iDownloadblog reveals some new iOS 5.1 strings that include references to "4G".
“4G_ON_CALL_CANCEL” = “Cancel”;
“4G_ON_CALL_OK_DISABLE” = “Disable”;
“4G_ON_CALL_OK_ENABLE” = “Enable”;
“4G_ON_CALL_WARNING_DISABLE” = “Disabling 4G will end your phone call. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”;
“4G_ON_CALL_WARNING_ENABLE” = “Enabling 4G will end your phone call. Are you sure you want to enable 4G?”;
“4G_ON_FACETIME_4G_WARNING_DISABLE” = “Disabling 4G will end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”;
“4G_ON_FACETIME_WIFI_WARNING_DISABLE” = “Disabling 4G may end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”;
“4G_TEXT” = “Using 4G loads data faster, but may decrease battery life.”;
The site suggests these may have been put in place for true 4G ("LTE") in the next iPhone.
While we do believe the next iPhone is likely to get LTE, our guess is that these 4G strings were put in place at the same time to reference the updated 4G indicator that Apple also included in the iOS 5.1 update. Existing iPhones now show "4G" at the top of their screen when they are on AT&T's HSDPA+ network. We expect Apple will continue to distinguish the faster LTE networks by specifically calling them "LTE" as they do on the 3rd Generation iPad.
We also don't think references to 4G and Facetime are necessarily predictive. Apple has had strings in the past suggesting that Facetime might work under cellular data, but the restriction appears to be carrier imposed rather than a technical issue.
Top Rated Comments
The fact that a 4G iPhone will be coming soon is no suprise.
The REAL NEWS here is this line...
4G_ON_FACETIME_4G_WARNING_DISABLE = Disabling 4G will end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?;
Official Facetime allowed by Apple over 4G.
No more wifi-only facetime! (sans jailbreak) :D
...right? :rolleyes:
I won't be supporting it ... filth !
Keep in mind, months before the 4S release many case manufacturers obtained [supposed] leaked iPhone designs and spent thousands on case production. Apparently the design followed the tear drop tapered design of the iPod Touch and iPad, with an aluminum back and redesigned antennae. Makes sense to have a uniform device line.
Whether this is true or not, we'll never know. Add into this AT&T's throttling just before the iPhone release (perhaps AT&T was panicked over it's lacking 4G infrastructure which lead to widespread throttling of their 3G band, not knowing what to expect from Apple), as well as the 4G strings indicated in older iOS 5 IPSW's. Personally, I believe there was a 4G device that was intended for release, but Apple wanted to avoid another controversy after "antennae-gate" and played it safe. :)
For a split second I was insulted that you said that, but then I realized it was funny because it was partly true. :p
I'm sure the next iPhone will include a battery improvement like usual.