Apple moving to 3-year 'major' iPhone cycle, adding complex vibrations to 2017 model - report
Apple will likely be waiting until next year to debut its next major iPhone refresh, treating this year's "iPhone 7" as yet another interim upgrade, a Japanese report said on Tuesday.
Edge-to-edge iPhone display concept by Martin Hajek.
The 2017 iPhone is expected to make the switch to OLED, among other important design changes, Nikkei said. While that would support recent rumors, the business publication also made an original claim that the device will have a new vibration motor, capable of producing more complex patterns than earlier iPhones.
That could indicate that Apple will use an evolved version of its "Taptic Engine," found in devices like the Apple Watch and the iPhone 6s. The technology lets devices produce different, subtle responses to user actions and notifications.
The "iPhone 7" is likely to stay mostly the same, Nikkei said, the most noticeable difference being the removal of the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. Camera, water resistance, and battery technology should be improved, the paper continued, also mentioning that "a high-end version of the model will give users better-quality photo capabilities via correction functions."
Rumors have suggested that the standard iPhone 7 might gain optical image stabilization, while a "7 Plus" will have a dual-lens camera.
The report lastly claimed that based on Apple production schedules given to suppliers, the company is not expecting 2016 iPhone sales to top 2015. The company posted its first-ever year-over-year decline in iPhone units during the March quarter, and typically sales aren't expected to rebound until new models arrive this fall.
Edge-to-edge iPhone display concept by Martin Hajek.
The 2017 iPhone is expected to make the switch to OLED, among other important design changes, Nikkei said. While that would support recent rumors, the business publication also made an original claim that the device will have a new vibration motor, capable of producing more complex patterns than earlier iPhones.
That could indicate that Apple will use an evolved version of its "Taptic Engine," found in devices like the Apple Watch and the iPhone 6s. The technology lets devices produce different, subtle responses to user actions and notifications.
The "iPhone 7" is likely to stay mostly the same, Nikkei said, the most noticeable difference being the removal of the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. Camera, water resistance, and battery technology should be improved, the paper continued, also mentioning that "a high-end version of the model will give users better-quality photo capabilities via correction functions."
Rumors have suggested that the standard iPhone 7 might gain optical image stabilization, while a "7 Plus" will have a dual-lens camera.
The report lastly claimed that based on Apple production schedules given to suppliers, the company is not expecting 2016 iPhone sales to top 2015. The company posted its first-ever year-over-year decline in iPhone units during the March quarter, and typically sales aren't expected to rebound until new models arrive this fall.
Comments
So what do we have now, 2 weeks before WWDC?
- India situation
- lawsuits
- Boring iP 7
oh yeah; and "death threats".
Agreed.
I suppose I could see Apple reserve some of the juiciest features for a 10th anniversary version of the phone, but I think the likelihood of moving to a consistent three year cycle is remote, if for no other reason than the Apple upgrade programs are still based on 24 months or less.
Six years: new iPhone every two years = Three iPhones purchased ($750 each), $2250 revenue for Apple.
Six years: new iPhone every three years = Two iPhones purchased ($750 each), $1500 revenue for Apple.
Do you really think Apple is going to voluntarily erase a third of their future revenue?
www.patentlyapple.com to see what we are in store for . Bendable two sided phones, augmented reality, etc. I choose to do my own research and not get my information from Mainstream media, especially on a company as secretive as Apple, just follow the patents they file and draw your own conclusions and not wait for CNBC or a article to be written.
I'm inferring they regard the 5s as something less than "major," but the 5s had a CPU that was about twice as fast as the 5, a much better camera, and it introduced TouchID. If that's the standard for a minor update, then I see no cause for concern.
The 6s, on the other hand, is not nearly as impressive relative to the 6. The camera quality is virtually identical, 3d touch is not nearly as compelling as TouchID, and the CPU improvement, while impressive on paper, is less meaningful in terms of user experience.
So.... if the difference between the 6s and 7 is akin to the difference between the 5 and the 5s, then I'll be buying a 7+ this year. If the difference is more akin to 6s vs 6, I'll probably hold off.
I agree!
I think the iPhone will have an annual upgrade cycle. Each new model will offer a capability (at least one) that will be best-exploited by the latest new hardware. The 2016 iPhone may have a new, compelling, Siri and/or other cloud or social service.
Actually, calling today's iPhone, a phone is a misnomer -- it is a very personal accessory ... It can interact with others socially, take pictures and videos, play games, present videos/movies/events, surf the web, play music, provide notifications, navigation, buy and pay for things, etc. Oh, it can even be used make and receive phone calls.
When you look at the device from that perspective, it seems that the secret sauce is to offer new capabilities that we can't live without -- and do them best on the newest device.
Just because YOU can't think of anything new and creative doesn't mean Apple can't.
RU•MOR
/ˈro͞omər:
a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth:
"This iPhone story is based on a rumor."
Do you people ever get it?
The removal of the 35 mm jack, likely, would be to improve water resistance.
The rumored 32 Gig minimum storage and speed bump could be used to implement an improved Siri based on VocalIQ tech -- where context and much of the heart lifting can be done on the device -- limiting the need for network access.
“Complex vibrations?” Pfffftttttt! People already look like weirdos talking to their invisible friend on their Bluetooth headsets. AI? “Siri, how do I wipe my ass with only one sheet of toilet paper?”