More 3G iPhone rumors: Tactile feedback, thicker case?
Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:02PM EDT
See Comments (78)
The Apple rumor mill continues to hum, this time with word that the iPhone might (finally) be getting tactile feedback for its touchscreen. Also: GPS, and a thicker case with a black, glossy back cover?
Of course, one of the biggest complaints about the iPhone is that its touchscreen interface doesn't "buzz" when you tap the virtual keys. I've tried several phones with Immersion's "VibeTonz" technology before, and the effect (which can also be used for games, music, alerts, and so on) is pretty uncanny.
Now, what's interesting about Immersion's technology is that it's essentially just software that controls a phone's "vibration actuator"—which, of course, the iPhone already has. That means that a simple software update could bring tactile feedback to existing iPhones. And here's another tantalizing detail: Immersion's new CEO used to be an Apple executive.
That's all just rumor, though—and here's another rumor while we're at it: Engadget's spies say that the new, 3G iPhone will not only come with GPS, but will also have a slightly thicker case and a new, black glossy backing.
Hmmm...GPS is nice, but not if it means a thicker iPhone (or at least, that's my take). Even more worrisome is word of the glossy backing, which might be more prone to scratches than the brushed aluminum backing on my 8GB iPhone, which (after 10 months of heavy use) has yet to suffer a serious scratch. Why fix what ain't broken?
What do you think—ready for haptic feedback on the iPhone? And if you had to pick, would you rather have GPS on your iPhone, or a thinner handset?
Related:
LEAKED: Apple to Licence Haptic Technology for iPhone [Palluxo]
The second-gen iPhone: 3G, GPS, only slightly thicker [Engadget]
Top 5 Posts
- AT&T sees red over Verizon's "There's a map for that" ads
- AT&T's hissy fit over Verizon's "There's a map for that" ads continues
- T-Mobile mops up after another embarrassing outage
- The Motorola Droid or the iPhone: Which one's right for you?
- Verizon cries foul over Sprint's "most dependable network" ads
More About iPhone
Comments on More 3G iPhone rumors: Tactile feedback, thicker case?
Post a Comment
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
-
67 Posted by chermansen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse
I seriously considered purchasing an iPhone until I found out that it does not have 3G. I instead purchased an AT&T Tilt. Although I have enjoyed the Tilt I would have preferred the simplicity of the iPhone's OS instead of the Windows based OS in the Tilt. The Tilt does have GPS and I find myself using it quite often so I would sacrifice size for GPS.
-
68 Posted by jerodcs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:33PM EDT Report Abuse
I've been able to type FAR faster on the iPhone keypad than any of my physical phone keypads. To their detriment, Apple never made a big deal of telling us you can type 40wpm if you just keep typing when you mess up, and every time I ask people why they haven't made the plunge they mention the keyboard. Seriously, I've gotten EVERY letter in an entire sentence wrong and somehow the iPhone knows what I'm trying to say, perfectly. On my wish list though, are three things: picture messaging (HUGE), video-taking capability, and a little white LED on the back to allow taking a picture in the dark, at least at close range.
-
69 Posted by cam_daddy09 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse
go with what sturocks said. that would be insane if they put in a micro projector along with the other stuff of course.
-
70 Posted by daddys64stang on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse
I say work on recieving picture messages and ill be happy, as for the GPS my google maps works just fine, im happy!
-
71 Posted by free2goaliar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse
ive had my iphone for since august its great but the back is so messed up i wish the would think of somthing else
-
72 Posted by kyle_b_winston on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse
I would like to see an update that would allow me to see the flash applications on many websites as well as the ability to view power point presentations. It would be nice to have office in general (word, excel, powerpoint). I don't want a thicker case for "true GPS". I love the google maps features nd it tells where i am when i needed it to. I've had my iphone for about 7-8 months and it still looks new.
-
73 Posted by jmmyfingers on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse
My biggest problem is with the current aluminum case. It is not grippable with my hands when they're dry. It acts like a slick, tactless surface, and it's caused me to drop the phone when it slips out. I'd prefer any plastic material, but maybe not black. What about the white plastic that grips nicely? I'd like to see a better camera. Not necessarily higher megapixels, but better implemented. How often when going to a concert do you wish that you had a really nice camera with a phone instead of a really nice phone with a camera? MMS, photo sharing... video capability would be great if it were to be of a comparable quality to the other top rated smart phones that offer that. I would like to see the size of the screen enlarged. I know, that means a larger phone, but, hey, look at how this thing fits into your pocket at this time. It lays sideways/horizontally. Add an inch in both directions, you might be onto something. Be able to have all of your QWERTY characters AND basic punctuation/.com/" etc. on the same panel. THAT would be convenient. Make the character/word completion and recognition as good as the Cingular 8125/Windows Mobile ME that I had before, and it would be awesome! If you could add GPS, and it worked, I'm sure that it would be great. Voice recognition that works would knock the iPhone's future version out of the park! Cut/paste, but I don't know how... files, play other video formats other than the youtube stuff. More access to flash stuff on websites where the cube shows up, instead of flash content. Stereo bluetooth headphones. 3G or a faster internet, of course. I'd even be willing to lose the WiFi if it would free up more design/power/usability resources. First rule: Make sure that ANY feature that you add to the iPhone works as well as, if not better than, that feature in every other phone out there. The beautiful thing is that, out of most of these features, if there's something that you don't like, hey, turn it off, right? I will say this. My girlfriend just bought a Blackberry Pearl, and, after having an iPhone, I just wondered, "Why?" You don't know how good you've got it with the iPhone, but you can always have more. That's where we are right now.
-
74 Posted by wenger2k on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:43PM EDT Report Abuse
My guess is that the thicker case is for a bigger battery to offset the greater current draw of the 3G set. Apple originally opted to not include 3G in the original iPhone at least partially due to reduced battery life. GPS chips are tiny - here is a picture of a typical GPS chip used in cell phones (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8268) it doesn't make sense to me that the GPS chip would require much if any additional height.
-
75 Posted by supernut789 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:48PM EDT Report Abuse
Will this give us picture texting? and record and recive video ?
-
76 Posted by bubby6908 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse
Will the new G3 iPhone be able to send and recieve video/picture messages????? the older model iPhone is the only high end/smart phone that doesnt supprot those features...whats with that?
-
77 Posted by esemelis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Don't be mistaken, "Tactile feeback" is not the same as a vibration of the phone when ringing, dialing, etc. It means actually "feeling" the buttons on the touchscreen. The buttons 'push back' like pressing a real mechanical button. It's amazing stuff! No need for a pullout keypad (horrible idea) because you will be able to type without making any mistakes.
-
78 Posted by jcddorcin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't care about the GPS stuff. Do fix some bugs and I love my 16Gb iPhone the way it is. Black glossy back for what?
Sponsored Links
My Tech
Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.
Also on Yahoo! Tech
| Computers | Home Office | Wi-Fi & Networking | Phones & PDAs | Cameras & Camcorders | TV & Home Theater | Portable Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
66 Posted by juliette8mm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse
Glossy in any color is worrisome... especially for us constant fingerprint wiper-offers... but thicker for GPS, OK. Tactile feedback, fine. BUT I'm really waiting for the following changes/additions to the iPhone: 1. ability to shoot video (more important than you might think) 2. the ability to CHOOSE ANY PHONE CARRIER YOU WISH! I can't buy an iphone because of this fact. I'm a Mac girl through and through, but AT&T dropped cell coverage in my area (I'm in THE MIDDLE OF LOS ANGELES, so it's not an obscure locale) so the iPhone is useless to me as long as it's tied to at&t. 3. Can we do something about the keyboard situation? Why can't it swing horizontally like all the other features?