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Apple Seeding High-Level Gaming Developers With A5-Based iPhone 4s?

Thursday April 21, 2011 10:35 am PDT by Eric Slivka

9 to 5 Mac reports that it has heard from a source that Apple has been providing developers at high-level iOS gaming companies with new prototype iPhone models based on the A5 system-on-chip found in the iPad 2. The developers are said to have been given access to the devices, which look exactly like the iPhone 4 from the outside, to assist them in preparing for advanced graphics and computational performance available with the new chip.

They already have select developers working on versions of their iPhone applications that take full advantage of the next-generation iPhone's speedier and much more powerful hardware. These developers, seemingly from high-level gaming outfits, have been given what is essentially an iPhone 4 but with an A5 processor instead of an A4. The device itself is virtually identical to the iPhone 4, and there is no way anyone can tell it's not an iPhone 4 based on the phone's exterior.

The source is reportedly calling the prototype iPhone an "iPhone 4S" in a nod to the iPhone 3G-to-iPhone 3GS transitioned, but that appears to be an unofficial name. The souped-up iPhone 4 is also said to reside in a company safe when not in active use, an understandable move given Apple's penchant for secrecy.

The report notes that this A5-based iPhone isn't necessarily the next-generation iPhone rumored to be released in September, but may simply be a sort of mid-stage custom upgrade to give prominent developer partners access to hardware performing at nearly the same level as we will see with the fifth-generation iPhone. Apple is of course expected to pack in other new features such as an upgraded camera and presumably a world-mode wireless chip for the next iPhone, but those features are apparently not included on these development units.

Tag: 9to5mac.com
[ 89 comments ]


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VicMacs
105 months ago
I just got mine! Going to a bar now to show it off...
Rating: 3 Votes
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LegendKillerUK
105 months ago

If the hardware isn't that much different from the iPad 2 then why would they give it to devs early?


You can't accurately judge how a game will run on an iPhone based on the iPad. Size and weight play a big part in terms of locations for on screen controls.

I'd like more memory, perhaps going 768MB in the meantime - that extra 256MB over the 4 will easily hold an extra 10-20 apps in memory.
Rating: 2 Votes
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definitive
105 months ago
maybe this was one of the phones that was shown in a video a few days ago? the phone was white, and had around 64gigs of storage with a modified version of ios...
Rating: 1 Votes
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GeekLawyer
105 months ago
I suspect the next iPhone, released in June, July, or September will be largely unchanged from the 4. An A5, sure. Maybe higher storage capacities. A "world" model, from what the Verizon exec said. Black or white. That's about it.
Rating: 1 Votes
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chrmjenkins
105 months ago

If the hardware isn't that much different from the iPad 2 then why would they give it to devs early?


Same question I had. Just run the game at 960x540 on the iPad 2 to simulate running the game. Even if it's clocked differently, they can approximate that too. Only difference would be if they stuffed more RAM in the iPhone 5/4s, which I doubt.
Rating: 1 Votes
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GeekLawyer
105 months ago

So what do you think it should have?

Will only a redesign make it a real new phone? I think its great that Apple has had three good designs now. Some build up is necessary, otherwise the public will only look for redesigns and nothing else.

It will be a new phone with updated specs and maybe the casing. That's all it needs.

When I said "that's about it," it wasn't a negative thing. When it comes to an iPhone, if they made those enhancements, that's plenty to guarantee another year of success. Especially alongside iOS 5.
Rating: 1 Votes
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CFreymarc
105 months ago
1) Do something original
2) Spend time in Cupertino's outer circle at select geek houses in Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Los Gatos or Mountain View.
3) Show the game off to the right engineers.
4) Win the geek Q&A
5) Learn how to get on the PVT list
6) Ignore anyone that doesn't code inside Apple
7) Don't piss off Steve.
8) Don't act sub-servant to Steve.
9) Learn to love beach volleyball.

Rinse and Repeat for every new hardware cycle.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Popeye206
105 months ago

Are they adding some decent controls though?


Yeah... a slide out Joy stick! :rolleyes:
Rating: 1 Votes
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Blakjack
105 months ago
Apple and its development community are joined at the hip.
Rating: 1 Votes
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dethmaShine
105 months ago

When I said "that's about it," it wasn't a negative thing. When it comes to an iPhone, if they made those enhancements, that's plenty to guarantee another year of success. Especially alongside iOS 5.


Sorry, may have misunderstood. Fair enough.
Rating: 1 Votes

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