Evidence of new iPhone discovered?

Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:02AM EST

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Curious bloggers poking around the latest iPhone firmware update stumbled upon something pretty interesting Wednesday: An innocuous line of code that might—just might—indicate that a major new iPhone model is in the works. Let the speculation begin!

The bloggers at MacRumors popped the hood on iPhone firmware update 2.2.1 (which arrived on iTunes earlier this week) and found a line of code designating what appears to be a new iPhone model: "iPhone2,1", to be exact.

As the MacRumors post explains, Apple's firmware code uses different identifiers for specific iPhone and iPod Touch models; for example, the original iPhone was "iPhone 1,1", while the iPhone 3G is "iPhone1,2".

OK, but maybe we're just talking a new iPhone 3G with, say, 32GB of storage, right? No, says MacRumors: Historically, model numbers in the iPhone/iPod Touch firmware code only change for full-on hardware revisions, not storage updates.

Interesting … so, what does it all mean? Well, the timing makes sense; the first iPhone came out in June 2007, the iPhone 3G arrived in July 2008, so it stands to reason that a new iPhone should be ready by this summer. And that means … yup, it's time (yet again) to rev up the iPhone guessing game.

For now, of course, there's precious little to go on; as AppleInsider notes, there's been some idle chatter about multi-core graphics, pumped-up ARM processors, and faster 3G communication chips. Another lingering rumor—the iPhone Nano—was pretty much scotched by acting CEO Tim Cook during Apple's earnings call last week.

So, given that there's no real hard evidence besides the MacRumors find, we might as well just start by pulling out our favorite iPhone wish-list items (and remember, think hardware features, not software additions like cut-and-paste or Flash support that could arrive via a firmware update).

VentureBeat has a couple of good guesses, including better battery life (perhaps borrowing the technology behind the "adaptive charging" battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro), and (at long last) a better camera. Personally, I'd love to see a 5MP snapper with autofocus and a decent LED flash.

Let's see, what else … stereo speakers, maybe? (Nice, but not really a necessity.) A slide-out keypad? Nah. Thinner and lighter? Perhaps, although I'd rather have better battery life than a thinner iPhone.

What do you think? Also—what should we call this thing (assuming it exists)? The "iPhone 3" is confusing, since we already have the iPhone 3G, and "iPhone 4G" implies either "fourth-gen" iPhone (wrong) or 4G wireless networks (which, in AT&T's case, won't be anywhere near ready by this summer). I'm open to suggestions.

Related:
Next Generation iPhone Model Revealed in Firmware [MacRumors]

Comments on Evidence of new iPhone discovered?

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  • 6 Posted by jtut10 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    A better camera with flash and auto focus would be absolutly essential.

  • 7 Posted by jjpeters1102 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is getting rediculous. I just bought a 16gig 3g this week and 5 months later a new on will come out? Slow the fuchs down Jobs.

  • 8 Posted by jrgalan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    more accurate GPS, but probably not.

  • 9 Posted by jon_durango on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    VOIP - next generation WiFi is WiMax and has enough bandwidth to easily support Good bye cellular!

  • 10 Posted by stilwell_98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Stop with improving the iPhone as a game console and focus on making it a better "Phone". Where the he11 is Voice Activated / hands free dialing. I want to press a button on my bluetooth and say "call _____". This is old technology. Laws are being enforced about driving and dialing. It's a safety concern. Please make the iPhone a better phone first.

  • 11 Posted by giftindex on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    Of course, it could just be a programming typo. Maybe they typed iPhone2,1 but intended to type iPhone1,2. Let us not get all hyped up about some with dyslexia.

  • 12 Posted by jon_durango on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    oh and how about native cut and paste features!

  • 13 Posted by pork7mm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I heard it was supposed to have a microwave oven built in, with a gun in case you get stranded in the woods, and a built in cigarette lighter, and a compass, and a shower with running water, and and and and and and and and your own pop up Steve Jobs blow up doll that you can get down on your hands and knees and worship and and and and and

  • 14 Posted by drkrueger on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to see the capacity to utilize wireless video conferencing. That would, of course, require a camera looking inward, not just outward. For business, that is a must! Let's see!

  • 15 Posted by cochise7510 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think they should make it a flip to increase the screen size for web access

  • 16 Posted by wildone_106 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    I really dont get why people pay $400 a month just to have a phone?? If I want all these other functions I'd buy a portable media player or something, I really dont need a $400 anchor around my neck but hey, have fun rich people.

  • 17 Posted by mek3669 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    I dream of the VERiPhone - please come out with the Verizon iPhone!!!!!!

  • 18 Posted by sharpie65 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    There are a couple of major issues with the newer 3G. Users cannot forward text messages and often cannot see picture messages without logging onto a computer. I'd like to see those things changed for sure.

  • 19 Posted by bojesphob on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I heard you can perform an entire open heart surgery through a set of robot hands on a live human being app. Then there's the whole "fix the economy" function! And, it will only be 2200 bucks, with a small, 250 dollar monthly access fee! Because we all know everyone would gladly pay out the nose for an iPhone!

  • 20 Posted by maximvsv on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's about the right time for another phone with Apple. I'm guessing that they'd go with Roman numerals: iPhone III. It could go decimal, though: iPhone 3.0. Maybe a greek gamma symbol?

  • 21 Posted by ftdatnigga on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    can anybody say for sure that apple will come out with an ipod touch with a camera anytime soon? and for all the srcastic ----- s, yeah the iphone has a camera but i'm not looking for a phone. cuz if they were to come out with a ipod touch music player with a camera they would be very prosperous.

  • 22 Posted by greycraft2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Sirius thing is a new downloadable App that will be coming out soon. They were talking about it on Howard Stern this morning.

  • 23 Posted by papa_tom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    how about water/shock proof? ...doubt they'll ever do it, but it seems like such a simple investment in development to protect a relatively fragile chunk of technology. My casio g'zone is a brick, but it's lasted longer than the three razors before it. I'd love to have an iphone, but i just know it wouldn't survive as my sidekick. I work and play outside with dirt, dust and water, and subsequently I need a phone that doesn't need to be coddled like a newborn.

  • 25 Posted by samanthasmom2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just got back from apple corp. as WE call it inside, SHADOCONTROL and what is about to happen is this. They are finding new ways to TAKE UR MONIES!!! SO all this hype is about FINDING NEW WAYS TO TAKE UR MONIES!!! IT is a new product call, now it is a secret no one KNOWS this. The new line of products is called, "ICRAP"

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