iPhone 5 To Get Curved Display Glass And LTE 4G In 2012?

Read Charles Moore's new reflection on rumors that the iPhone 5 will feature a curved glass display and the coveted 4G in 2012.

I'm seriously dating myself by revealing that I remember well Volkswagen's introduction of the new Super Beetle model in 1971 with a curved, mildly wraparound windshield. All VW Beetles previously had had completely flat windshield glass, so the curvature was considered highly revolutionary.

I took a new Super Beetle belonging to a friend for a test drive and recall noticing how much better it rode and handled with its completely different suspension system, and the gracefully curved windscreen did much to eliminate the impression of viewing the world through a letterbox slot. The Super Beetle is my favorite VW Beetle of all time (I'll take a Cabriolet Champagne Edition by preference, thanks), the most recent example I've driven being a hotrod built by my daughter and her friend as a bare chassis up project, with a twin-Weber carburated Porsche engine and Porsche alloy wheels, as well as a rock hard suspension that makes it handle and corner like a go-kart — at least on smooth roads. It's seriously demanding to drive, but one seriously hot Beetle.

Curved glass: cool on the old VW Beetle — how about the iPhone 5?

Anyway, I thought of the curved-windshield VW announcement of 40 years ago when I read a DigiTimes report by Yenting Chen and Steve Shen noting that the latest scuttlebutt being circulated around the OEM componentry supply chain in Taiwan is that Apple is fixing to adopt a curved cover glass for the iPhone5 according to DigiTimes customary unnamed industry sources.

However, Chen and Shen report that cover glass makers are reluctant to invest in the necessary glass cutting equipment due to high capital cost, so, Apple itself has reportedly purchased 200-300 glass cutting machines to be used by glass makers, or so the sources affirm, currently storing them at associated assembly plants to be brought into production service once yield rates for curved glass reaches a satisfactory level, and further that there's still been no timetable set for iPhone 5g volume production, at least in part because Apple is currently still working out logistics issues with suppliers including ones involved in cover glass, glass cutting, lamination and touch sensors to improve yield rates.

So why would Apple want a curved iPhone display? Unlike the Super Beetle windscreen of yore, a curved iPhone screen would seem to not offer any obvious advantages, and actually seems sort of like a step backward, since the curved

Curved design concepts like this one from HTC can make for more ergonomic phone calls — but is it a good idea for a touch screen?

screen glass of CRT computer monitors long since gave way to flat plane displays almost universally acclaimed to be an improvement. One rumor I heard suggested it might have something to do with 3D, working like some sort of lens.

And while we're at it, DigiTimes' Amanda Liang and Adam Hwang have posted a new report sayingthat China Mobile, China's largest mobile telecom carrier, has reached an agreement with Apple for China Mobile to develop an iPhone model based on TD-LTE which to be offered in 2012, citing comments by China Mobile chairman Wang Jian-zhou at the company's 2011 shareholders meeting on May 19, according to a report in the Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily.

In an earlier report, Digitimes' Irene Chen and Steve Shen noted that Apple is unlikely to launch LTE-enabled iPhone 4S smartphones in 2011 as originally planned due to problems concerning yield rates of LTE chips offered by Qualcomm.

Many thanks to all of the folks yesterday who sent in links to stories about this rumored new feature for the iPhone 5! iPhone 5′ers are the best at keeping up on all things iPhone!

What do you think the purpose of a curved screen might be on the iPhone 5? Cool looks? Ergonomics? And how would it affect gesture control on the touch screen? Let us know what you think!

Here's more on the iPhone 5 news.

iPhone 5 News

The next generation iPhone 5 is due to launch this summer and to help you get to grips with what to expect, here is the latest iPhone 5 news.

There are some reports that are claiming that the iPhone 5 handset will get a totally new design but this is just a rumor at the moment.  What we do know, is that the iPhone 5's internals will be different.  The new iPhone 5 is going to run on a new combined CDMA/GSM/UTMS chipset from Qualcomm that will in the US support both AT&T and Verizon along with various other carriers worldwide.

When it comes to iPhone 5 news that details are minimal.  According to reports the new iPhone 5 is currently being tested by Apple's senior staff but even these people aren't giving out details and the only thing they seem to be saying is that it is a complete redesign.

iPhone 5 To Support NFC

The new Apple iPhone 5 is said to support NFC (near field communication).  This is the same technology that is being used in the Nexus S using the latest Android 2.3 release.  This chip will allow for data exchanges between two devices and it could also be used to form the basis for mobile payments.  Apple might be building a mobile wallet of sorts and there are rumors of iBuy, iCoupons and iPay apps being developed.

iPhone 5 to Have Cloud iTunes

In April 2010 Apple acquired Lala.com which is a cloud based music streaming service.  What this means for the iPhone 5 could be that Apple is looking at giving iPhone 5 users the ability to purchase, download and even stream music from their phones for a monthly fee without the need for desktop software.

Facial Recognition For The iPhone 5

Another thing that you might see happening with the new iPhone 5 is the possibility that Apple is going to introduce facial recognition to improve their desktop products.  These include iPhoto and Aperture.  By integrating facial recognition into the iPhone 5 this could prove to be very beneficial and you will be able to have a phone that actually knows who you are.

That is about all we have when it comes to iPhone 5 news / iPhone 5 Pictures but you can be sure that there will be plenty more released in the upcoming months as the iPhone5 launch date draws ever near.

Screw iPhone 5 rumors, the nano may be getting games

iPod nano rumors seem to be heating up this week. It started with a "leaked" nano case that shows off a rear-facing camera. Now, a patent has surfaced that shows the iPod nano not only gaining a camera, but also motion sensors and games.

Yup, you read that right.Video games on your nano. It wouldn't be the first time that Apple managed to sneak games onto an iPod with a small screen. The original iPod shipped with a hidden edition of Brick, a game originally developed by Steve Wozniak. Down the road Apple also added Parachute, Solitaire, and Music Quiz. Then it was officially game on time. Apple announced in September 2006 that games would be coming to the iTunes store and would include 9 other games for the iPod, including Bejewled. Again, it should be noted that these games did not require iOS and shipped long before both iPod touch and iPhone.

 

It seems that Apple's at least thinking about bringing games of this variety back to the iPod nano. Not every patent filed by Apple comes to fruition, so there's also a chance that this doesn't happen at all. That being said, there are a couple of things I wouldn't mind seeing in a new updated iPod nano.

1. FaceTime. The ability to take FaceTime calls from my iWatch would fantastic.
2. iOS notifications. James Gifford brought this one up in the comments a couple of days ago. The more I think of it, the more I think he's on to something. Imagine getting your iOS notifications to your iWatch? Missed calls, appointment reminders, and text messages would be fantastic on my wrist. FANTASTIC.

iPhone ambient light sensor could receive upgrade from new Apple supplier

Allegedly unhappy with the current light sensor in the iPhone 4, Apple is said to be testing a new component supplier for future hardware.

Citing its industry sources in the Far East, DigiTimes reported Thursday that Capella Microsystems is in talks with Apple to become a component supplier. That would make it the first Taiwan-based integrated circuit manufacturer to land orders from the iPhone maker.

"Capella, which ships over one million ambient-light sensors to HTC a month currently, has reportedly delivered its products to Apple for verification as the ambient-light sensors currently used by the iPhone 4 have been criticized for some problems," the report said.A deal is not said to be imminent, but Apple could place orders with Capella before the end of the year. Apple is expected to release its fifth-generation iPhone later than usual this year, with one report pegging its debut in the company's 2012 fiscal year, which begins at the end of September.

Capella is said to be one of two Taiwan-based integrated circuit suppliers that Apple is exploring potential opportunities with. The Cupertino, Calif., company is also reportedly in talks with Integrated Memory Logic.

Rumors have swirled in Taiwan that IML's programmable gamma buffers are likely to be utilized by Apple in its iPad touchscreen tablet. IML also maintains a headquarters in the U.S.

Apple iPhone 5: Two Models Coming – Pro & Normal?

The Apple iPhone 5 is something that many people want to see but we have recently learned that it won't be with us until around September. This is good if you are waiting for your contract to run out but bad if yours has already! Something we would point out is that the Internet is full of rumors about the new Apple device and we have another one to tell you about today.

We have just read over on iClarified.com that there may in fact be two models of the iPhone 5 Apple coming the Pro and Normal versions. It might seem to be quite farfetched at the moment but it's not beyond belief especially if you are one of the many that believes Apple needs to give the new device a makeover and a shake up.

The original source of this information is the iphonedownloadblog.com where their author has published an article talking about the reasons to believe there will be two versions. The only problem we have with some of the information that was shared is that when they say that Apple is ordering parts and then re-ordering them of a better quality, surely this relates to testing the device to get optimum performance out of it before releasing it.

We are thinking that if Apple is going to release the iPhone 5 then perhaps it won't be too dissimilar to the iPhone 4 but with updated specifications including the A5 chip and perhaps NFC. We believe that it will pretty much have similar specs to the new iPad 2 review with a few slight differences because of the size differences.

What do you guys think? Will there be two iPhone5 models? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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What should we expect from IPhone 5!

The new iPhone 5 release date is not yet known; however, there have been many speculations about the iPhone 5 price and iphone 5 features. Corresponding with Apple's customary June/July release dates, the iPhone5 is set for release in the summer of 2011. Apple may take the opportunity to fix the iPhone 4's antenna problem, or they could release yet another edition of the iPhone 4.

It is reported that the iPhone 5 4G will be able to access 4G networks, as it will be equipped with a new and improved operating system, which is the iOS 5. Included will be a super fast 1.5 GHz processor, and a bettered battery life that will allow you 7 hours of talk on a 4G and 14 on a 3G. Apart from AT&T, there will be other carriers of the iPhone 5 including Verizon. The new and improved iPhone5 will also come with video chat capabilities accessible on both 3G and 4G networks; however, it is presently only available on Wi-Fi.

Features that will be upgraded from the iPhone 4 include high video resolution capabilities and the face recognition technology. It has also been speculated that the iPhone 5g will be equipped with an impressive 8 megapixel camera, along with a radiofrequency identifier. Radiofrequency identification will enable you to use the iPhone 5 like a credit card. If this feature is added, when you are at a checkout queue, all you will have to do is pass your iPhone over the panel and your items will be paid for wirelessly. The patent for this technology will be introduced by Apple, and will show how a RFID loop can be embedded in the circuitry of the iPod touch screen or the iPhone.

Upgraded from the iPhone 4's 16GB memory, it is believed that the iPhone 5 will have an enormous 64GB of memory. It has also been reported that the iPhone 5 will be the thinnest iPhone that Apple has ever released, and it will come with a back piece that is made from shiny glass. The phone will be made with a screen that is shatterproof and scratch resistant, and will also have a built in GPS. Users of the new iPhone 5 will be able to assign various tones to their different email accounts.

The iPhone5 price will be in the same range as the price of the iPhone 4. With all its new features, the version of the iPhone will outshine version 4 and will be a phone that everyone will enjoy using. Look out for the iPhone 5 release date, as this new Apple iPhone 5 will be a must-have. Here's more on the iPhone 5 News.

Apple iPhone 5 may Have Thunderbolt features Possible

Apple has just introduced Thunderbolt technology into its iMacs and MacBooks so it stands to reason that the iPhone 5 could possibly feature this new port.

The latest news surrounding the Web comes via GizmoCrunch by way of SemiAccurate reporting that the iPhone5 could incorporate Thunderbolt technology, it seems that Mini-Displayport could be replaced with Thunderbolt I/O port (Light Peak) to give customers a much faster data transfer speed as well as charge up times simultaneously.

If you look below this news article we have put a poll together asking what port would you like featured on the upcoming September release Apple iPhone 5, please take a look at the different options and please vote your favourite.

Thunderbolt will give you better speeds than others such as USB2 and USB3, obviously the iPhone 5g will not give you speeds like the MacBook Pro, MacBook air or iMacs that would be crazy to think that, but even so Thunderbolt port on the iPhone 5 would be a stunning addition.

Please check out our poll setup below and vote now, thanks for joining in.

Here's more on the iPhone 5 features