Analysts Believe Huge iPhone 5, iPad 3 Sales Will Be Driven by 4G LTE

For all of the excitement over retina displays, bigger screens, and new form factors, tech analysts now believe that 4G LTE will be the

upgraded feature on the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 that will drive massive sales in 2012.

With so much emphasis placed on the look and screen size of the upcoming iPhone 5, as well as the bumped-up display of the iPad 3, it

would seem that these feature upgrades are of the upmost importance to mobile users in 2012. Tech analysts, however, now believe that

it is the inclusion of 4G LTE technology on the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 that will drive big sales for Apple in 2012.

A recent report from Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu indicates that all signs definitively point to b0th the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 getting 4G

LTE treatment, based on “supply-side” information gained from industry insiders. In other words, 4G LTE components are being bought by

Apple and shipped to their assembly plants.

Inrumor is reporting on some of these findings, revealing how the market is perceiving the inclusion of 4G LTE on the iPad and iPhone, and

that the iPad 3 will be a crossover device that utilizes both 3G and 4G networks: “The report also speculated that the next iPad will revert

to 3G tech, which doesn’t carry LTE, before the end of 2013 when analysts expect that 80% of Americans will enjoy LTE. However, Wu

estimates that the technology will help boost sales.”

Wu sees this 4G flexibility as a major selling point: “We believe this significant refresh will likely help drive higher iPad sales and help further

differentiate from arguably the only real competitor in the market, Amazon’s Kindle Fire and not to mention the myriad of Android offerings

out there,” adding that “We are currently modeling 51 million iPad shipments for CY12 and believe this could turn out conservative.”

Wu adds that he fully expects the iPhone 5 to be 4G as well, and will benefit greatly from it: “We view the potential inclusion of 4G LTE for

iPad as a positive and a good indicator that the upcoming iPhone 5 refresh in the fall time frame will likely include this key feature as well,”

While I do not agree with the Fall timeframe for its release, I do agree that 4G on the iPhone 5 will make total sense, even if 4G LTE is not

anticipated to go mainstream until 2013. In this way, 2012's iPad 3 and iPhone 5 will be crossover devices that allow Apple to move into

further LTE implementations, having these two models already under their belts.

<< Read Now >>

Guessing the iPhone 5 Form Factor

From photoshopped mockups to purported leaked photos out of Foxconn, the tech world clamors for any visual media that gives them an inkling into what the iPhone 5 will look like — real or imagined.

Every time a new iPhone iteration comes around, a glut of mockups get dumped on the blogosphere and, as the perceived release date approaches, “mockups” transform into “sightings.” In the case of the iPhone 5, however, we’ve had several cycles of iPhone 5 mockups, thanks to unusually long wait for it.

iPhone 5 mockups began almost as early as this blog: we got started in August of 2010, and by that fall, iPhone 5 mockups were already making their rounds. Last Summer, there was a breathtaking number of mockups-turned-sightings, all of which were reported on the top tech rumor blog with the heading, “Is This The iPhone 5?!” Technically, all of those original so-called “sightings” are still possible, since we’re still twiddling thumbs, awaiting the ascendency of the iPhone 5 in all its glory.

For as much as these “sightings” are almost always cynical schemes run by blogs to garner heaps of web traffic (remember: for most blogs, more web traffic means more ad clicks, and more revenue), many of the more earnest attempts at simply “mocking up” an iPhone 5 design based on the rumors are actually rather intriguing. Granted, there is little chance that a graphic designer is going to guess Cupertino’s own iPhone 5 design perfectly, but at the very least there is an intrigue and entertainment value to appreciating them. And because designers take into account the rumored features, there is usually a modicum of realism to their designs.

(Usually, but not always.)

The other day, I went through some of the iPhone 5 mockups that I’ve collected through the year and a half I’ve been working on this blog, and thought I’d present some of the best ones to date that I think represent the rumors well.

The Best iPhone 5 Mockups

…or at least my opinion of the best iPhone 5 mockups. Here are the rumors about the iPhone 5's form factor that I believe could come true: it will have a metal back, it will see its screen expand to 3.7 inches but keep the current iPhone dimensions, it will be slimmer, it will feature a new home button design, and it will return to a more rounded design. Most importantly, Apple will work hard to make sure that it is not aesthetically derivative of completing Android designs.

This design has always interested me:

iphone 5 mockup 1

 

What I like about it is the juxoposition of the square and round edges, and the very sleek, clean lines that is definitively Apple. There has been a lot of debate about the lines of the iPhone 5, and whether they will stay with the iPhone 4/4S’s squarish shape, or return the sloping lines of the iPhone 3G/3GS. This design manages to do both, with a rounded top and bottom that still delivers hard edges on the corners.

It remains to be seen, however, if what we’re seeing here s even physically possible — or possible at the manufacturing level. The two renderings have never seemed to be completely consistent with one another, making this mockup more of an optical illusion than a possible reality for the iPhone 5 form factor. The other problem for me is that it obviously sports a glass back, and I truly believe that Apple will move toward a metal back for the iPhone 5.

All in all, though, I like the lines of this mockup because, as I said, it just looks to me like something Apple could design.

Then there’s this one:

iphone 5 mockup 2The front screen, which appears to be edge-to-edge, as well as the monolithic presentation seems just minimalist enough for Apple to go for. Some have imagined that the iPhone 5 (or some future iPhone) would have a front comprised of nothing more than a full-coverage touch screen, perhaps supplied by a flexible AMOLED display. This design seems to get at that idea, making for a very provocative design, and one that would perhaps maximize a screen size increase without expanding the overall dimensions.

Another interesting feature of this iPhone 5 mockup is the back: its matte finish suggests black metal, and the corners are resoundingly rounded. It also represents a slimmer profile.

Similarly, I think this iPhone 5 mockup is worth posting as well:

iphone 5 mockup 3It’s safe to assume that if the iPhone 5 featured a front like the one in this mockup, iPhone users would be majorly disappointed, since it looks remarkably similar in size and design to the iPhone 4 and 4S. But what I like about this design is the metal back: I believe that the iPhone 5 will have a metal back like this one, similar to the iPad.

Finally, this mockup courtesy of MacRumors is an interesting one as well:

We don’t get a lot of information about the back in this particular photo, but what I like about it is the rendering of a new multi-touch home button and the edge-to-edge screen. Personally, I’m ready for the home button to disappear and be replaced with a touch surface home button — a design like that could allow apple to make the iPhone 5's front completely touch-capable. But since many iPhone users are quite attached to the satisfying click of a manual home button, I think that Apple could opt for a modified home button — and maybe a larger one like this that allows easier access in order to handle other functions.

In the end, only a chosen few know what the iPhone 5 will truly look like — the form factor really never seems to get out into the open until the final round of the assembly process. And considering that all of these mockups are based purely on rumor, speculation, and tech fantasy, there’s really nothing to confirm — other than peoples’ insatiable curiosity about what the iPhone 5 will look like.

<< Read Now >>

Photos of a Tapered, MacBook Air-Inspired iPad 3 Form Factor Emerge

Take a look at the newest round of purported iPad 3 photos coming out of mainland China. Are you buying any of these as the real thing?

Leaked photos of Apple form factors have never really come to fruition. It is for that reason that the iPhone 5 News Blog has reserved any excitement over recent purported photos of the iPad 3 — particularly because they show very little change from the previous two iPads. A new comparison photo today, however, is worth noting, since it does reveal an interesting deviation in the shape of the iPad 3's form factor that, should it prove to be true, could affect the prevailing notion that the next iPad will have essentially the same form factor.

The photo above shows tapered, beveled edges on the corners of the iPad 3, as compared to the iPad 1 and iPad 2. It could be said that the nuanced changes in this form factor are slightly reminiscent to the MacBook Air’s lines.

In addition, the purported iPad 3 form factor also reveals something to us not seen in the earlier leaked photos: a larger camera sensor hole. Tech bloggers are suggesting that the larger sensor may mean an upgrade to an 8MP camera.

For me, however, the presence of the larger camera makes me suspicious of these photos.

Unfortunately, the imposition of a larger camera lens like that smacks of a Photoshopping job, since it is so easy to do with a white-backed iPad image. Of all the rumoring going on about the iPad 3, the rear-facing camera has not been a hot topic — it is the front-facing camera that many believe will get an upgrade. Given the size and application of the iPad, its rear-facing camera has not proven to be nearly as convenient or useful as the rear-facing camera on the iPhone. Therefore, the appearance of this sensor on this set of photos makes me believe that it may have been doctored (along with the sloping sides).

You will recall that similar issues have arisen in the past with purported leaked photos about the iPhone 5. Last September, we were treated to photos from the Foxconn plant that purported to show larger iPhone 5 screens with elongated home buttons. Prior to that, there were the iPhone 5 case images that showed cutouts for two camera flashes, and other doctored shots of the 3D iPhone 5 prototype.

Given this past, it is safe to assume that no one will be able to claim confirmed photos of the iPad 3 prior to release. And I am still holding out hope that Apple will do something aesthetically different with the iPad 3's form factor, since for me it’s starting to get a bit old.

<< Read Now >>

All Things Must Pass: In Spite Of Record Growth And Strong Forecasts, Apple’s Success Is Not Immortal

A new piece from the New York Times acknowledges the astounding past and present successes of Apple, quickly becoming the world’s biggest publicly held company. But for as much as Apple may seem unstoppable, financial analysts can already see the end of its success lifecycle.

When you consider the amount of time, energy, interest, and money that a large segment of the population invests into Apple, it’s difficult to imagine a day when the company could ever be eclipsed by another electronics giant. Could another company come along and be cooler than Cupertino? Could the iPhone — perhaps the world’s only product that doubles as a cultural artifact — be usurped by a new, novel device that makes our favorite smartphone seem outmoded?

Given the passing of Apple Founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who is largely accredited with the ingenuity of Apple’s landmark products, some imagine it to be a possibility. I’ve argued that Jobs’ role as pioneer and visionary at Apple is not dissimilar to Walt Disney, and his critical role in founding and launching the Disney empire. But just as it can be argued that the Disney brand has ebbed — or is perhaps even on the wane —  consumers wonder if Apple’s brightest days are now behind them.

According to an interesting new piece by the New York Times, that might be the case — and the reasons might be far more empirical than simply saying that the company will underperform due to Steve Jobs’ passing.

Writer James B. Stewart explains that, according to the mathematical proof known as the “golden theorem,” “Apple is so big, it’s running up against the law of large numbers.” The result is an insurmountable trajectory towards reaching critical mass and no longer being able to create significant growth — or at least the booming growth that we’ve come to associate with Apple. Stewart explains it this way: “To increase its revenue by 20 percent, Apple has to generate additional sales of more than $9 billion in its next fourth quarter. A company with $1 billion in sales has to come up with just another $200 million.”

Upon faced with this reality, some Apple fans might be compelled to pump their fists and proclaim the company’s infinite greatness, saying that no sales target is too big for Apple to hit. But that’s pie in the sky. This isn’t about “Apple hating,” it’s simply a numerical fact that, based on historical data, shows us that there is an inevitable rise and fall to great companies. Just as the great people who found them come and go in this world, so too do the businesses that bear their names and/or visions.

In this way, it becomes apparent that maintaining something like 20 percent growth will be impossible: “If you extrapolate far enough out into the future, to sustain that growth Apple would have to sell an iPhone to every man, woman, child, animal and rock on the planet.” We wrote an article a while back about how a study found that 35% of all consumers say they will purchase the iPhone 5. Even if that astounding number comes true, someday it still might not be enough to satisfy Wall Street.

<< Read Now >>

The Pixel Photos Don’t Lie On The iPad 3 Display

ipad 3 pixel photoiFixit’s peek through the microscope at purported photos of the iPad 3 display confirms a heck of a lot more pixels than its iPad 2 predecessor. That’s a lotta pixels!

No topic has dominated the iPad 3 rumor mill more than the discussion of the display. All indications have been that Apple is looking to take the next iPad’s video and display to a new level that will keep it atop the tablet pile in 2012. MacRumors‘ recent component pin-up photos, which are purported to be belonging to the new iPad 3, showed promise in making good on rumors that the new iPad will feature the retina display and 2048 x 1536 pixels that have already been reported. A recent peek through the microscope from iFixit seems to confirm it.

MacRumors explains: “iFixit was unable to directly hook the display up to the guts of an iPad 2. Meanwhile, efforts to map the pins of the two displays in an attempt to jury-rig the iPad 3 display were believed to be too substantial to undertake with the limited time and no guarantees of success. iFixit was, however, able to confirm our findings of an ultra-high resolution display that quadruples the number of pixels over the previous-generation iPads.”

<< Read Now >>

Rumored iPhone 5 Micro Dock Connector Could Make Way For Smaller Components, Thinner Body

Apple is purportedly working on a new dock connector that would be much smaller and could help accommodate a thinner iPhone 5 form factor. But a new dock connector could mean a major headache for consumers — and still no micro USB or Thunderbolt connection.

Usually when we report on new rumored Apple innovations, it’s good news. However, with recent reports that Cupertino is working on a new micro dock connector for iOS devices that could replace the current standard model, it’s hard to imagine how this kind of innovation could benefit iPhone users in the short term.

9to5Mac is reporting that “while the current 30-pin dock connector on the iPods, iPads, and iPhones were serving Apple well for around 10 years, the company is now working on a new dock connector. Apple’s new dock connector will reportedly be a smaller version of the iOS device syncing and charging port, but it will not be micro-USB or Thunderbolt.”

<< Read Now >>

All Things Must Pass: In Spite Of Record Growth And Strong Forecasts, Apple’s Success Is Not Immortal

A new piece from the New York Times acknowledges the astounding past and present successes of Apple, quickly becoming the world’s biggest publicly held company. But for as much as Apple may seem unstoppable, financial analysts can already see the end of its success lifecycle.

When you consider the amount of time, energy, interest, and money that a large segment of the population invests into Apple, it’s difficult to imagine a day when the company could ever be eclipsed by another electronics giant. Could another company come along and be cooler than Cupertino? Could the iPhone — perhaps the world’s only product that doubles as a cultural artifact — be usurped by a new, novel device that makes our favorite smartphone seem outmoded?

Given the passing of Apple Founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who is largely accredited with the ingenuity of Apple’s landmark products, some imagine it to be a possibility. I’ve argued that Jobs’ role as pioneer and visionary at Apple is not dissimilar to Walt Disney, and his critical role in founding and launching the Disney empire. But just as it can be argued that the Disney brand has ebbed — or is perhaps even on the wane —  consumers wonder if Apple’s brightest days are now behind them.

According to an interesting new piece by the New York Times, that might be the case — and the reasons might be far more empirical than simply saying that the company will underperform due to Steve Jobs’ passing.

Writer James B. Stewart explains that, according to the mathematical proof known as the “golden theorem,” “Apple is so big, it’s running up against the law of large numbers.” The result is an insurmountable trajectory towards reaching critical mass and no longer being able to create significant growth — or at least the booming growth that we’ve come to associate with Apple. Stewart explains it this way: “To increase its revenue by 20 percent, Apple has to generate additional sales of more than $9 billion in its next fourth quarter. A company with $1 billion in sales has to come up with just another $200 million.”

Upon faced with this reality, some Apple fans might be compelled to pump their fists and proclaim the company’s infinite greatness, saying that no sales target is too big for Apple to hit. But that’s pie in the sky. This isn’t about “Apple hating,” it’s simply a numerical fact that, based on historical data, shows us that there is an inevitable rise and fall to great companies. Just as the great people who found them come and go in this world, so too do the businesses that bear their names and/or visions.

In this way, it becomes apparent that maintaining something like 20 percent growth will be impossible: “If you extrapolate far enough out into the future, to sustain that growth Apple would have to sell an iPhone to every man, woman, child, animal and rock on the planet.” We wrote an article a while back about how a study found that 35% of all consumers say they will purchase the iPhone 5. Even if that astounding number comes true, someday it still might not be enough to satisfy Wall Street.

<< Read Now >>

A New iPad 3 Release Date Floated: March 7th

The tech media appears to be using a dart board to take a guess at an iPad 3 release date. With 31 days in March, many figure they have a 1-in-31 chance to get it right.

We’ve been trying to keep you, fellow readers, informed of all of the iPad 3 release date rumors as they come up, since it would appear that we have reached critical mass in terms of the iPad 3's arrival. It’s coming. It will be here soon. We know that.

You’ll recall that, aside from the extremely unlikely rumors that a new iPad was going to be co-release along with the iPhone 5 at the end of the 2011 Summer (every facet of that rumor was false, of course), the first iPad 3 release date rumor was for this year’s CES event. Next up was a rumor that Apple would choose the February 29th leap day as its announcement date. After that, major news sources ran with a story that the date would be not February 29th, but March 29th.


Now, it appears there is a new iPad 3 release date being bandied about: March 7th. So says iMore: “According to sources who have been reliable in the past, Apple currently plans to hold their iPad 3 announcement on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 . . .The March 7 date fits with what AllThingsD reported last week, about the next iPad event being scheduled for the first week of March, and Wednesday is a traditional day for Apple to hold these types of events.”

It is worth noting that this new rumored release date has no more credence attached to it than the previous two rumors. It is just one more date plucked out of a hat, or chosen by throwing a dart at a dart board. Because the month of March is such a good guess for the iPad 3's release (it would be hard to imagine Apple pushing it to April at this point, particularly if they are planning a June iPhone 5 announcement), the new approach appears to be choosing a date in March and rolling with it as being “the date.”

Kind of like bingo. Or a football pool that you buy into at work.

<< Read Now >>

4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Note Guarantees 4G iPad 3, iPhone 5

The tablet-smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note will debut on February 19th as an AT&T 4G LTE mobile device. This all but assures that Apple will outfit the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 with 4G LTE as well.

Ever since its high-profile Super Bowl television commercial, many tech junkies have been contemplating the Samsung Galaxy Note and what effect, if any, it will have on Appledom. Features such as a sprawling 5.3-inch super AMOLED screen, 1.4GHz Dual Core Processor, and a stowable “smart pen” have all led many to wonder if this could the device that fills the tablet-smartphone gap, and whether Apple might feel obliged to answer it with a smaller “mini iPad.”

But what many are missing is the reality that AT&T is offering the Samsung Galaxy Note in 4G LTE. Take a gander at Best Buy’s product page, and you’ll see that the Galaxy Note is set to debut with the LTE option.



What Ausin was getting at is the fact that, with the high profile of the Samsung Galaxy Note and the fact that AT&T is offering it as a 4G LTE device, it is just about the most definitive circumstantial evidence that we can expect both the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 to be LTE as well. While Verizon and Sprint have audaciously sought to roll out their 4G networks, AT&T’s investiture has been lower-profile. And considering that the AT&T network is still considered to be the gold standard network for the iPhone, many feel that their willingness to onboard 4G LTE devices would in large part dictate Apple’s own move into 4G LTE for its mobile devices.

Apple would be hard-pressed to justify passing on 4G LTE for both the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 in 2012, now that the Samsung Galaxy Note will go LTE on AT&T.

Galaxy Note Could Squelch iPad 3, Kindle Fire Sales

It still remains to be seen what sales effects the Galaxy Note will bring into the tablet marketplace. Just as the Kindle Fire is beginning to gain double digit market share and, pardon the pun, catch fire, the Galaxy Note could give users pause. The Galaxy Note’s large-sized screen could inspire users looking for a versatile yet compact tablet reader to re-up on contracts and get a Galaxy Note that consolidates tablet and smartphone into one. Similarly, iPad enthusiasts who are as convinced as we are that Apple will not delve into the sub 9.7-inch screen genre might opt for the Galaxy Note now — or at least keep it in the rear view mirror ahead of the iPad 3's release this spring.

Finally, will it compete with the iPhone 5?

Many would suggest that it will not, simply because it is a very different kind of mobile device from what the iPhone 5 promises to be. But in a macro sense, the Samsung Galaxy Note may not even threaten the iPad 3 or iPhone 5 specifically, but rather the entire “Apple ecosphere” as a whole. Apple’s new revenue model is to sell the entire fleet of products to the user: desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone. But it takes a lot of dough to get all of that great Apple gear and keep it up-to-date. At least with the Samsung Galaxy Note consolidates to some extent the tablet and smartphone.

Of course, it is worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy Note isn’t the first tablet-smartphone crossover. I remember the now defunct Dell Streak 5, which offered a very similar user experience to the Galaxy Note, sans the stylus. The Dell Streak 5 fell flat on its face, in spite of its novelty. For all of the fanfare and interest, will that be the fate of the Galaxy Note as well?

<< Read Now >>

Siri On The iPad 3, Mini iPad To Come Later In 2012: Rumor

Rumors and speculation about a mini iPad 3 have died hard. Now, a top tech analyst predicts a mini iPad 3 released later in 2012, plus Siri for the iPad 3 and more.

How do you feel about the prospect of a mini iPad 3? We know that Steve Jobs wasn’t very fond of the notion of shrinking the iPad down to possibly rival the iPhone, and as a result, the iPad and iPad 2 remained markedly bigger than the iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen. But a new tech analyst is claiming that can indeed expect a sub 9.7-inch “mini” iPad 3 in 2012 — just not released on the same day as the regular iPad 3.

Citing the rise in popularity of other lesser-priced tablets like the Kindle Fire, Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research, had this to say, via a Computerworld article: “‘I believe that’s always been in the plan” said Gottheil of a small iPad, contradicting past comments by Jobs, who had rejected seven inches as too small for a tablet. ‘Actually that’s a good form factor for some users, and although they will also charge a premium above other similar-sized tablets, they want to protect that price flank.’”

Gottheil clearly believes that market dominance will overshadow ideology here, and that Tim Cook and company will leave Steve Jobs’ design ethics behind this year in order to match its competitors. Implicitly, one has to think about the iPhone 5's screen as well; while Steve Jobs never explicitly said that he was against increasing the iPhone’s screen size, it never increased while he was alive, even after Android smartphones began breaking the 4-inch mark.

In this way, we should all watch with great interest this year to see if this prediction comes true, and Apple releases a mini iPad later in 2012. If so, I think it’s fair to say that we can expect a very different Apple, Inc. in the decade ahead.


Gottheil really went off the reservation at the end of the Computerworld piece when he suggested an albeit long-shot possibility that a matched keyboard could accompany the smaller mini iPad: “A matched Bluetooth keyboard, perhaps integrated with a case to enclose the iPad, is also a long shot, but something that could attract customers. ‘I think something like that would be an important peripheral for students,’ Gottheil said.”

Huh?

Other iPad 3 Predictions

Gottheil regurgitated many other predictions for the iPad 3 that we’ve already heard, such as the retina display: “That’s important to them because it means the iPad will work well in their home theater play, since it will display full HD. And it’s an important differentiator [between the iPad and rival tablets] going forward.” He also predicts that the quad core A6 chip will be a long shot, mainly due to the fact that it will put heavy power constraints on the battery. But considering that one of the most recent rumors is that the iPad 3 will sport a newfangled battery pack, it’s hard to imagine that it could not handle quad core.

<< Read Now >>

Revisiting LiquidMetal Rumors For iPhone 5, iPad 3, New Batteries

LiquidMetal alloy technologies are rumored to be a possibility for the iPhone 5's back. But analysts also believe that it could revolutionize the look of the iPad 3 as well.

The nice thing about running the iPhone 5 News Blog since August 10th, 2010 is the fact that we have a long, chronicled memory of iPhone 5 rumors, which allows us to expose and parse them as they come around for a second time here in 2012. I recently noted in another article that, while plenty of new purported photos claim that the iPad 3 will sport a virtually identical form factor as the iPad 2, it isn’t completely unrealistic to imagine that the iPad 3 could have a redesigned form factor.

In that piece, I make mention of the fact that Apple has this interesting licensing partnership with LiquidMetal, and that the light, strong, moldable LiquidMetal alloy is bound to show up on an Apple device somewhere down the line, given its unique construction benefits and its proven track record for crafting beautiful things. It is worth noting that this time last year saw the rise of several interesting reports of how we could see LiquidMetal come to fruition for the iPhone 5.


All News Machad a story that ran on January 5th, 2011 that talked about how the LiquidMetal alloy properties could actually be used for a new battery design for the iPhone 5: “According to some experts, utilizing the technology Apple could create mobile devices with battery power lasting 30 days or more and MacBooks with battery life of 20 hours or more. Apple is already using Liquidmetal today for the SIM eject tool that comes with the iPhone. Inventors of the Liquidmetal technology have previously predicted that Apple will use it to build the next iPhone.”

And there is an Apple patent that supports this notion.

It’s worth noting that, not too long ago, a new report surfaced about another battery-related Apple patent which would allow Cupertino designers to craft battery packs — ostensibly for the iPhone 5 or some future Apple device — that could be shaped around internal components in order to maximize cell size, even on a thinner device. There is plenty of reason to believe that both of these patents could converge, with LiquidMetal at its center.

2011 also saw the rise of the rumor that the iPhone 5's form factor would sport a metal back. The party line suggested that it would be comprised of aluminum, but an insurgent rumor suggested LiquidMetal as its material. Love For Tech filed this article on June 23rd: “The alloys produced by them are stronger, harder, more elastic and more corrosion resistant than other high-performance alloys. On top of that, the alloys have the ability to be molded into highly finished products, without costly post-finishing processes, has a highly resistance to scratches and dents.”

Sounds like a better alternative to aluminum, doesn’t it?

<< Read Now >>

iPhone 5 Will Mark The End of iPhone 3GS

iphone 3gs to be discontinued when the iphone 5 is releasedThe iPhone 3GS has had a great run, with many users singing its praises even today. But all indications are that the 3GS will be officially retired once the iPhone 5 debuts this year.

It can be argued that the iPhone 3GS ushered in the modern smartphone experience as we know it. While the original iPhone and 3G laid the groundwork, it was the performance level of the 3GS that set the new benchmark for what we have come to expect from smartphones. Though the iPhone 4, 4S, and a host of Android smartphones outpace the 3GS now in performance, it is telling that, some three years after its release, you can still purchase an iPhone 3GS.

But the trusty iPhone 3GS will most likely be finally fading into the ether.

An article from Gotta Be Mobile notes that: “We think that Apple may be killing off the iPhone 3GS because it has told developers to only send screenshots of apps with a Retina Display resolution or higher.” this of course would mean that Apple is not looking to address the software of the iPhone 3GS and its 480 x 320 display.


If you’ve been a steady reader of this blog, then you will recall that we discussed at length the retirement of the iPhone 3GS last Summer, with fire sales and promotions seemingly marking its end. With many assuming that Apple was going to release both an iPhone 5 and 4S, the assumption was that there would be no room for the 3GS — it would be improbable to imagine four iPhone models being offered at the same time.

Once the iPhone 5 debuts in 2012, we will have finally crossed that 4 model threshold. It’s hard to imagine the 3GS and the iPhone 5 coexisting in the Apple catalog. And not only because of performance disparity: there have been reports suggesting that the new iPhone 5 form factor could harken back to the more rounded, convex aesthetics of the 3GS. As a result, Apple might want to ensure that users don’t see the iPhone 5 as overly derivative of the 3GS when compared side by the side.

Regardless of whether or not the iPhone 3GS survives through 2012, there is no doubt that it marks the beginning of Apple’s historic rise in developing the leading design for the smartphone market.

<< Read Now >>

Samsung Galaxy Note Fills The Mini iPad 3, iPhone 5 Void

Samsung galaxy noteSamsung’s uniquely large 5.3-inch screen, top-tier smartphone features, and crossover market position targets Apple customers who lament the long wait for the next iPhone and the reality that the iPad 3 will most likely not come in smaller sizes.

Let me be clear: I’m no fan of Android smartphones. They are notoriously unreliable mobile devices, often plagued by crashing apps and poor performance. And to me, more important than cool features and a slick look is a reliable smartphone that makes and holds phone calls and operates seamlessly.

That being said, one thing I have always appreciated about Android is that its panoply of smartphone design partners allow for a wide range of innovation: while Cupertino gives us very concentrated bursts of innovations each year with its iPhone and iPad iterations, Android’s innovative offering are more diffuse and consistent. With Android, you can get an ultra-thin, ultra-small smartphone alla the Razr, a quirky dual-screen design such as the Kyrocera Echo, or a more full-bodied smartphone in the Samsung Galaxy S series.

The first quarter of 2012 is seeing the release of the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note, a unique Android-based smartphone that straddles both mobile phone and tablet designs. With its beefy 5.3-inch screen, 1.5 GHz dual core processor, 16 GB of internal memory, an SD card reader, 4G connectivity. and even a recessed stylus pen, it is basically a conflation of the dreams of a disillusioned Apple devoteé who dreams of overhauled iPhone and a sub-9.7 inch iPad 3, all wrapped up in a release date that will preempt both the iPad 3 and the next iPhone.

Samsung is already taking orders.

With the Galaxy Note, Samsung has triangulated nearly every competitive niche in mobile computing. Their Super Bowl television ad, depicting demoralized iPhone users waiting endlessly in line outside of what looks like a thinly veiled Apple store, seeks to attract both the iPhone and iPad segments. The commercial even highlights a front-facing camera, matching the iPhone note for note. But the screen size and price of the Samsung Galaxy Note — $299 with a 2-year contract — also seeks to compete with the smaller 7-inch Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire as well. It is basically a catch-all mobile device that can wedge itself into virtually every price and product niche, save for ultra-small smartphones.

Will the Samsung Galaxy Note gambit work?

Probably not. The Galaxy Note might be the insurgent smartphone of 2012, but its buzz will be short-lived, once the iPad 3 debuts. The Galaxy Note officially goes on sale February 19th. It is very possible that a month after that, we will be preparing for the iPad 3 release. And given the fact that the iPad 2 was essentially a refresh, the iPad 3 promises to deliver big on new and as-yet-unforeseen features that will most likely not be a pastiche of the Galaxy Note.

And after that, we’ll have the new iPhone, most likely in June.

The biggest gap that Samsung has to cross in getting its Galaxy Note to the level of an iPhone or iPad is coolness. You’ll recall the infamous quote from Samsung’s U.S. CEO’s daughter trying to convince her father that the Galaxy series was way cooler than the iPhone, a notion that virtually no one bought into. Even Samsung wasn’t buying it, which is why the overarching theme of their super Bowl ad is to show that the Galaxy Note is way cooler than the iPhone.

In addition, let’s go back to how I opened this article: savvy smartphone users already know of the sketchy nature of the Android platform. For as much as the uniqueness of the Galaxy Note might be alluring, hardcore tech junkies will also envision the sheer frustration of their Galaxy Note fast becoming a paperweight on their desk, replaced by a reliable, new iPhone and/or iPad 3 just a few months down the line.

Of course, we’ll have to wait and see what the reviews for the Samsung Galaxy Note bear out; the thing has yet to really be vetted by the tech media. But for as much as it might fulfill some of our wildest dreams for the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, the Galaxy Note is still, after all, an Android.

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Even More Waterproof iPhone 5 Wackiness

waterproof iphone 5The quirky waterproof Liquipel sealant that makes smartphones able to withstand a swim in a fish tank seems like a far-fetched rumored feature for the iPhone 5. But a new rumor report suggests that it is indeed coming to both the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III. Do I need to start taking this story more seriously?

In spite of the fact that I have regarded the Liquipel waterproofing demonstration of the iPhone to be little more than a gimmicky feature and publicity stunt, I’ve been chronicling the somewhat zany notion that waterproofing will show up on the iPhone 5 here on the blog, just to make sure I’ve covered my butt in case it turns out to be one of the most exciting, new iPhone features in 2012. (Boy, I hope not. Otherwise, we’re in for a big disappointment.) Don’t get me wrong: I love the idea of giving Guppy the goldfish a bit of FaceTime with his long-lost cousins down the local pet store, but the whole idea of a waterproof iPhone just doesn’t wash for me. Yeah, I get it: the internal components are covered in a waterproof sealant, so that even after your iPhone has been flushed down the toilet and poo water has infiltrated its chassis, you’ll still be able to play Angry Birds and hear the sloshy sound of trapped water inside.

For as much as I struggle with taking this story serious, it actually has legs! A new article today from Today’s iPhone apparently has a deep source who confirms that both the new iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S III will ship with Liquipel. Qualifying its story by reminding us all that this is merely a rumor (isn’t that all we talk about in the iPhone 5 community, anyway?), they go on to explain: “The source is well-placed in one of the UK’s top independent phone retailers. He states that both the next iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S III will have Liquipel treatment. The Liquipel coating covers both inside and outside the phones to make it water repellent, making them less susceptible to liquid/moisture damage.”

You’ll recall in my “Waterproof iPhone 5 Wackiness” article from last month that I question the pressing need for a waterproof iPhone 5, and also Apple’s real desire to give its users an iPhone that would survive a water drop. It is hard for me to imagine Tim Cook up on stage at the WWDC, dropping the iPhone 5 into a tank of water, and then picking it up and using it, especially since that trick has already been played out by HzO, the company that created Liquipel. It would seem like a risky move for Apple to encourage iPhone users to put their new waterproof iPhone 5 to the test — which a sizable portion of them would be tempted to do.

When you consider the risk/reward of making an iPhone that claims to be waterproof, it still doesn’t seem to me to be worth the risk for Apple, who can sell a lot of iPhones without making it waterproof.

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iPhone 5 Camera: Sony Or Lytro?

Lytro on iPhone 5iPhone 5 enthusiasts are hearing more about Lytro camera technology. Will Apple equip the iPhone 5 with Lytro, or go with the new Sony camera sensor?

Steve Jobs played a critical role in evolving smartphone design to include high-quality digital cameras. He had a passion for photography, which is why early on he envisioned the iPhone becoming a serious camera — not just for taking snapshots — but also for taking amazing photos. It is for this reason that, when the story surfaced that Jobs met with the CEO of Lytro just months before his death, it may have been a hint that the iPhone 5 could somehow include Lytro camera technology.

So, what’s Lytro, you ask?

As you know, I’m not a very good geek, so I’ll give you the layman’s perspective on it: it is a camera sensor that takes in a great deal more visual data and light than even the most advanced camera sensors. By doing so, Lytro would empower iPhone users to make even their casual snapshots look like works of art. For example, if you take a picture with Lytro, it can give you the option of toggling focus in both the foreground and background objects.

With this kind of technology, it’s no wonder that analysts have imagined it being included on the iPhone 5. While Apple and Lytro never forged any kind of partnership or licensing agreement, Steve Jobs reportedly picked their brains over the technology, and was incredibly excited about its possibilities.

Now, this story is giving rise to Lytro iPhone 5 rumors. 9to5Mac has a very good article about Jobs’ vision for camera technology, in which they intimate how Lytro could fulfill his vision: “Jobs actively pursued his goal of reinventing photography, asking the CEO of Lytro to outline three specific things that the company would want to work on with Apple.”

In spite of Jobs loving Lytro, however, it is still more likely that the iPhone 5 will debut with the new Sony 8MP camera sensor we wrote about recently. While Lytro offers features not yet seen on even the most advanced smartphones, the iPhone 4S sensor actually has been resolution than what Lytro can offer. Moreover, the new Sony camera sensor has the one thing that the iPhone 5 will need: thinness. Lytro, on the other hand, is still a relatively bulky technology that isn’t at all suited to the ultra-thin trend that the iPhone 5 form factor seems to be moving toward.

With all of this being said, Lytro may be on the horizon. In a couple of years, Lytro could most definitely be refined down to a smaller package, and find itself on the likes of the iPhone 6.

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New Source Puts iPhone 5 On Track For June Release, 4-Inch Display & No Teardrop Form Factor

If you have continued to follow the rumors here on the iPhone 5 News Blog — even through this current lull in rumor-milling — you’ll note that since just after the release of the iPhone 4S, our own source was told from his sources in Asia that the iPhone 5 would be put back onto the June release schedule, sport a 4-inch screen, and its new form factor would be based on thinness, not a teardrop shape.

It appears that 9to5Mac’s own source is corroborating our own reports from months ago. Seth Weinthrab said today that “We’ve gotten word from a reliable source at Foxconn in China that the iPhone 5, as it is currently being called, is currently being geared for production,” and that the current prototypes floating around Foxconn feature a “4+ inch display (made by LG on at least one of them)” and “No teardrop-shaped devices as were rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 4S. Samples so far have been symmetrical in thickness. Also longer/wider.”

In addition, 9to5Mac also reports that “it would appear that Apple is back on its new iPhone launch for Summer/WWDC pattern that it maintained until last year.”

You will recall that the blog first reported on the new 2012 iPhone rumors back on November 4th, 2011, “Top Source Claims: iPhone 5 To Have ’4-inch Screen and Will Be Announced in June, 2012′″ Just as 9to5Mac notes that their own Asia source was right about the iPhone 4S being a refresh of the iPhone 4, so too was our own source. But their source made that claim on September 21st — our source made his claim on August 22nd.

While I have not doubted our source, there is no doubt that this new 9to5Mac rumor lends even more corroboration to the claims of a larger screen and June release date, and that the teardrop-shaped iPhone 5 form factor rumor was just goofy to begin with.

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New Source Puts iPhone 5 On Track For June Release, 4-Inch Display & No Teardrop Form Factor

An article from 9to5Mac today, purporting to be quoting a Foxconn staffer, indicates much of what the iPhone 5 News Blog reported on months ago: the next iPhone will be the “iPhone 5,” with a release date in June, a 4-inch display, and a thinner, non-teardrop form factor.

If you have continued to follow the rumors here on the iPhone 5 News Blog — even through this current lull in rumor-milling — you’ll note that since just after the release of the iPhone 4S, our own source was told from his sources in Asia that the iPhone 5 would be put back onto the June release schedule, sport a 4-inch screen, and its new form factor would be based on thinness, not a teardrop shape.

It appears that 9to5Mac’s own source is corroborating our own reports from months ago. Seth Weinthrab said today that “We’ve gotten word from a reliable source at Foxconn in China that the iPhone 5, as it is currently being called, is currently being geared for production,” and that the current prototypes floating around Foxconn feature a “4+ inch display (made by LG on at least one of them)” and “No teardrop-shaped devices as were rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 4S. Samples so far have been symmetrical in thickness. Also longer/wider.”

In addition, 9to5Mac also reports that “it would appear that Apple is back on its new iPhone launch for Summer/WWDC pattern that it maintained until last year.”

You will recall that the blog first reported on the new 2012 iPhone rumors back on November 4th, 2011, “Top Source Claims: iPhone 5 To Have ’4-inch Screen and Will Be Announced in June, 2012′″ Just as 9to5Mac notes that their own Asia source was right about the iPhone 4S being a refresh of the iPhone 4, so too was our own source. But their source made that claim on September 21st — our source made his claim on August 22nd.

While I have not doubted our source, there is no doubt that this new 9to5Mac rumor lends even more corroboration to the claims of a larger screen and June release date, and that the teardrop-shaped iPhone 5 form factor rumor was just goofy to begin with.

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Thinner Sony Camera Sensor a Perfect Match For Thinner iPhone 5

A thinner iPhone 5 will need thinner components as well. A new, thinner 8MP camera sensor from Sony might be the perfect match for this year’s thinner iPhone iteration.

Over the weekend, we talked about a new report that outlines an Apple patent for a thinner, shapeable rechargeable battery that could empower a thinner yet more powerful iPhone 5 form factor. Today, a new report highlighting Sony’s new, thinner 8MP camera sensor is yet another piece of evidence that Apple may have the hardware necessary to overhaul the iPhone form factor and make the iPhone 5 thinner.

According to 9to5Mac, Sony’s new CMOS image sensor is remarkably thinner than its predecessor: “the new design and manufacturing process behind Sony’s image sensor should help engineer a thinner iPhone due to less space used by the Sony chip. Additionally, the Japanese giant’s new manufacturing process is cheaper and image quality is better, which are both important feats from Apple’s standpoint. The camera module is said to be faster, consume less power and sport higher pixel numbers.”

The 9to5Mac article makes a good point: in order for smartphone designers to continue to make thinner form factors, camera modules need to get thinner as well. This new sensor from Sony would seem to be a perfect fit for a thinner iPhone 5. And considering that this story comes right on the heels of the thinner battery patent report. It will be interesting to see if more reports like these surface in the lead-up to the iPhone 5′s release, as reports of thinner hardware components will serve as reasonably corroborative pieces of evidence of a thinner form factor.

Another interesting tidbit regarding the new Sony camera sensor: not only is it thinner and more power efficient, but it may turn out to be a more powerful 8MP camera than what is currently featured on the iPhone 4S. 9to5Mac points out that: “In theory, the imaging circuitry being separate of the sensors could give Apple greater control over the camera system and help increase its functionality by leveraging the company’s in-house designed A-series chip. The dual-core A5 chip found inside iPhone 4S is already responsible for some image post-processing, such as video stabilization. Therefore, the design of the new Sony chip would let Apple’s silicon take over control of the camera and its performance in ways that were not possible before.”

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Will The iPad 3 Foreshadow iPhone 5 Features?

Regardless of when the iPhone 5 launches in 2012, the iPad 3 is bound to debut first. Will its new features foretell what to expect from the iPhone 5, or is the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 bound to grow even farther apart?

If you scan the iPad 3 news these days, then you’re bound to see plenty of promising reports that the third-generation Apple tablet is upon us. Bloomberg is reporting that the iPad 3 is full-on into production and will arrive by March, remaining in step with its usual Springtime release schedule. The critical selling points of the iPad 3 will be in line with what we’ve been hearing about for a long time: “[The iPad 3] will sport a high-definition screen, run a faster processor and work with next-generation wireless networks, according to three people familiar with the product.”

But the big question is, how much information about the iPhone 5 will we be able to glean from the release of the iPad 3 in March? Or, even more interesting, will we see the iPad and iPhone grow farther apart in design this year?

One metric to consider when weighing these questions is the length of time between releases: whereas the iPhone 5 will have essentially been in the making for 2+ years once it is released (or even longer, depending on how long Cupertino has really been R&D’ing it), having been stalled and fretted over by Steve Jobs himself, the iPad 3 will be released according to its now-reliable schedule. For as much as the new iPad 3 features will come as a welcome to tablet users, it would seem that, from a design and production standpoint, even the new innovations for the iPad 3 are obviously not a dramatic leap forward and reasonably implementable.

Based on these two realities, I am imagining that Apple’s two defining mobile devices are growing apart. And if I’m right, it would make sense: if Apple dreams of offering a true ecosphere of products to customers, then the iPad and iPhone need to remain far enough apart for users to see a value in owning both. My three-year-old still refers to my iPhone 4 as a “mini iPad.” While the shared iOS will undoubtedly continue to make the user interface between the two devices the same, form factor and size could most definitely change between the two this year.

We’ll have a better sense once the iPad 3 is released, since we’ll find out if the zany rumors of a sub-9.7-inch iPad come true. PC World considers this possibility in a new article outlining the prevailing iPad 3 rumors, saying, “Another persistent idea is that Apple will produce an iPad “mini” tablet with a 7.85-inch display, à la Amazon’s Kindle Fire. That last possibility seems unlikely, however, because it violates Apple’s vision of a tablet as a device for both content creation and content consumption. Though 8-inch tablets are okay for consumption, they’re not so good for creation.”

I like the thinking here: I don’t think that Apple will move the iPad design closer to the iPhone by making it smaller, but rather might feel quite comfortable in following through with some other rumors that the device might actually grow thicker, thanks to the new LED bar and increased display. In this way, I think that the iPad 3 is becoming more of a crossover between a laptop and mobile media device: almost like the intersection of a Macbook Air and the rumored Apple TV. It will also continue to develop in the business sphere as a productive business tool.

Conversely, the iPhone 5 will move even further into becoming a mobile “life hub;” a device that ties together all of the facets of a user’s life. I’ve often argued that the iPhone is a truly cyborg mobile device — it enhances our bodies and mind. Now, the iPhone 5 will deliver on giving us access to information (Siri and search), media (its high quality rear-facing camera, larger screen, and total access to purchased music and video), communication (telephone, messaging, and front-facing camera), and perhaps even commerce (NFC). And all of these aspects will be enhanced by faster processing, LTE, and (hopefully) a better battery.

So, in this way, I don’t imagine that the iPad 3 will foreshadow the iPhone 5. But I do suspect that what the iPad is not, the iPhone 5 will be.

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Crowds Awaiting iPhone 4S Force Delay In China, Riot

The Chinese desperately want the iPhone 4S. But the large, unruly crowd that gathered to get it at Apple’s Beijing store forced police to shut the release down, leading to a riot.

If you think that westerners behave a bit obsessively about Apple gadgets, it’s nothing in comparison to the Chinese. Thirsting for perhaps what is now the crown jewel of pop western culture, a massive crowd queued up outside of Apple’s Beijing superstore on Friday, anticipating the official release of the iPhone 4S in China. Police decided to cancel the iPhone 4S’s release event, however, when it was determined that the crowd had grown too large to manage. The situation broke down from there, with customers hurling eggs and rebuking Apple employees as the police struggled to disperse the crowd.

Given the tension that many eager customers endured throughout the 2011 Summer, waiting in vain for the now mythic iPhone 5, it isn’t difficult to imagine how this situation could have brought would-be Chinese iPhone 4S users to the brink. But truth be told, the Chinese have a long track record of extreme behavior when it comes to Apple products, to the point where one wonders if it is quickly becoming a cultural pastime in China to behave badly in the name of a new Apple release.

Last year, the scene outside of Apple’s Beijing store was curiously similar: on the day that the iPad 2 was to be launched, a near riot was sparked when a scalper budged in line. The ensuing melee injured four and shattered one of the Apple store’s glass doors.

Just think: someone went flying through a glass window in Beijing over an iPad 2.

But China’s brinksmanship when it comes to all things Apple even extends into the macabre: there have been multiple suicides and questionable deaths at Apple’s primary components manufacturer, Foxconn, over the years. One of the most bizarre twists was when Foxconn workers — who, to wit, were working on Xboxes and not iPhones — threatened a mass suicide over a string of layoffs and pay cuts. The Washington Post reports it best: “In May 2011, Foxconn was accused of making its workers sign no-suicide contracts, and Apple issued a statement promising to improve the lives of Foxconn workers. The mass suicide was averted after Foxconn met some of the worker’s demands, but the PR damage had already been done.”

It remains to be seen when Apple will attempt another launch of the iPhone 4S in Beijing, though this story only underscores the difficulties that Apple has faced in trying to wield the lucrative yet unpredictable nature of contemporary China.

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iPhone Mania Slumps for the 4S, Anticipating iPhone 5

A new study finds that interest in the iPhone 4S is already showing slight signs of slipping. Could it be because prospective buyers are waiting for the iPhone 5?

There’s no doubt that excitement for the iPhone 5 has slipped over the past few months. Ever since the announcement and release of the iPhone 4S, the interest in the iPhone 5 has been put on the back burner for many tech enthusiasts out there who assumed that the iPhone 5 would be shelved for a year or so.

But now that we’ve turned over a new year — the year in which the iPhone 5 is destined to be released — it may be that iPhone users who skipped the 4S, as well as non-iPhone users who are holding out for the iPhone 5, are gearing up for its eventual release. In an interesting poll reported on by CNET, iPhone demand — while still dramatically high — is beginning to decline: “According to ChangeWave Research, which conducted a survey of 4,000 North American consumers last month, 54 percent of those who plan to buy a smartphone in the next 90 days will choose the iPhone. . . However, demand for Apple’s iPhone is on the decline. Back in September, ChangeWave found that 65 percent of consumers were planning to buy an iPhone by the end of 2011–11 points higher than now.”

CNET reports that the decline in interest for the iPhone is mainly a result of its best Android competitor gaining ground on it in the marketplace: “According to ChangeWave, it’s due mainly to the recently launched Galaxy Nexus. That device, which boasts Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes with a 4.65-inch display, is Samsung’s flagship device right now, and arguably the best iPhone competitor the company offers.” I simply do not agree with that finding. While it is easy to imagine that new Android devices are detracting from iPhone interest, it is worth noting that the iPhone 4S is still a very new product in the smartphone market, and it’s flagship feature — Siri — remains unmatched as far as cool, fun, sellable features go.

Instead, I believe that iPhone 4S interest in waning, in anticipation for the possibility of an iPhone 5 being released less than a year after the 4S. We reported on sagging iPhone 4 sales back in the late Spring and early Summer of 2011, due to the sense that the iPhone 5 may be released either at the 2011 WWDC or the end of the Summer. The same may be beginning to happen in 2012 as well: while many tech analysts believe that the iPhone 5 will be released in the Fall of 2012, there are still others who believe that this year’s WWDC is a viable forum for its announcement, and would also realign Apple’s typical iPhone release schedule.

In addition, our own inside source, who was correct in predicting that the 2011 iPhone would be a refresh of the iPhone 4S, has been told by his own inside sources that Apple is planning for a “June 2012 release.”

What to take out of this new poll is not that Apple is losing the smartphone wars to the Galaxy Nexus, but rather that smartphone users in the know are keenly aware that, now that we’re in the year when the iPhone 5 is to be released, it may very well be worth waiting — yet again.

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