Any talk of updates to Apple’s fourth generation iOS operating system or carrier expansion for its fourth gen iPhone is mere sideshow speak as Apple prepares for what will ultimately become known as the “Year Of Five” in iCircles. While it won’t appear that way by the beginning of 2011, Apple’s mobile product line will have taken a sharp left turn in favor of the big five by year’s end. And that’ll come in the form of the iPhone 5, the iOS 5 operating system, and the A5 processor which could find its way into the iPad 2. Here’s what to expect…
iPhone 5: Apple usually likes to use the same body style twice in a row, with more cosmetic features like colors differentiating the second go-round (often used with the nano and shuffle), but has in some cases paired up generations in which there were no visible changes at all (iPhone 3G, 3GS). Ordinarily the iPhone 5 would be expected to look at least recognizably similar to the fourth gen iPhone, but that antenna nonsense (which has been proven to be a hoax yet still persists as an urban legend) may force Apple’s hand when it comes to making the iPhone 5 look different enough that those who fell for the antenna hoax will then be persuaded to believe that the imaginary antenna issue has magically been solved. As far as iPhone 5 features, the usual thinner, faster, lighter, higher capacity, better screen, longer battery stuff certainly applies, along with whatever at-this-point still unpredictable surprises Apple has up its sleeve.
A5 processor: You don’t hear its name much, but the processor that the current iPad and iPhone both use is called the A4. It’s a low power high octane little beast which Apple already hopes to put to bed in favor of the A5, which will merely continue on that path. Whether the A5 makes it into the iPad 2 or the iPhone 5 is yet to be seen, but if that does happen, look for the devices to run faster and go longer without a charge…
iOS 5: …and if the A5 does happen in time for the iPhone 5 and iPad 2, expect Apple’s next gen operating system iOS 5 (which according to tradition will accompany the iPhone 5 out the door mid-year) to take advantage of that extra processing power. Either way, expect iOS 5 to more fully incorporate the wireless features like AirPrint and AirPlay, which in their current form feel more like rough sketches than universal features.
iPod touch 5: Although it won’t happen until September 2011, expect the fifth gen iPod touch to more or less copycat the new features of the iPhone 5. At least that’s how Apple has generally played it up to now
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