Next iPhone Could Launch Sooner than Expected

[Ed Hardy]

Apple has an established pattern of releasing new iPhone models in early summer. A new unconfirmed report says that this year's model is going to be out a bit earlier than usual, in late spring.

A report coming out of Europe says Apple intends to launch the forth-generation iPhone in May. Previous models have all debuted in June or July.

Supposedly, the release is being bumped up in response to increased pressure from new competitors, most notably the Google Nexus One and other smartphones running the Android OS.

iPhone 4G: What the Rumors Say
Apple has generally been very good at preventing solid information about its products from leaking out well ahead of their unveiling, but that hasn't stopped the rumors from flying around the Web. However, as the next-generation iPhone isn't expected to be announced for months, all of these are questionable.

A frequently-heard report is that that Verizon Wireless will get the iPhone next year, ending AT&T's long-held role as exclusive U.S. provider of this smartphone.

It's possible the fourth-generation model will have twice the storage capacity of the current one: 64 GB.

Many consider an AM-OLED display to be a strong possibility. These screens offer better colors in thinner designs, but cost more to make.

Another unconfirmed report says this upcoming device will have a 2.8-inch display. All previous phones from Apple have had 3.5-inch touchscreens, so the company may be planning to noticeably reduce the size of this product line.

Source: Challenges

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[midtoad]

A smaller screen would be a mistake, making use of the on-screen keyboard substantially more difficult and less accurate.

I own an iPod Touch and an Android-powered HTC Magic. The screen on the Touch is 0.5" larger than the Magic (3.7" vs. 3.25"). That means that in portrait mode, the keys in the Magic's on-screen keyboard are just a little bit narrower... and my typing accuracy is substantially worse. Now, the better word completion on the Magic compensates slightly for that lower physical accuracy, but still, entering text on the Touch is faster and more accurate than on the Magic (in portrait mode, at least). In landscape mode, both devices are about equally easy to use.

Unless the new iPhone supports landscape text input in every field and every app, a smaller screen is a bad idea. If anything, I want my next device to have a bigger screen, say 4". Hmm, that sounds like a Nexus One!

[Hook]

Even landscape won't be that helpful. One of my complaints with my 5800 with a 3.2" touchscreen is that the landscape keyboard is a tad too cramped for me and results in a lot of errors.

This is one change that hopefully won't infect the next gen iPod Touch.

[Ed Hardy]

I'm not buying the smaller screen rumor myself, but that's what a seemingly-reliable source said. On the other hand, there's been no follow-up report in quite some time, so maybe I'll let this one die until there's some corroboration.

I have more faith in the reports of an AM-OLED display. That fits much more into the sort of change that is typical of Apple.
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