What will iPhone 2.0, 3.0 etc. look like?

nickmini · December 11, 2007 9:52AM

Hi all

How about some of you with Mad Skilz® in illustration/rendering come up with some concepts of the future evolution of the iPhone. Use iPod evolution as a baseline; remember how cool and slick we thought iPod v1 was, and how boxy and clunky it looks now? Start your engines!

chris cuilla · December 11, 2007 1:10PM

I could be guilty of having a pretty limited imagination, but I don't see a huge amount of change (as you have with the iPod).

That said, I can imagine a few distinct evolutionary physical changes and here's what I think they'll be (perhaps someone with the appropriate Photoshop skills and go to work on this):

(These first two are sort of the "duh" predictions)

- Thinner and less pronounced frame. Remember the design trend appears to be to make the thing/device itself disappear. I'm sure Apple is working hard on thinner, lighter and shrinking frames.

- Brighter and higher resolution screen.

These next four are "pure Apple" (as in, if anyone can/will do it, it is Apple)...these are also probably in order of likeliness:

- The "home" button to be integrated into the screen somehow and the screen extended down to take the space where that button now resides.

- Camera integrated with/behind the screen in such a way that if you were looking right at the screen, you'd be looking right into the camera. Apple has filed a patent for such an approach. This will solve the "look me in the eye" problem with video chat (which I suspect is a future software/service feature for th iPhone).

- Tactile feedback from the touch screen. Apple has filed a patent for such an approach.

- The ear speaker to to be hidden behind the screen somehow and the screen extended up to take the space where that opening now resides.

Now before anyone jumps in and says "That's impossible!" maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But, like I said, if anyone can figure it out, it's Apple. I am simply extrapolating design trends that I've seen from Apple for the past several years.

Note that I see the same kind of things happening with the iMac as well (thinner, smaller frame and chin, possible touch screen, camera integrated with the screen, etc.).

Both of these products are physically evolving in such a way that they are basically disappearing with only a screen (and keyboard and mouse for the iMac) remaining suggesting that most of the product innovation will come along the lines of hidden features, software and user interface. The interface will be the thing. Or "It's the (graphical) interface stupid."

nickmini · December 11, 2007 1:20PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Cuilla

I could be guilty of having a pretty limited imagination, but I don't see a huge amount of change (as you have with the iPod).

That said, I can imagine a few distinct evolutionary physical changes and here's what I think they'll be (perhaps someone with the appropriate Photoshop skills and go to work on this):

(These first two are sort of the "duh" predictions)

- Thinner and less pronounced frame. Remember the design trend appears to be to make the thing/device itself disappear. I'm sure Apple is working hard on thinner, lighter and shrinking frames.

- Brighter and higher resolution screen.

These next four are "pure Apple" (as in, if anyone can/will do it, it is Apple)...these are also probably in order of likeliness:

- The "home" button to be integrated into the screen somehow and the screen extended down to take the space where that button now resides.

- Camera integrated with/behind the screen in such a way that if you were looking right at the screen, you'd be looking right into the camera. Apple has filed a patent for such an approach. This will solve the "look me in the eye" problem with video chat (which I suspect is a future software/service feature for th iPhone).

- Tactile feedback from the touch screen. Apple has filed a patent for such an approach.

- The ear speaker to to be hidden behind the screen somehow and the screen extended up to take the space where that opening now resides.

Now before anyone jumps in and says "That's impossible!" maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But, like I said, if anyone can figure it out, it's Apple. I am simply extrapolating design trends that I've seen from Apple for the past several years.

Note that I see the same kind of things happening with the iMac as well (thinner, smaller frame and chin, possible touch screen, camera integrated with the screen, etc.).

Both of these products are physically evolving in such a way that they are basically disappearing with only a screen (and keyboard and mouse for the iMac) remaining suggesting that most of the product innovation will come along the lines of hidden features, software and user interface. The interface will be the thing. Or "It's the (graphical) interface stupid."

Great start, very logical ideas - now lets see some virtual gadget pron

wizard69 · December 11, 2007 3:11PM

I think this is key, if Apple wants to become a major player in the cell industry they will need to have multiple devices available.

So:

1.

An iPhone NANO. That is a much smaller iPhone with iPod functionality and not much else. This phone would have a minimal screen and not much else.

2.

IPhone bumps. I suspect that the current iPhone hardware will be around for awhile. What they will do though is bump the Flash capability form time to time.

3.

IPhone Max. This is what the first 3G hardware will come in. It will be a phone with a larger screen but remain something that is pocketable. It will have 3G, a 720x480 LCD screen ( or maybe OLED), memeory expansion and a USB host port.

4.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a tablet computer with cell functionality built in too.

Dave

nickmini · December 11, 2007 3:29PM

This discussion is all well and good, but this thread was started to generate mock-ups - is there nobody with a few hours and a Wacom tablet handy?

gugy · December 11, 2007 4:41PM

nope!

ireland · December 11, 2007 5:16PM

iPhone 2.0 will look they exact same I suspect. They may introduce a black model too.

shetline · December 11, 2007 7:27PM

Apple's goin' retro, baby!

wizard69 · December 12, 2007 7:06AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickmini

This discussion is all well and good, but this thread was started to generate mock-ups - is there nobody with a few hours and a Wacom tablet handy?

Believe me you are better off looking at my prose than my art. But don't b affriad to use you imagination. For example look at an old iPod Nano, fatten it up a bit for battery and radio, and you have the low end phone. For iPhone 2 simply take a picture of the current one and stretch it by about a 1/2" in width and you have a much more useful display.

In any event there really isn't much to mock up when you consider the iPhone.

Dave

outsider · December 12, 2007 8:59AM

The beauty of the iPhone is that it's so clean and elegant a design that there is not much you can change. Maybe a different border option, like carbon fiber or titanium, and different color option for the front. But version 2 will stay chrome & black. Below is what I think should happen (I excluded stuff like memory capacity and camera details):

iPhone MkII

Slightly thicker to accommodate a bigger battery and more circuitry for the 3G.

Height: 4.5 inches (115 mm) - Width: 2.4 inches (61 mm) - Depth: 0.55 inch (14 mm) - Weight: 5.1 ounces (145 grams)

A more matte border similar to the new Classic iPods and nanos.

Audio port is not recessed.

SIM slot is relocated to inside the new removable battery compartment.

The new battery is integrated into the cover (currently the black bottom portion) and now matches the back brushed metal top portion. You just slide it down while squeezing 2 side releases.

The MkI would still be available.

programmer · December 12, 2007 9:12AM

aegisdesign · December 12, 2007 9:20AM

Like this?

tht · December 13, 2007 12:48PM

theapplecollection.com has lots of interesting images:

iPhone nano:

iPod-ish phones:

Tablet:

video iPods:

hyteprosector · December 13, 2007 1:12PM

Personally ... I think the scroll wheel is on its way out. I know that this thread is about the iPhone, not the iPod, but people keep thinking that the scroll wheel will migrate to the iPhone/iPhone nano. How would that work? Would it be like a rotary style phone on steroids? I think that the iPod Touch shows us that the scroll wheel will eventually be gone in 5 years, (Maybe it will reappear on the Front Row remote ... doubt it though). If an iPhone nano comes out, its gotta be touch screen. I know, I know. Everyone hates that you can't push the buttons to a touch through your clothes like you can with the nano/classic. I hear ya. But its a great trade-off for the screen size to device size ratio. Can't beat it. So while some people are probably still thinking ... "Virtual scroll wheel on the screen!" ... I would have to point back to the touch again. The slide bar takes up less room on the screen and is easy to use with all ten digits. The scroll wheel was designed with the concept of the opposable thumb in mind. Bottom line? The iTouch and iPhone are interfaces that are going to be around for a real long time. Longer than the scroll wheel. Although the scroll wheel was great, it was just late. <----I feel like Johnny Cochran with a closer like that

hyteprosector · December 13, 2007 3:44PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Cuilla

"

- The "home" button to be integrated into the screen somehow and the screen extended down to take the space where that button now resides...

- The ear speaker to to be hidden behind the screen somehow and the screen extended up to take the space where that opening now resides.

Now before anyone jumps in and says "That's impossible!" maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But, like I said, if anyone can figure it out, it's Apple. I am simply extrapolating design trends that I've seen from Apple for the past several years.

Note that I see the same kind of things happening with the iMac as well (thinner, smaller frame and chin, possible touch screen, camera integrated with the screen, etc.).

"

I agree with you that the whole front of the device will one day be a screen completely. But I think its the other way around. I think that the iPhone itself will shrink... Who knows. Right now, I feel that the iPhone is a touch too big. No pun intended.

onlooker · December 13, 2007 5:20PM

Your also in the wrong forum. Even though it's future hardware, the iPhone forum is for ALL things iPhone.

tht · December 14, 2007 10:45PM

Well, knowing Apple, the next gen iPhone will look a lot like the current iPhone, with perhaps a color change here and there and evolutionary changes (16 GB storage, software improvements). I do hope that they continue to challenge themselves and always create something refreshing every year. They should always endeavor to make what it does best even better.

The best thing about the iPhone is the 3.5" screen. Make it bigger, 4 inches, but keep the same planform (4.4 x 2.4 inches). Add more resolution, 400x600. Use LED backlighting for better power savings. They could make the audio and cell phone portions even better by adding a speaker (I'd move the loud-speaker to the ear-piece location and add another speaker/ear-piece) with appropriate audio hardware to make calls clearer, louder and the speaker even louder. And I'd add another microphone so that people can hear your calls better, both in normal and speaker modes. Add more sensors.

Then there are the obvious things: 16/32 GB storage (it really needs to have room for 2 flash packages minimum); 3 MP camera with flash, AF, IS; UMTS / HSxPA; faster more power-efficient electronics; accessories; etc.

And as has been said before, there should be a plethora of models spanning from an iPhone "nano", an iPhone, and an iPhone "pro".

The iPhone would be the same size as now, but everything optimized and evolving per above.

The iPhone "nano" would be the more "affordable" iPhone at ~$200. Take the current iPhone and shrink it down to a 4x2 inch form factor, a 3" 480x320 screen, EDGE / UMTS, 8 GB storage, etc. It's just the current iPhone in a smaller package. The 4 icon wide spacing will likely have to go though.

For the iPhone "pro", it would really be geared towards the Blackberry and professional markets in the $500 to $600 range. Exchange push and sync (everything: calendar, contacts, notes, tasks, to do, email) or RIM equivalent has to be there. There's room to make it 4.8 x 2.6 x 0.6 inches form factor too (PDA sized) with a ~4.5" screen at 480x720 resolution. The keyboard in portrait position will be ~10% wider and ~25% larger in area on simple scaling alone. Web-browsing would be more like the desktop experience. A nice loud-speaker or conference calls. Wider soft QWERTY for easier typing.

Then the software has to be improved everywhere with Mac OS X like functionality: spotlight searching everywhere, Expose, Quicklook, mobile iWork/iLife, etc. This will take a long long time to do though.

Well, anyways, the next iPhone will look a lot like the current iPhone with evolution hardware and software changes. There could be an interim 16 GB model as everyone is speculating. Then the 3G version will obviously come by Summer. I do think there will be a mid-range, $200 iPhone. Not sure what it'll look like though. Touchscreen for sure since Apple is investing heavily into it.

What will iPhone 2.0, 3.0 etc. look like?

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