Another iPhone on the Way? Some Personal Speculation

So this is a rumor, but based on the the lack of innovation from the last iPhone release other than a better chip, as well as some consolidated rumors from other sources I believe there is another phone. Or at the very least, we are going to get a major hardware update from Apple (AAPL) around the time they normally release there iPod updates. Here are a couple of thoughts, all speculative of course:

• First, let's admit that other than a speedier chip there really is very little, hardware-wise, about the iPhone 3G S to get excited about. So what happens come fall when Apple introduces the updated iPod? Is it simply going to be an updated chip? Are people going to even bother with that? The compass? Come on. That's awfully boring even for a market leader that wants to preserve margins and can afford to keep the product on cruise control and still gain share.
• I think we will get a "Video" iPhone that includes a 7-10 inch screen. Call it a Video Phone, call it a Mac Tablet, whatever, it's bigger with a camera in front for Video iChat.
• My bet is its going to be larger than people think in an attempt to take on the tablet space and lend itself towards the 10 inch side of things. Apple is losing too much in terms of potential sales on the tablet side to just do nothing. If they don't, they will have to continue price cuts and margin hits in their Mac line and that camel has already been milked.
• This will be a device that will be double the screen size of the iPhone. Unlike existing iPods it will have a slot for an air interface card to allow you to be carrier agnostic. i.e. you can put a CDMA, GSM or even a WIMAX card into the device. Might also help with the pending anti trust investigation that a few senators are launching to investigate exclusive contracts. What does this mean? It means you can use an application like Skype (EBAY) on your iPhone on any carrier you want and still have voice.
• This may be a big Steve Jobs showcase, turtleneck and all, where he highlights the smooth styling of the new Video Phone and allays some health concerns.
• It will have the long awaited Video iChat, an OLED Screen (if it has an OLED screen it will be on the small side) and a completely different form factor.
• It won't have a keyboard but it would make me really happy if it did. Steve Job's merciless war on buttons probably won't end here but one can hope we get an option for one. "I have a need--a need for keys" (if you got that obscure cultural reference please write in for your special gift).
• In terms of release date, we may get it a soon as September in conjunction with the normal iPod update. I just can't imagine that Apple is going to be content with simply introducing such an extremely limited processor update for the iPod. There's got to be a better update than what we got.

Comments

[gerryh:]

Nonsense ... why would Apple blow the trust they've established that it's always OK to buy what they release in iPhone range at WWDC? Even back in 2007, when they initiated a fast price cut, they apologized to the first group of buyers and offered a $100 store credit. Their iPhone and iPod annual patterns are set and unlikely to change this year.

Jun 18 05:56 AM

[reyito:]

it's actually, "i feel the need", not "i have a need". what do i win?

Jun 18 08:56 AM

[Sinoman:]

Man, get a life. . . .

Jun 18 09:13 AM

[mikesan:]

How can anyone take this crap seriously does he know anything about AAPL?
Not screwing your early adopters has been a Steve creed for a long time now and I don't believe it is going to change any time soon.
The new iphone just left everything else for dead and now they can all rush around playing catch up until the man decides what will be "just one more thing"

Jun 18 09:20 AM

[brewer:]

I agree, this is not a revolutionary update, but to argue that it's not significant is, I think, shortsighted.

The new iPhone is more than just the processor update, as this very limited article tries to argue. And the processor update is quite significant, don't underestimate the importance of processor speed, especially in Apple's current one-at-a time application switching.

The compass is actually a nice addition. The battery has greater capacity (finally).

The VIDEO camera effects also include TAP to FOCUS, even during video. This is actually a very nice feature that you can't get for a lot of professional quality digital SLRs and video cameras.

They added video editing capabilities, so you can edit on your phone and upload directly to the web.

iPhone OS 3.0, just released (probably necessary for the 3Gs and optional for older iPhones and iPod touch, brings a LOT of things to the iPhone.

Many of these are issues that have been mentioned many times on forums, such as cut and paste, etc... You can argue they should have been there from the start, but the phone was originally revolutionary even without these refinements.

But they are very necessary refinements that people do want.

I hope you are right about the tablet, it would be a 'netbook killer' if they priced it right.

Jun 18 10:09 AM

[another.ana...:]

I think BlindReason ought to add stupid to his moniker from the sloppiness of the "reasoning" of this & other articles.

By the way, " around the time they normally release there iPod updates" has an error in it that most 3rd graders wouldn't make. Can you spot it Blindy ole sport? If not, get your Mommy or Daddy to proof your babbling BEFORE you post them.

Ayuh

Jun 18 08:05 PM

[Keith F:]

What you have just described is the new iPod Touch "HD". It will be the same size as the iPhone yet have video iChat. It will have an even faster chip and better graphics card and will crush the new Zune. There will also be a larger 7" and 10" version that runs on a native OS X with Cocoa touch layered over it called the new MacBook. Apple TV will jettison its hobby status and become a full fledged media center with plugins for Hulu and Netflix as well as a new gaming platform that works with the iPhone and iTouch. The leaked photos of the matte-backed iPhones are the ones geared for the Chinese market with a limited App store and fewer features than the 3GS. Just my two cents.

Jun 18 08:30 PM

[ValueInvestor:]

Is this a rumor site or a factual site? It looks like BlindReason wants the former.

Jun 25 11:35 AM