When Apple released the iPhone in 2007 its smart phone competitors – Microsoft, Nokia, RIM and Palm – primarily were focused on business users. Apple’s product was marketed at consumers who wanted smart phone functionality wrapped in Apple’s renowned user interface and ease of use. This combination has been a phenomenal success over the last 2 and 1/2 years, but now has spawned imitators like Google’s Android platform and Palm’s webOS. But Apple is not resting on its laurels. Here’s what you should expect from the 4th version of the iPhone.
Hardware
Apple’s 2008 purchase of PA Semi and continuing investment in Imagination Technologies should bear fruit this year in a significantly faster iPhone. Apple bought PA Semi to make custom ARM-based processors for the iPhone and iPod. Inclusion of Imagination’s PowerVR SGX545 chip would boost the iPhone’s graphic capabilities and make the iPhone OS platform that much more attractive as a gaming platform.
Motorola Droid’s 3.7” 480-by-854-pixel screen best’s the iPhone’s 3.5” 480-by-320 display, to say nothing of the Zune’s gorgeous OLED screen. A more vibrant, higher density screen seems likely, possibly OLED if component prices drop enough. The iPhone’s camera gets an upgrade to 5MB, with an LED camera flash to improve photo and video clarity taken in low-light conditions, such as indoors or at night. Apple will continue to double the maximum memory in each iPhone iteration, using Toshiba’s recently announced 64GB embedded NAND flash chip. A significant increase in battery life would be a (welcome) surprise, as would turning on the 802.11n wireless capability already built into current iPhones. Maybe this will be the year we finally see wireless syncing over a local network.
Software
Apple hasn’t updated the iPhone OS in quite a while, reportedly to keep features specific to the upcoming Tablet secret. Apple’s rumored release of the iPhone OS 4 SDK at the Tablet special event on January 27th would give us a peak at what’s coming to your next iPhone. The iPhone’s real advantage lies with its advanced operating system and applications, and their tight integration with the iPhone hardware.
Faster processers should allow for increased multi-tasking. It seems almost certain Apple will release a turn-by-turn navigation and FM radio app. There is also a backlog of minor but annoying bugs that I hope gets fixed – like not being able to sync To Do items in Calendar app and not being able to add existing contacts to groups in Address app.
Whither AT&T, Enter Verizon?
Reports indicate that AT&T's exclusivity agreement with Apple for the iPhone in the U.S. will expire this June, opening the possibility of an iPhone compatible with Verizon’s CMDA network. It appears doubtful that a multi-mode chip that works on multiple networks will be available in Apples’ timeframe. Instead, Apple will use a 3G EV-DO ship from Qualcomm for a CDMA-based iPhone.
It would be nice if AT&T could deliver in 2010 features promised last year, like iPhone tethering and wider rollout of its 3G Microcell product.
My best guess is that the phone will be released during WWDC (World Wide Developer's Conference) which will looks to take place June 28 through July 2, 2010.
when to purchase
I keep putting off getting an iPhone becasue of these upgrades. Originally, I put it off before the last big upgrade - then the Droid came out - and now Nexus - and now these new upgrades to the iPhone. I give up. Maybe what I really need is a tablet - and carry that around with me - seriously.
Ideal phone: Verizon + google integration + 100K apps to choose from
but that doesn't exist - right?
Next iPhone
I wouldn't worry *too* much about the amount of iPhone upgrades.
There have only been 3 versions of the iPhone so far. Apple has pre-announced each version sometime in January to March, and released the actual phone in June or July. It is likely that they will follow this same pattern, although there are some rumors, which I discount, of an April release.
The rule of thumb for technology is if there is a product that fits your needs now and there are no signs of an imminet replacement, go ahead and make the purchase.
In your case I would recommend you wait a bit to find out if the next iPhone will run on Verizon. It is not clear if Apple will be able to release a phone that can run both on AT&T and Verizon, and no current iPhones will be able to switch to Verizon (at least without jailbraking them).
Apple's App store simply puts every other vendor's copy to shame. Why? It isn't just the shear number of apps - many many are worthless. But there is an app for anything you can imagine. And the process of buyng and installing them is just dead simple. Google has an app for the iPhone and there are many third party apps that work with Google. I use an app that works with Google Reader and the Calendar app on the iPhone can sync with Google Calendar, too name just a few examples.
You are, IMHO, two thirds of the way to the perfect phone, and I do think Apple will release a Verizon capable phone soon.
I hope this helps.
Bryan