New iPhone could go on sale July 17

What's coming? We only can guess.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Forgive us for repeating rumors, but when you're writing about future Apple products like the next version of the iPhone, rumors are all you have until the thoroughly tight-lipped company officially spills the beans.

Today's rumor--well, actually it's yesterday's rumor--comes courtesy of AppleiPhoneApps.com. Through its very own Deep Throat--aka a source who is "closely connected to Apple's hardware development team"--the Web site posted some details on just what the third-generation iPhone will offer. What's more, it names Friday, July 17, as the release date.

We can't verify anything right now, but some of the predictions make more sense than others. A July 17 release date is very plausible. Both the iPhone Classic and the iPhone 3G went on sale on Fridays (June 29, 2007, and July 11, 2008, respectively). Apple likes to respect tradition.

Here's a list of what the new iPhone could offer, along with my comments. AppleiPhoneApps is also predicting that the $199 and $299 price tags will remain.

• A 32GB model--We've expected this for some time. What's more, it would be welcome.
• Double the RAM and processing power--Ditto here. Hopefully, Apple will add background processing as, as well.
• A 3.2-megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities--We've been hearing about this for a while, as well. But while Apple is at it, we'd also like more camera editing features.
• Ability to send a pictures and video via MMS--The iPhone 3.0 software update will add the ability to send photos with MMS so videos would make sense too.
• Turn-by-turn directions--We'll also get this with the 3.0 update. The feature won't be native, but it will come through apps.
• 1.5x the battery life--The short battery life is one of the iPhone 3G's biggest flaws. I'd look forward to this improvement the most.
• Apple logo on the rear side will light up--This one is random, indeed. Outside of the, "Look at me, I have an iPhone!" factor I can't imagine why you'd want this. Plus, I agree that it would be useless and annoying if it negatively affected battery life.
• Built-in compass--This is a bit odd, but anything is possible. You can get limited compass functionality through a compass app.
• Built-in FM transmitter--This would be a first for Apple, so I'm suspicious. But I'd like it.
• Other physical changes--AppleiPhoneApps says the metal border might go away and the new model could have a sleeker profile and a rubber tread on its backside. Personally, I think the iPhone is sleek enough already, but some CNET readers have said the opposite. The rubber tread would protect against falls, I suppose. The blog also mentioned an OLED display.

AppleiPhoneApps also promises a "revolutionary combination of the camera, GPS, compass, and Google maps" that will identify photos and photo locations. Now, while that sounds like just the sort of thing Apple would do, CNET News' Daniel Terdiman rightly pointed out when we chatted recently that it wouldn't be the first of its kind. Such an application is in development for the Android platform.

Monday, June 8, would be the earliest we'd learn the details on new iPhone models. That's when Apple Vice President Phil Schiller will open the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco with a keynote address.

One analyst has suggested that an announcement could come later in the month following the return of CEO Steve Jobs, but most informed eyes are looking toward July as the magic month for both a new model and the formal release of the 3.0 update.

Of course, we'll relay the details as soon as we know them. In the meantime, tell us what you think the new iPhone will have and what you'd like it to have. I know...better call quality is probably top of mind with many of you.

[jaxupra]

I like the FM transmitter rumor. When the Pioneer Inno XM radio first came out, it had that capability, but it was removed via a firmware update at FCC direction. (I have never installed the update). I can turn it on and any FM radio nearby becomes an XM radio. (Even from downstairs!)

[lovehandle]

Give me a real keyboard like the Blackberry. I want to text and send e-mails fast. How about that Apple?

[coryschulz]

Actually I can type waaaaay faster on the iPhone than any Blackberry like device. Because I don't actually have to press any keys down, I just make a quick tap, and the letter is typed. My fingers fly across the screen like a blur when I'm typing, and with the auto correct feature, I get close to 99% accurate. I've typed out super long e-mails, and facebook comments, and take notes, and sent texts, and never had any problem with it.

[seven7dust]

Fm transmitter in a Apple device Lol!
that alone sums up how valid this rumor is !

[jshaddle]

lovehandle if you want a keypad DONT BUT AN IPHONE ... howabout that

[SNOOP_ROCA]

I mean, a keyboard would be nice, but unless u already have an iPhone, Lovehandle, and you want a keyboard like a blackberry, then you should, ummmmm.....I don't know, maybe you should, like, buy a blackberry? LOL

[monkeyfun14]

I think I might I have to call ******** on this for the following reasons.


Twice the processing power and RAM

iPhone is already using 620mhz arm 11 processor underclocked to 412mhz to save the already limited battery life of the iPhone. There isn't even a mobile phone chip on the market that achieves twice the processing power of the Arm 11 besides snapdragon which is 1ghz not twice the power of the current arm architecture which would need to be 1.2ghz

Twice the RAM which brings the iPhone to 256mb of DRAM completely overkill for any phone even the iPhone and would be a pointless addition to the iPhone as it wouldn't even be utilized especially on a phone that only processes one application at a time.

1.5 times the battery life I fail to see how this can be claimed with features that will use twice as much battery life.

[bradward747]

Source for the processor speed? Wikipedia states it at 500mz for the 2nd and 420 for first.

256mb memory would be fantastic for the iphone/ipod touch. You can only have so many safari/large apps before the app will close. You can have many running at once by pressing the home button.

I see 3x+ battery life as apple listens to there customers. Plus them not allowing background process to save battery life, it could have been made worse.

16GB/32GB sounds kinda lackluster since samsung has released a 32GB nand chip, but its probably due to cost issues.

This is where the rumor is made a rumor. An FM transmitter for Apple is like the Card Reader, not going to happen.

Plus the back light..what phone has them...really.

There has also been the chromatic (like nano) rumor...plus the ipod touch/nano getting a camera.

Finally I can see the rubber back to be more finger friendly in the sense that it won't collect them.

[monkeyfun14]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone

Actually my processor info is correct I may of got the name wrong though.

[CDubber]

"Twice the RAM which brings the iPhone to 256mb of DRAM completely overkill for any phone"

Hmm, Bill Gates, is that you? And here I thought you were just your common variety Microsoft shill.

Since when is there such a thing as too much RAM?

[monkeyfun14]

@CDubber

I never said it was too much I was giving reasons for why the rumor is potentially false. Why cut your profit margins on RAM when the phone will never use anywhere near the amount your putting in?

Anyone will tell you that 256mb of ram is overkill for a phone especially one that will spend its life time using one app at a time and doing mediocre tasks such as making fart noises and using other basic apps.

If this rumor is true cool but i'm just saying why it may not be.

And what did any of comments have to do with Microsoft? If anyone is the shill it's you.

[coryschulz]

This device definitely needs more ram. I can't listen to music and use Safari without it crashing. Also, Apple is going to be adding more background services to the OS (like the push alerts) and that's going to require more resources for it to run properly. Also Safari can take a really long time sometimes to render basic web pages, so more ram and a faster processor would be very much welcome. This will also improve its capacity for applications and games.

[aMUSICsite]

I agree that twice the processing power seems unlikely, maybe a 10%-20% increase is more plausible, but I think they will bump it up a bit if they can.

But to say the phone does not need more RAM is crazy Then again if you think...

"256mb of ram is overkill for a phone especially one that will spend its life time using one app at a time and doing mediocre tasks such as making fart noises"

You obviously don't know the iPhone very well, it a much more than something that makes fart sounds for most people. It's like saying PC's are over powered for a machine that just runs solitaire and a browser.

More ram would probably be the single best thing Apple could do to improve performance, so it's almost a certainty in my opinion.

[seven7dust]

I call ******** on this for the simple fact that FM transmitter was included
thats the most ludicrous claim ever !
I fell out of my chair laughing ! Lol!

[tetsujin619]

I'd really like it to have good phone reception. If they can manage that, I'd get one.

[cyclonica1980]

@testsujin619

Reception is one of my biggest issues with the iphone. I had 9 dropped calls with my parents today. Ridiculous.

[darkpoet25]

I think it has to do more with the area in which you live. I have the iPhone3g and haven't any problems with reception or dropped calls. It has more to do with the towers that AT&T have than being a problem with Apple.

[toredefine]

I live in southeast Michigan. I've never EVER had a dropped call, or bad reception with my iPhone 3G. Maybe consider it's your service provider?

[sweaty_taco]

toredefine - Doesn't everyone with an iphone have the same service provider???

[thinksarahthink]

@sweaty_taco: I think what toredefine is trying to say is that in addressing the problem with poor cell reception, one should consider that the issue might lie with the service provider and not with the cell phone itself.

Of course everyone with an iPhone has the same service provider, providing the phone is not unlocked...duh.

[ikramerica--2008]

Traditionally the "apple lights up" feature on the laptops has simply been the backlight for the display bleeding through by design. but it also creates a "hole" in the brightness in the screen in direct sunlight, as sun seeps in.

Not sure how an iPhone will do this with the battery in the way. But I assume it's possible through some plastic ductwork similar.

[Timothy Bandy]

What if the glowing Apple logo doubles as a flash as some others have suggested? Now that would be cool.

[coulterboyz]

Now that is a good thought! Of course I would have to go get a new case, but that is more than worth it for flash

[Sharntel]

I have the iPhone classic, so I don't get the features that the 3G currently has. However, I would like a phone that does not freeze up for 8 hours with me having to hold down buttons to get it to unfreeze and I need longer battery life.

Sharntel
NC

[CDubber]

How about incorporating some of that 17" MacBook Pro battery magic in the iPhone?

[iceman721]

I have been waiting for them to perfect the Iphone and get it off of ATT's network. I have a G1 and I am anxiously awaiting the "cupcake" update. I have friends who have Iphone's and constantly complain about ATT's network when they travel. I travel frequently as well and have mostly edge in my home area (been waiting on Tmob to finish turning on 3g for FAR too long) but good 3g coverage when I travel on T-mobile. When is Apple going to get the Iphone off of ATT's network exclusively is what I want to know. ATT's plans don't compare to T-mobile's as far as pricing goes. For me to get what I have on ATT's service I would be paying about 40.00 a month more. Their highway robbery pricing structure will keep me a loyal T-mobile customer. I just changed my plan and saved $30.00 a month with T-mobile and they didn't even make me extend my contract. Their customer service is exceptional. FM Radio could be useful in the new Iphone but I doubt they would add it. My Zune has a FM radio and I use it more often than I thought I would. Any increase in battery life in a phone that will be used as much as an Iphone is always appreciated.

[coulterboyz]

Well if what you are getting is edge most of the time, you could have gotten an iPhone and jailbroken it to work on T-mobile. You can't get 3g on T-mobile, but hey, you would have the iPhone. I was never sold on the G1. Look wasn't for me. But hey, whatever floats your boat

[Constable Odo]

The closer WWDC gets, the wilder the rumors will become. I still remember the weeks before the announcement of the MacBook Air. It was going to have more features than a Mac Pro and fit in a manila envelope. Well, it did fit in a manila envelope, but was basically devoid of all features.

I've got a feeling some bloggers are just pulling iPhone fanboys cranks with a lot of these supposed features. The iPhone will probably end up with just a bit more memory and copy/paste. The media pundits will have a good laugh and so will RIM and Palm.

[OS11]

No, the MacBook Air has all the features, but they are "wireless" which still confuses people.

[make_or_break]

Haptic feedback for the virtual THUMBBOARD might be an easier-to-achieve compromise than incorporating a mechanical one. I like the idea of a rubberized back, or at least a matte back similar to my G1; my 2G Touch is too bloody slippery for its own good. As for battery life...well ANY improvement would be a good thing; as a G1 user I should know...T-Mo NEEDS to get the Cupcake rollout going faster if only to improve IT'S pathetic battery charge life. The 3.2MP camera upgrade at this point is weak; there's already far superior resolution units available on other phones, particularly from Asia. For a phone that has a LCD screen like the iPhone's it should do a camera far better than that.

Still...it's not enough for me to want to get over my prejudices and go back over to ATT. iPhone needs to creep over to other carriers like T-Mo before I'd get one.

[filipiak]

Haptic feedback won't do any good on a touch-screen. Pressing a wrong key would still give you the same feedback as pressing the correct key, so you will still need to be watching where you put your fingers - which then eliminates the need for haptic feedback.

[goodspeed8701]

Apple should release a firmware not a new device. The features stated is not enough to make a whole new device for it. they add video recording and mms and makes you buy a new phone for that. Even if they have to make a new device let it be for the 3.2mp camera, compass, storage capacity etc. But they should give people that bought the 3g a chance to upgrade. The Zune is a good example for this.

And anyone who bought an ipod touch and iphone can you please tell me the difference. How can apple take out the sim card of a phone and call it a music device. lol the ipod touch is not an mp3 player is an iphone with no sim card.

[253916]

You misunderstood a bit, iPhone is an mp3 player with additional phone function)

[Timothy Bandy]

Yeah, right. it's the exact same, only different.

No sim card, no 3G transmitter or receiver, no antenna and no $70 per month AT&T subscription. But yes, otherwise they are completely identical.

BTW, iPod touch also lacks GPS and camera. Apparently Bluetooth is there, but in a very sneaky way, just to let people use Nike+

[goodspeed8701]

by Timothy Bandy May 21, 2009 12:03 PM PDT
Yeah, right. it's the exact same, only different.

No sim card, no 3G transmitter or receiver, no antenna and no $70 per month AT&T subscription. But yes, otherwise they are completely identical.

So why do people pay to throw away this features from their iphone. you pay money to add features and not the otherway round.

[ithomas94]

Because 70 dollars a month adds up to quite a fee.

[simplelifer]

A user changeable battery... would be nice : )

[monkeyfun14]

But how would Apple be able to collect their premiums on new batteries?

[azzuro2006]

I would like to see the screen representating a larger percentage of the overal device and for it to be much thinner. So the screen would be the same size but the overal size smaller and thinner. Those other features would be welcome too.

[knewt5]

I'd like to see the home button live on the side of the phone and have the entire face of the device as touch screen

[gmasters]

Want reduced price plan and resonable anything unlimited plan (like Sprints) with AT&T- need to be able to use affinity/corp discounts too.

[markedman0965]

I'd like to see those people who don't own an iPhone to stop pretending their crappy phones are better. The radio went out on my 1st gen iPhone so I gave it to my son. He is using it as a Touch and hasn't picked up his DS since I gave it to him. I am using a basic cell phone until I see what Apple releases this summer.

Might be the most painful 3 months I have endured in a long time. Unlike the Palm Treo and Motorola Q I had previous to the iPhone I used the iPhone a lot. My coverage was at least as good as VZW and the call quality was fine. Throw in the iPod functionality, the exchange email and the apps and it is abosolutely, hands down the best mobile device on the planet. If you are too cheap to pay the monthly fee stop whining and go cry all over your inferior phone.

[ithomas94]

>_> Too bad that some people actually can't afford one. Don't be nihilistic and inconsiderate of other people.
"I'd like to see those people who don't own an iPhone to stop pretending their crappy phones are better?"
Seriously, everyone's different. Maybe they just DON'T like touch screens. What a concept.

[kackerson]

how about fwd'ing an SMS? I know, crazy idea but they would be so bleeding edge!

[databrain]

I really hope the new iphone has better battery life. before I bought the iphone, I had a Motorola E815 and that battery lasted me for days before recharging. The iphone only lasts me 2 days max! I also like the sound of a rubber back. Helps control the fingerprints

[CrueLWorld]

yay! new iphone rox!!! worth to wait!!

[CrueLWorld]

uhm some forum say 4get abt iphone 3G ... Buy new iphone!!! uhm do this means that this new iphone will remove 3G?

[darkpoet25]

It will not remove the 3G speed, but will have the 3.0 OS built in. As for the actual specs, these are just rumor for now until WWDC coming up on the 8th next month.

hmmmm dont know if any of this is gonna make iphone a much better phone... still lacks the power of Palm Pre...

[rex-tc]

Tell me one spec Pre would have over iPhone 2009?

Lets do a comparison?.
Iphone 2009 - Pre
1) 32GB vs 8GB
2) Video Recording/Editing vs No video
3) OLED (color,viewing angles, battery life) vs LCD
4) Longer battery life vs Shorter battery life
5) FM Transmitter vs No FM transmitter
6) 3.2MP vs 3MP
7) Larger Screen OLED vs Smaller Screen LCD
* )GPS/Compas/Turn-by-turn vs GPS
9) 256 RAM vs 256 RAM
10) Fast Objective C games vs Java Based Games
11) Webkit Browser vs Webkit Browser
12) 3G vs 3G
13) 600Mhz ARM vs 600Mhz ARM
14) MMS with video vs No Video MMS
15) WIFI with Adhoc Gaminig (OS3.0) vs WIFI
16) Audio Sharing (OS3.0) vs NO Audio Sharing
17) 35,000 Apps vs Handful Apps
18) Itunes Store (Music, Podcasts) vs No Itunes
19) Bluetooth 2.1 vs Bluetooth 2.1
20) Multi Touch vs Multi Touch
21) Non Physical vs Physical Keyboard (Wears Out)
22) AT&T Network vs Sprint Network
23) $199(16GB)/$299(32GB) vs $299(8GB - $100 Rebate)
24) Thousands Accessories (car, docks, cases) vs Hardly none

[darkpoet25]

We will see once the Pre is actually released and is reviewed. So far no one has any actual proof yet that the Pre is as great as many hope it is. I think it is BS that they wouldn't let anyone in the press have any hands on time with it.

[ithomas94]

LOL Rex-TC: You're including rumors about updates to the iPhone 2009 that are quite simply, going to stay rumors.
FM Transmitter? Yeah, like Apple's gonna let people save money . ..
The OLED screen isn't confirmed yet. iTunes is a laggy piece of ****, the overall bad quality of the program simply cancels out all the benefits of the expansive community.
and a correction to your keyboard comparison:
Non Physical (Inaccurate, not for some people) vs Physical Keyboard (Wears out, but much more accurate and most ppl prefer this)
and you forgot background apps . .. -_-