<blockquote>
Long story short, instead of using the entire metal band for antennas like in the 4, the 4S only uses the top and bottom sections as antennas. Since the flat sides don’t contribute to transmitting signal and only help with the structure of the device, it makes sense to make them even more integral to the structure. This is what makes a unibody iPhone possible.
</blockquote>
Interesting concept, and it actually looks to me like it could be real enough. Also presented in the linked article are four possibilities:
<ol>
<li>A very elaborate hoax</li>
<li>A decoy made by Apple</li>
<li>An early model or sample</li>
<li>An actual production sample of the next iPhone</li>
</ol>
I don’t think Apple is above the decoy, but they’ve never done that before that I can remember so I don’t think it likely. I think options 3 or 4 are good possibilities. Time will tell.

The Tech Block

Unibody iPhone?

<blockquote>
<img src="/images/uploads/lg_iphone5_021.jpg" alt="iphone">
</blockquote>
That back looks ugly if you ask me. I really hope this is wrong.

Mark Gurman writing on 9to5Mac

The 6th Generation iPhone?

<blockquote>
iMore has heard that Apple is planning to debut the new iPhone at a special event on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, with the release date to follow 9 days later on Friday, September 21. This information comes from sources who have proven accurate in the past.
The iPad mini will be announced at the same September 12 event, as will the new iPod nano. We haven’t heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven’t heard any specific information about that yet either.
</blockquote>
We shall see, but it all sounds plausible. As <a href="http://www.marco.org/2012/07/30/iphone-5-and-ipad-mini-event-planned-for-september-12">Marco says</a>,
<blockquote>
iMore’s been as reliable as a <a href="http://www.loopinsight.com">Dalrymple</a> “Yep” recently.
</blockquote>

Rene Ritchie writing on iMore

Rumors, Rumors, and More Rumors

<blockquote>
Apple sent out an interesting message to third-party developers today. iOS devs are now required to submit Retina display screenshots for their iPhone and iPod touch apps to the App Store. All updates to existing apps must also meet the 960×640 resolution requirement.
</blockquote>
Make sense to me.
Also, file this in the “no kidding” category…
<blockquote>
After nearly 3 years, Apple could finally be ready to put the 3GS to bed. There’s no reason to keep selling an outdated phone that can’t even display App Store apps in their full resolution.
</blockquote>
No, really?
<blockquote>
Here’s what I see happening in 2012: The 3GS gets the boot. The iPhone 5 (technically the sixth-generation version) takes the 4S’s place as Apple’s flagship smartphone. The iPhone 4S gets put in the sub-$100 price range and the iPhone 4 takes the place of the 3GS. Considering that the iPhone 4 is still one of the best handsets on the market, and the fact that Apple is leading the pack in market share growth and profits, I see no reason why the iPhone 4 couldn’t be offered for free with a carrier contract this year.
</blockquote>
It’s like they can reach right into Cupertino and read the minds of Cook, Schiller, and Forstall.

Alex Heath writing for Cult of Mac

iPhone Apps Go Retina Only

<blockquote>
In two report back in April and July of last year, we reported that Apple was working on an ultra-thin 15-inch Mac notebook, with the suggestion being that the existing MacBook Pro line would evolve to take design cues and many of the features from the popular MacBook Air. But whether the larger notebooks would be branded as MacBook Pros or MacBook Airs has been unclear.
</blockquote>
Understand that I personally have no evidence for anything I’m about to say. I’m just guessing. But I also know how Apple operates. Time will prove me right or wrong. And <a href="/blog/2010/08/10/the-verizon-rumor-mill-is-yapping-again">I’ve</a> <a href="/blog/2010/08/23/the-verizon-drumbeat-grows-ever-stronger">certainly</a> <a href="/blog/2010/09/23/a-verizon-iphone-not-so-fast">been</a> <a href="/blog/2010/10/07/can-you-hear-me-now">wrong</a> <a href="/blog/2011/01/12/verizons-dream-comes-true-so-does-mine">before</a>.
However…
I think it is highly likely that all of Apple’s laptop line will resemble the MacBook Air with the next round of updates. I suspect that all new notebooks will no longer contain optical drives. This is key, I think, in moving the the MacBook Air like form factor. I will also predict that Apple will switch to all Solid State drives. It really does make a huge difference in battery life and computer performance.
Now, whether they will all be called the MacBook Air or not is up for debate. I am not sure it makes sense, at least not to me. What makes sense to me is to discontinue the 13" MacBook Pro, continue to call the 11" and 13" MacBook Airs the same, and call the new Air like form factor 15" and 17" notebooks MacBook Pros. As long as they continue to provide high powered CPUs and high RAM capability, the only thing you would really be loosing is the optical drive. I removed my optical drive and replaced it with an SSD anyway so that would suite me well.
Apple can be mysterious so the only thing we can really do beyond speculate as I have just done, is wait and see what happens.

MacRumors

MacBook Pro to Adopt MackBook Air Form Factor?

<blockquote>
Verizon said it was working on a shared data solution for 2012, and according to an anonymous tipster, the new packages could be rolling out soon. We’ve been told that training material for an update to the outfit’s internal account management application includes screenshots (one of which you can see above) that show a new section labeled “account level data plans.” The new section apparently shows an account level charge for data allowance and a 9.99 charge per line.
</blockquote>
If they do this in such a way as to save me money, count me in! It makes so much sense to me. My wife and I could both use the same 2GB data plan for an extra 9.99 instead of the $15.00 I’m paying AT&#x26;T currently for her data plan.
The only reason I’m not with Verizon was because I would have to pay $30.00 for a data plan for both my phone and my wife’s phone. No deal! This could fix that. But I have a little over 1 1/2 years before I could switch without contract penalty… so we’ll see what happens in that period of time.

Edgadget

Verizon shared data plans?

Boy, the <a href="http://www.tipb.com/2011/03/07/iphone-5-set-abandon-glass-favor-aluminum/">rumors</a> are <a href="http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/03/07/iphone.5.may.use.aluminum.shell/">just</a> a <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/07/apple_rumored_to_ditch_glass_back_for_aluminum_with_iphone_5.html">pouring</a> <a href="http://www.9to5mac.com/54764/iphone-5-to-have-aluminum-back-new-antenna-design/">in</a> that iPhone 5 will be going to back to an aluminum back.
I don’t favor the fake mock up making the rounds, I prefer a flat back myself. However, I would be highly in favor of going back to aluminum. I certainly never cared for the idea of glass on the back much. Seemed silly to me. And I’ll have to say I’m not a big fan of the plastic on my 3GS. I do like the flat aluminum back of my original iPhone though, and I would be happy to see it return.

Back to Aluminum, we'll see


(Yes, The New York Times capitalized the “i” in iPhone!)
So let’s think about this for a minute. Apple releases new iPhones around June or July every year, these rumors just don’t add up to me. Why would you release a CDMA iPhone 4 six months before iPhone 5?
I will say this though, Android is a major player now, and Android phones have gained dominance because Apple refuses (refused?) to make a CDMA iPhone. If Apple releases a CDMA iPhone for Verizon before they release the iPhone 5 it will be for one reason - to crush Android.

The New York Times

The New York Times jumps on the rumor mill.

The next couple of years of computer development should be interesting!

ComputerWorld: Apple's Touchscreen iMac Heads Closer to Reality


A touch screen iMac?

Who knows for sure, but I continue to maintain that T-Mobile will be the next U.S. network to get the iPhone. It makes the most sense, until LTE, Verizon makes no sense for Apple. Apple is certainly selling all the iPhones they can produce at the moment.

9to5Mac: Videotron exec says iPhone for T-Mobile


More iPhone on T-Mobile rumors

Makes sense to me. Facetime is only useful if you have someone to FaceTime with. The broader Apple can make it available, the more useful it becomes. It’s kinda like email, or instant messaging. It’s only as useful as the userbase is large.

9to5Mac: Facetime coming to iChat, Windows?


FaceTime on Mac and Windows?

Look, relax people. It’s still only a rumor. Can you understand that? Apple has not announced a device with the name iTV yet. If and when they do, then you can feel free to blow a gasket. Getting all worked up now just makes you look stupid!

Posts tagged “Rumors” from the blog