Iphone 5 case new coming

Steve Jobs will have more than 'One More Thing' to announce next month - there will be THREE new iPhone models released!

I believe that Apple is going to launch an all-out assault on the market in September/October.

Three new iPhone models. Yes, I said three.

This is the primary reason that a new iPhone was not launched on schedule.....there's more than one. Makes perfect sense.

Here they are, in order.

iPhone 4S $49 on contract (with possibly $350 off contract as a pre-paid phone)

iPhone 5 $99 on contract (possibly $149)

iPhone 5HD $199 on contract

Here’s my take and why I believe this is the truth.

The iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S will be the existing model iPhone that is refreshed, but without the glass on the front and back; it will be a high caliber polymer. This will introduce the basic phone for $49 with contract and $350 off-contract. Tim Cook has already said they want a lower cost model phone, that Apple is not ‘for the rich only’. We’ve seen a physical concept of this already. It is real. THIS is the pictorial evidence. I believe THIS is proof of the same design elements we see in today’s iPhone 4, which makes this the iPhone 4S.


The iPhone 5
The second model is the iPhone 5, which will share the same basic size that we are used to seeing, but with totally refreshed internals and a new body shape. The major difference I believe will be the screen size will increase to between 3.7” and 4.0”. My guess is 3.7” to retain Retina Display status without going much larger. This new model might feature a metal back and might feature a tapered design, but I don’t know. I believe this model will share the same footprint as the existing model (iPhone 4), save for the depth. We’ve seen this design language all over the web. This will be the design that also introduces the gesture area (more on that later). All iPhone models will utilize the gesture area moving forward. This is also the design language for the new iTouch iPod. HERE is a source for the design. HERE is another source (I believe the second image is more accurate, not the shiny look but using a matte finish). HERE is another source. HERE is a source that shows the same 5 in the name of the phone on the back, but in font style as is seen in other leaked photos of the assembly line. This is possibly an iPhone 5 with dual cameras (if 3D is enabled). I think that the dual cameras are photo-shopped and WILL NOT appear in the new phone.

THIS is a great looking concept of the possible iPhone 5…tapered, yet with some design elements of the current generation phone…a nice blend. This is my favorite concept and I believe the closest to what we'll see within a few weeks.


The next few images are from the guys at ThisIsMyNext.com with their excellent renditions of what they believe the new iPhone 5 might look like.


They also show a tapered design, even if this is simply a rendition, it is a VERY logical look and design template for Apple to use, as it looks like a MacBook Air.





The iPhone 5HD
So the real big news (and I believe this with all that I am, only because Steve Jobs LOVES to wow everyone with his ‘One More Thing’), will be the iPhone 5HD. This phone will feature a 4.3” display to compete with Android and other offerings, made specifically for those clamoring to have the larger phone; an Apple product that competes with everyone else. So far, Apple has decided AGAINST having multiple phone offerings, but I believe that they finally realize that they HAVE to do this. It is a forced move and one that Steve Jobs will do the right way - HIS way. Leave it to Apple to find a way to make a forced move to look like a choice they wanted to make, not a lack thereof.


The single form factor and smaller screen size is why Apple is losing market share to Android daily, and the only way to combat this is to play in that size spectrum. You can’t tell me that a 3.5” display is enough when I can put a 4.3” sized display phone side by side with an iPhone - I will tell you to your face you’re 'trying to sell me lakefront property in a desert'. Consumers have choices and they are choosing someone other than Apple because they can, on top of the fact that they want to, which is what Steve Jobs fears the most. If you look at the growth curve of Android (and the possibility of WP7), Apple has no choice in this matter. They MUST respond. The biggest problem here is maintaining a Retina Display – but I BET that the new relationship they recently formed with Toshiba for iPad HD displays will be the ‘secret sauce’ supplier for the 4.3” Retina Display. PROOF of the larger dimensions. Here’s MORE proof. Here's MORE proof of the Toshiba relationship. And MORE beyond that. And even MORE.

When Apple does this, they have the possibility to sound the death toll for WP7 and most assuredly for RIM and HP. Those two (RIM/HP) will not be able to compete.

By the way, since July 2011, iPhone 5 models have been out and about in field tests. Proof of carrier testing.


The Gesture Area

This is a hotly debated topic. My belief on the ‘gesture area’ is simple, and most people are fully blowing it out of proportion and thinking way too much. I am incredibly excited for the potential it creates. I will elaborate.

1) The gesture area will replace volume controls on the phone eventually, but not yet, since a feature in iOS 5 shows the camera button is integrated with the 'up' volume control button. The rumors are spreading around that the external buttons are going away. They're not. Steve Jobs doesn’t like buttons, so while this thought of removing buttons speaks to his design preferences, the timing simply is not right. In time, I believe that the physical volume controls will give way to a dedicated camera shutter button on one side and possibly a mute switch on the other. The gesture area can suffice for bringing up the volume controls and mute among other things, but not yet. That iOS 5 shows us the camera shutter button and the volume up button share functions means 'not yet' when it comes to the actual removal of the volume keys.

2) I believe that a ‘swipe to the left’, as in a back gesture, will simply go back one move, while a ‘swipe to the right’ will bring up the control panel, allowing you the ability to use whatever elements have been installed in that template. It will be similar to clicking on the menu button on an Android handset. This makes perfect sense and makes it really easy to use and navigate, which is something that Palm built with webOS.


3) In iOS 5, the dropdowns that appear when a notification comes in is different than the original design which employs a 'pop-up notification' appearing in the middle of the screen, and this is a wise move to move away from that and make things more like the other OS's that are out there. The major problem is that the new 'drop down notification bar' will effectively hide the back and edit buttons up top, making navigation all but impossible until the drop down disappears. This is different than in webOS, where the notifications appear the the bottom of the screen, and their way does not affect navigation. So this makes the gesture area opportunity a big thing.




In my opinion, this requires the 'swipe to the left' to go back and a 'swipe to the right' to open a control panel, which in turn makes the gesture area a need versus a want. This also justifies the larger button size with the home button/gesture area. I believe it will be a capacitive button that is also depressable.

In essence, if you consider the logic needed to design and use the gesture area and a home button, it will need all of these elements. By allowing users to press it, it functions as an actual home button (great for existing iOS users). Swiping from left to right or right to left affords you the ability to manipulate the screen with pre-defined gestures (as previously mentioned). In almost all regards, every button except for a shutter button can be eliminated, although it makes sense from a design perspective to continue to keep a mute button.

Exisiting iOS users will find this gesture area similar to what they are used to now, with now having to move their fingers less to accomplish more (no more trips to the top of the screen to go back or edit). Android users who are used to having multiple capacitive buttons will also find this far better, as giving up the standard Android menu, home, back and search capactive funtion buttons will seem like a step backwards for them. The left to right gesture provides them the control area where they will find all of that on one screen. Smart and efficient, which is something that Android can't always claim. Pre and Pixi users will appreciate the 'nod' to webOS and will find this quite simply the right way to do it. In all, this takes the best of all worlds and places it squarely in the control of iOS and Apple. This eliminates many complaints and raises the bar yet again for Apple.

Read HERE and scroll down to Update: Thursday, July 28th to see what I am referencing. Here is PROOF of the control panel.


4) Consider the beauty that is webOS. Apple is furious that webOS still exists, but any nod to them shows the weaknesses they have to that platform, so they stay purposefully silent. So many people love webOS, yet no one has really created anything that uses gestures enough to truly kill webOS and take that beautiful design language and implement it properly in a better ecosystem. Until now. If Apple can pull off the proper use of the gesture area, I think it will genuinely HURT other OS makers, so much so that it can change the game. And we ALL KNOW that Steve Jobs LOVES to make that statement about his products.

So what are your thoughts? Do you believe that there will be more than one phone? will there be two? Or does three sound about right?

Sound off below.

Some more stuff for you to ponder:

Here’s a nice little ARTICLE stating why they believe there will be at least two models revealed.
Interesting ARTICLE discussing curved glass. I think they’re wrong. I believe that the backing is to be curved on the HD model only. Prestigious having glass on the larger model.

UPDATE - This article supports my theory that handset selection is the key to success  http://www.bobhunds.com/crystal-phone-cases-swarovski-crystallized-phone-cas-c-16_252.html


SECOND UPDATE - This article really shows the proof for a metal backing, one slab of metal and not a glass backing. - http://www.idownloadblog.com/2011/08/06/leaked-patent/


THIRD UPDATE - A highly respected analyst firm says there will be at least two phones and says the iPhone 5 will be larger in size than the current phone. Read the article HERE.


FOURTH UPDATE - I am hedging my bets on the iCloud iPhone to not only connect to the cloud but feature removable storage. Read HERE for more information about the iCloud iPhone idea.


FIFTH UPDATE - Back in March there was an article mentioning the 'three phones from Apple' scenario. Read it HERE.