but curved glass manufacturing also
seems quite expensive at this point for Apple to be considering
launching two new devices with that feature at once.
quote from:http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/10/apple-iphone-6-curved-glass/
iOS 7, Apple’s promise of a next-generation mobile operating system, is reported to be released on Tuesday, September 10th. Looking at the company’s past approach in the introduction of their products and services, the date will also coincide with the release of their latest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 5S and the rumored iPhone 5’s budget-friendly iteration, the iPhone 5C.
iOS 7, code-named Innsbruck, was first presented on June 10 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. The successor of the iOS6, Innsbruck boasts dramatic innovations and up to 50 new features. Sir Jonathan Ive, Apple’s Senior VP of design explains that the iOS7 will produce a WOW factor that is reminiscent of when they released the first generation of the iPhone 6 years ago.
The iOS 7 is believed to be an extremely radical but pleasant visual departure from older iOS versions. The company’s main goal is to focus on clarity through the removal of many complications, while retaining as well as enhancing the most crucial elements of the interface. The company claims to do this by shifting buttons to tinted text, and by getting apps and content out of the way. They basically just want to enhance the entire user experience. iOS 7 is based around a superb physics and particle engine that is just downright amazing.
So what can you expect from the new iOS7? Apple has successfully released a total of 6 beta versions to developers, and so far, there are mixed opinions about the iOS7- from the design to the functionality of the new interface. In this article, we will give you a quick rundown of the impressive features that Apple’s new operating system has in store for it’s customers:
Control Center
The new Control Center on the iOS7 makes it possible for users to view their respective settings and makes toggles highly accessible at the simple swipe of the screen. Users may now summon the Control Center from anywhere on iOS, even from the Lock Screen. The Control Center includes icons for toggling in between wireless connections and profile settings. Controls to manipulate elements such as brightness, audio control, and AirDrop file transfer is just a swipe away with iOS7.
Notification Center Enhancements
The brand new notification feature aims to assist users to preview all systems easily and enable push alerts into one place only. the new iOS7 Notification promises to be less obtrusive than the original modal system and more feature rich than Android’s notification center. Now iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C boasts the capacity of handling notifications more efficiently than ever.
Multitasking Improvements
The iOS has always been known to feature excellent multitasking, but the iOS7 promises to do a variety of activities without compromising two equally crucial elements- battery life and system performance. Apple used a great amount of smart technology to enable users to have their background and maintain good battery life without compromising one or the other. With iOS7, the company promises that customers get the best of both worlds.
Camera Enhancements
One of the most exciting features of the iOS7 is the objectified Camera app. With the addition of filters and a square mode, you can freely manage your photo files however you want. The iOS will come with a total of four shooting formats, thus ensuring you can do a whole lot more with each image that you take.
The brand new quick access slider for the camera on the home screen will undoubtedly make it easier for users to capture moments with ease.
Photos Enhancements
The photo app makeover comprises of automated organization by categories, namely year, collection, and moments. Just like the iOS7, the photo app will also feature filters for easier and fun post-processing activities. The company has finally gotten rid of its sunflower icon and has replaced it with a modern design that well represents the elimination of the monolithic camera roll and total utilization of a modern organization tab that will group user photos according to date, time, and location metadata.
AirDrop
AirDrop promises to exceed the excitement that Android smartphones deliver with their brand-new AirDrop feature. The AirDrop uses Wi-fi and Bluetooth capabilities to transfer files to other Apple iOS7 devices within range. The best part about AirDrop is that transfers are encrypted, thus users can rest assured of a highly secure file transfer experience.
Safari Enhancements
Undoubtedly, Safari is one of the most important apps in the iOS, developers took a lot of time to redesign its look and function too. The gateway to the internet using your iDevice is now made slicker by a unified search bar, social features, a more efficient reading list, and a brand-new tab interface. The Safari claims to be more dynamic and interactive than its predecessors.
Siri Enhancements
Apple’s personal digital assistant, Siri, is more helpful than ever before with iOS7. Siri not only boasts a simple but classy redesign that is objectified and gamified similar to the other apps in the iOS7. Aside from an elegant interface that fades into view, Siri boast improvements like more natural-sounding voices. And the best part, with its new capabilities, Siri can answer more questions faster with the use of more sources like Bing, Wikipedia, and Twitter.
quote from: thetechsilo.com
Photos of this cool iPhone 6 concept have been popping up all over the web. While rumors about the release date
are still popping up, we really don’t know when the phone will be
released. It’s definitely nice to see designers taking a shot at
creating what they consider an ideal iPhone, even if it’s unlikely Apple
will ever consider their design. It’s all in good fun and these
concepts are definitely nice to look at.
quote from: http://thetechsilo.com/
Everything we know about Apple’s next-generation iPhone 6, including specs, release date rumours, and features
iPhone 6 to have Sapphire display?
Apple has ploughed around $578 million into a deal with GT Advanced,
the company behind Apple’s TouchID component, to build a new factory in
Arizona that’ll employ some 700 people and produce sapphire-based build
materials.
Apple’s TouchID is constructed from sapphire and is currently in very
short-supply, which is probably why it didn’t make an appearance aboard
the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2–– something a new factory would likely
remedy.
However there appears to be more to the story than meets the eye,
with reports suggesting Apple may begin using the blue-stuff to make
displays for future iPhone and iPad devices. Sapphire is pretty much
indestructible, the perfect Apple antidote to all those flexible OLEDs…
“Sapphire is increasingly being used as a screen material in
prototypes and high-end phones, and having a major supply of the blue
stuff could hint at the Californian company using it for iPhone and iPad
displays,” reports CNET.
iPhone 6 rumoured for September 2014 with thin bezel 5-inch 1080p display
We've seen plenty of reports already suggesting the iPhone 6 will pack a larger display, usually pegged as 4.8-inches.
But now Japanese
magazine MacFan claims to have heard a specific rumour suggesting a
5-inch full HD 1080p display at 1920x1080 pixels and 440 pixels-per-inch
(ppi). Allegedly Apple will tackle the larger screen without making a
huge iPhone by following Samsung's example and using an incredibly
narrow bezel.
The report also says the device will arrive in September 2014, but
that's not exactly a risky prediciton given Apple's usual iPhone launch
habits.
Will Apple use IGZO technology to make the iPhone 6's screen?
All eyes are on tonight’s Apple launch of the new generation of ipads
– but what is the world's biggest tech brand planning for the iPhone 6?
Rumour has it that Apple may use cutting-edge IGZO technology for the device’s screen.
Patently Apple speculates that the company may favour the 8G glass substrates to use on the iPhone 6 – which may have a large-screen.
Citing foreign reports, they report a Sharp – a favoured business
partner of Apple – spokesperson saying they would be manufacturing
high-definition screens for devices using the technology.
We’d take the reports with a large pinch of salt – but it doesn’t
mean you shouldn’t be expecting something big from Apple when they
unveil the iPhone 6’s screen.
More Sources chime in on larger "phablet-sized" iPhone 6
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have only just launched, but already many
are looking to Apple’s next big iPhone launch – the iPhone 6.
Much of what we’re hearing at the moment is conjecture. But the next
iPhone update is likely to be a very significant one – it’s a solid
number update, and that means big changes. Not incremental ones, as we
saw on with 3GS, 4S and 5S.
The iPhone 6 will be the handset that sees Apple implement larger
displays and that isn’t conjecture – it’s fact. Apple can’t just
suddenly make an iPhone with a bigger display –– it’s a huge process
that starts months and months before release.
Apple has to order millions of components for production and certain
analysts and market-watchers have a knack for spotting these “orders”.
“Our meeting with a tech supply chain vendor highlighted a bigger
iPhone is in the works, and our contact expects a launch in the
2Q:14/3Q:14 time frame,” said Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald.
White added that this product –– a larger iPhone –– has been in development for over a year.
DisplaySearch, an excellent source for accurate predictions about
Apple’s forthcoming products, recently published the following table,
detailing the display technology we’ll see inside Apple’s 2014 products.
The only question now is when Apple will launch its new iPhone: Q2 or
Q3 2014? And will be see yet another dual-launch? It’ll be interesting
to see where Apple takes its iPhone range in the coming year. Reports
suggest its iPhone 5C campaign isn’t off to the best of starts.
iPhone 6 will feature 4.8-inch display, according to analyst
Apple's next iPhone, the iPhone 6, will feature an enlarged 4.8-inch
display, according to predictions from prominent analyst Peter Misek of
Jeffries.
Misek bases this latest assertion on his recent meetings with Apple suppliers in Asia.
While Misek's note to investors did not detail precisely why he
believes Apple will stamp a significant 0.8 of an inch onto its exsiting
4-inch display design he did add that the current popularity of
larger-screened smartphones would drive sales and upgrades to
unprecedented levels.
"We think the 85 million iPhones eligible for an upgrade when the
iPhone 6 launches (we think Apple is targeting Sep 2014) could be
boosted by another 5-10 million from people who skipped the 5S/5C
cycle," he said.
Misek's prediction of a larger-screened iPhone isn't exactly new,
we've been hearing about the possibility of a screen expansion pretty
much since the first iPhone.
It materialised in the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen, up from the
3.5-inches of previous models, but by this point such a boost was widely
regarded as not enough considering the 5-inch behemoths winning massive
sales over on the ever expanding Android share of the smartphone market.
Apple will reduce reliance on Samsung for iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 will see Apple reduce its dependency of Samsung-built components, reports from Korea suggest.
Samsung and Apple might be doing battle in courts the globe-over, but
the two companies are intrinsically linked in more ways than one ––
Samsung built the 64-bit A7 chipset inside the iPhone 5S.
Samsung will produce around 30-to-40% of Apple’s A8 chipsets, while
TSMC will oversee the lion’s share, according to sources familiar with
the matter. The Korea Economic Daily suggests Apple has already
commissioned Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to build the
processor for the iPhone 6.
Apple will still have to use Samsung to a certain extent due to
“issues” with the fabrication process. TSMC cannot produce chipsets in
high enough yields, so Apple cannot afford to abandon Samsung’s services
entirely.
“Despite the on-going patent disputes between the two companies and
Samsung’s increased position as Apple’s leading smartphone and tablet
rival, the Galaxy Note 3 producer has supplied the processing unit’s for
all of Apple’s iPhone handsets to date. On top of this, Samsung has
been used as a component supplier for RAM modules and display units in
the past,” reports Trusted Reviews.
Component suppliers revealed that Apple is now in the process of
testing large-form displays for the iPhone 6. One source said the
company is very interested –– and rather pleased –– with recent tests
conducted using a 4.8-inch panel.
iPhone 6: Some Excellent Concept Designs
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are here and they’re selling like hot
cakes – Apple shifted 9 million last weekend alone. But there’s still a
lot of chatter and expectation surrounding the company’s next flagship –
mostly because it is expected to be the first iPhone with an
Android-sized display.
Apple execs have confirmed that they’re “experimenting” with larger
panels for future iPhones, but so far nothing else is known – at least
in an official capacity – about 2014’s iPhone 6. Although that
hasn’t stopped designers and CAD experts dreaming up visions and ideas
about where Apple could potentially take the design language of its next
iPhone.
And no one does iPhone renders quite like Jonny Plaid, as you can see below:
Apple, give this man a job.
iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C get official
It’s happened. Apple’s new iPhones are here, and neither are called
the iPhone 6. But we knew that was going to happen – Apple loves its
incremental updates, even if you don’t. And the iPhone 5S, despite what
some say, is still a pretty significant update with its 64-bit processor
and M7 coprocessor, as well as the improvements Apple has made to its
imaging capabilities. So don’t be too glum.
"But it doesn’t really look any different to the iPhone 5" – we know,
we know. It doesn't – but that's life, and Apple is a cruel mistress in
that regard. Although you can take solace in that fact that next year’s
update – the one we're calling the iPhone 6 – is likely to be a huge
overhaul on the current iPhone 5S and iPhone 5.
Bigger displays, better spec, a new design, and more connectivity – that's just a few of the things we'll see. This
article is our iPhone 6 Hub – a place for everything iPhone 6-related.
Most of the stuff will be based on rumour and/or conjecture, and some of
it won't make sense to begin with, but as 2014 approaches things will
inevitably start to pick up and a picture of what the iPhone 6 will look
and be like will gradually begin to form, just as it did with the
iPhone 5S and 5C ahead of their respective launches.
So, for all things iPhone 6 – look no further. It’ll appear in here
as soon as it happens, so expect this Hub to change, evolve and develop
as the months go by and a more detailed picture of Apple's iPhone 6
begins to take shape.
Below is everything we currently know about Apple’s next BIG iPhone.
[And, please, feel free to join the debate in the comments
below – have your say on what you want from the future of Apple’s iPhone
business]
Sept 9 2013
iPhone 6 name confirmed, likely to be a phablet
Apple’s Canadian arm has just let the cat out the bag, confirming the
naming convention of the iPhone 5S’ successor that will,
unsurprisingly, be known as the iPhone 6.
“The Wall Street Journal suggested last week that Apple was actively testing an iPhone product with a 6in display, reports Expert Reviews,
“with a view to launching it as a device to sit between the iPhone 5S
and upcoming iPad Mini 2. Now, a leak at Apple Canada has all-but
confirmed those plans.”
Apple's Canadian site said several of Apple's own applications,
including iMovie, Pages, and Keynote, were “optimised for iPhone 6”.
Apple, of course, is refusing to comment on the omission, which has
since been removed, and while it could just be a typo we’re struggling
to see how abybody could accidentally type “iPhone 6” when they meant
“iPhone 5S”.
Apple will announce its next iPhone tomorrow. Tipped to be the iPhone
5S, rumoured new features include a fingerprint scanner, new processor,
and a dual flash on the rear camera for more professional looking
shots.
The iPhone 5C – Apple’s cost effective iPhone – is also rumoured to be making an appearance alongside the iPhone 5S and iOS 7.
Tomorrow has all the makings of being a rather EPIC launch day.
iPhone 6 specs
As we mentioned before, the screen has been subject to a lot of
discussion. Some think Apple needs to take the jump into phablet
territory (Galaxy Note, Xperia Z Ultra to name two) and although this is
a distinct possibility, such screens will take a lot to power and as
such, Apple will need to boost the battery and processor.
Talking about battery life, it’s thought the iPhone 6 will feature a
bigger battery than the 1,440mAh power pack the iPhone 5 included. Apple
may boost this to 2,000mAh, but that will no doubt the chassis a little
larger.
The iPhone 6 will launch on iOS 7 unless Apple announces a surprise
iOS 8 update before then. It’s more likely the company will launch the
iPhone 6 with an incremental update (say, iOS 7.2) – after all, iOS 7 is
a substantial enough overhaul to prevent Apple launching a brand new OS.
The iPhone 6 will probably launch with Apple’s own A7 processor –
said to be dual core. There’s no word on what the processor will be
clocked at though.
In terms of multimedia, we can expect a camera of at least 8-megapixels (probably 13-megapixels) with a dual LED flash.
The iPhone 6 will launch in a number of different storage capacities,
although rumour has it the company will scrap the 16GB version and
offer the device with 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities.
iPhone 6 price
We expect the Phone 6 to be the top-level iPhone and as such, it will
probably have a flagship price. The iPhone 5 is available from £529 for
the 16GB version, £599 for 32GB and £699 for 64GB. If Apple were to up
the screen size and storage, we would expect these prices to be upped to
iPhone 6 release date
The iPhone 5S is due to launch at some point in 2014, probably
alongside the much-rumoured iWatch. It’s thought the device will be
released in the first half of the year, but there’s no word on exactly
when that will be as yet.
iPhone 6 will work on all LTE networks
News has come about that the iPhone 6 will work on all 4G LTE networks, rather than different variations launching in different markets.
Currently, the iPhone 5 only works on EE 4G, but will not work on Vodafone or O2's networks when they go live on August 29.
The news comes via Gotta Be Mobile, who says the device will use Intel's XMM 7160 modem and baseband chips, supporting up to 15 different LTE bands.
Most other chips only support around 8 bands, meaning manufacturers
have to put different processors in different devices for markets around
the world.
21 Aug 2013
A 6.2-inch iPhone 6 has broken cover online and it shows some serious
competition for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with its rumoured 5.9-inch
display. The device in question was innovated by Ran Avni and also shows
a home button, with a built -in fingerprint sensor and iSight camera
for FaceTime.
13 Aug 2013
iPhone 6 concept shows infinite screen
A new iPhone 6 concept has appeared online, with a wrap-around screen.
Although we've previously heard Apple may be introducing an
edge-to-edge display on its next iPhone, this takes it one step further,
with the edges (and possibly the back) becoming an active screen.
The iPhone 6 concept appeared on Dribbble and shows how the browser could potentially work, as well as an RSS reader.
Of course, the idea will allow you to see much more than just the
4-inch screen's worth of information, but we're not sure the designer
has thought the idea through properly.
The main problem is the way in which you hold your phone. Usually,
your palm will touch the edge of a device, meaning you could
accidentally click on a web page link, open an app or focus on the wrong
part of a vista if using touch-to-focus on the camera.
Another potential issue, identified by Macgasm is
that you wouldn't be able to use a case, because cases wrap around the
sides of a device, therefore covering up a lot of the surface area.
Designer Claudio Guglieri says
it's a promo page designed for the Adventurous RSS reader and says the
concept device actually has two screens - one on the front and one on
the back.
This would potentially allow you to use two apps at the same time, but it's still far away from becoming any kind of reality.
7 Aug 2013
Will iPhone Light outsell iPhone 5S and iPhone 6?
The iPhone Light will outsell the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 according to an analyst.
UBS analyst Steve Milunovich thinks the cheap iPhone Light,
which is referred to as iPhone M, will sell 92 million units by the end
of the 2014, accounting for 53 per cent of total iPhone sales.
The iPhone M will make up three per cent of Apple's iPhone sales in 2013, suggesting it will launch at the tail end of the year.
'In our model, the iPhone M is dilutive not only to gross margin but
to gross profit dollars. The impact of the M depends on assumptions. We
estimate the 4/4S, which the M would replace, currently have a gross
margin of 55 per cent because of the low cost of older components. We
also assume the gross margin of the M will be near 32 per cent. And we
estimate shipment of 92 million iPhone M units in F14 [Fiscal year
2014],' Milunovich said.
'Because the M has such a lower gross margin than the 4/4S, the M
reduces earnings in our model. iPhone gross profit declines by 4% or
$1.6bn with the iPhone 5/5S profit up $4.9bn and the 4/4S/M profit down
$6.5bn. The net iPhone impact is a reduction to F14E EPS of $1.16. In
this case, Apple would be looking to add new users to its ecosystem at
the expense of short-term profit, which CFO Peter Oppenheimer said the
company occasionally does,' he continued.
Quocirca Principle analyst Rob Bamforth told us, 'the iPhone device
family lifecycle seems to be hitting a myriad of emotions: shock with
launch of first device, desire for many subsequent ones, angry (birds)
as the app market grows, but this seems more like fear – fear of
competitors, hence a follower move into cheap and colourful.'
'However volume keeps the virtuous cycle turning (devices ->
developers -> apps) and this is the longer term play. OS and hardware
are becoming battlefields of the past, the future is more about the
battle for control of apps and content.'
5 Aug 2013
iPhone 6 concept with Retina 2 display looks amazing
A new iPhone 6 concept has been unearthed with a completely new design and extra strength.
Conceptualised by Johnny Plaid, this iPhone 6 concept shows a device
constructed from aluminium-carbon – a material that looks like aluminium
but has the strength of carbon fibre – with an edge-to-edge Retina 2
display. The screen is coated in ultra-tough graphene making it practically unbreakable, according to Plaid.
The information along with the concept says, 'It would take an
elephant, balanced on a pencil, to break through a sheet of graphene the
thickness of Saran Wrap.'
The iPhone 6 is made from aluminium and carbon fibre, making it
40 percent lighter than the iPhone 5 and 60 percent stronger.
Apparently, the curent manufacturing process for the iPhone 5 is
complicated and time consuming. Using these two materials would make the
process a lot more efficient, according to Plaid. The build material is
also shatter, scratch and dent resistant.
At the bottom of the device, sits the MagSafe charging port as seen
on MacBooks. It's described on the concept as 'MagSafe 2' and, like the
MagSafe connector on apple laptops, it will simply detach if knocked
without damaging the charger or the charging port.
The iPhone 6 concept also shows off a new way of navigating round the
device. Multi-touch gesture support (apparently a feature of iOS 8 –
yeah, right, Plaid!), allows you to control your iPhone using just the
bottom bezel. Double tap the home icon to trigger multitasking
mode, single tap to head to the home screen and press and hold for Siri
to launch. The HomePad gestures, in Plaid's view of iOS 8, are
customisable so you can change them to access the applications you use.
The iPhone 6 will measure 58.6x123.8x7.6mm according to Plaid, with
two 2.8GHz quad-core A7 processors, 8-megapixel front-facing camera,
20.2-megapixel rear camera, water-resistant up to two feet of water,
with 4GB 1600MHz memory, 2800mAh battery and will be available in 32GB,
64GB, 96GB and 128GB capacities, starting at a price of $199 (£130),
going right up to $499 (£326) on a two-year contract.
3 Aug 2013
iPhone 6 to feature car adjustment tech with iOS 7?
The iPhone 6 may feature technology that allows you to adjust your car from your iDevice.
The patent, filed on the United States Patent and Trademark Office
shows the ability to tune the radio into your preferred station, adjust
mirrors and seat position so if you share a car, you can make it
perfect for your needs with the tap of a screen.
Features you will be able to change include the mirrors, seat and
steering wheel position, so whether you share a car with a
partner/husband/wife/friend or you use a hire car on a regular basis, it
can certainly take the pain out of changing your settings every time
you get in the car.
The patent says, 'A user's portable electronic device can learn
configuration preferences from a first environment, such as the user's
car, and when the user visits another similar environment, such as a
rented automobile, those configuration preferences can be imported into
the visited environment and used to automatically configure the
environment according to the imported preferences.'
iOS in the car was detailed in the iOS 7 launch in May and allows you to connect your iPhone to your car's entertainment system.
It's thought the tecnology could be integrated into iOS 7, although it hasn't been identified in the code of any versions up to iOS 7 beta 4 which launched last week.
The iPhone 6 is said to be launching in 2014 and may include a larger
screen of around 4-inches, A7 processor and 12-megapixel camera. The iPhone 5S and iPhone Light are said to be launching in September this year.
30 Jul 2013
iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S will include fingerprint sensor
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S will both include fingerprint sensor technology, according to one investigator.
It has been revealed that iOS 7 beta 4 includes the BiometricKitUI code bundle and includes strings on how to use a fingerprint sensor on an iPhone, says Christian Post.
The strings 'show a photo of a person holding an iPhone with their
left hand while touching the home button with their thumb, a photo of a
person holding an iPhone with their right hand while touching the Home
button with their thumb and a fingerprint that changes color during the
set up process,' said the website.au
The rumour that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S will feature fingerprint recognition technology is not a new one.
A month ago, a patent filing showed fingerprint scanner on the next iPhone's bezel.
‘By encasing both the bezel and the sensor die in the encapsulation
structure, the elements may be brought closer together than otherwise
possible. In addition, the encapsulation structure physically protects
the bezel and sensor die, and in particular maintains the spacing there
between in a fashion that isn't possible by currently known device
designs,’ reports Patently Apple.
Before that, Apple revealed a job posting for a software engineer in
Melbourne, Florida, an area where both recent Apple acquisition
AuthenTec is based and Apple has a design centre. Authentec was acquired
by Apple in 2012 and is known for its fingerprint security work.
The iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone Light and newly rumoured iPhone 5C
are due to be launched in the next six months, although which of these
devices turn out to be real and which are purely speculation remains to
be seen.
18 Jul 2013
iPhone 6 to be constructed from Liquidmetal?
The iPhone 6 may be made from Liquidmetal according to a patent application filed by Crucible Intellectual Property.
The company is said to represent a joint venture undertaken by Apple
and Liquidmetal Technologies in a bid to produce the world's first
liquidmetal handset.
Apple initially set up a licensing agreement with Liquidmetal in
2010, but nothing much has been heard of the partnership since then.
According to Electronista, Liquidmetal is a material made from 'a group
of alloys that have an atomic structure more similar to glass, with an
amorphous quality'.
The advantages of using Liquidmetal for a device is that it's strong
and has corrosion resistance. It is also said to be extremely malleable,
making it an excellent build materials choice for handset makers.
Apparently, there are a number of complications that can evolve from
making large objects out of Liquidmetal, mostly because it's hard to
create large sheets of controllable thickness. Stretching and
manipulating the material can cause it to break.
The patent outlines a number of ways the material can be manipulated
without breaking to make a sheet of between 0.1mm and 25mm thick. The
generic factory methods include melting the material and using conveyor
belts, although it's not entirely clear how Liquidmetal Technologies
will get over the problem of the material breaking.
The patent specifically refers to the production of iPhones, iPads,
watches or 'any electronic device'. With the iPhone 5S scheduled to
launch next one could argue that the first handset to benefit from this
type of build material might be the iPhone 6 or perhaps even the iPhone
7.
10 Jul 2013
iPhone 6 concept shows potential for coloured aluminium
iPhone 6 concept renderings are 10-a-penny these days but every now
and then something rather cool pops up like this multi-coloured
aluminium based design, which comes in a wide range of colours including
red and baby blue.
The form is a lot squarer than previous iPhone designs and it also
looks much thinner and flatter. The designer claims its aluminium
material would also ensure that it is much lighter too.
Although the concept pictures don't provide a lot of information, one
curious feature is a microUSB port at the bottom of the device,
alongside a 3.5mm jack.
i-phone6.de also goes into UI details, not showing iOS 7, but a
totally new UI, with the dialling keypad numbers displayed as round
buttons. A large toolbar at the bottom allows you to call the number
typed out on the screen.
The site says that because there was a lot of criticism around the
new app icon designs in iOS 7, i-phone6.de's designer Philipp Ink
tweaked them a little to make them more acceptable.
8 Jul 2013
Plastic iPhone shows up - is it iPhone 6 or iPhone Light?
A new picture of an iPhone has popped up online, but there's no
information to suggest whether it's the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or budget
iPhone Light.
In fact, the picture on Techdy could just be an iPhone in a plastic case, a its own-made device it's claiming is an iPhone.
The website claims it acquired more than 40 pictures of the device (no source given) and said:
'The budget iPhone will be made substantially from plastic (we can
feel it’s actually polycarbonate material). It will have a 4" screen,
like the iPhone 5, and interestingly, the budget iPhone actually has a
shape that’s similar to Apple’s original iPod. When we hold the budget
iPhone in our hands, the plastic chassis does not feel cheap at all.
Unlike the plastic build quality of the Samsung Galaxy phones, the
plastic material used on the budget iPhone feels more sturdy.'
We can see a camera and presumably a flash on the rear, above an Apple Logo and the iPhone branding at the bottom.
The front is just a sea of black with a speaker slot at the top. The
screen looks edge-to-edge, but without it turned on, that could just be a
black bezel giving the illusion of an edge-to-edge display.
At the bottom of the device, there's the microphone, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Lightning port and two screw holes.
The home button seems to be missing, exposing the inner workings.
This could be the biggest clue that this is not an iPhone, but just a
made up prototype because there's nothing sitting behind the empty hole.
There also seem to be some odd pin priks where the volume keys and
lock/unlock/power buttons are all supposed to be. We can't see a SIM
card slot either. It's all very odd.
5 Jul 2013
iPhone 6 concept shows edge-to-edge screen and iOS 7
A new iPhone 6 concept has appeared online with a 6-inch edge-to-edge display.
The concept, by designer Jonny Plaid, shows a slimmer but larger device, constructed from aluminium carbon fibre.
The device will be 40 per cent lighter and 60 percent stronger.
We can also see iOS 7 running on the handset, although there's no
home button which is pretty integral to a device running iOS 7 for a
using features such as Siri and to access multitasking.
The larger screen will feature the Retina 2 screen, with a graphene
layer that makes it stronger than Corning's Gorilla Glass. Plaid said,
'having the thickness of just one carbon atom, graphene is the strongest
known material. A single layer of graphene is virtual indestructible.'
Plaid says the iPhone will be available in 32GB, 64GB, 96GB and 128GB
with prices between $199 (£150) for the 32GB capacity to $499 (£400)
for the top-end device.
These prices seem a little low to us, reflecting the price of the
iPhone Light rather than the flagship. We're expecting the 32GB iPhone 6
to cost around £450.
21 Jun 2013`
iPhone 6 fingerprint scanner detailed in patent filing
New patent filings suggest the oft-rumoured fingerprint scanner Apple
has been working on will be fused inside the bezel of the iPhone 6,
reports suggest.
We say the iPhone 6 because recent leaked images of the iPhone 5S
show nothing remotely resembling this feature. Increasingly it seems the
iPhone 5S – like the iPhone 4S – will be an incremental update, adding
in only a few snippets of updated hardware and some new imaging
capabilities.
‘By encasing both the bezel and the sensor die in the encapsulation
structure, the elements may be brought closer together than otherwise
possible. In addition, the encapsulation structure physically protects
the bezel and sensor die, and in particular maintains the spacing there
between in a fashion that isn't possible by currently known device
designs,’ reports Patently Apple.
Reports suggest the integrated scanner, although infused inside the
bezel, will create a slight bump in the iPhone 6’s exterior. Whether
this is an actual design feature to make it more tactile or a limitation
of the technology’s integration remains to be seen.
It’s also worth noting that Apple acquired fingerprint technology
specialist AuthenTech in late-2012. Combine that with today’s patent
listing and you have a pretty good argument for the technology appearing
inside Apple’s next significant iPhone update.
iPhone 6 might be Apple’s first phablet with 5.7-inch display
Apple is said to be hosting internal discussions on the subject of
4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone variants which would come in a range of
colours, according to reports.
We’ve heard this sort of talk before and it’s tricky to know what to
think. On the one hand, this has been rumoured since time immemorial and
Apple has consistently and vehemently denied it will consider enlarging
its iPhone design.
The counter to that, of course, is that Apple previously denied the
idea of a smaller iPad and it did eventually expand the iPhone from
3.5-inches to 4-inches – so in a way you can’t really trust this kind of
denial.
9 Jun 2013
iPhone 6 with 4.8-inch Retina Display to launch in Q1 2014, reckons analyst
Apple will release the iPhone 6 inside Q1 2014 and the handset is tipped to feature a 4.8-inch display, reports suggest.
Apple traditionally launches its new iPhone during Q3/Q4 but
speculation from Citi Research reckons the Cupertino-based company may
break this cycle with the release of a new flagship during the first
quarter of next year.
Here’s the report via Patently Apple:
‘A new report today is citing a note by Citi Research saying that
Apple will launch an iPhone with 4.8-inch screen next year. Contrary to
Apple's traditional iPhone events held in September, Citi's note says
that the larger iPhone design is being scheduled to debut in Q1 2014.’
29 May 2013
iPhone 6 concept details 3D camera and curved display [Video]
iPhone rumours have so far generally focused on the prospective
iPhone 5S and a possible budget variant but that hasn't stopped eager
Cupertino fans from coming up with iPhone 6 concepts, the latest of
which comes courtesy of Redmond Pie.
The imagined device, created by Ran Avni and Hassan, shows an
alternative take on what is expected from the iPhone 6 and sees a 3D
camera and curved display in place.
Many might suggest that this is wishful thinking from the pair but
the features exhibited here do have some grounding in reality as Apple
patents and a recent job advert indicate that the company has been
dabbling in curved screens and 3D imaging technologies.
Whether these features materialise on the next iPhone iteration, the
iPhone 5S, remains unclear as the weight of conjecture surrounding the
device has it down as an incremental update to the iPhone 5 with little
changes in the way of aesthetics and functionality. The iPhone 6 however
is a long way off - a 2014 launch has been touted - and so features
such as these are not beyond the realms of the imagination
14 May 2013
Plastic iPhone 6 render looks hot
A render of the iPhone 6 in plastic has surfaced, and it proves even
if Apple stops using premium materials, the iPhone 6 will be a hot
device.
The video produced by Ran Avani appeared on Cult of Mac and claims to be the iPhone 6.
The video is a series of pictures rather than the iPhone in action.
It shows dual speakers on the bottom with a 3.5mm headphone jack,
separate volume keys and what looks like a camera button on the side and
a camera with flash on the back.
Above the screen, there's a camera and speaker, while below the screen, there's the same home key as on the current iPhone.
The UI looks the same as on iOS 6, although it only shows the lock screen.
The video shows the iPhone 6 in both black and white versions, with the Apple logo firmly in place on the back.
9 May 2013
Apple iPhone 6 spotted in Vodafone UK inventory listing
Apple’s next iPhone might be called the iPhone 6 after all as its alleged to have shown up in a UK network’s inventory listings.
Tech publication Stuff reports it received a photo showing a Vodafone
inventory listing the ‘4G iPhone 6’ rather than the expected iPhone 5S,
suggesting Apple may be skipping the ‘S’ naming convention this time
around.
Admittedly, there are a few holes here. For one thing it’s not at all
unusual for networks and retailers to pre-emptively list expected
devices under placeholder names, so it could still be the iPhone 5S.
Vodafone knows it’s going to get a new Apple model when it comes out
regardless of what it’s called. Secondly, Stuff hasn’t actually shown
the picture, so this is all hearsay for now.
The fact that the listing is there at all suggests Apple’s next
iPhone might be arriving earlier than expected. It was previously
thought Apple would not release a new device until the Autumn, following
comments from company CEO Tim Cook. Rumours say the next iPhone will go
into production in June and could arrive in August or September.
8 May 2013
iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 mean iOS will top marketshare by 2015
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 will lead Apple to the top of the marketshare charts by 2015, a US survey has revealed.
Out of 16,000 smartphone users, 91 per cent of current iPhone users
will upgrade to the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 when they launch this year and
next. Six per cent of those surveyed said they would switch from iPhone
to Android, while 76 per cent of Android owners said they'd buy another
Android device. Of the remaining 24 per cent of Android users, 18 per
cent said they would buy an Apple device.
The Yankee Group is forecasting that by 2016, Apple's share of the
smartphone market in the US will have grown to 37 per cent while Android
will remain at 34 per cent.
The survey, by the Yankee Group says it's customer loyalty that can be credited for the results.
'Think of the Apple and Android ecosystems as two buckets of water. New smartphone buyers- mostly upgrading feature phone
owners- fall like rain into the two big buckets about equally, with a
smaller number falling into Windows Phone and BlackBerry buckets.
However, the Android bucket leaks badly, losing about one in five of all
the owners put into it.'
8 May 2013
New iPhone 6 concept video shows 16-megapixel camera
The newest iPhone 6 concept video has launched on the web and shows
off a completely new design, which is 20 per cent thinner at just 6.1mm
thick.
Brazilian concept artist Arther Reis has used the tagline 'Breaking laws. Again.', which we're not too sure about.
The design looks like the iPhone 5's, with an aluminium rear plate,
and a different material (maybe plastic?) at the top and bottom of the
panel. Along the bottom, there are stereo speakers and of course Apple's
Lightning connector charger and USB port, alongside a 3.5mm headphone
jack.
On the left side, there are separate round volume up and down buttons and the screen unlock key.
Round the back, there's an iSight Pro camera, with 12-megapixels of
photo joy and f/1.8 aperture. It looks like there's a pretty strong
flash built in too.
The new Home button is a touch sensitive panel along the bottom of
the screen - just touch anywhere and you'll be taken to the Home screen.
Apparently, the new iPhone 6 will be stronger than stone.
iPhone 5S/iPhone 6 to feature invisible buttons and sliders?
The iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 may feature an invisible backside button
and slider controls if patents revealed by Patently Apple are anything
to go by.
The website, known for its Apple leaks show pictures starring Apple's new controls.
The Invisible Button is created 'by micro perforations or holes which
could be illuminated to show where the button is', according to the
website.
'Apple states that "the backlight can be activated when a user taps
or presses down on the button. In another embodiment, a motion sensor
(not shown) may interface with the LED and activate it when motion is
detected. In another embodiments heat and/or sound sensors (not shown)
can interface with and activate LED 95 when heat and/or sound is
detected,"' says Patently Apple.
The box-like device in the pictures could be any kind of device -
it's just a rough box and there's nothing to suggest this is an iPhone.
The other picture, said to be Apple's slider control that may also be invisible.
The figure shows the same sort of technology as the first graphic,
but presumably would encourage the user to slide their finger up or down
the panel.
Patently Apple has suggested the controls could be contextual, changing according to the app you're in.
7 May 2013
34 new iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPad Mini 2 patents revealed
A whole dump of Apple patents have been revealed by the US patents
office, reportedly for the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPad Mini 2.
The patents, as outlined on Patently Apple, include an invisible backside button, slider controls and the iPad Mini's design.
Other patents exposed on Patently Apple reveal a new iOS interface for iTunes and magnetometer.
The new iTunes patent is shown on a multitouch device 'with faster,
more efficient methods and interfaces for navigating through multiple
viewing areas, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and
user satisfaction with such devices.'
This patent was originally filed in Q2 2012 but was published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The magnetometer patent refers to tech in Apple's Maps software. Patently apple explains this as:
'Magnetometer data output by a magnetometer can be compared to
historical magnetometer data previously output by the magnetometer. 'If a
match is determined, a confidence of the match can be determined using
data related to Earth's magnetic field or other characteristics of the
environment. The data can be calculated from the historical magnetometer
data. If the confidence of the match exceeds a confidence threshold
level, historical calibration data can be used to calibrate the
magnetometer. 'If the confidence of the match does not exceed the
confidence threshold level, a calibration procedure can be performed to
generate new calibration data, and the new calibration data can be used
to calibrate the magnetometer.'
The magnometer patent was granted in February and November 2011.
24 Apr 2013
iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 nano SIM trays leaked in picture
A picture of two nano SIM card trays have leaked on the internet, reportedly for the iPhone 5 or iPhone 6.
The pictures come courtesy of Japanese parts manufacturer Moumantai,
although we'Dr taking these latest leaks pictures with a huge pinch of
salt because they look identical to those found on the iPhone 5.
Like the iPhone 5's nanoSIM card tray, they're made of metal.
The one distinguishing feature though is the colour of these trays. One is grey and the other a bronze colour.
24 Apr 2013
iPhone 6 camera to feature advanced colour correction?
More iPhone 6 patents have been leaked, relating to the camera of the device.
Patently Apple revealed the iPhone 6 would include a much more advanced camera than it predecessor devices.
First up, colour correction and balance.
Colour correction and colour balancing would adjust the colours in an
image to render specific colours as perfectly as possible when compared
to the real object or scene of which the picture was captured.
Essentially, Apple's colour balancing and correction would ensure that
in the picture of the green field you just took, the green of the grass
in the picture matches up exactly to the green in the photograph.
Another notable place where this could be used is with white
balancing. The example Patently Apple gives is with white piece of
paper. The white of a piece of paper would look a different colour
according to whether you're under a fluorescent light (more yellow) or
outside in the sunshine (more blue). Apple's technology would ensure
this is always taken into account and the colours are corrected as
necessary to ensure the colours are correct whatever you're taking a
picture of.
The first patent relates to creating a Novel Chromaticity Space. It's
a bit complicated, so Patently Apple has provided a graphic to help you
understand. Figure 1 is how images are usually processed, figure to is
how Apple will be doing it and figure 3 goes some way to explain how
Apple hopes to implement the Novel Chromacity Space.
The second and third patents go some way to get rid of the issues of
using auto white balance, which sometimes goes a little awry. The first
way Apple hopes to make white balance more accurate is by Alleviating
Dominant Color Failure and the second by using Noise-Optimized Selection
Criteria to Calculate Scene White Points.
The final patent refers to Multi-Illuminant Color Matrix
Representation and Interpolation Based on Estimated White Points.
Essentially, this means Apple's camera will detect where the white
points are and apply this colour correction to the rest of the image.
18 Apr 2013
iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, cheap iPhone release date delayed?
Apple's iPhone 5S, cheap iPhone and iPhone 6 are all said to be delayed, according to one analyst.
The three devices are due to launch in July, September and next year
respectively but are now facing delays due to pre-production issues.
According to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, who visited Apple's Asian
suppliers, Apple is having problems with the mass pre-production of the
iPhone 5S, which will push back other launches. iOS 7 is also said to
be delayed, pushing back the launch even further, and Misek says the
iPhone 5S probably won't launch until later in 2013.
This of course pushes back the budget iPhone launch too. Misek said,
'After our Asia trip we now think the low-cost iPhone launch could be
pushed to CQ4 and have increased confidence that the iPhone 6 will not
launch until CY14.'
15 Apr 2013
iPhone 6 concept shows off a large display and thin body
Another day, another iPhone 6 concept. The trend at the moment seems
to be for making your Apple videos look as much like a real Apple
commercial as possible.
Overall the handset has a thinner profile than the current iPhone 5
and a much larger display, which looks like it could be 4.7-inches, or
thereabouts.
The back panel seems to still be aluminium and it retains a two-tone
colouration, but it’s slightly different now with a glossy panel at the
bottom and a matte finish for the top three quarters. The current iPhone
has these contrasting panels at both top and bottom and a matte section
in the middle.
The display doesn’t appear to be quite edge-to-edge, but the bezel is
extremely narrow along the two longer edges. The punched speaker grill
is still present and the Lightning connector on the bottom, however, the
physical Home key has disappeared completely, suggesting some kind of
gesture control.
11 Apr 2013
iPhone 6 flexible display suggested via Apple job posting
A new job posting at Apple shows that the company is interested in
developing flexible displays, a technology which could see use on the
rumoured iWatch or the future iPhone 6.
The job listing describes Apple’s desire to recruit a display expert
who will ‘lead the investigation on emerging display technologies such
as high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display.’
The position requires someone who can ‘analyze the trade-offs between
design, process, optical performance, and implementation feasibility.’
This suggests that things are still very much in the early stages of
development. In recent weeks, Apple registered a patent for a new iPhone
design which included a curved display which may utilise flexible
screen technology.
Since then, pictures which allegedly showed the device appeared
online, but it seems likely these were renders based on the patents.
The idea of this flexible display technology appearing on the iPhone 6
assumes that the next immediate model, rumoured for launch in the
Summer, will be the iPhone 5S. A selection of current rumours support
this theory, claiming that the next iPhone will be an incremental update
with a focus on interface re-design, new software features and
services, an improved camera and a range of colour options.
8 Apr 2013
iPhone 6 should launch instead of iPhone 5S, ex-Apple employee says
An ex-Apple employee has advised Apple to head straight for the iPhone 6 rather than launching the iPhone 5S.
Ken Segall, formerly working for Apple ads and now a consultant has
said Apple's iPhone naming convention is too difficult and may not
result in the sales Apple needs.
The ex-executive said Apple should never have introduced the iPhone
4S, instead the company should have jumped straight to the iPhone 5.
'The press has already dubbed this year’s model “iPhone 5S.” Most
experts see a narrative in which Apple only produces a major upgrade
every other year, and in between we get the “S” model. This is the model
that delivers only incremental improvements.' Segall explained in his
blog.'More important, tacking an S onto the existing model number sends a
rather weak message. It says that this is our “off-year” product, with
only modest improvements. If holding off on the big number change
achieved some great result, I might think otherwise.'
He then goes on to explain the iPhone 5 brought a much better spec to
the table, with a bigger screen, new OS and a lighter and thinner
casing with a new look to boot. Changing the name dramatically had a
bigger impact on its customers than the iPhone 4S had.
'I think it’s safe to say that if you’re looking for a new car,
you’re looking for a 2013 model — not a 2012S. What’s important is that
you get the latest and greatest,' Segall justified.
iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 pictures leak online - are they real?
Grab your salt shakers ladies and gents because a very fuzzy picture
has appeared online that’s claimed to show the iPhone 5S with a curved
display.
Now, these are probably going to be faked renders, we’ll get that out
of the way right now – they’ve turned up courtesy of GSMArena’s tipster
who also couldn’t vouch for their authenticity.
But, there is at least a small basis in reality for the design
whether it’s been fabricated or not, you see, Apple very recently filed a
patent for a new phone design with what appears to be a wrap-around
display – these newly leaked snaps, however, show a similarly shaped
device with what appears to be an edge-to-edge display instead.
We should note that the chassis doesn’t appear to actually sport the
screen tech at this point, presumably Apple is still working out how
best to implement its display ideas and this is just the bodyshell.
Feasibly it could not have an edge-to-edge display and instead sport the
regular variety within this design.
The Lightning connector and headphone jack at the bottom are still
present and correct, as are the circular vents, and on the rear of the
device you’ve got all of Apple’s branding and trademark data. However,
the iconic physical Home key has disappeared entirely, implying that the
new iOS could see some heavier emphasis on gesture control.
Shape-wise, it’s got some similarities with Nokia’s Lumia 920,
although it appears to be substantially thinner and we would hope it’d
be a good deal lighter as a result.
Assuming there’s any authenticity behind these images at all (and
pretty much all reports are saying they could be faked) then it’s less
likely we’re looking at the iPhone 5S and more probable that it's a
prototype model based on Apple’s new patent.
2 Apr 2013
iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 influenced by Jobs
Steve Jobs, Apple's iconic CEO, passed away in 2011 and the iPhone 5
was thought to be the last handset he contributed towards. However, a
new report today suggests Jobs was instrumental in the design process of
Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.
The news comes via San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón who
reportedly learned of Jobs’ involvement while speaking to Apple
government liaison Michael Foulkes about an iPhone kill switch,
according to the San Francisco Examiner.
Gascón has been trying to persuade the telecommunications industry to
implement technology that disables cellphones and tablets after they
are reported stolen, said the report.
If implemented, Gascón believes the technology would act as a deterrent to would-be thieves.
During the hour long meeting, which Gascón described as
‘underwhelming,’ Foulkes allegedly let slip that Apple already had its
next two smartphones developed while Jobs was alive, claiming they
‘preceded Tim Cook.’
28 Mar 2013
iPhone 6 concept channels the Sony Xperia Z
It’s concept time again! This time around we’re looking at an
interesting but slightly out of character idea for Apple’s iPhone 6
which appears to marry the device with the likes of Sony’s Xperia Z and
Nokia’s Lumia 720 for a more boxy appearance and, of course, it also
adds a bigger display so that the device might be able to keep up with
the Jones’s.
The concept is the brain-child of designer Abel Verdezoto I, who
works for Yanko Design, and his vision of what the iPhone 6 could offer
has to be admired for both its simplicity and its deviation from Apple’s
well-trodden path. The concept gives the iPhone 6 a flatter, boxier and
more futuristic look, with chrome edging to break up the block of
colour, much like we’ve seen in rival devices of late.
Whether the actual iPhone 6 will take any cues from Verdezoto I’s
design remains to be seen, but we won’t know for a while as the device
isn’t tipped to be unveiled until the start of 2014, and that’s using
one of the more conservative estimates.
23 Mar 2013
iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 could feature improved FaceTime camera
Apple’s next iPhone, whether it’s the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 6,
could feature improved video calls via FaceTime thanks to a newly filed
patent.
Apple’s patent details a technology designed to improve the FaceTime
cameras Auto Exposure (AE) across a range of lighting conditions.
Apparently video call quality on smartphones is usually poor due to
the fact that lightning conditions are more variable and change much
more quickly – this is something existing AE technology struggles to
cope with, particularly when it comes to changing the exposure levels
too quickly or too slowly.
Apple’s new tech allows the iPhone’s FaceTime camera to autofocus almost instantly even in variable lighting.
PatentlyApple reports: ‘In personal electronic devices executing such
handheld and/or mobile videoconferencing applications, it may be
desirable to adjust exposure parameter values gradually, so as to reduce
video oscillations causing visually jarring effects on the device's
preview screen due to rapidly changing brightness levels.’
‘However, adjusting the exposure parameter values too gradually can
cause the video encoder to make inaccurate temporal predictions,
resulting in poor quality video streams over a large number of frames. ‘
According to a flowchart detailing the technology processes, the tech
works by creating an ‘exposure metering region’ on top of whatever you
point the camera at. Effectively, the phone then constantly ‘ticks’ over
checking that whatever image data it’s capturing has an AE setting
which sits within the parameters of the exposure region.
Frames which get the all clear on meeting the parameters then get
processed and you’ll see them in the video call, otherwise the phone
quickly cycles back through the process and adjusts settings to produce
an image with the correct exposure.
15 Mar 2013
iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 A7 processor in the works at TSMC
A new rumour claims Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
is readying Apple’s next-gen A7 processor chip which may see the light
of day inside the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6.
The news comes via Digitimes, which cites anonymous ‘industry
sources’ who say the chip will be based on 20 nanometre (nm)
semiconductor tech. Allegedly, development began sometime in March and
is expected to progress into ‘risk production’ in over the May-June
period with a projected commercial shipment date pegged as Q1 2014. TSMC
has not commented on the rumour.
The manufacturer is said to have expanded its facilities and its new plants will be used for production of the A7 chip.
13 Mar 2013
iPhone 6 concept suggests three size variants
More iPhone 6 concept renders have emerged online showing the phone
with similar iPhone 5 styling but in three size variants and sporting
home buttons on the side.
The renders, made by artist Peter Zigich, appear to show a iPhone
5-sized model, along with a smaller ‘iPhone 6 Mini’ and a larger ‘iPhone
6 XL’.
The main handset has the same dimensions as the current iPhone 5 but,
as with all three models, the physical home button is now embedded in
both side panels and the display has been enlarged to appear virtually
edge-to-edge. We’d estimate it has a 4.2-inch to 4.3-inch display and
Zigich has added an additional row of icons to the homescreen. He
suggests the dual home buttons could also be used for additional
functions by pressing both together.
This device would replace the current iPhone 5 (or soon-to-be
released iPhone 5S) as the main flagship and be priced accordingly at
Apple’s current price scheme. In the UK that would mean a 16GB version
would cost £529.
6 Mar 2013
iPhone 6 concepts show off 4.2-inch and 4.8-inch screens
Rumours continue to circulate about Apple’s forthcoming smartphone
product line-up and whether we’ll see a larger premium iPhone or a
plastic-build budget one, or both. But, in the meantime, industrious
concept artists are turning out renders to give us a glimpse of what the
future might hold.
AppleInsider.ru has produced a very convincing set of renders,
including an extensive Apple-style video, complete with integrated
live-action footage of someone handling the device.
This shows a fairly conservative approach to how the iPhone 6 could
change because although it’s expanded to a larger 4.2-inch display the
design language is exactly the same as the iPhone 5 with its metal
unibody, albeit slightly thinner and somehow even lighter at a mere
104g.
That said, noteworthy changes include an extremely narrow bezel,
stereo speakers on the rear and a selection of colour options outside
the usual black and white, including grey, blue, red, yellow, orange and
purple.
This last point does sit with current rumours from some circles, though authenticity is yet to be verified.
13 Feb 2013
Apple 4.8-inch iPhone 6 will launch in mid 2014
Apple’s rumoured iPhone 6, which may be a 4.8-inch smartphone, may
not arrive until the middle of next year, an analyst has claimed.
The Apple rumour vortex (the term ‘rumour mill’ no longer seems
appropriate) continues to spew out wildly varying account of what the
Cupertino-based giant will release next, but one analyst has gone as far
as to suggest we won’t be seeing the iPhone 6 until mid-2014.
Peter Misek, a well-known analyst from Jefferies, has said there are
‘three possible bottlenecks’ which ‘could contribute to lower yields’.
Apparently such low yields could either cause a higher priced iPhone
than was originally intended or the delay of the launch until 2014. It
would seem Misek thinks the latter is more likely.
Misek thinks Apple will ‘skip over 28nm’ processors ‘and go to 20nm
to facilitate adding more cores (4 or even 8)’. He alleges that TSMC,
the chip maker Apple now uses, would have trouble meeting the required
production levels of this new hardware in time for a launch anytime this
year.
Another ‘bottleneck’ is the shift from in-cell LCD, as seen on the current-generation iPhone 5, to a new on-cell OLED or IGZO technology.
‘We think in- cell is having difficulty ramping to 4.8", which is
making Apple look at switching to on-cell (a different integrated
touchscreen technology) and OLED (despite Apple’s suppliers being well
behind Samsung in their OLED capabilities) or IGZO,’ said Misek.
Lastly, there’s the issue of the iOS software. It's widely reported
that Apple has put its chief design guru Jony Ive on the case to revamp
iOS' look and feel.
However, Misek thinks Apple plans to completely re-build iOS from the ground up in order to optimise the platform around multi-core processors with more cores.
‘Also, we believe the way iOS interoperates with iCloud, gestures
controls, and advertising will be substantially upgraded,’ he said.
31 Jan 2013
iPhone 6 will cost less than Samsung Galaxy S4
Apple’s next iPhone, the alleged iPhone 6, will be cheaper than its forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 rival, reports claim.
According to an article published by International Business Times,
the new iPhone could be as much as $300 cheaper than Android flagship
rivals, including the Samsung Galaxy S4.
However, this seems like a bit of a wild stab in the dark, if we’re
honest, as it appears to be an assertion primarily based on the fact
that several sources have recently claimed Apple will offer a
lower-priced iPhone.
28 Jan 2013
Leaked iPhone 5S and alleged iPhone 6 parts emerge online
Photos have appeared online showing what are claimed to be component
parts of Apple’s next-generation iPhone device or devices, labelled as
the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.
The report comes via Nowhereelse.fr, which BGR cites as a source
which has ‘published images of genuine parts from unreleased Apple
devices in the past.’
The leak reportedly shows internal speaker mounts for two separate
iPhone models, alongside a superimposed iPhone 5 speaker mount.
Although the names iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 are used the site specifies
that they are simply placeholder names and there is no insider
knowledge about what Apple’s next iPhone products will be called.
It also states that the photos were found ‘while browsing the web,’
which does throw the legitimacy into question as they can’t be
accurately attributed to a source close to Apple. It's feasible that
these may have been unused prototypes for a previous iPhone model.
2 Jan 2013
iPhone 6 and iOS7 already in testing, claims report
Apple’s iPhone 6 and iOS 7 software are already being tested inside the company’s Cupertino HQ, according to reports.
TNW
reports that developers have seen references for Apple’s upcoming iOS 7
iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating system running on unreleased
iPhone 6,1 hardware.
According to the report, all the IP addresses for the test devices are based inside Apple’s Cupertino HQ.
iOS7 is also said to be showing up inside Google Analytics also,
fueling speculation that Apple is now in the final stages of development
of its next-generation mobile software.
‘This iPhone 6,1 hardware is a step over Apple’s current iPhone 5,1
and iPhone 5,2 iPhone 5 models. A change in the first number of Apple
hardware’s numbering sequence typically points to major internal changes
for the device,’ reports 9to5
quote from:http://www.knowyourmobile.com
