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Comments: 119 + - Apple: iPhone 4 Rumors Rumble on Thursday December 24, @08:43AM
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padraic_93 writes "Information has become available which reveals development is underway for the new iPhone 4, as well as suggestions of features and Apple's plans for the phone.
A report on PinchMedia, which made repeated use of the term 'iPhone 4,' was cited on the website MacRumors, though the website admitted that such reports can often be forged. The report also made allusions to a 'Corporate Event' planned for June 28th — July 2nd 2010, which have been taken as referring to the next WWDC."
A related rumor holds that Apple has ordered 40-45 million 5-megapixel cameras, which might hint at new functionality.
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21 million (Score:5, Interesting)
What about the other 20 million cameras you ask? Well surely one facing the user as well as the rear camera, so that you can video call - functionality still lacking from the current lineup.
Tom...
Re:21 million (Score:5, Interesting)
Good points, however...
It could also point to allowing the iPhone on another carrier in the US, if they opened it up to Verizon?
Parent
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Or cameras for the iPod touch?
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Not to mention global sales.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure Apple would bother with that functionality until it can do it reliably for most people. Is bandwidth and coverage good enough to support such video streams at the moment? I'm guessing it's also taxing on the hardware and battery.
Would be nice, but I wouldn't expect to see it just yet.
Re: (Score:2)
Of the average /.er's face, admittedly no, no thanks... however, as always with new technology, just think of the porn possibilities!!!
Breaking News! (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, why is this news? We all know that a new revision will come down the road at some point. The only "new" information here (for me at least) is the ordering of the 5mp cameras...
What I found more interesting than what's posted here, is what Engadget reported yesterday:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/23/apple-planning-event-for-january-with-high-res-iphone-or-small/ [engadget.com]
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Rumors of an iTablet/iPad/iSlate have been floating around for months. Nothing new there. Anyone with half a brain would have come to the conclusion that Apple won't be stuck with a 320x480 screen resolution forever either. I formally and publicly predict faster more capable hardware from Apple in the future. Now can I have my $1000 for making a forecast?
Re: (Score:2)
13 internets to you, sir. Congratulations, enjoy your prize.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I have in inside scoop... After $ProductName version @VersionNumber there just may be an $ProductName version @VersionNumber+1 with stuff that isn't in $ProductName version @VersionNumber. As well the next generation of $ProductName will have even newer features and probably will run faster and do more then the old version.
Re: (Score:2)
It's the same reason why you see so many Apple related posts on Engadget.
I am feeling a little nauseated... (Score:2)
by the incessant Apple rumor-mongering lately. I love Apple products but I don't need to hear about every little detail. Is it really a surprise to anyone that Apple is preparing to upgrade its hardware to something comparable to the Droid or the forthcoming Nexus One? Frankly I'd rather be surprised but here I am reading this article, right? Now I feel self-loathing setting in... Great!
iDont get the hype either (Score:2)
Cameras .. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
That's what I'm waiting for. I don't need a cell phone and I'm not willing to drop the kind of money they want for even the cheapest 3GS iPhone to get the functionality. But, if Apple were to put a camera in the Touch I'd buy one immediately, it is the only thing the device is missing.
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Re: (Score:3, Informative)
My understanding is that's where the wifi antenna lives so that it can get reception despite the rest of the back being metallic.
The only thing really worth while... (Score:2)
is having a version that can work on either GSM or CDMA based on an inter-changable carrier module.
That would unlease the iPhone from AT&T and permit it to be used on a network that can support the load.
I still get irritated that AT&T tries to counter Verizon with that stupid Post-card covered coverage map. Verizon doesn't say anything about AT&T's voice coverage ... they only remark on the piss poor 3G coverage (needed for data). AT&T is trying to compare Apples to Aston Martins.
Development (Score:4, Insightful)
... development is underway for the new iPhone 4...
I hate to break it to you but development for iPhone 4 was probably underway, oh, about a year or more ago. Heck, development for iPhone 5 features are probably underway right now as well. Apple is, among many things, a very forward-thinking company (like virtually all companies of their size and success) so they are developing many things that are years (plural) away from release.
In other words, this is news how? Who here didn't already know that development was underway?
Features? (Score:2)
Will it be able to make phone calls?
How unpredictable and surprising (Score:2)
Apple is going to release a new version of the iPhone in the summer? Wow, how surprising and unprecedented
Re:Who Cares? (Score:4, Insightful)
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Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Actually to be more correct it would be posting a rumor of a new recipe. Say, posting hushed rumblings of a new idea for Upside Down Flint Rubble Bubble Cake...
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4lb (8tbl) butter
4 cups (18oz) unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
2tbl Flint
1.5 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350.
Cream butter and sugar. Stir in eggs. Add half of the flour, mix. Add half of the milk, mix. Add the other half of the flour, then the other half of the milk. Fold in the flint and pour into your favorite upside down cake pan. Blow bubbles into the mixture with a straw. Bake for 45 min or until a
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
The point being, we get front page news about mere rumour items for the Iphone (even when the news is trivial anyway - what's that you say? Apple might be planning an Iphone 4 after their 3rd Iphone? My, I was thinking they'd come out with the 5th version first - how shocking!), whilst actual full product releases from other phone companies, despite having much higher market share (e.g., Nokia at 40%; LG, Samsung, Motorola, and RIM are also ahead).
the next iPhone, which is, believe it or not, a piece of te
It's obligatory... (Score:2, Informative)
Part of The Apple Product Cycle. [misterbg.org]
Slashdot is one of those "Mac Internet forums" described therein. Or do you think that it is a coincidence that Slashdot's sections are:
* Main
* Apple
* AskSlashdot
* Book Reviews
* Developers
* Games
* Hardware
* IT
* Idle
* Index
* Interviews
* Linux
* Mobile
* Politics
* Science
* Technology
* YRO
Linux? HA!
Linux is a topic here only to attract more M$ haters.
When was the last time we had a story about Linus or RMS sneezing? See what I mean? Exactly!
Re:It's obligatory... (Score:5, Informative)
Early 2000s, they're sprinkled here and there.
Although 1998 was a bumper year, a ton of Linus stories.
Linus has a kid [slashdot.org]
Linus talking about grandpa [slashdot.org]
Linus on Git [slashdot.org]
Linus Sightings [slashdot.org]
Linus moves to Moscow, Linus moves to Oregon, Linus on 2.4, Linus on 2.6, Linus a Fermilab, Linus shows up in * magazine, Linus suffers Ego-bump, * interviews Linus.
Same with RMS. RMS turns 50, RMS interviewed by *, etc
Slashdot is also user driven. If you don't write the fodder stories, they can't ever get approved. (I'm not saying which way it is either way).
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
So the answer to the question is: 10 years ago. That basically supports his point.
Anyway, I could understand a bias towards Linux, because Slashdot was traditionally a place for supporting Linux and open source in general. Today though it's an Apple forum. Kind of ironic given that this was once a place to support open systems...
Re:It's obligatory... (Score:5, Insightful)
When was the last time we had a story about Linus or RMS sneezing?
You've got to be joking. We heard how RMS thinks MySQL's mixed closed/open source is better than a pure GPL license. We got an article about how Linus should win the Nobel Peace Prize. Just do some searches for Stallman or Linus on Slashdot and you'll get the same drivel you do for jobs.
Personally, I think rumors about the latest and greatest tech gadgets are Slashdot's bread and butter, and the Apple haters are just infuriated the iPhone remains so popular.
Parent
Re:It's obligatory... (Score:4, Insightful)
>?Apple haters are just infuriated the iPhone remains so popular.
I own a macbook and an iphone and I'm sick of the rumormill. No shit, Apple is updating a successful product? This doesnt need to be on slashdot or anywhere but applerumors.com.
What bugs me is that I dont hear about the new version of WinMo or even that much about Android here. Just iphone. Id love to see a well maintained mobile subsection of slashdot instead of this nonsense. But I suspect enough slashdot readers are more interested in flamewars and self-identifying with products to make these 'articles' popular. I guess I need to goto Ars to actually read about technology without the kiddie angle and poseurs.
Parent
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Yet people like you are the people who complain about every Linux point release (not saying it's you, just people like you)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Why, it's almost like they're in alphabetical order or something.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
When was the last time we had a story about Linus or RMS sneezing? See what I mean?
That's because Linus and RMS are both a little bit wack while Steve Jobs...oh, wait a minute...never mind...
Re:Who Cares? (Score:5, Funny)
1. Click on the "Sections" header on the left.
2. Click on the very first radio button in the list of topics that appears.
3. Scroll down and click "Save".
4. ???
5. Profit!
Parent
Re:Who Cares? (Score:5, Insightful)
To be fair the iPhone is an extremely significant piece of technology, both as a consumer handset and driving forward technological change. True, the new phone probably won't include much in the way of technological breakthrough - or even true innovation, but it will set the standard of the entire mobile phone industry by putting the tech in the hands of the mass market.
Anyway, if you're the kind of person who reads /. it's kind of expected that when a friend imparts that they intend to buy a 3GS, you should be able to respond "looking like a new one isn't being announced until June, then there's some lead time so yeah no point waiting around for the next one".
Parent
Slashdot Protip (Score:4, Informative)
As much as you might hate Apple, it's still a technology company and Slashdot has an entire SECTION devoted to it. If you don't like it, don't have it on your index.
Stop whinging.
Parent
Re:I might have missed the memo.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:5 Megapixel camera?!? Why this thing again? (Score:4, Interesting)
[citation needed] for phones taking 12MP photos. Additionally, in the case of camera phones, the true upgrades need to be done on the CMOS sensors, which are terrible in anything but broad daylight. "HD Video" from a camera phone is, as far as I have seen, almost always a joke as well. yes technically it may have more than 480 horizontal lines of resolution, but the quality has always lagged severely behind digital cameras and camcorders, and throwing more megapixels at it isn't the answer. The issue is that everyone wants devices that are smaller, thinner, have longer battery life, and can withstand abuse. Pro photographers and videographers still use huge cameras for a reason.
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Pro photographers and videographers still use huge cameras for a reason.
And the #1 reason: All their old analog lenses fit the new digital cameras (from the same companies). Lock-in baby.
Re:5 Megapixel camera?!? Why this thing again? (Score:5, Informative)
1 good megapixel is better than 8 crap ones
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Especially with "Snappy" for the iPhone (in Cydia) you can bring up the camera app ready to take pictures in under a second.
The camera you have with you (Score:2)
Is better than the one you left at home.
Re:5 Megapixel camera?!? Why this thing again? (Score:5, Informative)
"With mainstream phones going high with 12+MP en HD video cameras, frankly the 5MB I heard about the new phone are ludicrously pathetic."
Other way around, actually. A 12 MP (or even a 5 MP) sensor in a cell phone is a ludicrously pathetic marketing trick. As a practical matter, a typical cell phone lens is going to give you about 2 MP. Pairing that with a high resolution sensor just means you're measuring the blur more accurately, and wasting storage and processing capacity. Note - there ARE some (rare) cell phones that use bigger lenses, and those might actually get 3 or 4 MP, but definitely not 12.
You can measure the MTF yourself if you want. Last time I had this argument with somebody he actually posted a picture from his 5 MP cell phone camera and we compared with an appropriately blurred version from my 6 MP SLR. Guess what? His picture had an effective resolution of about 2 MP (and horrible noise). Which brings up another point - small lenses will always give you poor low light performance, but you make it much, much worse by trying to capture an crazy number of pixels to boot.
The cell phone appears to be the last bastion of the megapixel myth. Camera manufacturers have started giving up that marketing tactic, with newer cameras going to less resolution and emphasizing noise performance. If the rumors are true, it's actually too bad Apple has given into this ploy... although it's probably hard to source lower resolution sensors now.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
If you can figure out how to get a raw image out of a camera phone then be my guest. They're usually not accessible. If anything, the sharpening steps that are applied act to cover up the low acquired resolution.
Camera manufacturers get away with it because almost nobody ever looks at their phone photos at anything close to full resolution. You can easily see the softness in a camera phone shot compared one from a decent camera, comparing full screen on a notebook. That's around 1.3 MP. Blown up full s
Re:5 Megapixel camera?!? Why this thing again? (Score:4, Informative)
Had to post all that anonymously, hey?
First off, I'm talking about resolution. I thought I made that clear. Resolution is the ability to distinguish (to resolve) two objects spaced a particular distance apart. I am NOT talking about image quality.
Now, it is quite possible your 12 MP cell phone camera produces visually higher quality images than other cell cameras, or even point and shoot cameras. That does NOT mean it is producing 12 MP worth of resolution, or anything like it.
A DSLR with a very good lens (or a medium/large format with a very good lens) IS the correct item to compare with. We're looking for the best gold standard possible. Again, we are comparing only resolving power. If your 12 MP sensor is not matched with a lens that is capable of providing a sufficiently sharp image then your sensor is being wasted. Again, it might be producing a very nice image, but an image that does not have 12 MP of resolving power.
Have you looked at your pictures zoomed in sufficiently so that you're actually seeing one image pixel per pixel on your screen?
Now, looking at the Pixon 12, it turns out it DOES NOT have a typical cell phone camera lens. That lens has an area that is many times what most cell phones have, and looks like it might even be made out of glass (instead of plastic). The thing even looks like it has multiple lens elements, and might even zoom! Of COURSE that's going to look good compared to any typical cell camera, and against point and shoots too. That IS a point and shoot lens. Again, notice in my post how I said "typical cell phone lens." Also note that we're discussing the iPhone, which has a typical cell phone lens, and is not going to be putting one of those monsters on.
I can see why you posted as an AC. Your post really sounds like you're trying to justify your purchase. Well, to make you feel better, that thing might actually justify a 4-5 MP sensor, far above what a typical cell camera does, and better than most point and shoots. If you take a picture of a standard test chart under standard conditions and post it, we can tell you.
Next time take a more careful read through the post you're replying to, try to understand the actual issue at hand, and remember to keep your temper under control.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Given the lenses that most of these camera phones use, typically 1 megapixel is more than enough. These cameras are Diffraction LImited Systems [wikipedia.org] and thus throwing more pixels at it in the same size solves nothing.
To put it in simple language, the resolution limit of the camera is due to the diameter of the lens, not the number of pixels on the sensor. This is part of the reason why Canon went from the 14Megapixel sensor on the G10 to an 11 megapixel sensor on the G11. The G10 was diffraction limited, whil
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I still don't understand how a company like Apple can get an award from Greenpeace for being environmentally friendly when they produce such disposable crap and go out of their way to enforce planned obsolescense.
They got that because they have an environmental policy. Doesn't really matter what's in the policy, but Greenpeace condemned them for not having one, then Apple released a policy, and Greenpeace rejoiced, even though Apple hadn't actually changed anything they were doing.
Precisely (Score:2)
Greenpeace isn't in the ecology business. They're in the high profile environmental crusade business.
If things changed, they'd be out of business.
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Would you say its safari to wait?
No... I wouldn't.
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I'm sorry but I really have to say this: 95% of people with a cell today don't know what an open platform is. Of the other 5% a good 90% of them don't care.
Open only matters if you really want to make something out of what you're given. Most people can't be bothered to do more with what they have in their phones today. Why do you think Twitter is still such a joke to most of the people who own cells?
This is the same reason that open sou