Apple iPhone 5 Features: A Roundup of Rumors

Apple Inc. is gearing up its production of iPhone 5 for a possible September launch, but new rumors have surfaced expecting a mid-August launch.

A job posting on Reed seeking iPhone sales specialists has indicated a mid-August launch for the highly expected iPhone 5 smartphone. The job advertisement, which was first spotted by CNET UK, asked for full-time iPhone Sales Staff for an exciting project to work 5 days a week (Tuesday-Saturday) for the period August 16 to October 29 within key retail stores.

The advertisement was posted by the Gekko recruitment agency, which has worked with Apple on previous projects.

Added to this, Apple's projection of selling 25 million iPhones by the end of 2011 coincides with the expectation that the release is around the corner.

However, speculations of new iPhone 5 features -- both hardware and software upgrades -- are certain to entice any smartphone buyer.

Take a look at the most-rumored iPhone 5 features:

iCloud

Apple’s iPhone 5 is expected to feature the new iCloud service in operating iTunes for wireless remote access of music from all computers and mobile devices.

The iCloud will also store photos, apps, calendars and documents without storing them onto the phone’s memory storage. Apple also placed itself in top position of the cloud war by inking deals with top music label companies to license songs for the iCloud service.

Added to that, there are rumors that Apple is stepping into the movie scene by attempting to license deals for films with movie studios.

iOS 5

iOS, known as iPhone OS before June 2010, is Apple's mobile operating system. The user interface of iOS is based on the concept of direct manipulation, using multi-touch gestures. Interface control elements consist of sliders, switches, and buttons.

Apple's iOS 5.0, which is the newest of the OS versions, was announced on June 6 at the WWDC 2011 keynote address. The new iOS 5 is expected to come with 200 new features that will include Improved Notifications System, News Stand and iMessage.

Apple's iOS 5 will introduce the iCloud service and the Notification Center, as well as improvements to native apps such as Camera. The operating system also features new applications, such as the Reminders app and Newsstand, an application resembling Folders and iBooks.

Unlike other applications, Newsstand is the first native application to actually run on the homescreen. iMessage is an application that allows iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad users to communicate, much like a chat service only used between these devices. The iMessage feature has been integrated into the SMS/MMS application used originally on the iPhone models.

Flash Camera

Another obvious conclusion is that iPhone 5 will have a rear-facing 8MP dual-LED flash camera. Apple’s iPhone 5 will catch up big time with its myriad Android rivals -- this suggestion infuriates Apple fans, for they believe iPhone is THE device and Android tribe are impostors.

But truth to say, many Android OS-based smartphones already sport an 8MP camera. Hence the rumor mills effortlessly churn out one proof after the other for the next iPhone featuring an 8MP camera. At this point an 8MP camera on the iPhone 5 looks like a foregone conclusion.

Recently, a CNET report says iPhone 5 will have an improved flash unit for its camera. Citing industry sources, the report says Apple has reduced orders for iPhone 4's current LED flash.

Along with the rear-facing, iPhone 5 is also expected to have a front-facing camera for video chatting. It is expected to include a dual LED flash with rumors that the flash unit will be separated from the camera sensor.

It is also reported that new panoramic imaging features will allow instant panoramic shots with Apple’s stock photo app and have the ability to record 1080p high definition videos.

Another speculation indicated that iPhone 5 will have a 3D camera. Apple has filed a patent application related to 3D picture taking to the US Patent and Trademark Office later in March, according to an AppleInsider report. The filing described a system that would be capable of capturing, processing and rendering 3D images with the additional dual-camera hardware.

Design

Apple products are known for their beautiful design. Design will be a huge element for the iPhone 5 with rumors swirling that the new case will have a new radical design.

The phone will adopt a teardrop design that is supposed to be slimmer and lighter than past iPhone models. The iPhone 5 is expected to come with an aluminum plate casing rather than the current glass backing.

Rumors suggest a more uniformed design across all of Apple’s mobile devices as aluminum may be the consistent material used in the upcoming iPad 3 and iPod lineups as well.

Display

The iPhone 5 is anticipated to have an edge-to-edge 3.7-inch to 4-inch retina display. A curved glass display screen is also rumored that may offer more privacy while viewing in public areas.

According to rumors, Apple and Samsung were collaborating to introduce the AMOLED screen technology onto the device. But recent legal battle between the companies have dimmed that hopeful speculation.

The Quantum Dot LED technology could be a possible delivery for the iPhone 5. The new technology needs less power consumption while delivering the same quality of an OLED screen. It does not degrade the quality like OLED thanks to how its nanoparticles emit light.

Rumors of a curved glass display on iPhone 5 have been doing the rounds ever since DigiTimes reported in May that Apple had placed an order for glass cutting machines which are capable of making curved glass covers.

Hardware

The iPhone 5 will integrate a faster 1.2 to 1.5 GHz dual core A5 processor chip, which powers the iPad 2, with probably a 1GB RAM. With upgraded hardware, the iPhone 5 will be equipped with speed in processing information and apps besides obtaining lighter hardware parts to decrease the device’s weight.

In addition to a new processor, new elements such as a SIM-less design or an embedded SIM could help in reducing the iPhone 5's physical thickness. Among other chipsets, a Broadcom BCM4330 could be integrated for its WiFi and Bluetooth.

Memory

Apple iPhone 4 comes in 16GB and 32GB. But it is expected that iPhone 5 will have 16/32/64 GB internal storage.

More Carriers

With new chipsets that the iPhone 5 may integrate, the ability for the smatphone to work across more carriers is becoming a higher probability. The Qualcomm MDM6600 chipset would allow the iPhone 5 to have compatibility with both Verizon and AT&T’s 4G and 3G networks.

Apple has already begun testing iPhones for T-Mobile, in particular the next iPhone, accord to BGR. Other additional upgrades include extra internal antennas that can serve as an international phone for both CDMA and GSM.

According to Piper Jaffray, via CNET, the most noteworthy change to Apple's next-generation iPhone is that it'll be offered by Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile, on top of existing carriers AT&T and Verizon.

4G LTE iPhone 5

AT&T documents leaked by the hacking group LulzSec suggest that Apple iPhone 5 will offer 4G and will be LTE network compatible. LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is the latest standard in the mobile network technology and is a project of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

Most mobile carriers in the world have plans to convert their networks into LTE, or 4G as it is often called. The current generation of mobile telecommunication networks are known as 3G or third generation.

In addition, speculation also expected the Qualcomm LTE chips to be integrated into the iPhone 5, allowing for compatibility with carriers offering 4G speeds.

iPhone NFC Payment

There have been reports since early this year that Apple is testing iPhone which incorporates Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Users can simply pay for goods by simply waving their iPhone in front of a contactless payment scanner. Mobile-payment services using NFC will be a hot segment in the future.

The Near Field Communication (NFC) technology can transform the device into a convenient way for payment and device communication. NFC has potential to do more than just money transaction. The technology could offer features that allow multiple mobile devices to sync for speedier information exchange and gaming.

World Phone with SIM-less Design

It is rumored that the iPhone 5 will feature a new SIM-less design with 2 to 3 internal antennas for CDMA and GSM compatibility which will make it a worldphone.

The purported world phone will make iPhone 5 available on a variety of networks across the world. In all likelihood, iPhone 5 will have an improved flash unit for its camera.

Fire-proof iPhone

Another rumor is that the next iPhone will be a fire-proof phone. Apple has filed a patent application for an advanced halogen-free flame retardant material which could be used in future Apple products.

Apple reported that the new material will be integrated into the manufacturing of Apple products like keyboards, mice, iPods, the iPad, cabling and more.

Model

It is expected that iPhone 5 will be coming in Black as well as White model.

Gaming

New highly-probable rumors that float around suggest the iPhone will have strong gaming capabilities supported by multi-core A5 processor and Imagination Technologies’ PowerVR Series6 mobile graphics processing architecture.

Earlier in April, it was reported that Apple allowed select developers play around with an iPhone 4 which is implanted with an A5 chip rather than the A4 in order that they can bring out the full gaming prowess on the upcoming iPhone 5.

Apple gave developers from gaming bigwigs a pre-taste of the gaming prowess of the iPhone 5, with a view to incorporating smashing gaming capabilities in the next generation iPhone.

Social Network

Social networking is the flavor of the times and Apple wouldn't want to give it a slip. According to the rumor mill, the iPhone 5 is going to become your portable social network. The novelty of the new model of social networking is that unlike in Twitter and Facebook, people don't need to know each other to become friends.

The phone analyses your habits, tastes, lifestyle, aptitudes, travels and the like and finds people who share the same bandwidth. And then it tells you if a potential friend is in the vicinity. Conversely it allows you to be found and befriended by other iPhone 5 users.

Wireless Charging

A revolutionary way of charging mobile devices may see iPhone 5 gain mass appeal. The inductive wireless charging technology for the iPhone could juice up its battery without the use of cables and plugs. By utilizing a charging dock, the iPhone can charge its battery as well as share, sync, or backup data at the same time.

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