The new iPhone – what we know so far The next iPhone will feature a bigger tougher screen and a new name. What else is in store from Apple’s imminent announcement? The launch of every new iPhone is eagerly awaited in the technology world, and while Apple is incredibly secretive about its new devices, rumours of its design and capabilities and even supposed images of the new model inevitably creep out onto the internet. As we get closer to launch, here’s a round-up of what you can expect from Apple’s new smartphone. We’ll bring you news of the full announcement when it comes - there will undoubtedly be a few more surprises. When will the new iPhone be available? The new iPhone is expected to be revealed on September 9, when, according to technology website Re/code, Apple has scheduled a media event. This date has been confirmed by the Wall Street Journal. Apple has a policy of not commenting on rumour and speculation, but a September announcement would follow the pattern of previous iPhone launches. The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C were announced on September 10, 2013 before hitting the shops in the US and UK on September 20. Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 on September 12, 2012, before making it available nine days later. Going back to 2011 the iPhone 4S was unveiled on October 4 and was in the shops on October 14. Following a new iPhone announcement, the phone is available around 10 days later. The UK (along with the US) is among the first countries to get the phone. What’s different about the new iPhone? Apple is rumoured to be releasing two new iPhones. The most interesting change to previous iPhones is the screen size, with one rumoured to have a 4.7-inch screen and the other a 5.5-inch display. Over the last few years, Apple has avoided producing big-screen phones, the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 have four-inch screens. In contrast arch-rival Samsung’s flagship the Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch screen. But why would Apple release a 5.5-inch phone as well? For many people 5.5 inches is too unwieldy for a pocket and is certainly verging into tablet or phablet (phone/tablet hybrid) territory. However big-screen phones are selling particularly in Asia, an area Apple important to Apple - Time reports that more 80% of smartphones sold in Korea have screens measuring five inches or more. Apple currently uses scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass on the display, but the new phone is rumoured to have a sapphire crystal display. Sapphire crystal is incredibly thin, but very, very tough. In the video below internet tech reviewer Marques Brownlee stabs what he claims is the front glass from the new iPhone with a knife – and it survives. What does it look like? Ahead of an iPhone launch the internet is awash with – often blurred - pictures of the alleged phone, so until launch day, it’s very difficult to distinguish what’s real from the hoaxes. The latest images, allegedly taken by an Apple beta tester, appeared on technology website Tech Radar and show the handset in its retail packaging. The website can’t confirm the authenticity of the photos, pointing out the fact there’s no Health App icon (see below) on the front of the box and suggesting that it could be a high-quality Chinese copy. What features will the new iPhone have? In June Apple unveiled the latest version of its operating system for tablets and phones – iOS 8 – which will become available as a free update later this year. Based on Apple’s previous launch schedules, the new iPhone will launch with this operating system, which includes a host of new including a new keyboard, interactive notifications are tweaks to voice-controlled personal assistant Siri are among the updated features. [Related story: 11 new features coming to your iPad] Brand new features include Home-Kit for controlling systems connected to your home’s wi-fi network – what is also known as ‘the internet of things’ - and a new Health app, which tracks and stores information about your fitness. What will the new iPhone be called? Following the sequence of names so far: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S. Internet rumours suggest the phone will be called the iPhone 6. What’s interesting is the name of the rumoured 5.5-inch phone. Case manufacturer Spigen used the name ‘iPhone 6 Air’ in a blog post. Naming the phone ‘Air’ ties in with Apple’s top of the range tablet, the iPad Air. We can only speculate – when Apple revealed the last iPad, it was rumoured to be called the iPad 5, but instead Apple named it the iPad Air. Are you excited about the new iPhone? Let us know your thoughts below?
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:28:33 +0000
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