What's happening with iPhone 5?

CSMonkeh · 5 Apr 2012 at 17:19

Just a query as to when the 5 is due. Google suggests June but not holding my breath.
My current contract with 02 is due for renewal and didn't want to tie myself down with another 18 months. Was thinking of rolling 30 days on simplicity (£31/month 1GB data 600mins and unlimited texts).

Any further thoughts/info?

Vertigo · 5 Apr 2012 at 17:21

Not a chance in June - there's just no way they'll allow the 4S to have a shelf-life of only eight months before being replaced.

Everything I've read suggests they're moving to a Sep/Oct time-frame for iPhone releases, which makes sense if the iPad stays at March as it separates them neatly.

CSMonkeh · 5 Apr 2012 at 18:12

Vertigo1 said:
Not a chance in June - there's just no way they'll allow the 4S to have a shelf-life of only eight months before being replaced.

Everything I've read suggests they're moving to a Sep/Oct time-frame for iPhone releases, which makes sense if the iPad stays at March as it separates them neatly.

Yeah smelt a fish there. Thanks

Think i'll go for a 12-month simpilicity and wait for the niggles to be addressed.

OzyOly · 6 Apr 2012 at 16:55

Vertigo1 said:
Not a chance in June - there's just no way they'll allow the 4S to have a shelf-life of only eight months before being replaced.

Everything I've read suggests they're moving to a Sep/Oct time-frame for iPhone releases, which makes sense if the iPad stays at March as it separates them neatly.

Apple still manufactured the 3G for a long time after the 4 was released. I reckon an announcement in June and release in August.

Jay794 · 6 Apr 2012 at 17:07

Like you said, could be June, could be September, I'd hope for June, because Apple products don't seen to have a very long shelf life anymore, I mean the New iPad is just a iPad 2S, but marketing wanted to push it as "The New iPad" despite it's mediocore upgrades hardly constituting a new version.

At this rate, the iPhone 5 will just be a better camera and a new processor lol

Duke · 6 Apr 2012 at 17:11

End of the year I expect.

Andybtsn · 6 Apr 2012 at 17:12

Off to New York in December hope it's out by then so I can pick one up over there.

oli356 · 6 Apr 2012 at 17:12

Jay794 said:
Like you said, could be June, could be September, I'd hope for June, because Apple products don't seen to have a very long shelf life anymore, I mean the New iPad is just a iPad 2S, but marketing wanted to push it as "The New iPad" despite it's mediocore upgrades hardly constituting a new version.

At this rate, the iPhone 5 will just be a better camera and a new processor lol

I wish they never came out with the 3GS, so people can't go "Its more like the xs.

I can't remember what the difference was between the 3G and 3GS, massive speed difference IIRC. Yes the iPad isn't any quicker but has the new screen and camera, LTE (for those in America)... all that ontop of what was a very good device. Whatever they called it though, does it matter? They sold like 3 million in the first day or something ridiculous? Don't think Apple will be complaining.

Don't desktop computers just get faster processors and more RAM etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 5 had a redesign (though its a very nice design already, a size increase to 4" I would like though).

I don't really follow Android phones but surely it's the same with them, better CPU, GPU, Camera etc.

Jay794 · 6 Apr 2012 at 17:17

oli356 said:
I wish they never came out with the 3GS, so people can't go "Its more like the xs.

I can't remember what the difference was between the 3G and 3GS, massive speed difference IIRC. Yes the iPad isn't any quicker but has the new screen and camera, LTE (for those in America)... all that ontop of what was a very good device. Whatever they called it though, does it matter? They sold like 3 million in the first day or something ridiculous? Don't think Apple will be complaining.

Don't desktop computers just get faster processors and more RAM etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 5 had a redesign (though its a very nice design already, a size increase to 4" I would like though).

I don't really follow Android phones but surely it's the same with them, better CPU, GPU, Camera etc.

Steve Jobs was quoted somewhere as saying he never wants the iPhone to be any bigger as you can navigate the whole screen with your thumb the way it is.

However, personally, I would love to see the iPhone redesigned, some of the concept art I've seen looks awesome.

The only other thing I guess they could do is a capacity bump, but you can't whack 100GB in the iPhone because then it's directly competing with the iPod Touch and the iPod Classic

Marky · 6 Apr 2012 at 17:34

I think the chances of it making an appearance in June/July are very slim. It'll possibly use the same release schedule as the 4S, but I'm suspecting they may stretch it out even longer than that this year.

allosunshine · 6 Apr 2012 at 19:59

I think the whole x and the xS is how the iPhone products are going to be released with the iPad leading the way like the iPhone leads the iPod Touch.
Even though the xS is really just an innards upgrade to the current model it doesn't stop people wanting it just as much with the 3GS and 4S showing that.

I'd put my money on a 3rd quarter announcement and a 4th quarter release.

edit: On someone mentioning about storage capacity, THIS LINK is quite an interesting read even though the focus is on iPad it applies to the iPhone as well.

kirkster · 6 Apr 2012 at 20:04

No one knows except Apple.

Vertigo · 6 Apr 2012 at 20:49

OzyOly said:
Apple still manufactured the 3G for a long time after the 4 was released. I reckon an announcement in June and release in August.

They may still continue to make the 4S after the 5 arrives, whenever it is, and probably will.

Just don't think they'll allow the 4S to be the top-of-the-range model for less than a year, they risk ****ing off far too many customers if they do. It's bad public relations and will discourage customers from upgrading so readily in the future, if they think they're likely to get stung again with a quick successor.

OzyOly · 6 Apr 2012 at 21:29

Vertigo1 said:
They may still continue to make the 4S after the 5 arrives, whenever it is, and probably will.

Just don't think they'll allow the 4S to be the top-of-the-range model for less than a year, they risk ****ing off far too many customers if they do. It's bad public relations and will discourage customers from upgrading so readily in the future, if they think they're likely to get stung again with a quick successor.

They already did that with the iPhone 1 / 3g. :confused:

Somnambulist · 6 Apr 2012 at 21:46

They'll announce it and it'll be available shortly after, Apple don't do 'oh it's coming out in a few months... wait for it!'. It'll probably just be called the 'iPhone' (2012 model, 6th gen, whatever), just like the Macs, iPad and iPod Touch. June is for WWDC and new iOS preview, iPhone won't come out till late in the year around the time the 4S came out, maybe a little bit before, maybe after - most people who buy iPhones are on contract so they'll be looking to get new buyers as well as people upgrading from 4's or the super keen 4S owners. It's a 'tick' year (as opposed to a 'tock' year like the 3GS and 4S last year) so it should be physically different... how different is anyone's guess and at this point it's more about the software.

Much like the iPod has been for a while, the iPhone is starting to go into the settling down phase where there's not really much more they can do with it to blow people away other than keep it up to date with contemporary hardware, and the 'wow factor' will come from their new product lines. Obviously they'll be looking at advances in materials, construction techniques and all that, but smartphones in general have reached that point where the novelty has worn off and we're so used to them we need something different to pique our interest. IMO anyway.

Also, there is no Ghost of Steve Jobs directing the company now, and he explicitly told those at the top of of Apple not to carry on the company thinking 'what would Steve want?' all the time and for them to trust their own judgement. I think they could get away with a slightly bigger screen and it still be ergonomic, and just because Jobs didn't want it any bigger than 3.5" or whatever it is, doesn't meant that those in charge won't think differently.

Mattus · 6 Apr 2012 at 22:10

Jay794 said:
Like you said, could be June, could be September, I'd hope for June, because Apple products don't seen to have a very long shelf life anymore, I mean the New iPad is just a iPad 2S, but marketing wanted to push it as "The New iPad" despite it's mediocore upgrades hardly constituting a new version.

It's a tablet. Most of the outside is screen and most of the inside is battery. They improved the screen, the battery and the connectivity. What exactly do you expect them to do? What kind of upgrade would you have introduced if you were Apple? Which mindblowing hardware improvements are even possible?

OzyOly · 6 Apr 2012 at 22:11

I'm just hoping for iOS6.0 The grid layout is very old now and having a limit of folder size is just stupid.

OzyOly · 6 Apr 2012 at 22:14

Mattus said:
Which mindblowing hardware improvements are even possible?

NFC payments. If the iPhone had this technology then banks may speed up the roll out as they would not have to supply customers with NFC cards.

Same if you could use this as an oyster card sort of thing as well.

MagicBoy · 6 Apr 2012 at 22:19

OzyOly said:
I'm just hoping for iOS6.0 The grid layout is very old now and having a limit of folder size is just stupid.

And we know the grid layout is going?

Apple know what they are doing with UIs. My pensioner parents picked up an iPad and fathomed out how it worked very quickly without needing some tuition or a manual. That's never happened before.

Don't like the UI and want to tweak it for kicks? Go Android.

Combat Fighter · 6 Apr 2012 at 22:27

I really hope the new iphone 5 will be a revolutionary upgrade from my old 3GS (which has served me well). I was really disappointed with the 4S, it's just not enough of an upgrade to make me part with £500.

I hope they do bring it out early and I hope it has a new design with 4"+ screen.