Aluminum unibody iPhone 5, low-cost iPhone 4S seen propelling Apple's sales

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  • Reply 41 of 65
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sennen View Post


    Hopefully, as the iPhone 4 proved this gives much better performance.



    Many do not realize just how good the antenna on iPhone 4 is. I can pick up signals with my iPhone 4 that I never could with other phones.
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  • Reply 42 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post


    Many do not realize just how good the antenna on iPhone 4 is. I can pick up signals with my iPhone 4 that I never could with other phones.



    While this may be true for some, for me, there are now only two places in my house where I can hold a signal while on my iPhone 4, upstairs in my loft and next to one window in my bedroom. With my original iPhone and later my 3GS, I could walk anywhere in my house while on the phone. Also, my friend with his 3GS has no problem using the phone anywhere in my house.
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  • Reply 43 of 65
    irelandireland Posts: 17,802member
    Siggy change.
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  • Reply 44 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by melgross View Post


    I just can't figure out why there are so many dualing articles in the press about the iPhone this year. Some say a totally new 5. Some say major differences inside, but pretty much the same outside. Some say both, but with the similar model made less expensively.



    What's going on here? We see new, bigger cases, and usually these new cases do reflect a new phone. But by this time before release, we'll see some parts that show the new model. We're seeing nothing this time. But, I don't remember seeing much of the 4's case before the unveiling, so...



    Apple has learned well from the iPhone4/Gizmodo fiasco. Expect this to be the new normal going forward... the Apple (dis)information leaks will leave your head spinning
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  • Reply 45 of 65
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    A die casting is very similar in concept to an injection molded plastic part. You end up with a net shape or near net shape part that can have any number of features molded in. In a production environment the cycle times on the machines might be as few as five seconds. It is a very economical way to make metal parts.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    I wonder what Unibody means in the context of the iPhone?



    A stronger case with molded in features. The case can also effectively perform as a heat sink for the SoC. In fact heat sinking the SoC would be a significant improvement in the iPhone. They might even be able to mold in features for antennas.

    Quote:

    For a laptop, it is quite meaningful. Look at the standard laptop and you see many panels screwed together. Sometimes, changing a basic component requires removing 25 screws. The Unibody design was therefore a significant step forward.



    likewise an iPhone.

    Quote:

    The standard smartphone, however, really has very few structural components. Surely, non-Apple manufacturers have covers for the battery and SIM, etc. But the parts count is quite low. In fact, I wonder if the original iPhone could already qualify as a unibody?



    Remember Unibody is a marketing term. In the end it means whatever Apple and the community wants it to mean.



    Given that though a well designed casting would lead to a stronger iPhone.
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  • Reply 46 of 65
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SSquirrel View Post


    My question w/an aluminum unibody design is, what happens if your iPhone takes an unplanned swim? Currently if your cell phone gets soaked you remove the battery and stick it in a bowl of rice for a couple of days or use a hair dryer or similar drying techniques. With the unibody design, will we still be able to get to the battery>



    Actually the very best way to deal with the iphone getting submersed in water is to do the following. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN ON PHONE!. Go to the drug store and find the highest percent alcohol you can. It needs to be 90% pure to work for sure although 85% should work as well. 70% will not work.



    Get a plastic tupperware type container and fill it enough to cover the iPhone completely. Swish it around to get any air bubbles out of the dock, audio jack, etc. Leave in the alcohol for 24 hours. Replace alcohol with fresh supply and wait another 24 hours.



    Then remove iPhone drain out as much liquid as possible, and leave on a window still where it gets a little sun or place near a light bulb, not too close, you don't want it to get very hot, just enough to evaporate the alcohol. WAIT 3 DAYS!. It should turn on and boot up just fine. If you see some bubbles or streaks under the glass, they should go away in a few days.
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  • Reply 47 of 65
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,772member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mstone View Post


    Actually the very best way to deal with the iphone getting submersed in water is to do the following. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN ON PHONE!. Go to the drug store and find the highest percent alcohol you can. It needs to be 90% pure to work for sure although 85% should work as well. 70% will not work.



    Get a plastic tupperware type container and fill it enough to cover the iPhone completely. Swish it around to get any air bubbles out of the dock, audio jack, etc. Leave in the alcohol for 24 hours. Replace alcohol with fresh supply and wait another 24 hours.



    Then remove iPhone drain out as much liquid as possible, and leave on a window still where it gets a little sun or place near a light bulb, not too close, you don't want it to get very hot, just enough to evaporate the alcohol. WAIT 3 DAYS!. It should turn on and boot up just fine. If you see some bubbles or streaks under the glass, they should go away in a few days.



    Sounds like it might be more more effective than three days in a bag of rice, the only trick I've found that works at least most of the time. When you have a teenager that fishes 2-4 hours a day, waterlogged phones are too common.
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  • Reply 48 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mstone View Post


    Get a plastic tupperware type container and fill it enough to cover the iPhone completely. Swish it around to get any air bubbles out of the dock, audio jack, etc. Leave in the alcohol for 24 hours. Replace alcohol with fresh supply and wait another 24 hours.



    How does this work? The alcohol would have to have a stronger adhesion coefficient to the various internal components than water or whatever water solution. Or is the water being absorbed into the alcohol?
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  • Reply 49 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Shrike View Post


    How does this work? The alcohol would have to have a stronger adhesion coefficient to the various internal components than water or whatever water solution. Or is the water being absorbed into the alcohol?



    I'd imagine the water disperses into the alcohol, so that you end up with a solution of mostly-alcohol inside the phone, even places where air doesn't circulate well.



    Then you drain the alcohol out, and any remaining drops inside the phone evaporate much more quickly than a similar quantity of water would.



    I'd be a little concerned though, because alcohol is a solvent, and there's no telling what it might do to some of the plastics and other materials inside an iPhone.



    It's also flammable. I'd be worried about sparks starting a fire.
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  • Reply 50 of 65
    tipootipoo Posts: 1,166member
    Its magical, its revolutionary, the first phone that signals can't get in or out of...





    Heh...But seriously, the very first iPhone had serious signal issues due to its metal back, I guess with this one it comes down to if they continue with the external antenna or move it internally.
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  • Reply 51 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mstone View Post


    Actually the very best way to deal with the iphone getting submersed in water is to do the following. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN ON PHONE!. Go to the drug store and find the highest percent alcohol you can. It needs to be 90% pure to work for sure although 85% should work as well. 70% will not work.



    Get a plastic tupperware type container and fill it enough to cover the iPhone completely. Swish it around to get any air bubbles out of the dock, audio jack, etc. Leave in the alcohol for 24 hours. Replace alcohol with fresh supply and wait another 24 hours.



    Then remove iPhone drain out as much liquid as possible, and leave on a window still where it gets a little sun or place near a light bulb, not too close, you don't want it to get very hot, just enough to evaporate the alcohol. WAIT 3 DAYS!. It should turn on and boot up just fine. If you see some bubbles or streaks under the glass, they should go away in a few days.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Shrike View Post


    How does this work? The alcohol would have to have a stronger adhesion coefficient to the various internal components than water or whatever water solution. Or is the water being absorbed into the alcohol?



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post


    Sounds like it might be more more effective than three days in a bag of rice, the only trick I've found that works at least most of the time. When you have a teenager that fishes 2-4 hours a day, waterlogged phones are too common.



    No no no no no. You people have it all wrong. The best way to deal with a drowned iPhone is to take it back to the Apple store: http://bit.ly/pzsROu
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  • Reply 52 of 65
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sunspot42 View Post


    I'd imagine the water disperses into the alcohol, so that you end up with a solution of mostly-alcohol inside the phone, even places where air doesn't circulate well.



    Then you drain the alcohol out, and any remaining drops inside the phone evaporate much more quickly than a similar quantity of water would.



    I'd be a little concerned though, because alcohol is a solvent, and there's no telling what it might do to some of the plastics and other materials inside an iPhone.



    It's also flammable. I'd be worried about sparks starting a fire.



    The alcohol helps evaporate the water by dissolving it in a solution. That is how it works.



    There should not be any sparks inside your phone, but even so a spark is not a sufficient ignition source for diluted alcohol to catch on fire, but you should keep the alcohol container away from an open flame. Also alcohol will not harm the internal components at all in my experience. Either way, it is almost certain that the phone will never work again if you don't take these measures fairly quickly after the water comes in contact with the phone. Twice I have used this method, which I learned about online somewhere, and it has worked flawlessly in both cases. The one time it didn't work is when it went through the washer and dryer. In that case the alcohol was 80 proof whiskey and I consumed a bit too much of it the night before.
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  • Reply 53 of 65
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    No no no no no. You people have it all wrong. The best way to deal with a drowned iPhone is to take it back to the Apple store: http://bit.ly/pzsROu



    Yes you can try that. Personally I prefer to pay for my own mistakes.
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  • Reply 54 of 65
    But is it going to be transparent aluminum?
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  • Reply 55 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody View Post


    What are you referring to exactly? a Liquid metal body for an iPhone would have very few advantages and quite a few drawbacks. Most notably the price would be astronomical and the chassis would be even less radio transparent than an aluminium one.



    If they use liquid metal at all it will be in the battery contacts where it will actually do some good.



    Spray coatings. But I'm also referring to how butt ugly the site used to be before the announced partnership.
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  • Reply 56 of 65
    dunksdunks Posts: 1,254member
    Does anyone else think we are interpreting this information the wrong way? This "new" design is clearly an evolution of the iPod touch.



    It makes no sense for Apple, after 4 years, to suddenly turn around and argue that and iPod-touch-like design is a premium device and the iPhone 4 design is now the low end consumer device?



    If the 8 megapixel camera module is the same thickness as the 5 megapixel module in the iphone 4, this suggests that the phone can't become any thinner.



    My predictions are as follows:



    The iPhone 5 will be a similar form factor to the iPhone 4 with the following differences:

    8 megapixel camera

    A5 CPU

    Slightly modified antennae design

    Universal carrier support (in the USA)

    Voice integration via iOS 5

    Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities



    The low end consumer device is really an "iPod touch 4+":

    The plus represents addition of basic cellular phone capabilities.

    Won't have an earpiece on the device. Headphones with mic required for privacy calling (To differentiate from the iPhone)

    Slightly larger screen than the existing model to make room for cellular antennae, SIM card etc

    Available in 8GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities

    Priced to compete with the new amazon tablet
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  • Reply 57 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GregInPrague View Post


    The $229 iPod Touch definitely only has 8gb, so I'm not sure what you mean. There hasn't been a 16gb Touch since 2nd gen.



    You're right, guess that's because my one and only iOS device is my 1st gen iPod Touch



    Though I would seriously consider owning just an iPad if big game devs made console-like games for the iPad 3
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  • Reply 58 of 65
    irelandireland Posts: 17,802member
    I think you are on the right track with this, but have confused yourself in getting there. I think the iPhone 5 will be the cheaper slim model and the iPhone 4S will be the high end 8MP model.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dunks View Post


    Does anyone else think we are interpreting this information the wrong way? This "new" design is clearly an evolution of the iPod touch.



    It makes no sense for Apple, after 4 years, to suddenly turn around and argue that and iPod-touch-like design is a premium device and the iPhone 4 design is now the low end consumer device?



    If the 8 megapixel camera module is the same thickness as the 5 megapixel module in the iphone 4, this suggests that the phone can't become any thinner.



    My predictions are as follows:



    The iPhone 5 will be a similar form factor to the iPhone 4 with the following differences:

    8 megapixel camera

    A5 CPU

    Slightly modified antennae design

    Universal carrier support (in the USA)

    Voice integration via iOS 5

    Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities



    The low end consumer device is really an "iPod touch 4+":

    The plus represents addition of basic cellular phone capabilities.

    Won't have an earpiece on the device. Headphones with mic required for privacy calling (To differentiate from the iPhone)

    Slightly larger screen than the existing model to make room for cellular antennae, SIM card etc

    Available in 8GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities

    Priced to compete with the new amazon tablet



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  • Reply 59 of 65
    dunksdunks Posts: 1,254member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ireland View Post


    I think you are on the right track with this, but have confused yourself in getting there. I think the iPhone 5 will be the cheaper slim model and the iPhone 4S will be the high end 8MP model.



    Ireland - surely the higher version number will be reserved for the high end model, no?



    The more similar the next iPhone looks to the existing model the more Apple needs marketing to differentiate it. Calling its spiritual successor an ?iPhone 4S? can only detract from its desirability. ?iPhone 5 with iOS 5? has state of the art written all over it.



    The ?3GS? was a unique situation because they called the 2nd generation iPhone ?3G?. They couldn?t very well call its successor an ?iPhone 3? because the only marketing term worse than ?marginal improvement? is ?going backwards?. Apple will never return to a naming scheme that complicated for the same reason they never release marketing material that says ?only slightly better than last year?s model?.



    The high end model will be called iPhone 5 but it is not the new design.

    The new phone form factor (with the tapered edges) is really the low end model and should be thought of as an evolution of the iPod touch line. No real idea what it will be called (for simplicity, iPod+).



    There is no such thing as an ?iPhone 4S?. Apple will fill any perceived price gap and clear inventory by continuing to sell the iPhone 4 exactly as is.



    The October 4 Apple event will reflect on ten years ago when Apple began to dominate the portable music player market with the iPod and how the new iPod+ (or whatever) will do the same with the low cost phone market. Apple will attempt to disrupt the market by deemphasising the ?disembodied voice talking ? aspect of communicating and position it as more intimate way of communicating using video, text, images and location awareness (FaceTime, iMessage, social networking).
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  • Reply 60 of 65
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dunks View Post


    Ireland - surely the higher version number will be reserved for the high end model, no?



    The more similar the next iPhone looks to the existing model the more Apple needs marketing to differentiate it. Calling its spiritual successor an “iPhone 4S” can only detract from its desirability. “iPhone 5 with iOS 5” has state of the art written all over it.



    The “3GS” was a unique situation because they called the 2nd generation iPhone “3G”. They couldn’t very well call its successor an “iPhone 3” because the only marketing term worse than “marginal improvement” is “going backwards”. Apple will never return to a naming scheme that complicated for the same reason they never release marketing material that says “only slightly better than last year’s model”.



    The high end model will be called iPhone 5 but it is not the new design.

    The new phone form factor (with the tapered edges) is really the low end model and should be thought of as an evolution of the iPod touch line. No real idea what it will be called (for simplicity, iPod+).



    There is no such thing as an “iPhone 4S”. Apple will fill any perceived price gap and clear inventory by continuing to sell the iPhone 4 exactly as is.



    The October 4 Apple event will reflect on ten years ago when Apple began to dominate the portable music player market with the iPod and how the new iPod+ (or whatever) will do the same with the low cost phone market. Apple will attempt to disrupt the market by deemphasising the “disembodied voice talking ” aspect of communicating and position it as more intimate way of communicating using video, text, images and location awareness (FaceTime, iMessage, social networking).



    I like that you're trying to use logic instead of emotions, but your arguments are very incomplete. I submit some evidence here to support the case of iPhone 4GS.



    First, Apple currently sells two phones: iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. So they can continue this:iPhone 5 and iPhone 4. The difference this time *may* be that, unlike past years, they will actually modify the iP4 slightly and so a slightly modified name is warranted.



    Second, we have seen in the past that as the dog n pony show approaches, *leaks* become increasingly accurate. There have been convincing leaks lately about 4S, including images of boxes for cases. Sure, these could be hoaxes. But, as mentioned, history suggests not all leaks are off the mark.



    Third, Apple is not brilliant when it comes to naming products - they prefer simplicity. I agree there is no way they'd present only an iPhone 4S as a follow-up, but presenting an iPhone 5 along with an iPhone 4S would not be inconsistent with their history. In fact, they will likely not spend much time talking about the 4S. Not saying this is a sure thing, but saying instead that you risk eating words by stating with conviction that there's no such thing as 4S.



    The camera sensor is an interesting discussion point in guessing size. We know that the 5MP sensor has shrunk in size. But how thick is the 8 MP sensor? Well, the Galaxy SII has a 8MP sensor, and is a full mm thinner than the iP4 (but Samsung does not always use the thinnest part of its phones as the thickness spec). So it's possible for iP5 to sport a higher resolution camera and still be thinner.



    Case (sort of) closed.
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