Apple's next-gen iPhone could go on sale during WWDC 2010 - rumor
After Apple announced on Wednesday that its annual Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off on June 7, one new rumor suggests the fourth-generation iPhone could go on sale immediately after it is announced.
Citing "sources familiar with the situation," Ben Parr of Mashable reported Wednesday that the new iPhone could go on sale as soon as June 7, when Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs is expected to give the event's keynote presentation. That would be a change from years prior, when a new handset was announced a few weeks before its sale date.
"Our sources say that Apple may break that tradition this year by shortening the timetable," Parr wrote. "An immediate release would also break another tradition: Apple fans camping out in front of Apple stores just so they can get their hands on the company's newest product."
Mashable also hedged its best by noting that "hardware issues, software bugs and supply chain scarcity always affect launch dates." The publication remains confident, however, that the new iPhone will launch in the first half of June.
Earlier this month, a report alleged that AT&T has blacked out the month of June for its employees to take vacation days. That was taken as an early indication that the iPhone could launch in June, instead of July.
Last year, the iPhone 3GS was launched on June 19. The device was formally unveiled over a week earlier at WWDC 2009, which ran from June 8 through June 12. A year prior, the iPhone 3G went on sale July 11.
Apple announced on Friday that WWDC 2010 will kick off on June 7, running through June 11 at San Francisco's Moscone West. A date for the keynote was not announced, though it is expected to be June 7.
An immediate launch could provide Apple with a surprise for users at this year's WWDC, as a leaked prototype of Apple's next-generation iPhone has already revealed that the handset will likely have a forward-facing camera for video chat, and camera flash to improve picture lighting. Reports have also suggested that the prototype design, which features a changed exterior with a flat back and aluminum sides, will be very similar -- if not identical -- to the shipping product to be sold this summer.
Citing "sources familiar with the situation," Ben Parr of Mashable reported Wednesday that the new iPhone could go on sale as soon as June 7, when Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs is expected to give the event's keynote presentation. That would be a change from years prior, when a new handset was announced a few weeks before its sale date.
"Our sources say that Apple may break that tradition this year by shortening the timetable," Parr wrote. "An immediate release would also break another tradition: Apple fans camping out in front of Apple stores just so they can get their hands on the company's newest product."
Mashable also hedged its best by noting that "hardware issues, software bugs and supply chain scarcity always affect launch dates." The publication remains confident, however, that the new iPhone will launch in the first half of June.
Earlier this month, a report alleged that AT&T has blacked out the month of June for its employees to take vacation days. That was taken as an early indication that the iPhone could launch in June, instead of July.
Last year, the iPhone 3GS was launched on June 19. The device was formally unveiled over a week earlier at WWDC 2009, which ran from June 8 through June 12. A year prior, the iPhone 3G went on sale July 11.
Apple announced on Friday that WWDC 2010 will kick off on June 7, running through June 11 at San Francisco's Moscone West. A date for the keynote was not announced, though it is expected to be June 7.
An immediate launch could provide Apple with a surprise for users at this year's WWDC, as a leaked prototype of Apple's next-generation iPhone has already revealed that the handset will likely have a forward-facing camera for video chat, and camera flash to improve picture lighting. Reports have also suggested that the prototype design, which features a changed exterior with a flat back and aluminum sides, will be very similar -- if not identical -- to the shipping product to be sold this summer.
Comments
iWant.
iNeed.
The coolest thing Jobs could do would be to have Gray Powell bring the phone onstage at the keynote.
And then publicly fire him for using the G4 iPhone to pick up chicks? j/k
This would mean that there would be no third party software to support new native hardware features at launch, like the new cameras, higher resolution display, etc. Apple could allow these features available in the SDK before WWDC, but that would be VERY un-Apple like
True, but it could be workable:
* Apple could have its own app for the video camera (iChat?)
* Apple?s own aps (and home screen) could support the higher res (which I hope is a true rumor!), so that includes web browsing, email and maps?very useful out of the box
* 3rd-party apps should still run and look the same as they do now (pixel-doubled, but unlike the iPad it wouldn?t look bad compared to what we?re used to)
(And anyway, a few weeks or even a month of delay wouldn?t help developers that much. That?s barely enough for approval delay
HOWEVER, OS 4.0 isn?t due until summer (beginning June 21). So releasing the new iPhone before then would either mean an early release of OS 4.0 (yay!) or that the new iPhone gets OS 4.0 sooner than the general release. I do NOT see much chance of the new iPhone shipping without OS 4.0, unless there?s some interim release like ?3.3? to enable basic functionality of the new resolution. (That would be disappointing, but OS 4.0 will still come along soon.)
iWant.
iNeed.
And then publicly fire him for using the G4 iPhone to pick up chicks? j/k
Classic!
The coolest thing Jobs could do would be to have Gray Powell bring the phone onstage at the keynote.
No, have Jobs introduce Gray Powell to show off the new iPhone and Mr. Powell fiddles as he searches pocket to pocket to pocket to pocket looking for that thing and have Phil Schilling bring out on a handcart a bunch of German beer and Steve says, "Not again, Gray. Not again, as Jobs shakes his head to the hoots, howls, screams and laughter from the audience...
The coolest thing Jobs could do would be to have Gray Powell bring the phone onstage at the keynote.
Or to be called to bring it on stage and then pretend to have misplaced it.
Apple's next-gen iPhone could go on sale during WWDC 2010
Or not, Apple has a public at large knowing the next version is and thus holding off purchases.
Apple has to wait until a enough know-nothings buy out the previous versions inventory. It could take awhile.
$5,000 buys a lot of German beer...kids got taste.
Well, at least we know what it looks like. ;D
http://gizmodo.com/5520164/this-is-apples-next-iphone
In addition to the previous pattern of "announce first, release week(s) later" (see: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPad), Apple has already stated that iPhone OS 4 will be available in "Summer." Which, last time I checked, falls a couple weeks after this year's WWDC.
No way Apple releases the 4h Gen iPhone prior to OS 4 being available! Duh!!
Or to be called to bring it on stage and then pretend to have misplaced it.
The chairs the audience sits in should all be bar stools with an iphone 4G disguised as a 3GS on them.