Wild speculation: iPhone to launch in August?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 29th 2006 1:33PM
posted Jul 29th 2006 1:33PM
Alright, dear readers, you know the drill: proceed with caution. We have no confirmation here, but sometimes a tip is too juicy not to share, no matter how suspect it might be. A reader is reporting to us that a coworker's tech-unsavvy friend, who is regularly hired by Apple to do marketing photo shoots, was recently brought on to take some shots of "the sleekest, sexiest damn phone he's ever seen." The launch date? "Some time in August." Yeah, not a typo -- August. Now, to be perfectly clear, we don't know what the iPhone (if it exists) will be actually called, we've never seen a real pic of the elusive beast, and this doesn't really jive with the time frame suggested by Peter Oppenheimer's recent comments -- but we want to believe, and we don't have to wait very long for this one to get debunked or confirmed.
You'd think Apple would have a full time in house person for their photography needs. Smells fishy.
Seems too wild to be a real iPhone. Aren't we still expecting the V3i from Moto to show up on Cingular? Could just be that this will coincide with that. The D&G V3i is already out but no carrier so perhaps the full blown v3i package is ready now.
I don't understand how this would work... would you have to pay retail for it, or would it be released with a carrier like verizon or cingular?
this is right around the time Apple goes down the drain...
right when they try to invest in too many projects.
soon we'll have Apple tv's, cameras... the works.
NO way. Think about it the only reason he said august is because everybody knows apple has a day planned in august
Why buy an iPhone when you can buy better MP3 phones, like the Fusic or Sony's plethora of MP3 phones? Dumb.
No, everyone's been anticipating this and it would be a worthy addition to the ipod line. Apple have branched out into all sorts of things, like video games as you probably know. If its crap then they can pull it. But they've been developing (and still probably are developing) this thing for ages. They'll have a tough fight against sony though, who've got their quickly.
Yeah, you would think that Apple would have someone in house to take pictures of new products, or at least if they outsourced get them to sign a 'gagging' clause?
What's a 'quickly'?
Can't Engadget (or someone) get a police sketch artist, so we can see something useful? Come on!
[quote]You'd think Apple would have a full time in house person for their photography needs. Smells fishy.[/quote]
Not necessarily, I've worked at and with several high volume consumer product tech companies and most have outsourced their product photography, along with other marketing-related services like PR, advertising design, copywriting, etc. What would be unusual to me is the timing. Unless Apple is frantically rushing to get this product finished and announced I would have expected photography to have been done several months ago. Normally photography is done before the product goes into production, so that materials promoting it can be shopped around to potential wholesale customers (e.g. Best Buy, Circuit City) who place big orders that set production demand. Since production generally takes 1-2 months, and it can take another month for a product to be shipped to the US from Asia and warehoused something like promo photos would be expected to be taken at minimum 3-4 months before the product is unveiled to the public. Given Apple's intro strategy of having products available within 24 hours of announcement this may not jibe.
But who knows, this is only a rumor, right.
sorry. I meant got THERE quickly. i.e got to the mobile phone MP3 market quickly.
does the iPhone qualify as jumping the shark?
"A reader is reporting to us that a coworker's tech-unsavvy friend, who is regularly hired by Apple to do marketing photo shoots, ..."
Doesn't sound too convincing. Not because it's impossible, but because of the source.
I think this just rumor - no way it will be - not ufter they stated to work with Moto like this - and if its something of motorola and apple - we would have C it a long time ago.
"soon we'll have Apple tv's, cameras... the works."
Stop it marcin, you are getting me aroused!!!
This may be a stereotype but most photographers(digital) are VERY technosavy sinc the spend there days around differnet gadgets
An Apple phone is the evolution of the iPod. Something Nanoesque, there's no reason why they couldn't fit a phone in the case as well. I'm thinking a smart phone would be far too much to ask...
Awesome news. This sounds like a real winner. I can't wait to buy mine.
Dolomite - you know absolutely nothing about the product but are willing to declare it a 'real winner'? I should get in contact with you, I have some land in Florida to sell - I'll give you a great deal.
I'm in the market for an MP3 phone, but if it's called the 'iPhone', I'm not interested.
It's more than likely one of the 35 new phones that motorola has just announced, many of them scheduled to be released in August as well. Seeing as how many of the 4LTR series phones have built-in iTunes, this is why Apple would want to take photographs of the phones.
Besides guys, there are already phones with iTunes in them, and they aren't that great. Honestly, will an iPhone be that much different? At all? I have if it ever comes out, it will be more of a pocket PC type of phone, and the UI will not let you do anything that is un-Apple related, but that's my personal speculation.
[quote]You'd think Apple would have a full time in house person for their photography needs. Smells fishy.[/quote]
I know for a fact Apple does not. They like to hire the "it" photographer at the time. I have a great photographer friend that assisted in shooting the G5 before release... he also shot the Corvette C6 before release.... NDAs up the but though.
Michael, obviously you know not whom you're addressing, or you might have picked up on the sarcasm.
"If you don't know the shot, don't make the call."
BTW, did you see how I referenced your real estate joke for humor? That is funny to me.
Can you guys really doubt that Apple is going to make the slickest and best functioning mp3 phone?
Think back a few years when Apple was announcing the iPod, Why would Apple make an MP3 player, all they know is computers, and the mp3 will be the same as all the others coming out. And everyone was wrong.
dude. if the iphone drops in august i will be soooo stoked. i have been off-contract with vz for months, waiting for the razr on vz or else something hot to make me jump to cingy like the k790a. this will totally make me wait tho!!
@Brian, Paul: the photo is a JOKE. it made me lmao when i saw the article, u should chill out
its got to be a phone already on the fcc site since no one gets a phone approved that fast and released that soon too..........
I would be right there in line if this were to be released. The fact is that I know it would be a quality product, totally integrated with OS X, and beautifully designed.....no more half-implemented bluetooth or syncing issues with other branded devices. Just a great phone from a great company.
:)
if this is going to be like most mp3 phones already out there, i am not going to be impressed. Those phones have lack of memory, features, and compatibility with services such as yahoo and napster...
i'll stick with my nano and cell separately thank you very much.
Heh someone mentioned Apple coming out with their own TVs, camera, etc... doesn't Sony already do this (okay well they don't have their own OS, but they do make computers, mp3 players, cameras (still and video), cellphones, handheld & console game systems, tvs, monitors and probably a lot more). Apple needs to merge with Sony and just take over the world. I rather see Apple/Sony than Microsoft/Nintendo =p.
- Tony R.
8 gigs of memory, palm version of OS X, 256k or 1.6 mil vga screen, 3.2 meg camera and 4-5 hr run time battery life...i would then definitely be all over that sweetness...aaaah dreams
It may not show up on the FCC site if Apple filed for confidentiality as well.
Also, regarding the "late photography" for an August release, these could be for a post-launch marketing campaign. Apple usually creates high res 3D renderings for a lot of their marketing, and it is possible that those materials are ready to go.
Oh yeah... at one point, Apple did sell Apple-branded (re-branded, really) cameras and printers and such. There isn't much value in them selling those items nowadays, so don't bet on it.
Ummm...
How about some ZUNE news???
iPods are for sheep.
Doing all the marketing for something like that is going to take more than a few weeks to prepare, methinks. I call bogus.
If a release for August was true, he would have been taking pictures back in June.
Woah someone mentioned they'd like to see an Apple/Sony merger? That would be the most horrible day of my life. I'd rather see an Apple/Google merger or an Apple/Bubba-Gump Shrimp merger than an Apple/Sony merger. That would be awful.
As much as I'd *love* an Apple branded phone, there's one really big problem with this story...
Apple doesn't photograph their products.
Look *very* carefully at any Apple product images. Its all done in Illustrator or something. Sure, its amazingly good - but none of it is "real".
"Apple doesn't photograph their products."
Now that's one of the dumbest things I've heard in the comments in a long, long time (and there are lots of dumb, dumb things said here...).
I can't believe anyone is giving this story credibility. Who is the source? Any one of us could have sent in this BS.
Engadget must get an increased hit count for Apple iPhone stories and is letting ANYTHING in.
It won't launch. Are you guys serious?!
NEW RUMOR: Apple is giving away an iPhone to the first 1 gajillion people who send an email with the subject line stating Engadget iPhone Story. Send the email to engadgetarticle@yankingyourchain.com
Zune is for Apple-Hating sheep.
Are you sure you don't mean the Sansa? i.e. fake nano
@everyone calling it fake: read the first part of the title. It's wild speculation. Everyone knows the source is unverifiable. Don't reiterate it in every post, because it becomes a damned pain to read.
@drsilverworm: those phones had limitations, and they weren't made by Apple. Apple have better hardware designers, and like stylish form factors. The mobile iTunes is the parallel universe version of the real iPod. In that universe, humans are subordinate to beetles on the creativity scale.
I have one basic problem with this story. If the photographer does take pictures for Apple, then he most definitely would have signed an NDA or had some other contractual understanding that he doesn't blab about what he photographs. You don't get access to unannounced products without an NDA.
"Besides guys, there are already phones with iTunes in them, and they aren't that great. Honestly, will an iPhone be that much different?"
Thing is, those iTunes-enabled phones are made by Motorola, and are therefore subject to the user experience limitations of Motorola's hideously awkward OS. :) Apple would probably do a better job of it, IMO.
"I rather see Apple/Sony than Microsoft/Nintendo."
I'd rather see Apple/Nintendo. :D
"Now that's one of the dumbest things I've heard..." (Silver)
...Maybe because you haven't visited apple.com in the last several years? :P (jk, I know what you meant) Most of the "hero shots" of their products are non-photographic and probably rendered in a 3D app (i.e. look at those precise reflections, shine etc. on the iPod). It gives the graphic designers greater control over the nuances of the "photography" environment and how it affects the product image. However, real-life photography of an iPhone is still plausible because Apple frequently uses photos of people holding/interacting with their portable products like iPods.
"Fuck ZUNE. The POS will flop just like all other microsoft related/branded DAP. Leave it alone."
So let me get this straight....
You think the MS mp3 player will flop, but an Apple cell phone will rock? Should'nt you fanboys be using the same "logic" you use against the Zune to proclaim the "iphone" to be a disaster?
Or is all you care about is the Apple logo?
I may be able to corroborate this news on the iPhone. My source is someone close to a Taiwanese manufacturer/ component supplier. Their new project is titled Apple Handset, and has started sometime in mid July. Of course, this could mean an iPod, but we could keep our hopes up.
Not the most reliable bit of information, but interesting nevertheless.
Even Apple rumors have a better function and design than Microsoft.
I can't believe Engadget posted this.
If is the 'sexiest damn phone' he's ever seen, how come he hasn't described it?
And Apple probably has strict Non-Disclosure Agreements.
We'll know this is real if come monday Apple Legal subpoenas engadget to reveal the name of their source...
They should call it the iPone. (iPwn?)
If this is true, i'll probably break my brand new razr in a fit of rage, and then kick myself soundly in the bum.
Apple uses 3D modeling digital photography for their promo shots. We're learning this in school right now, it's really tech heavy. The guy would be tech savvy. BS.
For those who fall into Zune/Microsoft strategy. Remember Zune not even exits yet!!! There is only dreamy announcement that try to slow down iPod sell.
If they alredy have the "thing" why don't they release it?
And if Apple put wi-fi into next iPod and release before Zune, I'm petty sure those Zune "fanboy" will go "Apple copy Zune". What a loser.
are we not losing the "i" moniker? how about...
- MacPhone
- MacCell
- MacMobile
What is next? iComputer ???
You are all missing a very important point here ...
First, let's forget about this rumor ... true, untrue ... who cares? There's some type of phone in development at Cupertino .. when it comes out, what it looks like is secondary.
The phone is going to be much more than an MP3 playing phone. You all know that Apple doesn't follow the pack. Why in the world would they release a phone like all the others? And I could care less if it comes in white .. it's not just about iTunes.
Mark my words .. I have no insight, no connections ... I am a simple stockholder who does a lot of research.
The Apple phone will be a smart phone. It will have a keyboard. It will have a camera. It will have a videocamera. It will be a portable office. You will be able to videoconference with Pierre LeFouq in Paris while standing at the airport in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin, via a wi-fi connection.
This phone will revolutionize the market and send Sony and Motorola and Nokia right back to their drawing boards ... unless Apple partners with one of them on design and marketing.
Oh, and my guess is that it will hit Cingular because they are GSM. No way Apple can go with a different technology since it needs to work around the world.
You can say I'm uninformed ... Again, I'm just someone who reads and thinks logically ... but tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that you iPhone or iPod -- Phone or whatever won't sync automatically via bluetooth/wifi with your iCal and iTunes and iPhoto the moment you put it on your desk ... that it won't hook up via bluetooth when it's in your car ... that it won't let you make your songs on iTunes ringtones ... all this and more ... because the key is that Apple never follows ... they break new ground ... Remember that.
Apple does have a full-time in house photographer. In fact they have hundreds, if not thousands all over the world. Do you honestly think a company that is geared towards photographers and other art professionals would not have their own photographer? I am an employee and when i was hired had to sign a never ending list of confidentiality agreements. So i doubt they would contract out a photographer to take pictures of product that was still a secret. Think about people.
They already have a name for an Apple phone: iChat.
One of the related articles I clicked through mentioned something about a messenger service. Why couldn't they put AirPort Extreme, iChat, and iTunes into a typically cool form factor device and call it iChat? They might even leave out the iTunes for that matter and add it in later as iChat G2. That would prevent poaching the highly profitable iPod line.
That would rock.
So...even if Apple launches a phone, why does everyone think it will be a regular cell phone. I don't see Apple making a phone just for the US market (that means no MNVO), and I can't see them marketing handsets direct to the consumer (ala. SonyEricsson). It seems more likely to me that Apple will announce a VoIP enabled smart device, maybe something like a media-centric analogue of the Nokia 7710 that will ship with a built-in VoIP client that runs over a WiFi connection. I could imagine that the service would be further Apple branded with direct tie-ins with hot-spot providers for telephony on the go. Give it a VoiP to POTS bridge, with a nominal fee, and you might just have a winning service.
Keep in mind, that Apple and Softbank announced a "mobile lifestyles" collaboration this last April, after Softbank took over Vodafone's Japanese subsidiary. Softbank runs one of the major ISPs in Japan, and is rapidly building out their public WiFi network. They also have an IP-phone service that works well, and have expressed an interest of creating a deeper synergy between their phone and internet business units. Which might make them a roll-out partner.
This gives apple the entry into the mobile space with out having to rely on they type of big-corporate partner (read verizon) that is unlikely to "get" their products. It also allows Apple to take a nascent technology (mobile VoiP) and define it with that special Apple goodness, like they did with the iPod / iTunes/ iTunes Music Store.
None of the other options for an "Apple" branded phone make as much sense.
Oh, about the photographer called out in the middle of the night during a rain storm to take pictures of a top secret product...maybe the Engadget folks (god love 'em) got a tip on a totally hot Apple product that they couldn't spill without jepordizing their source. They might just sit on the rumor (like with the XZune), and no one could blame them. But they might just feel compelled to say [i]something[/i] if the afore mentioned tip has been given a short shelf-life by virtue of the product's imminent release.
one good reason to for Apple o include a phone to its line up would be to encourage users o sync with Mac X. Remember, no matter how many ipods they sell, its still about the macs.
"For those who fall into Zune/Microsoft strategy. Remember Zune not even exits yet!!! There is only dreamy announcement that try to slow down iPod sell."
Slow much? It does exist, unlike the "iphone" and the "True, full screen video Ipod", which only exist as fanboy photoshop mock-ups on Flickr and as spam rumor stories on sites like this, the Zune is actually going to be released.
"If they alredy have the "thing" why don't they release it?"
This Fall is the release date. When will the Video Ipod be released? Last time I read, the fanboys said it was going to be April 1st, then June, now 2007.
"And if Apple put wi-fi into next iPod and release before Zune, I'm petty sure those Zune "fanboy" will go "Apple copy Zune". What a loser."
So if Apple puts a feature in a product as an obvious copy of a Zune feature, you wont, as the same people that scream "you ripped off Apple" on everything, say that Apple copied somthing from MS?
If the story is true, the photographer doesn't seem light the brightest person, neither does his "friend". Apple would know exactly who leaked this info.. and I'm sure he's signed an NDA that he's now broken. (Friend indeed...)
Personally I just have a feeling Apple doesn't think a GSM phone is interesting enough, but rather WCDMA (3G). And 3G still feels a little too early in Apple's home country doesn't it? But perhaps that's precisely why they would choose to announce it prematurely, to have a bigger chance in taking the lead in their home country.
When did they start development on their phone? 2 years ago? 3 years ago? 6 years ago? I don't know... but I just have a feeling it isn't ready yet for another year. That's just what I feel. I would be happily surprised if they announced it this fall. All other phones are dirt right now anyways.
" So let me get this straight....
You think the MS mp3 player will flop, but an Apple cell phone will rock? Should'nt you fanboys be using the same "logic" you use against the Zune to proclaim the "iphone" to be a disaster?
Or is all you care about is the Apple logo? "
It will flop. Everyone knows that it will even though CNET (read: Microsoft's bitch) praise it to the skies. Nothing wrong with competition though.
HOWEVER: I did not say that iPhone would be a success. Apple have released many peripheral products which have failed and this might be one of them. However, if they use the same formula as they do with the ipod (a winning one) and combine it with decent cellphone capabilities, then it is difficult to see how exactly it will flop.
Apple appear to be approaching this tentatively unlike Microsoft shouting from the rooftops about a player that hasn't been released. As well as the technology which I'm sure Microsoft has, it needs to be useable, aestheically pleasing and desirable. And Microsoft simply dosen't have all that leverage with their intended audience.
I remember Sony's earlier MP3 efforts, 40 hours battery life, compact form, decent advertising campaign, Microsoft compatability, tech community approval ... It was not a definite success
This is just another oppurtunity for the media to wheel out the clichéd term IPOD KILLER, then go back to their Dell's with their tails between their legs.
Please don't call me a fanboy: its mendacious, dismissive and derisory. I don't idolize Apple as they've done plenty to piss me off.
well this has to be some sort of sign.. check out where this site leads to...
http://www.iphone.org
Scott: you are wrong. I think we have just had a glimpse of one of your wet dreams.
Interesting to see their is a new group of ZUNE followers. People cheerleading a product that hasn't been released. A product from a software company that has little experience in DAP hardware development/stategy. A greedy, unoriginal company.
Pity no one seems to know about VIRAL MARKETING. Hmm, you know... the type they marketed Origami and Zune with? Msybe Apple are having a go at this, or even Apple themselves were the anonymous tipster.
A reader's co-worker's tech-unsavvy friend?
Even if the reader is being truthful, it's too many degrees separated to be taken very seriously . Would be nice, though.
Anyone could have registered iphone.org and made it lead to apple, just to provide more room for rumors.
Amd if it was apple, they probably would have made it a .com
www.iphone.org has been under apple operation since 1999. This also sparked many rumours.
Oh by the way, my great aunts', dog's, previous owners' sister in law has told me about a new iPod coming soon.
Look at the source, why is this even making news.
I would be happy to be proved wrong though. ;)
"Why buy an iPhone when you can buy better MP3 phones, like the Fusic or Sony's plethora of MP3 phones? Dumb."
the iPhone isnt out and you're already saying things are better than it?
This is crap - the photos would leak out too easily. You know - if this is real, this person should be able to get copies of the pics and post them. Garbage rumor...
Apple uses Chiat/Day for major MARCOM advertising programs.
It would be surprizing for CD to not have their own full-time photography team for such a shoot, as they work hand in hand with Apple, thus the reasons for product announcements to be held so close to the vest by Apple.
The only real possibility is that this person is an assistant, or new to a part-time team that was called in due to booking issues.
If this phone is real, and this person/s are fairly new to this working with Chiat/Day, you can count on them being fired 7 AM Monday and never to be working in the bay area again....
This is not an IF but WHEN... Since more and more phones integrate MP3 players in order for Apple to compete they MUST make a phone.
To me it doesn't make sence to carry around 2 devices when I can have 1 device...
I call bullkaka.
Any photographer who's got an ongoing business relationship with Apple would not be so stupid as to tell his buddies about the cool new top-secret Apple product he's just shot. That's a really good way of getting himself not only fired, but sued to the point of bankruptcy. I've had to sign a few NDAs myself, so I'm well aware of the potential consequences.
And what's more, if the photographer did tell his buddy and his buddy was stupid enough to blab it around, then I hope the now-former friend can live with ruining the guy's career, because obviously Apple will know who they just had shoot their phone.
There's just too much at stake. Real people wouldn't be that blase about spreading highly-confidential information.
This is bull!
I have friends that work for quanta, and they said the iphone does not exisist yet, protoype may be, but the manufactuer is still in bidding war, as in who gets to make it.
they're going to launch the next video ipod first, but they run into touch screen glitches and changing to even a bigger screen than before.
all you people showing disdain for engadget posting rumor news, you need to go read your news somewhere else. get lost. we don't want you here and we don't want you to comment here. none of us do.
I don't believe the rumor, but it is possible.
Apple does hire out their product photography. These photographers also hire out freelance assistants. NDA is very strong and they are told to keep quiet. But things do come out sometimes. I heard about the iPod about a month before it came out through this avenue...
Having said that, I would never post to a rumor site anything that I heard about an Apple product coming out. Ruins the surprise. I will say that there are product(s) coming that no one has mentioned on any rumor site. Isn't it more fun that way?
Has anyone seen the "chocolate" by LG due out in August?
Scott you are so right! the apple phone will not focus primarily on iTunes and music, but it will be a whole mobile computer experience.
" may be able to corroborate this news on the iPhone. My source is someone close to a Taiwanese manufacturer/ component supplier. Their new project is titled Apple Handset, and has started sometime in mid July. Of course, this could mean an iPod, but we could keep our hopes up."
If I had to guess, "Apple Handset" would be referring to a wired or WiFi VoIP handset. It seems a bit more logical, considering the 'handset' term is almost exclusively applied to home phones, because it generally implies that it is a microphone and earpiece linked together to be held in the hand, and little if anything more. Just like a 'headset' tends to refer to a microphone and earpiece/s which rest/attach to the head somehow.
In reference to an earlier discussion in the above posts, Just like the automotive industry, Apple uses high res digital images of iPods for ALL marketing and publicity. I mean, I hate to break it to people who don't realize this, but even the shoes in this new Nike + iPod print ad are fake.
http://www.bit-tech.net/news_images/Nike_iPod_kit_adds_Apples_Nano_to_essential_train/article_img.jpg
You can hire a photographer, who needs a big white room, with lights everywhere, intricate staging, and all sorts of complications, to come in and take some pictures that still won't look just right, or you can pay some recent college grad to whip something up in 3dMax or Illustrator in the basement for 15 bucks an hour, that's exactly what you want. And if you change your mind? The guy pushes a button and FWOOSH, the background's red instead of black. Fwoosh, the ipod's got a slightly different shine. Fwoosh, it's now only one shoe, and it's oriented horizontally to put on a bus. It's a simple matter that, these products are designed in 3d modeling programs, and it's faster, cheaper, and less of a hassle to pay some guy to take a pre-existing model, and pump it through Mental Ray, instead of manufacturing a pre-launch model, photographing it, developing it, THEN paying someone to make it look shinier.
My Sony Ericsson phone (a T637 that is a few years old) died this week. When I went to my local Cingular store to see what they had to replace it with the sales rep told me they were expecting the Razr V3i this month (August), and the new Apple phone not too long after.
I think the Cingular people are talking about the new Apple phone because of the new phone from Verizon called "Chocolate". That also might be reason enough for Apple to push the release of their phone. Verizon is sort of stealing their thunder with the release of Chocolate.
I was just talking to a few Apple folks here in Shanghai, and they said that they are readying for an Apple phone launch in September. I'm a mac user and a tech analyst... and I live a few miles from where most Apple devices are made/sourced/assembled/etc., so they assumed I already knew.
You heard it here first (ok, it seems like everybody already knows about this, although I don't see it anywhere on the 'net), but feel free to disbelieve me if you prefer -- I'm happy to suffer with my crash-prone Nok S60 device until one of my "insiders" can give me one of these new phones that "falls off the truck."
Pingguo Ji Hen Bang!
because it will be running mac osx mobile. itunes, ical, mail, address book: all really user friendly straight forward apps that all work together. the issue is battery life and storage capacity. so, fuse the nano (8GB) with a motslvr and you have a highly functional and compact device. apple boasts 24 hour battery life for a nano. and the nano replaced the mini as the most popular variant of the ipod familia. seems possible.