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There has been a fair amount of buzz on the iPhone 5, and the latest being circulated around the supply chain in Taiwan is that Apple is going to adopt a curved cover glass for its next generation model, according to industry sources.

Cover glass makers are reluctant to commit investment to the purchase of glass cutting equipment due to the high capital involved, said the sources. However, in order to push forward the production of curved glass, Apple reportedly has purchased 200-300 glass cutting machines to be used by glass makers, said the sources.

The glass slicing machines are currently being stored at associated assembly plants and will be brought online once yield rates for the production of curved glass reaches a satisfactory level, the sources revealed.

There has been no timetable yet for the volume production of iPhone 5 as Apple is currently still working with related suppliers including those involved in cover glass, glass cutting, lamination and touch sensors to improve yield rates, the sources commented.

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Apple Said To Introduce Curved-Glass iPhone 5

All the debate over whether the iPhone 5 will or should offer support for 4G networking misses the overriding point: 4G is a fraud. It doesn’t exist. Not really. Whether it’s Verizon with its barely-there 4G network, or AT&T whose 4G network exists only on paper, or T-Mobile and Sprint pushing pseudo-”4G” networks which are so much slower than what 4G is supposed to be that competing networks have adopted the “4G LTE” moniker as a way of distinguishing themselves from it, there is as of yet no legitimate 4G experience to be had. It’s why Apple didn’t add 4G to the iPhone 4 last year, and doesn’t want to add it to the iPhone 5 this year either. Yet the march to 4G is well on its way, at least in the marketing departments of the carriers, which leaves Apple in the awkward position of not wanting to add mostly-useless 4G hardware to the iPhone 5 due to the various ways in which it could be a net-negative for the overall experience. But Apple may have to give into 4G hype anyway, effectively offering a worse (for now) product in the name of staying in the game.

The challenge of delivering a 4G iPhone 5 starts with the issue of which “4G” variant Apple would start with. AT&T and Verizon are both betting on 4G LTE, and it’s the best (fastest) flavor to date. But Verizon’s 4G LTE network is mostly not yet built, and AT&T’s network 4G LTE network doesn’t exist. The latter is complicated by the fact that AT&T is in the process of acquiring T-Mobile and its nationwide pseudo-4G network, meaning that Apple could be looking at needing to support multiple kinds of 4G within the iPhone 5. And that’s before Sprint and its brand of pseudo-4G come into the equation, with Sprint being the only carrier Apple doesn’t have to worry about. But even in attempting to play along with the Verizon and the AT&T-T-Mobile 4G experiences, Apple could end up with an inferior iPhone 5 product in the process.
Support for multiple types of wireless technology means more drain on battery life. The iPhone 5 is already looking at supporting AT&T’s 3G GSM, Verizon’s CDMA, and presumably, AT&T’s aging EDGE since AT&T never did finish building its 3G network. On top of that, add support for 4G LTE plus maybe T-Mobile’s brand of 4G, and along with wifi that’s half a dozen different types of potential receivership going on. And unless Apple has figured out how to build a single antenna which can interact with all the various cellular networks, 4G support could mean more networking hardware packed into the iPhone 5. That either means it has to be thicker than Apple wanted, or other features (capacity? battery?) have to be reduced in order to make room. Suddenly, in the worst case scenario, you’re looking at an iPhone 5 which, for the sake of supporting 4G for the relative handful who would actually be able to use it, would be a worse-off product for everyone else. But with the entire cellular marketplace from carriers to hardware vendors all pretending that 4G is for real at a time when it’s still a little-understood pipedream, Apple will have a hard time remaining the only honest player with regard to 4G amidst an industry-wide fraudulent representation of what 4G is and isn’t. In other words, a 4G-enabled iPhone 5 could bring with it more bad news than good, even though it would likely outsell a non-4G iPhone 5 by quite a large margin.

No 4G iPhone 5

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YAKAZ Launches Its iPhone App v1.1 – Social Classifieds To Your Mobile For Free

While industry observers have chimed in over the past weeks about what will be inside Apple’s next iPhone 5, one analyst on Friday gave insight into when the phone will actually hit shelves.
Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster told clients Apple will introduce its next iPhone in September, rather than the usual summer introduction, as has been rumored.

Jaffray offered two “concrete data points” for the projection.
One iPhone equipment supplier he spoke to indicated that they had received orders for the equipment “several months later than usual.” The delay in parts suggests the final phone would also be delayed.

Secondly, the company has usually had a software event in the spring, followed by a hardware announcement at its summer developer conference. “

“There have been, on average, 79 days between the software event and the iPhone hardware announcement,” he said.
But it appears the summer conference, the Worldwide Developer Conference, is a focus on software, suggesting that a hardware unveiling is coming later on, in the fall.

Anticipation has been mounting for the new iPhone since the 4th generation was rolled out in June of 2010. While widely regarded as cutting edge at its introduction, competitors like Samsung and HTC have surpassed the iPhone 4 in terms of hardware specs.

Industry insiders have chimed in on what will be in Apple’s next iPhone 5, but the consensus that the next phone will be a “super phone” is diminishing.
Apple’s next iPhone will be “evolutionary not revolutionary,” with perhaps a better camera and a different casing, but no 4G, or LTE, wireless modem, according to BMO Capital’s Keith Bachman.

Writing to clients, Bachman explained that poor battery performance for LTE is “one of the reasons why we think Apple’s LTE phone will come in 2012″.
The sentiment was echoed from other industry watchers just last week from Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek. Instead, it will be an upgraded iPhone 4, most notably with a faster processor and some updated specs.

“According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support,” he writes in a research note.
The A5 processor is the same chip that Apple rolled out to power its iPad 2. As for LTE, he says the Qualcomm LTE chipset Apple would have used “is currently not achieving yields sufficient for inclusion in the iPhone 5.”
He says Apple had hoped to have the LTE chipsets ready, but was planning a version without LTE called iPhone 4S.

If true, the roll-out would match Apple precedent.
In 2008, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G and in 2009 introduced the iPhone 3GS — the “S” standing for speed. For the most part, the 3GS was the same as the 3G, except it had a faster processor.

The move is sure to upset fans waiting for faster network connections and may complicate Apple’s rumored iCloud service.

Regardless of when it does come out, it is almost sure to be a success, according to some industry watchers.
Caris & Co’s Robert Cihra told clients last month that to focus solely on the the hardware and the launch date would be “missing the point” as Apple is no longer a “hit product company,” driven by timing.
“It’s not the hardware that matters,” Cihra wrote, “…actually, it’s the software+hardware+services in a fully-integrated vertical platform. As we’ve said repeatedly, iOS IS the ‘what’s next?’ for Apple.”

With cloud-based functionality integrated into the next iOS, promising newer services like digital lockers and access to unbridled computing power, the prospects for the next iPhone look bright, even if the timing is uncertain.

iPhone 5 Slated For September Release

Remember that surprise we reported Apple was planning for the 10th anniversary of its Apple stores? Well, it appears that this will be a revamp of the stores, an Apple Store 2.0, if you will. The Apple Store 2.0 will feature a restructuring of the retail environment centered around the iPad, according to rumors from 9to5Mac. This will mean most of the paper signage around the stores will be ditched in favor of the iPad and that makes a lot of sense.

The Apple Store 2.0 will also place a larger emphasis on helping users personalize their devices. These zones should be dubbed the “Startup sessions” and these are designed on helping users set up their iOS or Mac devices.

Previous reports also said that the Apple Store 2.0 will also move toward an in-house solution for most of the transactions. It wasn’t too long ago that these stores still used Microsoft software to handle transactions but now employees now use a modified iPod touch to sell products.

The new app RetailMe should have a variety of training and retail tools for employees with the iPad. Considering how successful these stores have been, I can’t wait to see what the Apple Store 2.0 brings.

More > iPhone 5

Apple Store 2.0 Coming

In an interview with Reuters, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo said his company’s version of the next Apple iPhone, the so-called “iPhone 5,” will be a global phone, working in the same countries as the AT&T model.

That would mean the Verizon iPhone 5 would be able to make calls on both CDMA and GSM networks. The device would still be native to Verizon’s network, using GSM only when roaming. The AT&T version might also have both radios, though it would only need GSM to be considered a global phone. The current Verizon iPhone 4 is CDMA-only, so it doesn’t work in countries where there are only GSM networks, which includes most of Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. The AT&T version works on most GSM networks, which are much more common.

Shammo also said Verizon would be able to launch the iPhone 5 at the same time as AT&T, all but confirming a simultaneous launch on both carriers.

Very little is known about the next iPhone, although iPhone 5 rumors are rampant. If Apple sticks to its typical product cycle, it should be unveiled soon with a debut next summer, although there are reports that because of production difficulties, it won’t hit stores until September.

On whether or not the Verizon iPhone 5 would be able to ride Verizon’s new high-speed LTE network, Shammo was fairly mum: “I think it’s a bigger issue for Apple than it is for us,” he told Reuters. “Depending on where Apple plays, that’s where we’ll sell.”

Verizon CFO Reveals iPhone 5 Details

Apple is getting closer to revealing more about the new iPhone 5 aka iPhone 4S because it is about to cut iPhone 4 orders, hopefully the new smartphone will be announced at WWDC in June.

Digitimes have heard by supply chain manufacturers from Taiwan that iPhone 4 orders in the second quarter of 2011 will be dropped from 20-million to 18-million with most of them made up of 3G models, 2-million of them will be CDMA units.

Apparently there are 2 million iPhone 4 units floating around the market at the moment and because the new iPhone 5 (4S) is coming soon with better features such as new camera, new processor etc they need to make room and have enough time on their hands to produce the new handsets.

The new iPhone 5 also known, as the iPhone 4s will release in September, all speculation of course as no official announcement has been made. Cannot see it being that much different to the current iPhone 4 other than a few minor updates, time will tell when WWDC 2011 kicks of in June.

Please visit ITProProtal for more information; we would love to know what your views are on the next-generation iPhone.

Apple Cut iPhone 4 Orders, Making Room For iPhone 5 (4S)

Thursday, May 19 will mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first Apple Store, and it seems like the date won’t pass unnoticed.

Apple, known for its secrecy and spectacular product launches, is likely doing everything it can to remain tight-lipped about any potential announcements. However, new rumors, published by Boy Genius Report, hint that something major may be happening.

The rumor lowdown, from BGR:

* There’s an overnight shift of 10-15 people planned from Saturday night through Sunday afternoon.
* All employees must lock their cell phones in the office and sign a non-disclosure agreement with Apple.
* A variety of roles are necessary, from business representatives to a visuals team to Genius team members.
* The hardware to be installed in apparently already there, just under lock and key.
* Black curtains will go up at all stores.
* Secret data labeled “training” has been distributed to employees and can’t be accessed until Saturday afternoon.
* Mandatory meetings are scheduled for Sunday May 22.

Interestingly, a separate source seems to have leaked similar information about Sunday’s mandatory meeting to macstories.

While a different BGR report stated that the stores were getting new tables, potentially equipped with near field communication (NFC) capabilities, a Gizmodo tipster claimed the new tables are “already in use at a couple high traffic Apple Stores.”

These rumors have lead to speculation that the world’s most valuable brand may be aiming to launch the next iPhone (unofficially dubbed “iPhone 4S” by some, “iPhone 5

Apple Store Turning 10: iPhone 5 Rumors Surround Anniversary

Apple is reported to be introducing new standardised SIM cards that are smaller than the ones currently used in the iPhone and iPad.

Just how small that is we don’t know, but it’s likely to be teeny tiny because the current ones are pretty small.

Reuters has spoken to an Orange representative who confirmed Apple is proposing a new smaller standard of SIM card. The reason? It means Apple can make slimmer devices.
That said, the fact that the news comes via a network source means that Apple is definitely cozying up with networks. This is to be expected though, Apple does need the networks to subsidise its devices – so it’s a predictable theme.

So, how long before we see these new smaller SIM cards everywhere?

According to Reuters, ‘a spokesman for European telecoms standards body (ETSI) confirmed Apple had made the proposal for the new standard for SIM cards, but a decision on starting the standardisation work, which can take more than a year, was not yet made.’

He added: ‘This process may take some time, up to a year or more, if there is strong disagreement between industry players. However, when there is broad consensus among the companies participating in the standards committee, the process can be accelerated to a number of months.’

Guess we won’t be seeing this new smaller SIM card in the iPhone 5 then.

But what is the current perception of the idea amongst networks? Apparently, it’s quite good – in fact, they seem to welcome the idea.

Here’s the official line via StraitsTime:
‘We were quite happy to see last week that Apple has submitted a new requirement to ETSI for a smaller SIM form factor – smaller than the one that goes in iPhone 4 and iPad,’ said Anne Bouverot, Orange’s head of mobile services.

Apple - Smaller SIM That May Debut On iPhone 5

Apple’s iPhone 5 will be manufactured in the third quarter, hinting at a possible launch of a new version of the iconic smartphone later this year, a financial analyst firm said Tuesday.

The iPhone 5 will include an 8-megapixel camera and a single baseband chip that will work on both GSM and CDMA networks, FBR Capital Markets said in a research note, citing information from industry contacts.

The iPhone 4 has a 5-megapixel camera; GSM models use baseband chips from Intel’s Infineon wireless division, while Qualcomm chips are used in CDMA models. Having an single baseband communications chip will reduce the need for Apple to make different iPhone models for different 3G networks. Apple has not officially announced the iPhone 5, believed to be codenamed “N94,” and typically remains highly secretive about future products. It has shipped a new version of the iPhone every year since the first one started shipping in June 2007
About 20 million iPhones will be produced in the third quarter, FBR said, with the iPhone 5 accounting for about 8 million of those; the rest will be iPhone 4 models.

The iPhone 5 will use an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor from OmniVision, with Sony being a possible backup sensor supplier next year, FBR said in the research note.
FBR also expects Apple to move away from Intel as a possible baseband supplier, instead buying integrated CDMA-GSM communication chips from Qualcomm, it said.

“Our contacts have confirmed to us that Qualcomm is replacing Intel as the baseband supplier, selling an integrated CDMA/WCDMA baseband,” FBR wrote in the research note.

Analysts have said that iPhone 5 could also sport Apple’s internally developed dual-core A5 processor, which first appeared in the iPad 2 earlier this year. The chip could provide a performance boost to phone apps, and allow the smartphone to play back 1080p graphics. The iPhone 4 includes a single-core A4 chip, which was introduced in the iPad last year and is capable of playing 720p video.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.