The *Official* Next iPhone Thread

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
I went through a few pages and didn't see anything like this...just a few "will there be a new iphone" type threads. Let's put it all together, discussing:



Tech Specs

Features

Release Date

Problems solved



I think there are some obvious specs/features:



--Higher res camera, perhaps 5MP with possibility of flash.

--Possible front-facing video camera for video chat

--32GB and 64GB versions

--Faster processors/possibly even dual-core

--Interface speed improvements (I understand this is already the case on the 3GS. I'm coming from a 3G, so it's likely I perceive the difference to be greater when I upgrade)





Good possibilities:



OLED Screen

Touch sensitive casing

Casing changes/material changes.

Message indicator light/text indicator light

Ability to have custom text tones w/o hacking





"Maybe:"



Removable battery

RFID





Release date? I hear April, but I think that is unlikely. I'd say June. I should be nearing upgrade eligibility then (August) so I'm anxious to upgrade. Right now my pet peeves with my 3G are:



--Interface lag, especially when getting an e-mail or voicemail

--No indicator for messages

--Text messages displayed on screen...this can be...eh...dangerous, especially when my idiot friend sends me pornographic joke forwards.

--Non-customizable text tones w/o hacking.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 54
    mrtotesmrtotes Posts: 760member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post


    --Higher res camera, perhaps 5MP with possibility of flash.

    --Possible front-facing video camera for video chat

    --Faster processors/possibly even dual-core

    --Interface speed improvements (I understand this is already the case on the 3GS. I'm coming from a 3G, so it's likely I perceive the difference to be greater when I upgrade)



    I'd guess a lower clocked (than the iPad) A4 processor. A better camera seems a must to me; so many apps rely on it - augmented reality etc. I'd like to see a flash too.



    Like my (£50) Casio watch and Olympus compact camera I'd like to see a Manometer. This would allow local weather forecasting from the atmospheric pressure; and when in a building when GPS height can't be obtained, an Augmented reality app can obtain the height above sea level.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post


    Good possibilities:

    OLED Screen

    Touch sensitive casing

    Casing changes/material changes.

    Message indicator light/text indicator light

    Ability to have custom text tones w/o hacking



    "Maybe:" Removable battery

    RFID



    Indicator lights and removeable battery would be a divergence from the Apple way. I don't see RFID or OLED yet.... I'd like to see a slightly more 'rubbery' casing so it doesn't slip out of the hand. I'd happily see a slight increase in size to accomodate a larger battery. HDMI or MiniDP output options would be nice. I think we could see Mini SIM being used too.



    Is is time for a new [robust] dock connector? We saw that legislation last year for all EU phones to use MicroUSB connector but this increases the cost of upgrade when looking at accessories currently owned.



    I'd like to see the following in 4.0;

    - Custom message tones

    - Ability not to be told in a pop-up every time my network drops

    - Widgets (which multitask) - i.e. approved apps that use <10% processor and are access by swiping updown rather than left/right.

    - Ability to edit call list.

    - Summary home screen.
  • Reply 2 of 54
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,015member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrtotes View Post


    I'd guess a lower clocked (than the iPad) A4 processor. A better camera seems a must to me; so many apps rely on it - augmented reality etc. I'd like to see a flash too.



    I forgot about augmented reality. I haven't gotten into that at all.



    Quote:



    Like my (£50) Casio watch and Olympus compact camera I'd like to see a Manometer. This would allow local weather forecasting from the atmospheric pressure; and when in a building when GPS height can't be obtained, an Augmented reality app can obtain the height above sea level.



    Dude..that one is WAY out there. I had to literally look up what the heck a manometer was! I'll bet my first born that won't happen.



    Quote:







    Indicator lights and removeable battery would be a divergence from the Apple way.



    Why, because these are features not in the first 3 iPhones? These are two of the most requested features, if not the most requested. Personally, I don't need the removable battery. Even my 3G is decent on battery life. I hear the current iteration is much better. As for a light, I'd really like to have something. Many people are annoyed at having 12 messages when they happen to pick up their phone.



    Quote:





    I don't see RFID or OLED yet....



    OLED seems to be a consistent prediction, but I hear its got outside visibility issues. I don't care about RFID. But it's possible.



    Quote:

    I'd like to see a slightly more 'rubbery' casing so it doesn't slip out of the hand. I'd happily see a slight increase in size to accomodate a larger battery. HDMI or MiniDP output options would be nice. I think we could see Mini SIM being used too.



    1. Doubtful. They have to give the accessory makers something to do!

    2. If anything, it may be smaller. I hope not. The size is something I like at this time.

    3. I doubt it, but less than I doubt the rubbery casing.



    Quote:



    Is is time for a new [robust] dock connector? We saw that legislation last year for all EU phones to use MicroUSB connector but this increases the cost of upgrade when looking at accessories currently owned.



    Ugh...micro USB? Let's hope not. What exactly do you mean by "robust?"



    Quote:



    I'd like to see the following in 4.0;

    - Custom message tones

    - Ability not to be told in a pop-up every time my network drops

    - Widgets (which multitask) - i.e. approved apps that use <10% processor and are access by swiping updown rather than left/right.

    - Ability to edit call list.

    - Summary home screen.



    I'm not sure what you mean by the last two. I forgot one MAJOR wish I have though:



    PLEASE LET ME SYNC OVER WIFI and/or BLUETOOTH!!!!!
  • Reply 3 of 54
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Personally, I'd be satisfied with:



    --Better notification system. There have been several examples, Apple should take note.



    -- Better/more customizable home screen, including summary of unacknowledged notifications (see above).



    -- Whatever CPU/ram improvements are necessary to keep everything snappy as functionality evolves.



    --Possibly limited third party multitasking, if only to shut people up. From what I've seen you'd only need to designate one or two apps as backgroundable to cover 99% of the use cases people keep bringing up.



    Screen/camera/keeping up with the Joneses doesn't concern me much.



    EDIT: Hmmm, I see that overlaps pretty much with mrtotes. Custom message tones would be good.
  • Reply 4 of 54
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,015member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by addabox View Post


    Personally, I'd be satisfied with:



    --Better notification system. There have been several examples, Apple should take note.



    -- Better/more customizable home screen, including summary of unacknowledged notifications (see above).



    -- Whatever CPU/ram improvements are necessary to keep everything snappy as functionality evolves.



    --Possibly limited third party multitasking, if only to shut people up. From what I've seen you'd only need to designate one or two apps as backgroundable to cover 99% of the use cases people keep bringing up.



    Screen/camera/keeping up with the Joneses doesn't concern me much.



    EDIT: Hmmm, I see that overlaps pretty much with mrtotes. Custom message tones would be good.



    People keep talking about the home screen. Personally I'm fine with it. I don't need a summary. Push notifications drive me crazy anyway. I feel like I HAVE to check them. That reminds me...I need to turn off the option on the Facebook app if I can.



    The camera doesn't concern you? Again, I guess it depends on what you have now. I have a 3G. The camera is marginal. In good light, the camera is fine. In dim light, forget it. It really needs a flash and greater resolution. I see the 3gs can zoom. Mine can't.



    I frankly couldn't care less about multitasking. I guess if I could switch from maps to weather without closing, selecting and opening every time, that would be cool.



    I'm not issuing an "I Will Holdout Unless..." list or anything. These are more my hopes. If Apple wasn't due to release another iPhone this year, I'd likely just upgrade to the 3GS. I'll tell you what though, not being able to customize my text tones tempts me to hack the thing. $19 phones have that feature.
  • Reply 5 of 54
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post


    People keep talking about the home screen. Personally I'm fine with it. I don't need a summary. Push notifications drive me crazy anyway. I feel like I HAVE to check them. That reminds me...I need to turn off the option on the Facebook app if I can.



    I think the idea with a homescreen/summary setup is that you either wouldn't need the push pop-ups or you could dismiss them without then having them vanish without a trace. So either you disable pop-ups and instead glance at the new home screen to get a current listing of all unacknowledged notifications, or you use pop-ups and either attend to or dismiss as you see fit, confident that at any point you can go somewhere and see what's pending.



    I guess that Apple reckons that badges are a solution to persistent lists, but with apps strung out over multiple screens it really isn't.
  • Reply 6 of 54
    shrikeshrike Posts: 494member
    Is this a wishlist or a prediction?



    If it is a prediction, you have to lowball your expectations:



    833 MHz Cortex A8

    Higher clocked PowerVR SGX 535

    512 MB RAM

    16/32/64 GB storage

    3 MP Camera with Flash

    3.5" 480x320 screen, maybe brighter

    Whatever comes with iPhone OS X 3.2 & 4

    6 hr talk or 3G browsing

    10+ hr WiFi browsing and H.264 video

    Plasti-body design language with maybe it being thinner



    I wouldn't be surprised if it is an A4 processor with a PowerVR SGX 540 or a 720x480 IPS LCD screen or front facing camera, but Apple isn't going to release a hardware set that blows everything away. They don't need to do that. They just need to be middling while making sure the software is smooth like the iPhone 3GS.



    The number one complaint about iPhones is battery life. I think they will try to address that by increasing battery energy density and skimping on all of the brand fangled new battery hogging technologies. So I think they trying to make sure the next iPhone gets 6 hours talk or 3G browsing, and will skimp on any new hardware/software that makes that difficult to achieve.



    If it is a wishlist, then sometimes reality isn't even the limit:



    1.0 GHz A4

    PowerVR SGX 543MP with 2 cores

    512 MB RAM

    16/32/64 GB storage

    3 MP camera w/Flash, but camera CCD sensor is 2x the size as the old one

    4" 960x640 IPS LCD screen

    VGA front-facing camera

    2 microphones

    iPhone OS 4 with 4-point touch UI for app switching and multi-tasking

    8 hr talk or 3G browsing

    12 hr H.264 video or WiFi browsing

    Aluminum unibody design language



    The only thing you'll get out of this list is maybe an 800 MHz A4 and 512 MB ram. Oh, the storage is typically a no-brainer.
  • Reply 7 of 54
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Shrike View Post


    Is this a wishlist or a prediction?



    If it is a prediction, you have to lowball your expectations:



    833 MHz Cortex A8

    Higher clocked PowerVR SGX 535

    512 MB RAM

    16/32/64 GB storage

    3 MP Camera with Flash

    3.5" 480x320 screen, maybe brighter

    Whatever comes with iPhone OS X 3.2 & 4

    6 hr talk or 3G browsing

    10+ hr WiFi browsing and H.264 video

    Plasti-body design language with maybe it being thinner



    I wouldn't be surprised if it is an A4 processor with a PowerVR SGX 540 or a 720x480 IPS LCD screen or front facing camera, but Apple isn't going to release a hardware set that blows everything away. They don't need to do that. They just need to be middling while making sure the software is smooth like the iPhone 3GS.



    The number one complaint about iPhones is battery life. I think they will try to address that by increasing battery energy density and skimping on all of the brand fangled new battery hogging technologies. So I think they trying to make sure the next iPhone gets 6 hours talk or 3G browsing, and will skimp on any new hardware/software that makes that difficult to achieve.



    If it is a wishlist, then sometimes reality isn't even the limit:



    1.0 GHz A4

    PowerVR SGX 543MP with 2 cores

    512 MB RAM

    16/32/64 GB storage

    3 MP camera w/Flash, but camera CCD sensor is 2x the size as the old one

    4" 960x640 IPS LCD screen

    VGA front-facing camera

    2 microphones

    iPhone OS 4 with 4-point touch UI for app switching and multi-tasking

    8 hr talk or 3G browsing

    12 hr H.264 video or WiFi browsing

    Aluminum unibody design language



    The only thing you'll get out of this list is maybe an 800 MHz A4 and 512 MB ram. Oh, the storage is typically a no-brainer.



    All of that seems very reasonable. My wish list doesn't even touch the hardware, beyond the inevitable bumps. Software wise, though, I think Android and the Pre have given Apple some food for thought around a couple of usability issues.
  • Reply 8 of 54
    tsad23tsad23 Posts: 46member
    http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/h...perphone-armo/



    For all of you spec-whores out there, take a look at this beast!

    Finally some serious competition to the iphone...can't wait to see what Apple comes up with next.
  • Reply 9 of 54
    nofeernofeer Posts: 2,427member
    great ideas, but more capability for work,

    more mobile me ability

    e.g. sync notes, do do list with MM

    better calendar, when doing an event on website where are the alerts etc

    more robust calendar



    i'd go for a thicker phone to get more battery life

    what about super amoled screen



    the iphone is fast becoming my primary connection to the world and work



    it needs more robust "work" intergration
  • Reply 10 of 54
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tsad23 View Post


    http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/h...perphone-armo/



    For all of you spec-whores out there, take a look at this beast!

    Finally some serious competition to the iphone...can't wait to see what Apple comes up with next.



    Holy CRAP



    4.3" 800x480 screen

    1 GHz Snapdragon

    Wimax 4G

    8 megapixel camera

    720p video recording

    1.3 megapixel front-facing camera

    HDMI out

    Android 2.1



    Man, how in the heck will Apple compete? The cards are surely stacking up and FAST.
  • Reply 11 of 54
    bushman4bushman4 Posts: 858member
    Hopefully, we'll see several new features in the next IPHONE.

    It's obvious that just a faster processor, multi tasking, and a Universal mailbox won't do the trick.





    And PERHAPS AN IPHONE ULTIMATE with even more features for those of us that are willing to pay.
  • Reply 12 of 54
    Hopefully, the iPhone will be a better phone. Not a better PDA or game machine or iPod or GPS unit or whatever else, but a better phone. Right now, compared to what else is out there, it is not.



    iPod Touch + Regular phone (not touchscreen smartphone) still provides a far better experience than the iPhone. Unless you really really really prefer one device over two (or three, if you're counting a 3G router for the Touch).
  • Reply 13 of 54
    outsideroutsider Posts: 6,008member
    What is so bad about the iPhone as a phone? In my experience, it's been the best phone I ever had. And I have had Nokia, SE, and 2 Motorola, one being a Q9c.



    I expect the next iPhone to have:



    * Better camera with a flash (5MP)

    * Higher memory capacities (16GB base, up to 128GB)

    * More memory for iPhone OS 4.0 multitasking. 1GB is not out of the question.

    * WiFi syncing using wireless N.

    * Better home screen as was detailed above. I would love a notification manager as well.
  • Reply 14 of 54
    trumptmantrumptman Posts: 16,464member
    I just want Apple to bring it in terms of the upgrade. The Android train isn't and won't be better than the iPhone in terms of software but it doesn't have to be. It only has to be "good enough" and it is clear that with 2.1 it will be good enough for most people out there. As noted further up, a couple of the new HTC phones are just INSANE from a spec perspective. If you look at where Android phones have come in 18 months, it is amazing progress. I say this because Apple has been and likely will continue to spit out their once a year upgrade so it better not just be great compared to now, it better be great compared to where Android is going to be 16-18 months from now.



    I personally want loads of space, more memory for running apps, enough multitasking that I can run Pandora and my running GPS app at the same time, better battery life, a much, much, much better camera and most of all, make it a better phone. Give this thing an insane speakerphone or even stereo speakers to offset the fact you likely won't do much with the screen at all. (I'm betting the resolution stays the same and won't budge until they can get iPad resolution down to 4 inches.)



    They really need to improve the GPS chip as well. It feels weak and slow compared to other phones I have tried.



    So phone... pictures/video.... GPS... multitasking...battery.... and sound output.



    I'm very worried for Apple this year. Android makers don't have the same margins as Apple and thus I already see Droids going two for one at times. When people can pick whatever high end Android phone they want and go two for one on it for $199 on any and choose any or every carrier in North America, that is a good enough alternative to slow Apple's growth.
  • Reply 15 of 54
    daveswdavesw Posts: 406member
    i'm specially curious how's Apple going to implement multitasking
  • Reply 16 of 54
    g3prog3pro Posts: 669member
    Apple has a lot of work to do to catch up with HTC Evo. That thing is an absolute BEAST.
  • Reply 17 of 54
    bushman4bushman4 Posts: 858member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by g3pro View Post


    Apple has a lot of work to do to catch up with HTC Evo. That thing is an absolute BEAST.



    Time for APPLE to flex its know-how by putting out an ULTIMATE 4G IPHONE that really has all the features people ate asking for, such as...........

    Longer lasting battery

    LED flash for its camera

    Universal Mail Box

    Multitasking

    OLED screen

    REMOVABLE BATTERY...........yes we the customer need more battery power and are willing to buy extra batteries. Apples going to make money on it, why not?



    BOTTOM LINE: Put all the features i that that many basic phones have had for years, such as message notification,Better camera etc.
  • Reply 18 of 54
    g3prog3pro Posts: 669member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BUSHMAN4 View Post


    Time for APPLE to flex its know-how by putting out an ULTIMATE 4G IPHONE that really has all the features people ate asking for, such as...........



    Not to get too technical, but the next-gen iPhone will be the 4th generation iphone, but will not have a 4G connection since it will likely only use 3G service on AT&T. The HTC Evo actually uses 4G wireless data.
  • Reply 19 of 54
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by g3pro View Post


    Not to get too technical, but the next-gen iPhone will be the 4th generation iphone, but will not have a 4G connection since it will likely only use 3G service on AT&T. The HTC Evo actually uses 4G wireless data.



    Yeah they screwed the pooch on the naming.



    Will it be the iPhone 3GSSSSSSSSS?
  • Reply 20 of 54
    mrtotesmrtotes Posts: 760member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tsad23 View Post


    http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/h...perphone-armo/



    For all of you spec-whores out there, take a look at this beast!

    Finally some serious competition to the iphone...can't wait to see what Apple comes up with next.



    Disagree. We all know that higher spec devices can look great on paper. A device will only be serious competition for the iPhone after it has proven it's usability in the hands of users.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by g3pro View Post


    Not to get too technical, but the next-gen iPhone will be the 4th generation iphone, but will not have a 4G connection since it will likely only use 3G service on AT&T. The HTC Evo actually uses 4G wireless data.



    Quite agree. The 2010 iPhone will not be 4th Gen wireless. I spend most of the day in GPRS at the moment. 3G is plenty fast enough for most the networks just need to concentrate on rolling 3G out no getting distracted with different standards.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post


    Why, because these are features not in the first 3 iPhones? These are two of the most requested features, if not the most requested. Personally, I don't need the removable battery. Even my 3G is decent on battery life. I hear the current iteration is much better. As for a light, I'd really like to have something. Many people are annoyed at having 12 messages when they happen to pick up their phone.



    Well perhaps the flash LED could optionally blink gently as an indicator. I disagree with the battery life though. I recently lived overseas for 4 months and so had no data connection on the iPhone 3GS - then I could charge it once a week. Here in the UK (possibly because the network is

    patchy?) the phone can be down to 75% charge by the time I arrive at work 90mins after taking it off charge.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post


    Ugh...micro USB? Let's hope not. What exactly do you mean by "robust?"



    Well on previous mobile phones I could probably stand on the connector and not damage it. I find myself being very careful around 30pin dock connectors. Whilst I certainly don't want to see MicroUSB Apple did sign that agreement.



    I think my typical usage of iPhone outdoors drives my desired needs.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post


    I'm not sure what you mean by the last two. I forgot one MAJOR wish I have though:



    PLEASE LET ME SYNC OVER WIFI and/or BLUETOOTH!!!!!



    Assuming 802.11n is in there I'm sure WiFi syncing will be made available. I'd guess BT would be considered too slow.



    I'd like the home screen to be a summary of activity - which is what the other devices offer. i.e. emails, sms, calendar events, missed calls etc.
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