World of Apple

AppleInsider has published a report which points towards Japanese manufacturer Asahi Kasei as the provider of the digital compass (magnetometer) in the next generation iPhone.

The source of the information is “people familiar” with recent iPhone OS 3.0 betas.

People familiar with betas of the iPhone 3.0 software developers kit recently dug up several header files attributed to the Japanese manufacturer in a directory appropriately labeled “compass.” More specifically, the files identify Asahi Kasei’s azimuth sensor No. AK8973, a 16-pin leadless IC package measuring 4mm square and 0.7mm thick, as the chip that will help future iPhone users determine their direction. It bundles a master clock oscillator.

A digital compass would give the iPhone the ability to sense directional movements, for example the iPhone would be aware of which direction it is facing in Google Maps.

On Tuesday evening a strange message was posted on the official Twitter stream for Telecom New Zealand. The “tweet” which was in response to a customers enquiry about the upcoming iPhone launch read: “We are in negotiations with Apple… we are very focused on the 3rd gen iPhone.. we will keep u updated.”

The message initially created some doubt but a report in New Zealand’s National Business Review added further credence with a quote from Telecom NZ’s chief of retail Alan Gourdie saying that the carrier was in “discussions – deep discussions – with Apple”.

Vodafone currently sells the iPhone in New Zealand but this news suggests Apple is looking to expand beyond a single carrier in the country.

AppleiPhoneApps.com reports that the new iPhone will go on sale July 17. The site which cites no sources and has no track record of past rumours also gives some unheard details about the new iPhone.

The site recaps some features already heard in past rumours but adds the following details:

• 32GB and 16GB to replace current capacities
• $199 and $299 price-points to be maintained
• Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
• OLED screen
• Double the RAM and processing power
• Apple logo on the back to light up
• Rubber-tread backing

AppleiPhoneApps.com also covers every feature in great detail.

The site does not cite a unveiling date but the WWDC Keynote on Monday June 8th would be the most suitable stage.

Hardmac.com has posted a few details they’ve heard about the future iPhone, iPod touch and iPod nano.

Consistent with recent rumours from a Chinese based forum Hardmac notes that the iPhone will remain largely unchanged in physical appearance.

The future iPhone models will have exactly the same shape and size than the current iPhone 3G, despite fakes and rumors circulating.

Hardmac also reports that the iPod touch and iPod nano will see refreshes in September with both set to include a camera.

Apple should refresh models for the iPod nano and Touch in september. Both should now include a camera, similarly to the iPhone.

Over the weekend multiple sources have chimed in on rumours originally started back in February that Apple will allow a limited number of user selected applications to run in the background on the iPhone.

The first report came from Silicon Alley Insider who stated that Apple may allow “users to select two apps that can run in the background.” Additionally Apple could approve certain applications to run in the background based on certain criteria.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball then chimed in saying that a “second-hand source” had described a new Dock Apple was working on that had “one special icon position where you could put a third-party app to enable it to run in the background.”

Finally MG Siegler reports on TechCrunch that although it is by no means a “done deal yet, Apple is definitely trying to come up with a way to offer background support for third-party apps. They went on to note that while Apple may have something to say about it at WWDC, it’s very unlikely that any solution would be ready at that time, and could be a situation similar to how Apple announced Push Notification at WWDC last year but said it was coming in a few months (which it later was delayed until iPhone 3.0).”

Popular analyst for Piper Jaffray, Gene Munster, has speculated in a note to clients that Apple could be planning an event for the end of June or early-July. The event would mark the return of Steve Jobs and the launch of a new iPhone.

The note from Munster followed Apple’s press release regarding the WWDC opening keynote on June 8th. “As indicated in today’s press release, we believe Apple will focus on the new version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard at WWDC,” wrote Munster continuing, “While some investors may be expecting Apple to launch redesigned iPhones at WWDC, we do not anticipate the launch in early June.”

Additionally Munster adds that an event held later in June or early-July could usher in a “family” of iPhones. “We continue to expect multiple models, possibly a high-end iPhone with improved specs from the current version and a low-end version with lower capacity and fewer features along with a reduced pricing plan,” wrote the analyst.

On the other hand Daring Fireball author John Gruber has come out to describe Munster’s claims as “goofy” adding that a new iPhone model at WWDC was “probably the easiest and most obvious Apple prediction of the year.”

Gruber’s comments don’t come without valid reasons, the blogger writes that if the new iPhone is to incorporate a magnetometer and video recording as per the rumours then that would require “new APIs, and if Apple wants to have WWDC sessions for the new hardware-specific APIs, they have to announce the hardware first.”

A post on a Chinese forum has given a possible clue to the future path of the iPhone. The post which also comes with a screenshot depicting a 32GB iPhone and several details for a possible future iPhone which is expected to be announced in June and released in July.

The poster on the forum suggests the following for a future iPhone:

• 600MHz CPU (currently 400MHz)
• 256MB RAM (currently 128MB)
• Digital compass (magnetometer) and FM
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 32GB size
• No major changes to battery, display or casing

Both Mac Rumors and AppleInsider are dubious of the sites claims.

BoyGeniusReport has posted screenshots purporting to be a debugging menu from the latest beta of iPhone OS 3.0. The image depicts a menu that would control a digital compass (magnetometer) which is rumoured to be in the new iPhone.

Mac Rumors offers further background on the digital compass, first adding credence to rumours and secondly offering further information on what a digital compass is.

Examples of how this could be used include pointing your iPhone’s camera at a building and the phone telling you what building it is by combining GPS, accelerometer and compass information. The iPhone could even overlay graphics and text on top of the image to provide additional information. Another application described is the ability to show information about stars and constellations simply by pointing your iPhone towards the sky.

According to Cote Collaborative analyst Michael Cote there is a “strong possibility” that AT&T will drop the entry-level iPhone tariff price by $10.

The $10 price drop would bring the price of the tariff down from $69 to $59, a saving of $120/year. The move is said to be announced at next months Worldwide Developers Conference where Apple is expected to unveil a new iPhone.

Commenting on the current price of an iPhone over a two-year contract, Cotes said:

“This price does not address the whole market,” says Cote. And the price barrier has started to be a concern for Apple. For example, says Cote, “Wal-Mart iPhone sales haven’t met expectations.”

Apple appears to have inadvertently revealed some future plans via a message to an iPhone developer. The report which comes via iLounge focusses on the Newspaper(s) made by developer Makayama which was rejected to to “objectionable content”.

The app is designed to allow readers to view over 50 national and international newspapers, the application which is now available on the App Store was originally rejected due to the content of UK based The Sun tabloid. Apple told the developer in a rejection message that the new iPhone OS 3.0 will introduce Parental Controls and that it “would be appropriate to resubmit your application for review once this feature is available.”

The news would suggest that with the release of iPhone OS 3.0 Apple could loosen some of the restrictions placed on “objectionable content” in the App Store.

iPhone OS 3.0 Offers iPhone Camera Improvements

A questionable report from iPhones.ru shows that pictures taken using the new iPhone OS 3.0 beta software show significant improvements compared to the current public iPhone OS 2.2.1.

Although it is perfectly feasible for software updates to offer improvements in cameras the results shown are significant.

[Editors note - I will personally do some testing myself over the next few days.]