8 images show why iPhone 7 will be ‘complex’
Key Apple manufacturers, Foxconn and Pegatron are reported to have begun recruiting staff to help manufacture Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 7 series smartphones one month earlier than usual. We all think Apple plans to make version 7 a signature release, and its manufacturers are recruiting staff today as these will be “more complex than previous models,” so they need more time to train their workers.
Complex? Signature? iPhone?
Here are some images and a little context that suggests why these things may be so complex to make…(You’ll need to hover your cursor over images to get the captions. be thankful I didn’t make this an eight page post!)
Feel free to share your own speculations.
NB: None of this claims any inside track. All of it is based on existing chatter and a little intelligent speculation based on what I’ve seen.
Apple this week is reported to be hiring experts in wireless charging technology to help it build new systems. Not only this, but Apple already offers wireless charge in the Apple Watch. Could this make it to the new iPhone?Apple this week is reported to be hiring experts in wireless charging technology to help it build new systems. Not only this, but Apple already offers wireless charge in the Apple Watch. Could this make it to the new iPhone?- Is it finally time for the Home button to become contextual and virtual? If so, what improvements will be made in TouchID, and what other sensors may Apple introduce in the new iPhone?Is it finally time for the Home button to become contextual and virtual? If so, what improvements will be made in TouchID, and what other sensors may Apple introduce in the new iPhone?
- Everyone reckons we should expect a dual lens camera in iPhone 7. This has will open up another opportunity (more later)...Everyone reckons we should expect a dual lens camera in iPhone 7. This has will open up another opportunity (more later)...
- Will they or won't they? We've all heard the rumours Apple plans to abandon the headphone jack in future iPhones. Doing so makes sense as it will let the company make smaller devices, but will the headphones (such as the illustrated set from Bragi) be free in the box or an add-on charge?Will they or won't they? We've all heard the rumours Apple plans to abandon the headphone jack in future iPhones. Doing so makes sense as it will let the company make smaller devices, but will the headphones (such as the illustrated set from Bragi) be free in the box or an add-on charge?
- The Apple Watch S1 chip combines all the processor and radio what not inside one sealed unit. This makes the device more waterproof and yields the potential to make smaller devices. Why would Apple not deploy its own Apple SIM, new A9 or A10 processor, Wi-Fi and 4G radios within a similar SIP in iPhone 7? Did you really think Apple SIM was a 'hobby'?The Apple Watch S1 chip combines all the processor and radio what not inside one sealed unit. This makes the device more waterproof and yields the potential to make smaller devices. Why would Apple not deploy its own Apple SIM, new A9 or A10 processor, Wi-Fi and 4G radios within a similar SIP in iPhone 7? Did you really think Apple SIM was a 'hobby'?
- Why bother with a cable at all if you can control peripherals and/or power them using this design, as used by the iPad Pro and its keyboards?Why bother with a cable at all if you can control peripherals and/or power them using this design, as used by the iPad Pro and its keyboards?
- Apple didn't invest billions in sapphire display technologies because it wasn't interested in improving displays. Claims of a curved display are everywhere, but with Foxconn recently purchasing Sharp for its OLED display tech there are still some who don’t anticipate these in the next release. OLED delivers better color quality, more flexibility (including better haptics) than what we’ve been using – and looking to some of the improvements in iMac image handling, would it really surprise you if Apple focuses on making iPhones the best cameras around for yet another year?Apple didn't invest billions in sapphire display technologies because it wasn't interested in improving displays. Claims of a curved display are everywhere, but with Foxconn recently purchasing Sharp for its OLED display tech there are still some who don’t anticipate these in the next release. OLED delivers better color quality, more flexibility (including better haptics) than what we’ve been using – and looking to some of the improvements in iMac image handling, would it really surprise you if Apple focuses on making iPhones the best cameras around for yet another year?
- Apple acquired LinX imaging technologies a few years ago. “significantly better color fidelity, much sharper and cleaner images and, above all, very good performance at very low light levels with hardly any visual noise at all. The tech lets you take SLR quality images, and opens up some big opportunities in VR.Apple acquired LinX imaging technologies a few years ago. “significantly better color fidelity, much sharper and cleaner images and, above all, very good performance at very low light levels with hardly any visual noise at all. The tech lets you take SLR quality images, and opens up some big opportunities in VR.
Jonny, as you know there are many people who have been negative about the “leaked” photos of the iPhone 7 backside showing a similar body style to the iPhone 6 & 6s.
But those same people don’t complain that Macs or BMWs don’t completely change their outer looks each year.
At this point, other than superficial dimensions of the back casing, we don’t know anything of real importance about the new iPhones. Yet people are wrongly assuming that they know that the iPhone 7 will be no different (or not different enough) than previous iPhones.
There are actually very positive reasons for wanting the overall shape of the iPhone 7 to remain consistent with the iPhone 6 and 6s. One would be that former owners of the 6 and 6s would not need to buy new cases for the iPhone 7, just because Apple changed the outside style for marketing purposes (as Samsung does) but for no real benefit to the user.
Another reason is that a major change to the body shape also requires major investments in engineering and tooling for production. Those costs are passed on to the consumer. It is preferable that Apple would spend that amount on developing new technologies and hardware for the iPhone 7, rather than just repackaging internals similar to last year’s in a different shaped phone body.
Hey there. There’s another depth to the discussion on shape — if Apple changes the form factor, what can it change it too? Wasn’t it the Samsung defence that there are ‘only a limited number of shapes a smartphone can be (it may not have been but I seem to remember something along those lines)? With that in mind what ‘just works’? A star shaped iPhone? Bad for the pockets. In any case, we already know the future of some elements of the device. it’s the watch. Or the lapel.