World of Apple

iPhone 3GS | Image courtesy of Apple

According to a new rumour Apple will silence the critics by bringing multitasking to the next major update to the iPhone operating system. The update will allow “several third party apps to run concurrently and in the background” writes AppleInsider.

According to AppleInsider “people with a proven track record” say that Apple has developed a “full-on solution” to multitasking on the iPhone. Details of how multitasking was implemented was withheld from the sources as iPhone OS 4.0 development “has a quite ‘way to go’ before it’s ready for prime time.”

AppleInsider goes onto cite a multitude of reasons why Apple has yet to implement multitasking, looking at security and hardware resource issues.

Peter Misek, analyst with Canaccord Adams speculated this week that Apple will announce during its special event on January 27 that the iPhone will be coming to Verizon during the summer.

Alongside this prediction Misek also expects Apple to announce iPhone OS 4.0. In Misek’s note he runs down what he expects to see in iPhone OS 4.0 with his predictions running along the same lines as those rumoured by Boy Genius Report earlier in the week including, multitasking, a simpler user interface, and a new way to sync contacts and calendar apps.

Misek goes onto suggest that although many U.S. carriers will adopt tiered data plans, the iPhone on Verizon will still carry an unlimited data plan according to his “industry sources”.

“Together with our semi-conductor partners, we have ascertained that there is a reasonable chance the Asian supply chain is prepping for mass production of a new iPhone in March, for availability in late Q2, likely June,” Misek said. The new iPhone according to Misek will be capable of running on both CDMA and GSM networks.

Misek also looks forward to 2011 iPhone models speculating that Apple will release an LTE-capable “4GS” iPhone.

A new batch of rumours concerning iPhone OS 4.0 have circulated the internet today in particular the rumours point towards “multitasking” and a new method of syncing contacts and calendars.

The rumours which come from a “trusty” source are published by Boy Genius Report and go as follows:

• There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
  “A few new ways” to run applications in the background — multitasking.

• Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
• The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
• The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.

Apple is holding a media event on Wednesday, January 27 in San Francisco and is widely expected to announce its long-rumoured tablet computer alongside discussions of iPhone OS 4.0 and accompanying SDK.

DigiTimes is reporting that Omnivision Technologies has received an order for 5-megapixel optical sensors destined for the next-generation iPhone. The sources suggest that Omnivision is expected to supply Apple with between 40-50 million sensors in 2010.

OmniVision Technologies is expected to see CMOS image sensor (CIS) orders for Apple’s iPhone devices grow to 40-45 million units in 2010 from 20-21 million estimated this year, according to industry sources. The sources said OmniVision has secured 5-megapixel CIS orders for the next-generation iPhone model, which will hit shelves sometime during the second half of 2010.

Omnivision is the current supplier of the iPhone 3GS 3.2-megapixel sensor.

Boy Genius Report has provided tentative evidence that both iPhone OS 3.1.3 and iPhone OS 4.0 are being used in some form of testing either inside or outside of Apple.

The only information provided is an image containing references to both iPhone OS 3.1.3 and iPhone OS 4.0 which for the sake of clarity can be easily spoofed by adjusting a browsers user agent string.

The current public version of iPhone OS is 3.1.2 was released back in early October making it very like that 3.1.3 is in the works and likely to be presented to developers in the near future. iPhone OS 4.0 would be a major OS release and going on history would see a release in June next year.

In a note to investors this week analyst Doug Reid of Thomas Weisel Partners said that despite persistent rumours that Verizon will receive the iPhone in 2010 when AT&T’s exclusive agreement runs out he believes that T-Mobile will instead be the chosen carrier.

Reid’s thoughts come off analysing the carriers different advertising campaigns, “AT&T advertising in the United States has in recent weeks clearly shifted away from iPhone as the carrier likely readies itself to lose exclusivity in the United States (to T-Mobile and not to VZ, we believe) while VZ ads promoting Droid and other anti-iPhone devices appear to have intensified markedly”.

Rumours earlier in 2009 suggested that AT&T was looking to extend its exclusive contract—which expires sometime in 2010—through to 2011 but such suggestions died off around the middle of the year.

Reid added that Verizon could pick up the iPhone in 2011 when its 4G network is more established.

T-Mobile would be an easier target for the iPhone than Verizon as it will already be able to work on T-Mobile’s GSM network but will be unable to access thaw 3G portion of the network as the iPhone is only compatible with 850MHz, 1900MHz and 2100MHz bands where as T-Mobile operates on 1700MHz.

DigiTimes citing “market sources” reported on Monday that Qualcomm and Apple are in talks with an “interest in future cooperation”.

Qualcomm who supplies GSM and 3G chips to companies such as Samsung, LG and HTC is becoming increasingly concerned about its future in the high-end handset market according to the report by DigiTimes. Currently the iPhone uses an Infineon chip whilst Palm uses Marvell for the Pre and RIM uses Freescale for the Blackberry.

Past rumours have suggested that Qualcomm could be manufacturing a “hybrid” chip aimed at the iPhone capable of being compatible with GSM carriers as well as CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless in the U.S. Qualcomm first manufactured chips capable of switching between GSM and CDMA in 2002.

Rumours have also suggested that Verizon is bidding to have the iPhone on its network sometime in 2010, which would require the iPhone to be able to connect to the CDMA technology which Verizon uses.

Music industry sources have reportedly told CNet that Apple is set to announce the availability of pre-cut ringtones at the upcoming September 9 media event.

According to CNet, Apple is rushing to have the service available in time which will see pre-made ringtones available for purchase on the iTunes store, no price is currently known but sources suspect they’ll be available for “far less than $3″.

Despite no official word that the iPhone has received a network access license for operation on any Chinese network a new report today suggests that a deal between Apple and China Unicom could be officially announced tomorrow.

The Chinese carrier is set to hold a media briefing on Friday to discuss its fiscal results for the first half of 2009 and a China Unicom spokesman has said that the iPhone “would undoubtedly be discussed,” according to Reuters.

Additionally the report states “Apple’s iPhone manufacturing partner Hon Hai is making the iconic handset for a Chinese company, an official at the Taiwanese firm said, declining to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media”.

Interfax TMT is reporting that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is expected to soon grant the iPhone a Network Access License in China. According to the industry source the NAL will be given to iPhone Model A1324.

According to iPhonAsia mentioned is that the custom WCDMA iPhone with no WiFi connectivity will also come pre-loaded with apps specifically for China.