Today, VMWare 3 allows you to run remote Windows, Linux, images remotely from your iPad with ‘VMWare Viewer’.  VMWare is a much more popular virtualization solution in big business so this may have a lot more people moving off their PCs and onto iPads.
Apple is reportedly planning to switch from the glass-backed iPhone 4 design to an aluminum chassis for the iPhone 5, in an attempt to bypass issues with cracking and scratching, together with paint finishes. According to Macotakara source, the new metal backplate will have a resin Apple logo integrated with the WiFi, cellular and other antennas, apparently replacing the edge antennas found on the current iPhone 4.
The glass design of the iPhone 4, the sources suggest, has left Apple frustrated with its durability and weight. Problems, meanwhile, with the antenna design – the so-called antennagate issue – forced Apple to offer free Bumper cases to address reception complaints.
Finally, the issues surrounding the much-delayed white iPhone 4 have, it’s been suggested, been a result of painting difficulties experienced in the manufacturing process, something a shift away from glass would address. The report also tips the same dual-core Apple A5 processor as found in the iPad 2, and an unveil – as generally expected – in June or July this year.
Of course, Apple could also be looking beyond aluminum to Liquidmetal, the technology it invested in last year and which is currently only used to make the SIM removal tool. Liquidmetal is billed as scratch, corrosion and grease proof, and as strong as titanium but uses a third of the material.
[via MacRumors]
Although the last few days have been packed with rumors pointing to a smaller iPhone with a smaller display, Digitimes is now reporting that Apple’s fifth-generation iPhone, due in June, will pack a 4-inch display to go toe-to-toe with Android device’s larger displays. This information is said to come directly from Apple’s production lines.
Apple reportedly will change the screen size of iPhone to 4-inch for its fifth generation iPhone to compete with the Google Android platform in the 4- to 7-inch smartphone market, according to upstream component suppliers.
The component suppliers noted that the production lines for Apple’s next generation iPhone have begun testing, and Apple is interesting in expanding the screen size to 4-inches to support the tablet PC market as the vendor only has a 9.7-inch iPad in the market.
In fact, smartphones that adopt the Google Android platform are mainly 4-inch and larger models. Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S and Google’s Nexus S adopt 4-inch panels, Sharp adopts 5.5-inch for its smartphone, and Acer plans to launch a 4.8-inch smartphone. With Apple joining the 4-inch and larger market, 4- to 5.5-inch will become the major battlefield for smartphones and further change the industry dynamics for small- to medium-size panels.
What is worth noticing is that Dell has re-defined the market position of the Dell Streak 5 – which was originally focused on the tablet PC market – as a super phone. The Dell Streak 5 uses a 5-inch panel which stands in the gray area between tablet PC and handset segments and indicates there is an overlap in the market for 4- to 7-inch panels.
Chimei Innolux (CMI) is also producing touch panels at its 4.5G plant and part of its 5G plant through front to back-end method, and is also producing iPhone and iPad panels through IPS technology.
Panel makers noted that in addition to touch panels, AMOLED is another important development in the smartphone market. AMOLED supply remains in shortage, and Samsung’s subsidiary Samsung Mobile Display (SMD) is the leading player in the market with the largest capacity, while LG Display is actively following behind and AUO and CMI and actively becoming involved in the market.
Another report from the same source claims that iPhone 5 will sport a faster A5 processor (Dual-Core perhaps?) to take on the likes of recently announced Samsung Galaxy S II, while the iPad 2 will feature an enhanced version of the current A4 chip.
Apple is reportedly looking to outsource the production of its A4 processor as well as the next-generation ARM Cortex-A9-based A5 processor to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), according to industry sources.
According to Digitimes Research, the iPad 2 will support an enhanced version of the A4 and the A5 will power the iPhone 5. TSMC will initially produce the improved A4, and could likely become the exclusive manufacturer of the A5.
Even though iPhone 4 news continues to spread around the Internet these days, there is already plenty of speculation on the next revision of Apple’s smartphone. While the New York Times has decided to highlight an iPhone 5 overview, I’ll too be throwing my own guesses on the table.
Of course, rumors begin for the next revision of a product as soon as the latest one officially launches. Though, first rumors are mostly based off of the wish list items that didn’t get delivered. Anyway, I’ll be taking care of my own mentions. As always, these could be accurate or completely off-base, but here is the buzz anyway.
NFC, Improved Search And Voice Commands, Facial Recognition, And iTunes ‘cloud’
The first item Sarah Perez of ReadWriteWeb ties to the release of the next iPhone is near field communication technology. This topic began after Apple hired an NFC expert last year. NFC is a very short range communication system, primarily being tested on mobile phones for commerce purposes: ticketing, identification, payments, and electronic key cards. Over a dozen mobile handsets and the latest version of Android already support NFC.
Sarah’s next few topics are also a revisiting of speculation surrounding some previous acquisitions by Apple. Early last year, Apple quickly snatched up Siri, the developer of an intelligent search assistant app for iPhone and iPod touch. Apple’s purchase of facial recognition software developer Polar Rose and patents could suggest some new security feature or iPhoto-like tagging in the iOS Photos app. And, of course, ReadWriteWeb couldn’t go without dragging the Lala Media becomes iTunes ‘cloud’ dreams back into the spotlight.
That is it for ReadWriteWeb’s next generation iPhone speculation, for now. Personally, I only see NFC and Siri-based search features being any kind of a real possibility. Anyway, it’s time to move onto some upgrade rumors about the second generation iPad that are related to the iPhone.
Internal Upgrades: CPU, GPU, Wireless, And Camera
Physical design changes? This doesn’t seem very likely. Well, maybe, a slightly modified antenna, but even that shouldn’t be considered a “given.†The biggest possible aesthetic change could finally be different color offerings, hint, hint, the longstanding white iPhone fiasco.
Since the iPhone 4 contains basically the same internals as the iPad already, I don’t see why the 5G iPhone couldn’t be the same as the 2G iPad. Engadget has a lengthy piece on Apple transitioning from Infineon to Qualcomm wireless communication chipsets to accommodate both CDMA and GSM needs, and moving up from Apple’s current 1GHz single-core A4 microprocessor to a new multi-core A5.
Apple’s A4 is based from ARM’s Cortex-A8, whereas the rumored Apple A5 will be built around the “2GHz typical operation†and “scalable up to four coherent cores†ARM Cortex-A9.
Speaking of performance enhancements, Mac Rumors found a new driver bundle in the iOS 4.3 Beta 1 release, hinting that Apple could soon be upgrading the iDevice GPU from the POWERVR SGX535 to the OpenCL-capable POWERVR SGX543.
The one topic I haven’t heard anyone stirring about is the iPhone’s camera. Granted, the current 5 megapixel and 720p video capable unit in the iPhone 4 isn’t anything to scoff at. Likely depending on whether the current camera is capable of 1080p video recording, I wouldn’t see it impossible for Apple to bump the rear camera to a model capable of specifications like 8 MP and 1080p.
Pricing And Availability
Outside of reminding readers of the hints of a spring white iPhone 4 availability, I don’t plan on getting into that train wreck of a discussion. Pricing? That hasn’t changed much over the years, nor do I suspect it to during this next round. As far as the 5G iPhone release; that’s a toughie. With the CDMA iPhone 4 arriving next month and a possible white iPhone 4 launch — or re-launch –, I can’t say I’m not a bit skeptical on a June or July release of a completely new iPhone model. Is it Impossible? Of course not.
Yes, I do realize that all previous products are sold up until the day the new one is released, but strongly pushing a product launch, like the iPhone 4 on Verizon, and then four or five months later telling customers to purchase a 5G iPhone because of so-and-so features instead just seems like public relations suicide to me..
Future: Steve Jobs
As many have noted, including ReadWriteWeb, Steve Jobs’ latest medical-related absence may be the biggest hill to overcome in the name of product ‘image’. No matter what Apple has released, Steve personally announcing a product or service has made it that much more “magical†and “revolutionary†for most fans. This could mean that Tim Cook and group may very well need to find a way of having the actual product bring that extra “one more thing†excitement.
So many questions to ponder. Will the 5th generation iPhone be more of an iPhone 4S, focused on speed upgrades, or will it be an iPhone 5, with all kinds of new features? Will Apple maintain its summer release schedule? Will Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Jonathan Ive, and company keep the “cool aid†flowing? It could be a very interesting year for Apple fans.
[via: appadvice]