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New iPhone Rumors Reiterate Claims of Smaller Dock Connector, No Change to Screen Aspect Ratio

Friday May 11, 2012 3:05 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
Apple is planning on implementing a new, smaller dock connector, according to a report by iMore. The site has been reliable in the past and correctly predicted the release of an LTE equipped iPad. iMore also reported that Apple is still in the prototyping phase for the next iPhone and that the design is not yet set in stone.

Ilounge iphone 5 dock
Despite some rumors to the contrary, according to our sources Apple still hasn't finalized the design of the next generation iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple ends up calling iPhone 5,1). No giant screen. No 16:9 aspect ratio. No metal back.

[…]

Once again we're hearing that if the screen size does change, it won't be by a lot (no larger than 4-inches). We've heard nothing to indicate a planned change in the aspect ratio either way (and such a change still doesn't make much sense to us).
iLounge previously claimed that the next iPhone would have a smaller, redesigned dock connector as well as a 4" screen that is larger in height only -- this would result in an adjustment to the screen's aspect ratio. The iPhone 4's design has served Apple very well, with the company selling millions upon millions of units. It is possible that the company will choose to stick with the successful design, albeit with some minor changes, rather than a wholesale redesign.

Other recent iPhone rumors include a claims that the next iPhone will launch in September; another that it would use the same micro-SIM as current iPhones, rather than a new nano-SIM concept; and that the next iPhone will retain its physical home button -- a claim that iMore reiterates.
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isoft7
14 months ago
I can see the iPhone (5) being exactly as the 4 and 4s are in terms of design and in a strange way, demonstrating tremendous corporate confidence in their product by doing so.

As if to say "We have the most ideal design, there is no reason to change."

While people will be disappointed, they will still make billions and billions in profit. So who can really win that fight?
Rating: 45 Positives
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roadbloc
14 months ago
Why re-design the dock connector? One thing I like about Apple products is their consistency. How I can use the same dock/charger for my old iPod Classic and new iPhone. Making a smaller dock connector will ruin this.
Rating: 42 Positives
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Capt Underpants
14 months ago
**** will hit the fan if Apple doesn't redesign the next iPhone.
Rating: 33 Positives
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JohnDoe98
14 months ago
Personally, I'd like them to implement a smaller magsafe connection.
Rating: 32 Positives
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johncrab
14 months ago
Well, that would obsolete a lot of very expensive docking devices like speaker systems which can run into the hundreds of dollars. I for one would not be happy, but I really do not see this happening. The Apple connector standard is now ubiquitous in the market from speakers to cars. I just don't see it happening. There is no benefit to Apple and it would slow adoption through upgrade.
Rating: 31 Positives
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Spectrum Abuser
14 months ago

I don't mind if the dock connector is smaller or not, I'd rather they focus on implementing a new Thunderbolt connector for the iPhone (and all iDevices in the future). They need to push on it a bit more, and what better way than with their own products? Make it the standard.


Thunderbolt is not designed to fill the role of USB. It's made to cover the niche market of high speed data transferring such as external SDD's, HDD's, external GPU's/Apple Cinema Display and other things of that nature.
Rating: 26 Positives
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anthony11
14 months ago

Well, that would obsolete a lot of very expensive docking devices like speaker systems which can run into the hundreds of dollars. I for one would not be happy, but I really do not see this happening. The Apple connector standard is now ubiquitous in the market from speakers to cars. I just don't see it happening. There is no benefit to Apple and it would slow adoption through upgrade.


And you're just too darned precious to use the adapter that would obviously be available?
Rating: 25 Positives
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FSMBP
14 months ago

I do not see the dock connector changing. It's just too ubiquitous at this point. Maybe Apple will do it but I doubt it.


By that logic, in the next decade, Apple will eventually change everything in the iPhone except the Dock Connector? Doubt it. At some point, Apple will change the Dock Connector. (ex. Look what they did to the Floppy, Legacy Ports, DVD). They aren't afraid to disrupt things.
Rating: 21 Positives
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Moonjumper
14 months ago
If they do change the dock connector, I hope it is to a Magsafe design. No more knocking devices off a surface if you catch the charging cable (which is too short anyway).
Rating: 20 Positives
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macduke
14 months ago
Hah, if people went crazy when the 4S had the same design, just imagine what they'll do when the next iPhone has the same design.

For the record, I was ok with the 4S design. It's a beautiful phone and I've owned every model of iPhone. But for a third year? That's pushing it a bit. I'd like to see a little bit bigger screen, bring back the tapered sides so it's more comfortable to hold, and make it more resistant to drops and impacts. Keep the same thickness, and if the size increases slightly, use that space for a larger battery.

I mean, if they don't update anything externally, then we're looking at primarily internal changes. 1GB ram? Faster graphics? LTE? Ok cool. But at this point does it make as big of a difference? The 4S screams. And my "faux-4G" is pretty fast as it is. What's the magical element that Apple will be adding to the new iPhone? What other features will set it apart from the 4S?

Possibilities:

[LIST]
[*]NFC wallet
[*]Touch-sensitive home button to multitask
[*]FaceTime HD
[*]Waterproof enclosure
[/LIST]

Can anyone think of any other new tech the iPhone is lacking? What about software? For software I'll repeat John Gruber (http://daringfireball.net/2012/05/ios_low_hanging_fruit) from today (many of which I've also considered in the past):

[LIST]
[*]Better inter-app communication, like "Intents" in Android
[*]Third-party notification center widgets
[*]Third-party Siri apis
[/LIST]

But surely the 4S would get these updates too, right?

It's time to update that bottom dock connector. Hah, it's such a relic of the past at this point. Like a giant serial port or something that fills with dust and debris. Sure it's going to suck that it's not compatible with all of our existing stuff, but adapters will be made. The change has to happen at some point. I'd rather it be sooner than later.
Rating: 17 Positives

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