The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are only a few months old, but reports are now flying in about Apple’s next-generation iPhones
That means there's not long left, in truth,
until Apple's next batch of iPhones is revealed. We know for a fact, due
to the way Apple and all other manufacturers operate, that the next-gen
iPhones are well into their development cycle, and true to form, Apple
should be announcing the new models in September.
We also know Apple is soon to host its WWDC 2015 conference where the
new build of iOS; iOS 9, will be showcased, along with a bunch of new
features. The time between then and September is a chance for developers
to create new content, find bugs and offer feedback, so that Apple can
get iOS 9 well and truly polished for the next iPhone's arrival.
- Did Apple Just LEAK The iPhone 6c!?
Naturally the rumour mill has already churned into action and there's
a lot of information flying around about what we can expect to see this
Autumn. It'll be interesting to see what Apple does next though,
historically after big landmark launches the next generation is
incremental (think iPhone 5 to iPhone 5S - the "S" series is always the
lesser advancement).
Apple posted quarterly revenue of $58 billion and
quarterly net profit of $13.6 billion, or $2.33 per diluted share for Q2
2015. These results compare to revenue of $45.6 billion and net profit
of $10.2 billion, or $1.66 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
The growth was fuelled by record second quarter sales of the iPhone 6
and iPhone 6 Plus as well as MacBooks and record-breaking performance
for the company’s App Store.
“We are thrilled by the continued strength of
iPhone, Mac and the App Store, which drove our best March quarter
results ever,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re seeing a higher rate
of people switching to iPhone than we’ve experienced in previous cycles,
and we’re off to an exciting start to the June quarter with the launch
of Apple Watch.”
“The tremendous customer demand for our products and
services in the March quarter drove revenue growth of 27 percent and
EPS growth of 40 percent,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “Cash flow
from operations was also outstanding at $19.1 billion.”
And make no mistake, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were
a big advancement. An unusual capitulation from Apple, as the company
caved to consumer demand for bigger (though no less pretty) display
panels. Apple also coupled this with a radically altered visual design,
though again, still keeping some familiarity. The company also ramped up
camera features, and tweaked Touch ID with an NFC chip to tie-into its
(currently US only) Apple Pay service.
Sources close to Apple have confirmed the iPhone 6s/iPhone 7 will look pretty much identical to the iPhone 6, according to 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman. One of the key differences Apple is apparently keen to push is the inclusion of Force Touch.
“To go with the new hardware, Apple has designed iOS 9 to be Force
Touch-ready and is working to let developers integrate Force Touch into
App Store apps. Force Touch on the iPhone will be used to clear up some
control space across the system, and potentially replace some long
press-and-hold button interactions,” noted Gurman’s report.
iPhone 6s/iPhone 7 users will be able to use Force Touch Maps to drop
new pins inside Maps, inside media players for pressure-sensitive
scrolling, and inside the Calendar application for adding new events, as
well as across iOS 9 for quickly looking up word definitions.
EVERYTHING You Need To Know About iOS 8 & OS X Yosemite
As part of our iPhone coverage we’ve put together a
bunch of user guides about iOS and OS X Yosemite and how they work
together, as well as some of their respective unique features. Both
updates feature a HELL of a lot of new features, tweaks and
optimisations so finding your way around them can be a smidge daunting
–– hence the user guides.
You can check them out in their entirety below.
Also, we will be adding to each of them on a weekly basis in order to
bring you fullest possible view of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.
- Eminent Apple Analyst Predicts 11 Key Features of iPhone 6s/iPhone 7
- The Ultimate Guide To The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus –– iOS 8 Explored and Detailed
- The Ultimate Guide To OS X Yosemite –– EVERYTHING You Need To Know About Apple's HUGE New Update
Oddly enough, while Apple fell in-line with consumer demand for
Samsung-like larger displays, Samsung in turn has caved to demand for
Apple like exterior design with glass and metal on the Galaxy S6 and
Galaxy S6 Edge.
The times they are a-changin'. Mobile buyers are lapping all this up
too, both devices have been highly praised in reviews and are flying off
shelves around the world. Apple's major design overhaul is kicking ass
and taking names in terms of sales. There is still plenty of interest in
rival devices, however, with Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, as well as the freshly launched LG G4, receiving a lot of attention. Some analysts predict Samsung will soon catch up in terms of sales.
So with the next 12 months more or less secure for Apple, we turn to what's next in store for the biggest smartphone
maker in the world. And of course, we already know, it'll be up to its
usual tricks in September 2015. The company has established a habit of
launching one or two handsets every year, and they're always planned
well in advance, so we knew at least an iPhone 6S was coming and it's
not too surprising the rumours have started already –– truth be told, if
anything they're a little late, as we were already hearing about the
iPhone 6 before the iPhone 5S even launched. What's interesting,
however, is we're also hearing talk of an iPhone 7.
Apple Pay Landing In EU This Summer
Apple Pay might just be coming to Europe sooner than
expected. According to reports, banks in Belgium have confirmed they
will be rolling out the service this summer, meaning the EU rollout of
Apple Pay is bang on schedule –– previous reports had, of course, stated
Apple has faced fierce complaints from many EU banks.
"Apple Pay may be making its way to Belgium following WWDC, KBC Bank indicated on Twitter today," notes 9to5Mac. "The bank recently added NFC support to its payment cards, prompting a customer to ask if the institution would ever add support for Apple Pay. The bank replied that the service would be available starting this summer, indicating a possible announcement at WWDC. Other countries and financial institutions worldwide are likely to gain support as well around that time."
As it stands at present there are two schools of thought about Apple’s plans for its iPhone line in 2015: on the one hand there’s the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and this would fit in with the company’s previous tick-tock style upgrade process, whereby BIG changes are saved for tick-cycles and smaller, incremental tweaks for tock-cycles. However, there are plenty of rumours about Apple ditching this approach entirely and moving straight to the iPhone 7. And the reason is pretty much what you’d expect: Apple is worried people are getting wise to its ways and is concerned too many users would wait for the iPhone 7 should the 6s launch in 2015, a potential scenario that could hurt growth for the year.
And this is NOT something Apple will want. Not after the successes of 2015.
So, without further ado, let's have a look at what the rumour mill says Apple has in store for us in 2015, shall we?
The latest truths to come from his lips have been reported by UDN and Tech News, and reveal that once again Apple will launch two iPhones in 2015. These are a 4.7in iPhone 6s and a 5.5in iPhone 6s Plus, with both entering volume production in the middle of August.
Alleged features include a speedier Apple A9 processor with 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM, an upgraded 12MP camera module and a rose gold colour option. The phones will also feature Apple's Force Touch pressure-sensitive gesture control input just like the Apple Watch. Touch ID is also getting a revamped fingerprint scanner to make it even quicker.
On top of all this, it's claimed Apple will be putting a lot of effort into its build quality and manufacturing to prevent another Bendgate or similar. The iPhone 6s Plus will also have improved Sapphire Glass displays to make them even more robust.
"Apple typically rolls out a major upgrade to its iPhone lineup every other year, and then fills in the gap with a more incremental upgrade during the in-between years. So the iPhone 5 came out in 2012, followed by the iPhone 5S in 2013 and theiPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2015. The "S" models usually enhance the processor and a few other components and add one or two new features but not much more. However, Apple continues to face tough competition from the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S series and Android phones in general, which often sport major upgrades on an annual basis. Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus regained lost market share and customers by offering bigger screens. But if Apple wants to continue that trend, then the iPhone 6S needs to be more than just an incremental upgrade, which could happen, according to Kuo's crystal ball," reports CNET.
While it looks as though the next iPhone will still arrive when the leaves are turning brown, according to a whole bunch of reports out of China we may see it first appearing in August, a whole month ahead of Apple's expected schedule.
The word comes via United Daily News (UDN), which states that the "iPhone 6S" launch date has been moved forward due to what's being decribed as "better than expected" or "excessive" yield in component production - basically Apple's suppliers have manged to secure an absolute ton of the parts needed to build the next iPhone.
It's an interesting turn of events because Apple (and other manufcaturers) frequently face launch, production and shipping problems due to precisely the opposite scenario; suppliers cannot usually get enough components together in time.
GForGames reports: "The insiders who have provided this report are also claiming that Apple has recently begun to massively increase component orders which, if true, is either an indication that the company is indeed gearing up for an earlier release or that it expects to set a new sales record."
As that publication points out, the only fly in the ointment on a possible early launch is a software one. That is, WWDC 2015 is in June and Apple usually uses the time between its then announcement of a new iOS version (in this case iOS 9) and the iPhone launch to get feedback, and fine tune everything. It will proabably want to be doubly careful this time around considering how buggy iOS 8 was on launch and what a PR headache that was.
More recently, reports from the oft-unreliable DigiTimes are now claiming Apple will release three handsets in 2015 in the form of the iPhone 6s, the iPhone 6s Plus and –– this is where it gets interesting –– the iPhone 6c, which is rumoured to be a cheaper option with a 4in display aimed at picking up where the original iPhone 5c left off.
“Industry sources are reportedly referring to Apple's supposed next-generation 4-inch device as the iPhone 6C,” says Apple Insider, “a take on the low-end, polycarbonate-bodied iPhone 5c that debuted in 2013. As an entry-level product, the 6C is rumoured to run on current generation A8 system-on-chip silicon, while the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones will run an unannounced A9 chip.”
This is kind of understandable, though, as the iPhone 5c did prove very popular with a lot of users; you see the colourful handsets everywhere when walking around London. A lot this boils down to people liking the colour options, as it gives their iPhone something of an individual look –– you don’t see that many blue ones for instance, although pink and white seem to be very popular.
Following the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone 5c was not axed, as many presumed it would be, but was instead relegated to a replacement for the iPhone 5 as the base model in Apple's catalogue.
According to the rumour mill (DigiTimes), Apple is planning a 4in display size for its next plastic fantastic iPhone, together with NFC and TouchID, meaning it is getting the functionality of its more premium brethren.
“Industry sources are reportedly referring to Apple's supposed next-generation 4-inch device as the iPhone 6C,” says Apple Insider, “a take on the low-end, polycarbonate-bodied iPhone 5c that debuted in 2013. As an entry-level product, the 6C is rumoured to run on current generation A8 system-on-chip silicon, while the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones will run an unannounced A9 chip.”
A handset said to be the iPhone 6c has apparently been accidentally leaked online by Apple. The handset in question looks A LOT like the iPhone 5c, as you can see above. The only real difference we can see is that THIS handset features TouchID, a feature sorely missing from the iPhone 5c.
The case for the iPhone 6c is strong, even if just from a financial perspective; Apple sold 24 million units of the iPhone 5c, a HUGE amount of devices considering this handset has been consistently labelled a failure –– can you imagine the HTC One M8 Mini selling in that volume!? Nope, neither can we.
According to information from Economic Daily News (Taiwan), Apple has plans for a "3D touch technology" utilising touch sensors from Avago Tech (a company Nintendo used for the Wii consoles).
The translation is a little fuzzy, but the report indicates that Apple owns a patent which can "simultaneously identify multiple fingerprint recognition technology panels," plus there's mention of "gesture control technology."
It's implied that Apple may be trying to do away with the Home key and transferring its functions into the display surround - just like the Apple Watch. The only thing this doesn't solve is the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, but Apple already has a patent in place for putting fingerprint scanners underneath the display glass.
As for other details about the new iPhones — we'll see two new models again, according to the Wall Street Journal — Apple won't change the display sizes, while the resolution will stay “similar” –– meaning 1080p panels, not QHD.
"What will eventually be new, though, is a thoroughly redesigned camera module, with dual lens design, perhaps similar to the HTC One (M8) or Huawei's Honor 6 Plus units, a shot at a "zoom function," and sensor capable of soaking in more light. An optical zoom part is hard to believe, despite phones like the ZenFone Zoom that were just revealed at the CES expo, since it will require protruding lens. There are some periscope-style optical zoom designs, but the bodies of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are so thin, we doubt Apple can fit anything like that inside. On the other hand, there are lossless zoom options, and alternative approaches to optical zoom, though we don't know how close these are to mass production. We'll see whether this pans out at all."
There is cause for concern, however, as reports from Asia suggest Apple may keep the same 8MP sensor inside its upcoming new iPhone release. “Analyst Jeff Pu recently discussed the financial situation of Largan Precision Co. – Apple’s major camera lens supplier. Pu forecasts that, this year, Largan faces limited growth because the industry is transiting to higher-res cameras too slowly,” reports G For Games. “As for the iPhone 6S, Jeff Pu speculates that because the smartphone will not push a larger than 8 MP camera to the market, Largan Precision Co. will have a difficult time increasing its stock price in H2 2015.”
Apple has apparently bought Israeli imaging firm LinX, a company which builds small, phone-sized camera units that can deliver DLSR-like image quality. According to the WSJ, neither Apple nor LinX is confirming the buyout, though Apple did give its usual response that it sometimes acquire small companies and is not compelled to let the public know.
“It's not clear how and when Apple will incorporate LinX's technology into its devices,” reports MacRumors, “but it's possible we could see these types of camera improvements as soon as this year. Rumors have suggested Apple is looking into a major camera boost for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, with new technology that could produce SLR quality images, and LinX's multi-aperture lens systems could potentially accomplish that feat.”
“For 2015, iOS 9, which is codenamed Monarch, is going to include a collection of under-the-hood improvements. Sources tell us that iOS 9 engineers are putting a “huge” focus on fixing bugs, maintaining stability, and boosting performance for the new operating system, rather than solely focusing on delivering major new feature additions. Apple will also continue to make efforts to keep the size of the OS and updates manageable, especially for the many millions of iOS device owners with 16GB devices,” reports 9to5Mac.
But stability is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. Apple has been carefully building the world’s first 64-bit mobile platform, and in 2015 with the launch of iOS 9 the company will likely unveil myriad new ways for developers to create content for both mobile and OS X, meaning crossover is inevitable, notes Computer World.
“iOS 9 devices will also enjoy tremendous integration with Apple’s Macs, making both platforms the best-in-class choice for anyone who wants to get things done – from consumer to the enterprise; from oil and gas exploration using M2M facilities, iPads and IBM-driven big data systems to gurning grinning gamers.
“It is possible iOS 9 will only be made available for 64-bit devices, so that’s any iPhone since iPhone 5S and post-October 2013 iPad Air and iPad mini tablets. Those on older devices may need to upgrade.”
Apple’s renewed focus on stability will apparently mirror similar initiatives from the company for its OS X platform. According to multiple sources, Apple will release public betas of iOS 9 to the public ahead of a gold-standard release. The idea being that once the platform goes official, it will be completely bug-free and as smooth and stable as iOS used to be prior to the launch and release of iOS 7 –– when Apple started pushing lots of new features into the mix.
"In an effort to eliminate bugs from upcoming iOS versions ahead of their general releases," reports 9to5Mac, "Apple plans to launch the first-ever public beta program for the iOS operating system, according to multiple people briefed on the plans. Following the successful launch of the OS X Public Beta program with OS X Yosemite last year, Apple intends to release the upcoming iOS 8.3 as a public beta via the company’s existing AppleSeed program in mid-March. This release will match the third iOS 8.3 beta for developers, which is planned for release the same week. Apple then expects to debut iOS 9 at its June Worldwide Developer Conference, with a public beta release during the summer, and final release in the fall…"
“The balance of power has shifted back to Samsung,” reports RE/Code, “thanks to its advanced fabrication technology. That same advantage is said to be putting pressure on Qualcomm, which has been the biggest maker of chips in high-end phones. Owing in part to its own manufacturing edge, Samsung is expected to use its Exynos processors in forthcoming handsets instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810, which is made in TSMC’s factories.”
Samsung has invested a HUGE sum on money into its display and semiconductor businesses, a reported sum of $21.4 billion. All of this was done to ensure Samsung remains in growth and profitable for 2015/16 and beyond. Dr. Kinam Kim, president and general manager of the semiconductor business of Samsung, told press Samsung’s profits would improve dramatically in 2015 with the addition of Apple’s 14nm A9 chipset for its upcoming iPhone 7.
“Samsung LSI hasn’t directly confirmed Apple as its 14nm customer. But the company sounded confident about 14nm FinFET ramp in the second half of this year during its Q4 2014 earnings call,” said Strategy Analytics analyst Sravan Kundojjala. “Samsung LSI is looking to regain share in applications processors with the help of 14nm FinFET chips after seeing a steady share decline in its AP shipments over the past few years.”
A report via Apple Insider cites an anonymous “person familiar with Apple's future product plans, who has provided reliable information in the past.” The source alleges that Apple’s iPhone 6s will ship with 2GB of RAM onboard. Of course we’ve heard similar talk ahead of the last few iPhone launches and it hasn’t come to pass. As Apple Insider points out; the iPhone has stuck with 1GB of RAM since the iPhone 5 launched in 2012.
The new module will apparently “offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors.” Kuo reckons companies in Apple’s supply-chain will begin ramping up for production during Q2 2015 ahead of Apple’s usual late-Q3 launch and release pattern.
“Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn't likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required,” Kuo added “We therefore don't see any impact on supply chain momentum.”
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Latest iPhone 6 & iPhone Plus News & Features
"Apple Pay may be making its way to Belgium following WWDC, KBC Bank indicated on Twitter today," notes 9to5Mac. "The bank recently added NFC support to its payment cards, prompting a customer to ask if the institution would ever add support for Apple Pay. The bank replied that the service would be available starting this summer, indicating a possible announcement at WWDC. Other countries and financial institutions worldwide are likely to gain support as well around that time."
As it stands at present there are two schools of thought about Apple’s plans for its iPhone line in 2015: on the one hand there’s the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and this would fit in with the company’s previous tick-tock style upgrade process, whereby BIG changes are saved for tick-cycles and smaller, incremental tweaks for tock-cycles. However, there are plenty of rumours about Apple ditching this approach entirely and moving straight to the iPhone 7. And the reason is pretty much what you’d expect: Apple is worried people are getting wise to its ways and is concerned too many users would wait for the iPhone 7 should the 6s launch in 2015, a potential scenario that could hurt growth for the year.
And this is NOT something Apple will want. Not after the successes of 2015.
So, without further ado, let's have a look at what the rumour mill says Apple has in store for us in 2015, shall we?
Apple Oracle Ming-Chi Kuo Spills The Beans
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has become something of a legend in the mobile tech industry. The man's extensive network of insider contacts within the Asian production and supply network means he has produced some of the most accurate predictions for pretty much every Apple device ever released. In other words, when he speaks, it pays to listen.The latest truths to come from his lips have been reported by UDN and Tech News, and reveal that once again Apple will launch two iPhones in 2015. These are a 4.7in iPhone 6s and a 5.5in iPhone 6s Plus, with both entering volume production in the middle of August.
Alleged features include a speedier Apple A9 processor with 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM, an upgraded 12MP camera module and a rose gold colour option. The phones will also feature Apple's Force Touch pressure-sensitive gesture control input just like the Apple Watch. Touch ID is also getting a revamped fingerprint scanner to make it even quicker.
On top of all this, it's claimed Apple will be putting a lot of effort into its build quality and manufacturing to prevent another Bendgate or similar. The iPhone 6s Plus will also have improved Sapphire Glass displays to make them even more robust.
"Apple typically rolls out a major upgrade to its iPhone lineup every other year, and then fills in the gap with a more incremental upgrade during the in-between years. So the iPhone 5 came out in 2012, followed by the iPhone 5S in 2013 and theiPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2015. The "S" models usually enhance the processor and a few other components and add one or two new features but not much more. However, Apple continues to face tough competition from the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S series and Android phones in general, which often sport major upgrades on an annual basis. Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus regained lost market share and customers by offering bigger screens. But if Apple wants to continue that trend, then the iPhone 6S needs to be more than just an incremental upgrade, which could happen, according to Kuo's crystal ball," reports CNET.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 Release Date Could Rock Up In August: A Month Earlier Than Expected
Apple has been known to shift its release schedule around in the past, there was a time when the iPhone was regularly launched in June/July, but this eventually shifted to September and we've seen this Autumnal launch for several years now.While it looks as though the next iPhone will still arrive when the leaves are turning brown, according to a whole bunch of reports out of China we may see it first appearing in August, a whole month ahead of Apple's expected schedule.
The word comes via United Daily News (UDN), which states that the "iPhone 6S" launch date has been moved forward due to what's being decribed as "better than expected" or "excessive" yield in component production - basically Apple's suppliers have manged to secure an absolute ton of the parts needed to build the next iPhone.
It's an interesting turn of events because Apple (and other manufcaturers) frequently face launch, production and shipping problems due to precisely the opposite scenario; suppliers cannot usually get enough components together in time.
GForGames reports: "The insiders who have provided this report are also claiming that Apple has recently begun to massively increase component orders which, if true, is either an indication that the company is indeed gearing up for an earlier release or that it expects to set a new sales record."
As that publication points out, the only fly in the ointment on a possible early launch is a software one. That is, WWDC 2015 is in June and Apple usually uses the time between its then announcement of a new iOS version (in this case iOS 9) and the iPhone launch to get feedback, and fine tune everything. It will proabably want to be doubly careful this time around considering how buggy iOS 8 was on launch and what a PR headache that was.
An iPhone 6c Too?
Well this is unexpected. For several months now we've been seeing a trickle of information about the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7, expected for launch towards the end of 2015, however, it now seems Apple may have a third handset in development –– a successor to the plastic iPhone 5c!More recently, reports from the oft-unreliable DigiTimes are now claiming Apple will release three handsets in 2015 in the form of the iPhone 6s, the iPhone 6s Plus and –– this is where it gets interesting –– the iPhone 6c, which is rumoured to be a cheaper option with a 4in display aimed at picking up where the original iPhone 5c left off.
“Industry sources are reportedly referring to Apple's supposed next-generation 4-inch device as the iPhone 6C,” says Apple Insider, “a take on the low-end, polycarbonate-bodied iPhone 5c that debuted in 2013. As an entry-level product, the 6C is rumoured to run on current generation A8 system-on-chip silicon, while the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones will run an unannounced A9 chip.”
This is kind of understandable, though, as the iPhone 5c did prove very popular with a lot of users; you see the colourful handsets everywhere when walking around London. A lot this boils down to people liking the colour options, as it gives their iPhone something of an individual look –– you don’t see that many blue ones for instance, although pink and white seem to be very popular.
Following the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone 5c was not axed, as many presumed it would be, but was instead relegated to a replacement for the iPhone 5 as the base model in Apple's catalogue.
According to the rumour mill (DigiTimes), Apple is planning a 4in display size for its next plastic fantastic iPhone, together with NFC and TouchID, meaning it is getting the functionality of its more premium brethren.
“Industry sources are reportedly referring to Apple's supposed next-generation 4-inch device as the iPhone 6C,” says Apple Insider, “a take on the low-end, polycarbonate-bodied iPhone 5c that debuted in 2013. As an entry-level product, the 6C is rumoured to run on current generation A8 system-on-chip silicon, while the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones will run an unannounced A9 chip.”
A handset said to be the iPhone 6c has apparently been accidentally leaked online by Apple. The handset in question looks A LOT like the iPhone 5c, as you can see above. The only real difference we can see is that THIS handset features TouchID, a feature sorely missing from the iPhone 5c.
The case for the iPhone 6c is strong, even if just from a financial perspective; Apple sold 24 million units of the iPhone 5c, a HUGE amount of devices considering this handset has been consistently labelled a failure –– can you imagine the HTC One M8 Mini selling in that volume!? Nope, neither can we.
iPhone 7 Display
Apple’s next iPhone will adopt a new type of display technology called Force Touch. Apple developed this display technology for its Apple Watch but is said to be keen on bringing it to future iPhones, starting with 2015’s models. Apple’s new MacBook uses the technology in its touchpad and can, according to Apple, differentiate between a light, soft and heavy touch - different levels of pressure can be assigned to different functions, so essentially this gives more options than the conventional tap and long press options. The advent of this type of technology inside the iPhone could completely change the way millions of people interact with the device on a daily basis.According to information from Economic Daily News (Taiwan), Apple has plans for a "3D touch technology" utilising touch sensors from Avago Tech (a company Nintendo used for the Wii consoles).
The translation is a little fuzzy, but the report indicates that Apple owns a patent which can "simultaneously identify multiple fingerprint recognition technology panels," plus there's mention of "gesture control technology."
It's implied that Apple may be trying to do away with the Home key and transferring its functions into the display surround - just like the Apple Watch. The only thing this doesn't solve is the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, but Apple already has a patent in place for putting fingerprint scanners underneath the display glass.
As for other details about the new iPhones — we'll see two new models again, according to the Wall Street Journal — Apple won't change the display sizes, while the resolution will stay “similar” –– meaning 1080p panels, not QHD.
iPhone 7 Camera: Major Updates Planned
A report from Phone Arena, citing sources in Apple's supply chain, points to a series of key updates to Apple’s camera technology. The iPhone 6 setup was impressive, but what Apple has in store for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 looks to seriously up the ante, as you can see from the below extract."What will eventually be new, though, is a thoroughly redesigned camera module, with dual lens design, perhaps similar to the HTC One (M8) or Huawei's Honor 6 Plus units, a shot at a "zoom function," and sensor capable of soaking in more light. An optical zoom part is hard to believe, despite phones like the ZenFone Zoom that were just revealed at the CES expo, since it will require protruding lens. There are some periscope-style optical zoom designs, but the bodies of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are so thin, we doubt Apple can fit anything like that inside. On the other hand, there are lossless zoom options, and alternative approaches to optical zoom, though we don't know how close these are to mass production. We'll see whether this pans out at all."
There is cause for concern, however, as reports from Asia suggest Apple may keep the same 8MP sensor inside its upcoming new iPhone release. “Analyst Jeff Pu recently discussed the financial situation of Largan Precision Co. – Apple’s major camera lens supplier. Pu forecasts that, this year, Largan faces limited growth because the industry is transiting to higher-res cameras too slowly,” reports G For Games. “As for the iPhone 6S, Jeff Pu speculates that because the smartphone will not push a larger than 8 MP camera to the market, Largan Precision Co. will have a difficult time increasing its stock price in H2 2015.”
Apple has apparently bought Israeli imaging firm LinX, a company which builds small, phone-sized camera units that can deliver DLSR-like image quality. According to the WSJ, neither Apple nor LinX is confirming the buyout, though Apple did give its usual response that it sometimes acquire small companies and is not compelled to let the public know.
“It's not clear how and when Apple will incorporate LinX's technology into its devices,” reports MacRumors, “but it's possible we could see these types of camera improvements as soon as this year. Rumors have suggested Apple is looking into a major camera boost for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, with new technology that could produce SLR quality images, and LinX's multi-aperture lens systems could potentially accomplish that feat.”
iOS 9 To Be Focused On STABILITY
Apple’s iOS platform, for the longest time, was incredibly stable but after a string of large, feature-packed updates inside iOS 7 and iOS 8 a lot of this stability was compromised, forcing the company to issue plenty of memorable “patch” updates to fix issues.“For 2015, iOS 9, which is codenamed Monarch, is going to include a collection of under-the-hood improvements. Sources tell us that iOS 9 engineers are putting a “huge” focus on fixing bugs, maintaining stability, and boosting performance for the new operating system, rather than solely focusing on delivering major new feature additions. Apple will also continue to make efforts to keep the size of the OS and updates manageable, especially for the many millions of iOS device owners with 16GB devices,” reports 9to5Mac.
But stability is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. Apple has been carefully building the world’s first 64-bit mobile platform, and in 2015 with the launch of iOS 9 the company will likely unveil myriad new ways for developers to create content for both mobile and OS X, meaning crossover is inevitable, notes Computer World.
“iOS 9 devices will also enjoy tremendous integration with Apple’s Macs, making both platforms the best-in-class choice for anyone who wants to get things done – from consumer to the enterprise; from oil and gas exploration using M2M facilities, iPads and IBM-driven big data systems to gurning grinning gamers.
“It is possible iOS 9 will only be made available for 64-bit devices, so that’s any iPhone since iPhone 5S and post-October 2013 iPad Air and iPad mini tablets. Those on older devices may need to upgrade.”
Apple’s renewed focus on stability will apparently mirror similar initiatives from the company for its OS X platform. According to multiple sources, Apple will release public betas of iOS 9 to the public ahead of a gold-standard release. The idea being that once the platform goes official, it will be completely bug-free and as smooth and stable as iOS used to be prior to the launch and release of iOS 7 –– when Apple started pushing lots of new features into the mix.
"In an effort to eliminate bugs from upcoming iOS versions ahead of their general releases," reports 9to5Mac, "Apple plans to launch the first-ever public beta program for the iOS operating system, according to multiple people briefed on the plans. Following the successful launch of the OS X Public Beta program with OS X Yosemite last year, Apple intends to release the upcoming iOS 8.3 as a public beta via the company’s existing AppleSeed program in mid-March. This release will match the third iOS 8.3 beta for developers, which is planned for release the same week. Apple then expects to debut iOS 9 at its June Worldwide Developer Conference, with a public beta release during the summer, and final release in the fall…"
iPhone 7 Specs: A9 Chipset & 2GB of RAM
Samsung semiconductor head Kim Ki-nam has now confirmed Samsung will be providing 14-nanometer processors to Apple for use inside its 2015 iPhones and iPads. Ki-nam confirmed this victory would have a HUGE affect on Samsung's bottom line in 2015. Samsung's technological progress with its 14-nanometer process, an area it has invested heavily in, swung the pendulum away from TSMC and back in of favour of Samsung.“The balance of power has shifted back to Samsung,” reports RE/Code, “thanks to its advanced fabrication technology. That same advantage is said to be putting pressure on Qualcomm, which has been the biggest maker of chips in high-end phones. Owing in part to its own manufacturing edge, Samsung is expected to use its Exynos processors in forthcoming handsets instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810, which is made in TSMC’s factories.”
Samsung has invested a HUGE sum on money into its display and semiconductor businesses, a reported sum of $21.4 billion. All of this was done to ensure Samsung remains in growth and profitable for 2015/16 and beyond. Dr. Kinam Kim, president and general manager of the semiconductor business of Samsung, told press Samsung’s profits would improve dramatically in 2015 with the addition of Apple’s 14nm A9 chipset for its upcoming iPhone 7.
“Samsung LSI hasn’t directly confirmed Apple as its 14nm customer. But the company sounded confident about 14nm FinFET ramp in the second half of this year during its Q4 2014 earnings call,” said Strategy Analytics analyst Sravan Kundojjala. “Samsung LSI is looking to regain share in applications processors with the help of 14nm FinFET chips after seeing a steady share decline in its AP shipments over the past few years.”
A report via Apple Insider cites an anonymous “person familiar with Apple's future product plans, who has provided reliable information in the past.” The source alleges that Apple’s iPhone 6s will ship with 2GB of RAM onboard. Of course we’ve heard similar talk ahead of the last few iPhone launches and it hasn’t come to pass. As Apple Insider points out; the iPhone has stuck with 1GB of RAM since the iPhone 5 launched in 2012.
iPhone 7: BIG TouchID Updates Planned
Apple will radically update its TouchID mechanism aboard the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities, projects that Touch ID module shipments will grow 12.4 percent this year to 262 million total, reports Apple InsiderThe new module will apparently “offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors.” Kuo reckons companies in Apple’s supply-chain will begin ramping up for production during Q2 2015 ahead of Apple’s usual late-Q3 launch and release pattern.
“Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn't likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required,” Kuo added “We therefore don't see any impact on supply chain momentum.”
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Latest iPhone 6 & iPhone Plus News & Features
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- Apple's Metal Explained – Console-like gaming on iPhone is now a reality, and it's all thanks to Metal. Here's everything you need to know about the biggest thing to happen to mobile gaming since Angry Birds.
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- What Is HomeKit? – You're home of the future is just around the corner. Here we take a look at how iOS 8 –– via Siri and HomeKit –– will allow you to control your house using your Apple Watch and iPhone 6.
- iOS 8 Beta 5 Review – An advanced look at iOS 8 ahead of its scheduled Sept. 17 release.
- EVERYTHING You Need To Know About Apple Watch – A detailed look at Apple's first wearable devices, AKA the Apple Watch
- Will Apple Watch EVER Play Nice With Android? – Evan Blass –– AKA @evleaks –– discusses why he believes Apple should play-nice with Android
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