Rumor Roundup 5/11/09
By 
WWDC is just a month away and that can mean only one thing… a flurry of iPhone OS and hardware rumors.
The latest rumors making the rounds come from an anonymous poster on a Chinese Apple fan site. (So you KNOW it’s reliable!!) Posted over on AppleInsider, patapon200 writes that he (she?) used a prototype of the next-gen iPhone thanks to a friend who works (used to??) at Foxconn, the site of iPhone manufacturing.
The long and short of it….
Physically similar but internally on speed- literally. He claims the current Samsung ARM processor that runs at about 400MHz is getting bumped to 600MHz and the system RAM will go from 128MB to 256MB.
That is some serious improvement in speed and is in keeping with other rumors.
Other "info"-
–the device will come in 16GB and 32GB sizes
–the device will sport a 3.2-megapixel camera.
–the device will also sport an electronic compass
On the "the more things change the more they stay the same" front, he claims the new iPhone will have the same size and resolution screen.
So what does it all means? Here are a few random thoughts…
It would be nice if the new device was a bit thinner and had a forward-facing camera but… The second camera isn’t happening and I’m happy enough with the current size and weight of the iPhone.
The bump in speed, RAM and camera resolution is MORE THAN ENOUGH to get me to upgrade. The extra speed will be nice and the better camera would be GREAT! Couple that with OS iPhone 3.0 and you have some serious improvements.
Finally, as much as it pains me to write this, Apple would be crazy to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the next iPhone. To do so would not only undermine future upgrading but it might very well pose a threat to the upcoming, everyone now expects it, tablet/netbook/Newton resurrection. The new iPhone needs to be a really good smartphone/pocket computer but not SO good people say to themselves, "Why do I need this tablet/netbook/Newton resurrection thing if I have everything I want and need on my iPhone?"
Fact is…
Apple has ONE JOB AND ONE JOB ONLY with regard to the new iPhone- make it GOOD ENOUGH. Good enough to get current owners to upgrade. Good enough to make those still on the fence (both of them) to make a decision.
Good enough to continue to do battle with RIM, fend off the upcoming Palm Pre and avalanche of upcoming Android devices.
And that "good enough" device?? I, for one, can’t wait to get it.
