Although there is currently no official release date, the iPhone 5 is already one of the most hotly-discussed pieces of technology soon to be on the market. You may want to put money on the iPhone 5 being available in summer 2011 – late June or early July in true Apple style. But one rumor has it the iPhone 5 will be released sooner than planned in order to bury bad publicity generated from the existing iPhone 4’s antenna issues. You probably know all about that – the stainless steel casting of the iPhone 4 acts as the mobile’s antenna which experts believed would increase reception. But some users experienced a downer with poor signal strength and dropped calls.
However, the iPhone 4 remains a highly popular buy despite any technological problems and its antenna issue doesn’t look like a big enough reason to bring forward the launch of the iPhone 5. Will the iPhone 5 rock your world or simply be the same as the iPhone 4? The iPhone 5 will likely have many similarities to the revolutionary iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 was designed to be 34 percent thinner than previous models, although it is heavier. The size of the iPhone 5 will most likely match the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 has a powerful processor and uses less power than original iPhones, meaning the battery life is longer – Apple believes you get 40 percent more time to talk on the phone than you’d enjoy with other iPhones.
In terms of appearance, the iPhone 5 will no doubt look the same as the iPhone 4 – all tough black glass and sleek stainless steel to fit the style of the Apple brand. The touch-screen will remain and it’s unlikely quality will drop from the high definition that users of the iPhone 4 currently enjoy. The camera, which on the iPhone 4 has five megapixels and a movement tracker built in, will remain or be improved. The facility for video calling was the most important new feature in the iPhone 4 and currently works by sending images to another iPhone 4 by Wi-Fi. The iPhone 5 may have 3G facilities for broadcasting these images.
So how will the iPhone 5 be different from the iPhone 4? Will you be picking up a clone with a higher price tag? The iPhone 5 will likely make use of the same specs as the iPhone 4, yet with added memory, a faster processor and extra storage facility. Added features could include a larger screen. The number of apps available for the new iPhone 5 will likely be increased and you’ll be able to take your pick from a wider range of features. The iPhone 5 could come with a different antenna and may boast a digital wallet for use as a credit or debit card. This feature would be enabled through Near Fields Communication (NFC) technology. Near Fields Communication, a high-frequency wireless ability, allows remote computing by facilitating a data exchange between two mobile gadgets. NFC is primarily designed for mobile payments but it also has potential for moving settings and applications – like bookmarks, passwords and preferences – from your PC to your mobile device and storing them for use on the move.
What about the cash question? Commentators expect the iPhone 5 to be similarly priced to the iPhone 4 as the new gadget is more of an upgrade than a revolutionary new product. Many consumers with iPhone 3GS are holding off buying an iPhone 4 with the expectation that the iPhone 5 will be the purchase of the future, a purchase you may be able to make sooner rather than later.