The predictions that Apple would release a new iPhone in June seem to be closer to validation and it is now certain that it will also be released in Australia at that time. The Apple rumour mill is rife with supposition about what features the new phone will have. What it is likely and what will the launch of the iPhone in Australia look like?
One of the rumours that seems closest to fact is that the new iPhone will feature 3G. The current model came under immediate criticism on launch for utilising Edge technology, sometimes referred to as 2.5G. As far as end users are concerned 3G offers what is considered broadband data speeds on mobile devices. It offers up to 2 megabits per second. This makes it fast enough for large downloads, video conferencing and high speed web access. Many newer phones offer 3G and while 2.5G was suitable for data it doesn’t offer the same speeds. Preview versions of new iPhone software has revealed the ability to turn 3G on and off. This pretty much confirms the rumour, but why turn it off? It turns out that 3G uses a great deal more power than the slower GPRS 2.5G. This was Apple’s given reason for the omission of 3G on the original.
While 3G is an almost certainty the future quickly becomes murkier quickly when considering the other possibilities. One that recurs on a good many rumour sites is the inclusion of GPS. GPS or Global Position System ustilises satellites to pin point the user’s position on earth. While early units were expensive, provided little data and impractical advances have made them a must have for drivers and have integrated them with maps. GPS devices can now show you how to get not only from A to B but also points of interest such as shops, museums and restaurants along the way.
Apple have provided a quasi-GPS system in the current iPhone where location can be triangulated from mobile phone towers and wi-fi networks. While not precise it gives users an idea of where they are. Full GPS combined with the iPhone’s excellent Google Maps implementation will be a powerful combination. GPS, however, also drains power quickly. It is recognised by users of phones with 3G and GPS that when both are active battery life is extraordinarily short. I would predict a low likely hood of GPS on the new iPhone.
Another collection of rumours doing the rounds relates to appearance. Some rumours say smaller, lighter. Others say it will be all black. My feeling it that appearance wise little will change. If it is to have 3G and GPS then it will need to have more battery to power it, hence a bigger or same-size device. The current model also has a great screen at a good size. I think that Apple would have a great deal of trouble making the screen smaller, especially considering the virtual keyboard and complaints that the keys are too fiddly. The iPhone, like the iPod before it, has become iconic and has many imitators. Apple do not radically change designs, rather they evolve design. My predication is that it will look very similar.
The other rumours surround the iPhone’s camera. Also a subject of criticism on launch due to its paltry 2 megapixel resolution and lack of flash, will the new phone pack more punch? It would seem likely, especially since recent preview editions of the iPhone software offer geotagging for photos. Geotagging adds location information to photographs so that they can be sorted, searched for and displayed based on geographical position. I can’t imagine that the iPhone would have geotagging without some sort of improvement to the camera’s functionality. My prediction 3 megapixels at least.
So where does this leave Australian’s desperate for some iPhone goodness. Well, the good news is that Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone have all indicated that they will be selling the iPhone. Telstra has the best 3G infrastructure at the moment and have indicated that they will even provide the 42 megabit per second HSPDA (High-Speed Packet Downlink Access).
Three carriers means that it is all very promising but I have some concerns. Although Apple’s partnership with AT&T in the USA has been a subject of controversy since AT&T are not loved and offer reportedly patchy access, Apple managed to squeeze a good deal from them. Similarly O2 in the UK negotiated excellent data plans with Apple in return for being the exclusive carrier. It concerns me that the three Australian iPhone carriers will gouge users for data as they do at the moment. If this is the case then I will have to think twice about buying an iPhone.
We shall have to wait until the World Wide Developer Conference in June to find out the truth about the iPhone. In the meantime the rumours will heat up to boiling point. One group of people will be extremely excited, the other disappointed by the new device. One thing is for certain. Apple will once again set its rivals an unattainable target in design, usability and demand.
