Earlier today we told you about the crowd trouble that was witnessed in China at the launch of the iPhone 4S. While consumers in the country are trying to get hold of the handset that was originally released last October, many other parts of the world are already thinking of the next model. As usual we are met with numerous stories and speculation about what the next version will be like. Today we are looking at this year’s iPhone 5 rumors and alleged new features.
Before the release of the iPhone 4S there were a variety of rumors suggesting the new iPhone will be totally redesigned. It was thought to have a larger screen and a slimmer form factor, while many believed it would have NFC and LTE technology built-in. Then Apple launched the iPhone 4S that was basically an upgraded version of the previous year’s model.
Fast forward a few months and these rumors are emerging again and some of them have a similar ring to them. A while back there was again talk that the iPhone 5 would be a total redesign and only yesterday following comments by Verizon, LTE functionality reared again.
Again there is talk of a larger display on the next model that if true will please a lot of fans. Earlier today we told you about the possibility of a 3D interface on the iPhone 5, which followed talk of a face unlock feature similar to what is found on the Android ICS operating system.
Now an analyst at investment bank Morgan Stanley believes that the next iPhone will not only be slimmer, but have a quad-mode chip by Qualcomm. According to a report on AppleInsider the unit will allow for a device with 3G and LTE compatibility across all “network flavors”.
The analyst, Katy Huberty, claims that there will be “a slimmer iPhone later this year” but added that details of the device were thin on the ground. She does believe that the device will be ready by the end of second quarter, but the launch time frame may depend on how many Apple can get made in time for release. Huberty is also claiming that Apple will be using new touch panel technology that will allow for a slimmer handset.
As usual many of these rumors are pure speculation that can still sometimes prove accurate. But you have to wonder if some of these are just good educated guesses by analysts, or based on concrete evidence from the Apple supply chain. As there will be so many people working on any such device surely leaks are bound to happen, but these could just be some clever marketing by Apple to build up the marketing frenzy leading up to a new product launch.
Apple has built some of their success on this cloak and dagger marketing in recent times, with the iPhone leading the way. Some may be simply making suggestions on what they would like to see on the device, as many of the proposed rumors will be on many iPhone fans wish lists.
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