News
Looking ahead to iPhone 3.0
Ben Parfitt Jun 10 2008, 10:31am
Comments (8)
Despite the fact the new iPhone will be free on O2, there might be good reason to hold on for a while longer
The iPhone 2.0 looks great, and the pleasingly low price means that a whole new generation of Apple lovers are about to be born. But what of the features left out of the brand new device? What should we expect to be included in the inevitable iPhone 3.0, which will more likely than not be announced this time next year?
The most obvious omission from the new device is a decent camera – surprising considering that a better camera was named as one of the most wanted features in the new device pre-announcement.
2MP is simply nowhere near competitive in today’s mobile landscape. Rivals such as Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson all favour 5MP cameras in their newer devices, and even their mid-range offerings rarely venture lower than 3.2MP. iPhone 2.0’s 2MP snapper is a real surprise, and most likely the first feature that will be overhauled with the next model.
There’s also the lack of a front-facing camera to consider. Admittedly, 3G is more often used for high-speed data access than video calling, but seeing as the iPhone 2.0 is 3G enabled, it could be seen as an odd omission.
However, could it be that Apple is saving such a feature until it’s able to integrate new functionality such as gesture control in its next device? It’s exactly the sort of thing Steve Jobs’ firm could be eying up as the next big software evolution for the device, and if done right could also be the step to yet again redefine the mobile landscape.
On top of these things, Apple is yet to confirm other basic features for the new model such as copy and paste, MMS messaging and, most importantly, video recording.
And with slide-out QWERTY keyboards appearing on devices such as the HTC Diamond Pro and Sony Ericsson X1, could Apple yet consider such a feature for its next machine – maybe via a two-model strategy?
Comments
“And another thing!”
Posted by: Odd Jobs - Jun 11, 9:27am
What about OTA iTunes downloads?? It doesn't make sense that they're saying you can now download 10MB files from the App Store over a 3G network, but full-track iTunes downloads are still a no no.
Record labels kicked up a fuss maybe?
“Re: And another thing!”
Posted by: Skeptic Pete - Jun 12, 10:10am
If you think about about, Apple made it's big splash 12 months ago with the iPhone form-factor and UI. Now all the other manufacturers are doing the same kind of thing, and they all know mobile far better than APple does. As i see it, the biggest problem Apple has with iPhone going forward is continuing to look innovative. 3G? That's been a bog standard for 3 years now.
“Camera and Gestures”
Posted by: Alex Kerr - Jun 12, 2:59pm
Yes, the camera is rubbish - I mean people felt let down when the 1st iPhone came out. It's just a joke now, 2MP and no flash - whatever were they thinking? No excuse.
Gesture recognition is definitely a Nokia innovation, that Nokia will be including in their handsets, this is not something that Apple will be leading the way on...
http://www.unwiredview.com/2008/01/08/first-glimpse-inside-nokia-s60-touch-going-beyond-multi-touch/
“Re: Camera and Gestures”
Posted by: James Gill - Jun 13, 9:47am
Where does all this leave ipod touch? A lot of people were expecting a revamp of that. It's a bit in limbo now isn't it?
“Re: Re: Camera and Gestures”
Posted by: mike h - Aug 12, 5:19pm
flash? The battery life is crap already, last thing you need is a flash. Copy and paste should be seen as a bug fix not an upgrade it's rediculous, I still havnt got rid of my berry and it may be a while
“Re: Re: Re: Camera and Gestures”
Posted by: AndyV - Aug 18, 6:30pm
Well,
I agree about that the iPhone 3.0 is likely to come out excactly a year later. The mobile phone market is a quick one, to they have to keep up...
The camera is a size design problem like the battery life with 3G chips. Thats why there hasnt been any 3G in the first version and no better camera in the new one. Also typical apple buyers dont think of a mobile phone camera as a CAMERA. It's a toy. So i think the camera is doing his job. Maybe we get more pixels, but i would guess a flash as a no go.
But Flash for Safari would be nice. A processor update is likely for next year i'd say. A front camera and iChat. Which could also mean Apple is entering the mobil market with its own "skype" concept. Good reason that we havent seen iChat on the 3G. If you want to do that you have to be careful. iChat calls over voip (Wlan and 3G, 4G) to any phones and special prices. I think Tmobile and the others would love that...
And I personally would love the next iPhone called iPhone Sun and they build in this solar panel under the screen and beat everyone else in batterylife. : )
I think the size will more or less stay like that. at least the screen, even though more pixels could be possible. Imagine 300 ppi. The programmers need an consistent piece of hardware to trust in. Appstore is a good reason to use an iPhone. So i would say no change there.
I give video a yes, MMS or a qwerty keyboard a 100% no.
Who wants the last two feature never had an iPhone.
Copy/Paste already comes with 2.1 firmware update in Autumn.
Thats it.
Greets
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Camera and Gestures”
Posted by: Harold - Aug 26, 12:41pm
i need it
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Camera and Gestures”
Posted by: safe - Oct 30, 9:05am
This is there second mobile device. It is highly unlikely they would unleash all these "demands" on their first 2 devices. Otherwise what features would they have to put forward on further devices. Come on people think logically. Apple is a very innovative and well established in the marketing field. I think its fair to say apple most defiantly no what their doing.