New iPhone firmware reveals code for next model
What will Apple's next iPhone look like? The only changes might be under the hood.
(Credit: Apple)As might be expected, it doesn't seem that the iPhone 3G will be Apple's last iPhone.
MacRumors has discovered code inside the OS X 2.2.1 firmware released earlier this week that describes an "IPhone 2,1" model. Previous discoveries have shown that Apple uses this labeling nomenclature for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch.
The original iPhone was labeled "1,1", while the iPhone 3G was model "1,2." The iPod Touch has already advanced to a second-generation design, as the iPod Touch released at September's music event received the "2,1" label inside its firmware.
Little else is known about iPhone "2,1." It's reasonable to assume that since the iPod Touch number changed significantly with the addition of a new processor, that such an upgrade might be coming to the next iPhone. P.A. Semi has been working on iPhone chips since last spring, and other evidence has surfaced indicating that Apple might be planning to upgrade the iPhone's graphics sometime in the near future.
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller seemed to imply earlier this year that Apple was locked into a June/July upgrade cycle with the iPhone, noting that Macworld's January date conflicted with a number of Apple's regular product cycles. So, perhaps another summer iPhone release is on tap.
Before that, however, I still think there's a solid chance Apple doubles the capacity of the iPhone and iPod Touch without making any other major changes, just as it did last February.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
Tom, would you speculate that, based on the above, more than just processor/capacity changes should be expected by the public? i.e. the possible graphics upgrade you mentioned? How about a change in the chips used for the 3G which caused problems? To me, a change in processor/capacity simply does not merrit going to revision 2.1.
But at some point, we have to expect version 3.0 of the iPhone software, as well. Is that on a yearly cadence, along with the hardware? Is the 2,1 hardware needed to run the new software? It's hard to tell, there's not enough historical data with the iPhone to predict how often Apple plans to make changes.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the whole point of this story "Apple will release a second-generation iPhone...with some undetermined feature set and an undetermined price point at an undetermined time.
Whooo. Boy, that was worthy of a blog post.
The bottom line seems to be that there is a minor indication in the latest S/W update that implies Apple is working on a new version of the iPhone.
There is no indication at all of what features it will have.
There is no indication at all of when it will be released (if ever -- sometimes Apple's has interim prototypes that never see the light of day).
There is no indication at all of whether it will still be tied to AT&T.
There is no indication at all of what it might cost.
The only indication is that Apple *might* be working on another variant of the iPhone hardware.
Hell, this could even have been an indicator of that "iPhone Nano" about which the rumor mills were so profusely telling tales a few weeks ago. (However, I suspect this is really unlikely.)
This is a non story.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/01/29/major_architectural_changes_suggested_by_iphone_21.html
CNet is a technology news reporting company. They are not a "major headline news story." If you just want big news, then only read the front page, or only stick to your local news for sensational news.
CNet does a great job at finding all the little things and reporting them.
And this is news, not just a rumor. And considering the amount of advertising and the number of people who buy the iPhone, this is very news worthy.
Tom even links to SIX articles to give more background to this story and show it's relevance in the world. It's not a 2 min story he wrote in his sleep.
Thanks, Tom, and CNet, for covering so many different areas.
That said, I like Cnet. Just some constructive criticism!
I know Jailbroken Phones have this feature
but a better Implementation is needed
Imagine listetning to Pandora while playing
Fieldrunners/Simcity {that would be sweet}
also fingers crossed for copy and paste
The other thing I'd like added in is linking your address book to your calendar, so that you can select a contact in your address book and schedule a meeting from their card that will be saved in your calendar.
I have an iPhone and am waiting for my contract to run out so I can move to a "big kid's" phone. I am not giving Apple any more money to get pretty basic features.
I've been saying this from the beginning !
Which is why I'll never buy a IPhone till they add these basic things
I'm happy with my Touch and old walkman phone
But wats scary is that Apple is known for
abandoning older technology
So MMS is highly unlikely !
/boggle
I think a better touchscreen keyboard is a more realistic request
if you want qwerty keyboard why not get the G1
or some Cheap WinMo phone like the Epix
-Haptic feedback: This might win over those who prefer a physical keyboard;
-Better camera: At least 3 megapixels, editing capabilities;
-Video recording;
-Stereo bluetooth: Getting tired of headphone wires, or at least...
-Compatible with headsets that have volume control on inline remote (thinking this will happen since Apple released new headphones);
-Pipe dream, but is there any way to get Flash... please?
-And the ubiquitous Cut & Paste: I don't need it often, but when I do it would be so helpful!
Finally, I know it probably hurts reception, but I still prefer the aluminum body and flatter back. Just feels "nicer", more high end than the plastic. Or perhaps they're coming up with with a better material that is practically scratch proof and has substantial feel/touch.
but after using bluetooth headsets I resized how bad they r
1)the Sound quality sux 2) music skips sometimes
3) the battery life sux and you need to constantly charge it
bluetooth headsets r not quite there yet ! maybe in the future
1) Hands down the best display on the market
2) Best computing performance on the market
3) Best music player on the market
4) Good-sized hard drive
5) Easily the best mobile browser on the market
6) Best gaming experience on the market (I don't play games, but I've heard as much)
7) Very handsome design
8) One of a *few* phones to pull off a legitimate touch screen (Storm, Epix, etc are busts).
9) Integrated Wi-Fi
10) 3G
11) Unbelievable amount of quality 3rd party applications
12) Notice how I've gotten this far without even mentioning that you can use it CALL people?
12) .... and more can be said.
The point is, sure, the iPhone and 3G lack some "basic" features like the MMS, Stereo Bluetooth and Copy/Paste. I don't care about those features, but I realize that several people do. For their sake, Apple *should* be working on ways to include those features on future iterations to keep customers happy. But seriously, for what we are getting, the iPhone is an excellent device.
4) The iPhone doesn't have a hard drive.
10) All the iPhone competitors I'm thinking of have 3G
12) Hmm, all phones can call people
I agree that the iPhone is an excellent device, but you are going a little overboard. I would probably get one if the service charges weren't so expensive.
4) That's just me not knowing anything - Is if flash? I don't even know.
10) Again, yes, other phones have 3G, I was just pointing to the phone's highlights, not saying that the iPhone 3G is any better than a competitor's.
12) Self-explanatory
1. removable battery and better battery life (2X better)
2. Cut and paste!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. multitasking!!!
4. remove all the "done" and "save" buttons, like the Pre
5. video recording camera
6. millisecond control over keyboard response, ala Storm
7. Flash support and 3rd party browser capability
CNET, the coffee, sushi, and Apple Computer Mount Everest of Stuff That White People Like. I bet most of the CNET employees have a black gay friend who is not only gay and black, but if they hit the trifecta, he has a baby too. The only thing tht makes white people in San Francisco feel even more superior is to have a friend who use to be a man become a woman, now, this is cool, superiority to a degree that the average person in America can never achieve.
If you haven't read, "Stuff White People Like" I recommend you go to the web site or buy the book. He is talking about CNET and their staff and their many admirers who can't get enough of sushi, Steve Jobs, Starbucks and all the other Stuff White People Like. It's very funny and has been featured on PBS and - most recently, CNN.
- by sahilk January 30, 2009 6:05 PM PST
- "iphone firmware shows that the next iphone may already be in works"
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 2 pages (49 Comments)REALLY?
its been in works since 3g was released.. >.>