iPhone fans, hold onto your hats. A block of XML in Apple's latest phone firmware has reignited rumours that a new version of the handset's in development.
iphone_fourth_gen Apple's firmware refers to "iPhone2,1"
Each iPhone model carries its own version number, with the first-generation GPRS/Edge model down as iPhone1,1 and …
Perhaps this version will have advanced features such as MMS messaging, video recording, a camera from this century, and a battery that can last out the day?
Seriously though, it can hardly come as a surprise that there's a new version in development. Every phone company needs to bring out a new model at least every year or so, to convince people they need to upgrade and continue to pay their ridiculous contract costs. Apple is no exception to this rule.
Surely it is completely unsurprising that a consumer electronics company in a fairly fast moving field is going to be looking at the next version of a product? Its the only one they have in the field, and unless they continue to innovate they'll lose market share as the competition catches up. The surprise would have been that they weren't looking forward.
The interesting point is the change in major revision. Given the 3G version only merited a minor revision, a change in major revision would seem to point to a new form factor, whether that be Nano or something else.
Of course they're making a new model, just like they are always making new versions of the iPod. Only this one will have MMS out of the box, and maybe even copy/paste. Something that could easily be added to the older gen phones through a firmware update, but it won't, because then you wouldn't have to buy a new phone!
The current one has its battery oblierated if you run anything more complex than the music player, Rolando running on a dual-core will flatten the thing in about 10 minutes.
Seriously, does anyone, anywhere think that Apple isn't developing a new iPhone model? What would be news would be if there was some firm indication that Apple were not doing so. But here we are, about a year since the release of the generation 2 iPhone, and the merest hint of a generation 3 design fills people with excitment? Get a grip.
"The firmware revelation is exciting though, so we’ll keep you posted"
What's so exciting about it ? It could be an error and even if not nothing is revealed about enhancement or future capability. Dual core ? Steve Jobs was complaining that 3G impeded battery life too much !
Ahhh coool. So they'll introduce one with MMS... Started with nowt, then came 3G, then MMS, version 5 or 6 we might have video calling.... or even copy and paste... wow....
... their software patents to come through for these secret innovative new feature that are going to revolutionise the way the world and god use their phone. Rumor has it their going to be called iCopy and iPaste. Each will carry a separate $15 upgrade fee.
This one will have stereo profile on bluetooth. Imagine that.... world's best music player / phone can only handle mono audio...
And maybe the GPS will have a 3d view and vvoice turn by turn naviagation instead of only being a dumb map reader .... and maybe there sill be an SD card slot like any normal phone...
and maybe just maybe you will be able to save GPS map information so you can find your way around places that have no cell phone coverage , maybe they will even let you install tomtom ...
ah one can only dream. until the above things are not possible , i'm not interested. wake me when something usefull comes along ...
Is available for those who really desperately need it as an add-on through Cydia (for jailbroken iPhones). Not that I've ever had a desperate need for it either.
Attention Morons! There is an MMS application available from the App Store that makes viewing MMS much easier and even allows you to send MMS (at a price).
Nothing to do with this "story" but BlackBerry phones have always had cut/copy and paste - since the last generations of monochrome display models at any rate.
Just my two penn'orth. I'll crawl back into my hole now...
guaranteed there's some smug little git sitting in Cupertino chuckling heartily to himself knowing full well that adding this to the firmware would have iPhoneTards everywhere literally creaming themselves at the very prospect.
instead of "third-gen apple iphone in development?" this should have been titled "men like blowjobs?" for true Digg-style "this from the state the bleeding obvious" department.
Register
Third-gen Apple iPhone in development?
iPhone fans, hold onto your hats. A block of XML in Apple's latest phone firmware has reignited rumours that a new version of the handset's in development. iphone_fourth_gen Apple's firmware refers to "iPhone2,1" Each iPhone model carries its own version number, with the first-generation GPRS/Edge model down as iPhone1,1 and …
This topic is closed for new posts.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
Anonymous Coward
And #
ITS GOT A NEW HAT!
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
Jerome
Awesome #
Perhaps this version will have advanced features such as MMS messaging, video recording, a camera from this century, and a battery that can last out the day?
Seriously though, it can hardly come as a surprise that there's a new version in development. Every phone company needs to bring out a new model at least every year or so, to convince people they need to upgrade and continue to pay their ridiculous contract costs. Apple is no exception to this rule.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
Will Wykeham
Lack of surprise #
Surely it is completely unsurprising that a consumer electronics company in a fairly fast moving field is going to be looking at the next version of a product? Its the only one they have in the field, and unless they continue to innovate they'll lose market share as the competition catches up. The surprise would have been that they weren't looking forward.
The interesting point is the change in major revision. Given the 3G version only merited a minor revision, a change in major revision would seem to point to a new form factor, whether that be Nano or something else.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
Mike Watt
Well, duh! #
Of course they're making a new model, just like they are always making new versions of the iPod. Only this one will have MMS out of the box, and maybe even copy/paste. Something that could easily be added to the older gen phones through a firmware update, but it won't, because then you wouldn't have to buy a new phone!
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
Mark
What about..... #
What about if some numpty got thier fingers mixed up and typed 2,1 instead of 1,2.
Could be a load of hype for nothing.... :)
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
David Wood
Exciting #
> The firmware revelation is exciting though, so we’ll keep you posted
Very exciting, I almosy jizzed in my pants.
Seriously though - this is not a story!
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:43 GMT
John Browne
well of course thay are #
Of course they have a new one in developement. They've tied themselves into an 18month developement (upgrade) cycle.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Joe K
Multi-core? #
The current one has its battery oblierated if you run anything more complex than the music player, Rolando running on a dual-core will flatten the thing in about 10 minutes.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Peter Thompson
Dear oh dear #
Blimey. Did El Reg get suddenly taken over by Ars Technica?
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Anonymous Coward
"The firmware revelation is exciting though" #
yeah...im about to wet my pants about this...
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Ollie
Erm #
Or just a typo? fairly easy to accidentally 2,1 instead of 1,2
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Anonymous Coward
you should get out more #
this firmware update is exciting?
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Francis Vaughan
Yawn #
Seriously, does anyone, anywhere think that Apple isn't developing a new iPhone model? What would be news would be if there was some firm indication that Apple were not doing so. But here we are, about a year since the release of the generation 2 iPhone, and the merest hint of a generation 3 design fills people with excitment? Get a grip.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Exciting ? #
"The firmware revelation is exciting though, so we’ll keep you posted"
What's so exciting about it ? It could be an error and even if not nothing is revealed about enhancement or future capability. Dual core ? Steve Jobs was complaining that 3G impeded battery life too much !
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Anonymous Coward
This is suprising because?....... #
Well it has been a few months...
Next week, big news, apple announce the iphone 2,2
Reg needs a "meh" icon
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Could just be finger trouble? #
I know it's not exciting, but it could just be a typo.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Mick F
New iPhone #
Can't be any worse - can it?
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Matthew Weekes
New iPhone? #
Shocker.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Mr ChriZ
Is this... #
IPhone - The Resurection?
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Kenny Millar
Quick #
Get the milking machine ready, for the cash cow is heading to the barn!
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Neil Hoskins
Hah! #
Maybe the new one will be able to multi-task, or <gasp> copy 'n' paste. Perhaps it will allow users to copy files around. Surely not video?
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Frank Bough
What? #
Apple fingered in continuing development of successful product shock!
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:45 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Ohhhh, the annual launch! #
Ahhh coool. So they'll introduce one with MMS... Started with nowt, then came 3G, then MMS, version 5 or 6 we might have video calling.... or even copy and paste... wow....
Still I love me iPhone really :)
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 15:53 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Yawn... #
Wake me up when something happens.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 18:51 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Probably a typo #
Are they so desperate for news that they're resorting to sifting through the firmware of a mobile phone !?
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 18:51 GMT
Peter Brown
re: Ohhhh... #
If you jailbreak you can have proper copy/paste, the two solutions atm are not perfect but they do work across the phone...
Still, not the most exciting story this.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 18:51 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Exciting.... #
....pass me a tissue...
Paris, for REAL excitement
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 18:51 GMT
Dan
there'll wait until... #
... their software patents to come through for these secret innovative new feature that are going to revolutionise the way the world and god use their phone. Rumor has it their going to be called iCopy and iPaste. Each will carry a separate $15 upgrade fee.
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 18:51 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Who cares #
Do we really care?
Paris, just beause
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 18:51 GMT
Ty
MMS!? LOL #
You morons shrieking about MMS - GET A CLUE!!!!!
MMS will NEVER be ANYWHERE near ANY Apple product.
I pity you fools who don't understand this.
MMS is CRAP OLD EXPENSIVE technology.
EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL
YOU IDIOTS for GOODness SAKE!!! ARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 22:51 GMT
vincent himpe
maybe #
This one will have stereo profile on bluetooth. Imagine that.... world's best music player / phone can only handle mono audio...
And maybe the GPS will have a 3d view and vvoice turn by turn naviagation instead of only being a dumb map reader .... and maybe there sill be an SD card slot like any normal phone...
and maybe just maybe you will be able to save GPS map information so you can find your way around places that have no cell phone coverage , maybe they will even let you install tomtom ...
ah one can only dream. until the above things are not possible , i'm not interested. wake me when something usefull comes along ...
Posted Thursday 29th January 2009 22:51 GMT
Adam T
blah #
I hear the hardware is the same, they're just waiting for the Cut'n'Paste patent to go through.
Posted Friday 30th January 2009 10:13 GMT
Mike Byrne
Balls #
I only bought my iPhone this week...
Posted Friday 30th January 2009 10:13 GMT
James Prior
What is the obsession with Cut'n'Paste? #
I've never ever missed having Cut'n'Paste on a phone - what do you think it is, a word processor?
My N95 didn't have it, my current LG didn't have it, our BlackBerry fleet at work doesn't have it .. can someone please explain?
Posted Friday 30th January 2009 11:11 GMT
Jolyon Ralph
Cut 'n' Paste #
Is available for those who really desperately need it as an add-on through Cydia (for jailbroken iPhones). Not that I've ever had a desperate need for it either.
Jolyon
Posted Friday 30th January 2009 14:13 GMT
twunt
MMS #
Attention Morons! There is an MMS application available from the App Store that makes viewing MMS much easier and even allows you to send MMS (at a price).
Just saying.
Posted Friday 30th January 2009 16:20 GMT
Anonymous Coward
@James Prior #
Nothing to do with this "story" but BlackBerry phones have always had cut/copy and paste - since the last generations of monochrome display models at any rate.
Just my two penn'orth. I'll crawl back into my hole now...
Posted Sunday 1st February 2009 20:33 GMT
pctechxp
Errrr #
If the code has no function, why include it in the firmware?
Simple, it stokes rumours on sites like Mac Rumours and El Reg so the Apple die hards start foaming at the mouth.
This then means that less marketing is required when the device comes out and people will be queuing to buy it.
Excellent marketing but rather sad that there are people that obsessed with a company's products.
I suspect that the release cycle will start to fall into that of the iPod, one a year with slightly tweaked features and a new gimmick
Posted Wednesday 4th February 2009 14:16 GMT
Matt Thornton
hmm #
guaranteed there's some smug little git sitting in Cupertino chuckling heartily to himself knowing full well that adding this to the firmware would have iPhoneTards everywhere literally creaming themselves at the very prospect.
instead of "third-gen apple iphone in development?" this should have been titled "men like blowjobs?" for true Digg-style "this from the state the bleeding obvious" department.
This topic is closed for new posts.