With the new iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 inevitably on the way later this year, we have some interesting developments to tell you about now, in relation to the original and now-ancient iPhone 1st generation which launched back in 2007. New reports are claiming that six years later, Apple are finally ready to completely forget about their first creation, by moving the original iPhone to company ‘obsolete’ status.

What this means officially, if you didn’t already know, is that the original 2007 iPhone will no longer be eligible for support from Apple, under any circumstances. It is basically being wiped off Apple’s support list, and can no longer be repaired by AppleCare Repair Centers when using the standard mail-in method.

The tipoff has been discovered by 9to5Mac, who have obtained an official piece of documentation referencing the change of events. This change will apparently come into effect on June 11 2013, so if there is anyone still out there rocking an original iPhone – get it fixed now by Apple if you have any issues, before it’s too late.

Other products on the list that are also due to go into obsolete status, include the MacBook Pro 13-inch 2007 model, the iMac 20-inch 2007 model and also the iMac G5 17-inch as well. We wonder if Apple will be making an official statement on this in the build-up to WWDC 2013, or if they’ll just let consumers find out the information for themselves over on their support pages in June.

Although this may seem like a pointless piece of information for those of you with a lovely iPhone 5, we’re willing to bet that there are still a significant number of consumers who are still using an original iPhone, and very happy with it too. If you fall into this bracket, get in touch with us and let us know how your iPhone has held up through the years.

We do find it strange how some websites will have you believe Apple will skip the iPhone 5S this year and release the iPhone 6 instead. However, this is misguided because we have no reason to believe they would do such a thing. Some of you will argue Apple need to do something out of the ordinary, but let’s get real; it’s not going to happen in 2013.

However, this does not stop us from looking at what we have to look forward to, and with the multitude of iPhone 6 concept designs becoming available, it’s nice to see what is possible – well we can all hope right?

Take the latest iPhone 6 concept, which features a radical design departure from what we’re used too. You’ll notice from the image above thanks to Abel Verdezoto the handset has lost those round edges and looks more like a Sony Xperia handset, which isn’t a bad thing considering how popular the Z is right now.

It’s hard to tell what size the display is on this iPhone 6 concept, but it looks a lot larger when placed next to the iPhone 5, which can be seen HERE. However, it’s assumed the size is 4.8-inches, but you’ll notice the width has been increased, so it will not look like a tall skinny device.

Like we said above there have already been a host of iPhone 6 concepts, and we need to repeat this has to be the best so far. Okay, so we know the chances of such a design being incorporated by Jony Ive and his team is highly unlikely, as they seem to love the current form-factor, so we expect just a taller and wider version of the iPhone 5 in 2014.

Now that the Unpacked Event is over for another year people have had more than enough time to digest what was offered to them, which means we can look to the iPhone 6 following the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4 news last night. There has been a mixed reaction from those who attended the event and who stayed around the world to watch the S4 being unveiled.

A lot of people are saying that Samsung is providing minor yearly updates now, just like Apple. Some of you may disagree, but a huge percentage of our Facebook readers are a little disappointed. However, you cannot take it away from Samsung, this is still a major update when compared to the update from the iPhone 4S to iPhone 5.

Over the years we have been so used to Samsung updating the exterior of their new handsets, so maybe this is a reason why some of their loyal customers are now thinking the iPhone 6 has more to offer. We must stress we said some, and you have to realize that the iPhone 6 might not be released until next year. If we were to look at the past then Apple will release the iPhone 5S later this year, but rumors still persist that this could either be the cheaper or smaller model, while a more premium version will carry the 6 moniker.

There is a concern that some consumer and business users might give the S4 a miss because it’s not the huge jump they had hoped when compared to the S3, a lot like Apple again in that sense. However, the Android faithful will not like to agree with that, and when you look over the Samsung Galaxy S4 specs, we can’t help think that it’s a far better upgrade than Apple offered with their previous update.

When we do see the iPhone 6 revealed, be it this year or next we can be sure that Apple will do one thing better, and that is the unveil itself. The Unpacked Event was like a Broadway show, and a bad one at that. It just seemed force making it painful to watch.

Apple could learn a lot from this event, surely they now understand that people hate the idea of minor upgrades, and while they have put up with this in the past, they won’t all the time and slipping sales figures of the iPhone 5 is proof of that.

So what would you want from the iPhone 6 to make it better than what Samsung has to offer, and would you like to see some of the Galaxy S4 features, or can Apple give you something better?

It’s almost certain that Apple will release an iPhone 5S later this year, so it is not worth going over what I would like to see, as it will just be a refresh. I for one will not be purchasing the next model because of falling into the trap of a minor refresh many times before. However, I will consider the iPhone 6 next year, but Apple cannot take it for granted that I like millions of others will automatically upgrade in 2014.

Over the years I have ungraded every time Apple offered a new iPhone variant, but after several issues with the iPhone 4/4S and even more with the iPhone 5, I am struggling to stay faithful. Let’s take the current iPhone 5 as a fine example, yes it was nice to have a larger screen, but still being the same width still comes with many issues while looking over websites and playing games.

Then there is the business with how easily the black color scratches, it’s like this is a sub-par handset and not the high quality that we expect from Apple. Don’t get me started on poor battery life, and while Apple would have you believe that it is an issue with iOS 7 we don’t buy that for one moment. The reason we say this is because battery life has always been the iPhones Achilles’ heel, and is something they have never been able to get on top of, in fact it has gotten worse.

So what iPhone 6 features would I like to see as a loyal Apple customer? Firstly a larger screen is a must, and while I would hate anything the size of the Note 2, a 4.5-inch display would be very welcome, but it would need to be wider as well in order to take full advantage of the many apps on the App Store, and also make it much easier when you need to check through emails and browse the web.

Also it is about time that we were offered an external storage option instead of having to pay a $100 in order to double the storage capacity. I also believe that Apple needs to move away from an all-metal casing, as it’s not as strong as previous models. Personally I much preferred the glass black of the 4/4S.

I do hope that Apple considers NFC because let’s face it, their Passbook app is pretty pointless, and what apps are available are limited in their numbers. I find it hard to understand why Apple are getting even more stubborn, we have seen a growing number of handsets come with Near Field Communication, and we have yet to see it on an iPhone. However, some people would suggest that NFC is still a gimmick and needs time to mature, which could be a reason why Apple has held off for now.

With Apple being all about one-step ahead of the rest (well back in the day) one would expect the iPhone 6 to come with biometric security, so by reading your fingerprint your phone will unlock. We cannot understand why Apple has taken so long to bring this to the iPhone, seeing as though they bought a company who specializes in the technology.

Another feature that would be cool is wireless charging; it would be an uncluttered solution that you would have assumed Apple would have already been using.

If we are to believe some of the latest iPhone 6 news then it will be the model that millions of iPhone owners have been waiting for. However, if they do not deliver this time then I am seriously considering jumping ship and getting the Galaxy S5 when it is released next year, or something similar. However, if the iPhone 6 features a design like this then I will beg Apple to take my money from me.

We have said in the past that it would be the smart choice for Apple to skip the iPhone 5S and go straight to the release of the iPhone 6 later this year instead. However, this is highly unlikely to happen, but at least this could give Apple more time to come up with a radical new design, although we had hoped this would be the case with the current model when it was released towards the end of last year.

As you would imagine there have already been several rumors as to what the new smartphone from Apple could look like, along with proposed specs as well. However, there are some fresh iPhone 6 concepts that incorporate the trackpad from a MacBook.

The reason why these concepts (courtesy of Steve Hemmerstoffer and Martin Hajek) have done away with the home button and gone for a clickable touchscreen is because it allows for a much larger screen while not having to increase the size of the handset very much. This makes it ideal for those who do not want to carry a huge device around, but still has a decent amount of screen real estate.

You’ll see in the images above that this iPhone 6 concept is not as large as a Galaxy Note 2 (thank god) but its 4.99-inch screen would compete nicely with the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, although these handsets would have already been on the market for over a year by the time Apple release their larger smartphone – if they ever release an iPhone of that size.

Okay, so we know that there are a lot of Apple haters out there, but you have to admit that if such a render were to be released then the iPhone 6 would be a pretty decent looking smartphone. However, before then we only expect to see a minor upgrade with the iPhone 5S, but we could also see the release of the iWatch before the year is out as well, which is said to come with phone features as well.

TSMC is now said to be testing the new CPU, so we now await confirmation from Apple on this. We have been expecting a change for some time now; it’s no secret that Apple and Samsung are no longer BFFE. Reuters has a few concerns over this report though, and one of them is TSMC’s ability to produce the kind of numbers that would be expected of them.

Things are not entirely dead between Samsung and Apple though, as they are still working together with the A5 chip in the iPad 2, which is also said to be the processor of choice for the upcoming fifth-generation iPhone, which is due out in September. However, both August and October have been suggested as potential release dates as well.

Apple might have a solution to get around supply and demand, Reuters suggests that TSMC might only get a contract to supply up to 30 percent of the A6 CPUs, with Samsung still supplying the majority. However, we cannot feel that this is all part of the transition process. Once TSMC is able to fulfill all 100 percent that could be when Apple will cut their ties with the South Koran electronics maker.

Details of the manufacturer behind the A6 chip might not be shared until the last minute. We know that the iPad 3 will be the first of their iOS devices to get the new processor, so we should expect confirmation of this in March 2011. However, there is the small chance that the A6 chip could find its way inside the rumored new iPad due out later this year.

As you would assume, neither Apple, Samsung or TSMC were available for comment; so yet more mystery for upcoming iOS devices. It is this mystery that helps to keep Apple a favorite with media outlets, as all this speculation makes for a good story. Apple is not stupid either, they know by keeping things to themselves will swirl around the Internet like a tornado, until it finally touches the ground, which will be in the form of Steve Jobs delivering his keynote speech.

Before we get ahead of ourselves here we have to remind you that this is currently just a patent, but what a patent. Those clever people over at Apple are said to be looking into wireless charging, so all you need to do is have the device close to a computer but not actually connected.

This is said to use NFC technology, so we know that it will not be on the iPhone 5, as we were informed that it would not be in that model – not much else for that matter. What this would mean for the user is no need for a mat to charge your iOS device, so this would make conductive charging look pedestrian by comparison.

Now Physorg has not made any mention as to what Apple device could use said technology, but it has to be one of their iOS devices. We came up with the assumption of the iPhone 6, as we are more than certain that this is the model that will have radical changes. However, let us not forget that most of these Apple patents never see the light of day – so this could be another one of those out-there ideas.

What makes us think that there could be some truth to this one though is how Apple is working hard to stop the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch from being reliant on a cable, which is where iCloud comes in. Watch this space.

MacRumors has been looking at what events the Moscone Center has going on next year, and we can see that June 10- 15 has been earmarked for Apple’s WWDC 2012 event. We should not jump ahead of ourselves here, as these days are provisional. However, we cannot see that these dates are accurate, as that would mean that Steve Jobs would hold his keynote on a Sunday. Maybe it will be the 16th, and that the day before will be when Apple takes over the venue to get ready?

The launch of iOS 5 was seen as a huge success for Apple, and will finally give the iPhone and iPad a few much-needed features – even if they have been borrowed from Android and Windows Phone. However, one would expect Apple to step it up another gear and come up with yet more needed features and tweaks. iOS 6 will need to be ready for 4G, as we expect next years iPhone to fully support the technology.

The sixth-generation iPhone should come with a new design, unlike the iPhone 5, which is said to be just a minor spec bump and nothing else. We should expect a few more things from iPhone 6, and that is a complete redesign, improved battery and also dual GSM/CDMA support. Oh one more thing, it should also be available on all four main carriers in the U.S.

The company which is responsible for the graphics processor in the iPad and iPhone, Imagination Technologies, has said that six companies have chosen their next PowerVR Series 6 GPU for licensing, according to an article by Arnold Kim of MacRumors.com.

Some of the companies already revealed include Texas Instruments, and ST-Ericsson. But three other companies have licenses are yet to be announced. Apple has been a user of the companies GPUs for their mobile devices for a while, as well as being an investor with a 9.5% stake. The current iPad 2 has the PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU.

This with the new A5 chip has led Apple to claim the new iPad was nine times faster than the original model, and this upcoming processor will give the device an even bigger boost. The new processor will be compatible with its predecessor, so there will be no problems with it slotting into new models. It will also help with the rumored Retina display which could be coming to the tablet.

Sony does not want to make the same mistake as they did with the PS3 when it comes to manufacturing costs, which was the main reason why they were selling PlayStation 3 consoles at a loss for some time. Nintendo kept things very simple with the Wii and it worked – not saying it will still work now, but it is worth exploring. We still do not know if the PS4 or even the Xbox 720 come to that is needed.

Sony knows that the more advanced hardware they use the more it can go wrong; Sony and Microsoft know that through personal experience. ITProPortal explains how using ARM technology will be pivotal for the future of gaming, and they could be on to something. We know that we always hunger for more power, but software developers can be very clever with what they do.

We have mentioned on a number of occasions that Apple could decide to shift over to using the ARM processor in the iPhone 6 and even the next MacBook Air. This could have a quad-core processor and be as powerful as the PS3. Now there is the little concern of the battery; Apple needs to come up with new battery technology before then.

Do you think that the PS4 and the iPhone 6 will both use ARM processors?