With the Pre's launch date
looming it's nearly time for Apple to launch its counter-attack, and today we have what appears to be further confirmation of component orders for the so-called iPhone 3.0.
DigiTimes is claiming to have a nearly comprehensive rundown of component suppliers for Apple's next-gen hotness,
again indicating Samsung will be providing the memory, but also saying that a
CSR chip will continue to handle Bluetooth duties, a 3.2 megapixel
OmniVision sensor will tackle image-capture duties, and going on to list over a dozen other suppliers you may or may not have heard of -- though sadly failing to identify a CPU maker. All these companies are supposedly ramping up to begin shipments in May for a mid-2009 release, with a target of 5 million units for launch. However, while many of these names line up with rumors we've heard already, with no sources named and none of these suppliers able to comment, you might want to hit up your local source of salt for a grain or two.
posted Apr 14th 2009 6:48AM
If it doesn't feature a Tegra or SnapDragon processor for the CPU/chipset, it's going to become even more outdated than it already is.
No doubt. Rumours suggest that the Zune HD will be packing the Tegra and a 800x480 display. If that turns out to be true the iPhone will be reduced to a fossil over night, especially since the phone hasn't received any major hardware upgrade in the near 2 years since it was presented. The only leverage Apple has is multi touch capabilities which is what makes the device to compelling, but this year things can change.
My guess is the list doesn't even have a chip/processor... so it will likely be the same one...But yeah the new iPhone needs a Tegra or a Snapdragon...
And 3.2 MP?? It took them 2 years to update from an already outdated 2 MP camera to a 3.2?
Why does the iPhone necessarily need either of those? The rumored custom Cortex-A9 + PowerVR CPU/GPU (which, from the sound of it, I imagine will be OMAP4's long lost twin) and, the also rumored, Broadcom BCM4329 will fit the bill perfectly, will be able to do anything Tegra or SnapDragon can, and will give Apple control over the exact spec - features and operating parameters - unmatchable with off-the-shelf parts.
Well, multi touch and an insanely popular AppStore with nearly a billion downloaded apps, integration with iTunes, and a fantastic mobile browser (Microsoft can't even get desktop IE to match FireFox and WebKit).
This is why Engadget annoys me more rumor and speculation of a product has yet to even be announced. Then we will get another half dozen posts if it is actually released telling us what rumors they found true and what ones they were wrong about.
I think it would be unfortunate if the processor line didnt get at least a minor bump. I wonder if all the apps are written to scale to processor speed? Or is that just me thinking of what happened when moving from 386 to 486 :)
On a side note Engadget, I noticed that you recently celebrated your 5th birthday. "What, no cake?" I would've thought that such a milestone as the big number 5 would warrant a celebration of sorts, a geeky soiree if you will. In years past you were always so willing to invite us to your party, like a sad facebookee with so many friends- but none at all. Well I celebrate you Engadget: This is your life (short version).
On your birthday, (http://www.engadget.com/2004/03/02/t-flash-aka-yet-another-memory-card-format/) or page 2541, March 2 2004 @ 1:12PM EST, Peter Rojas first laid down "T-Flash: aka "Yet Another Memory Card Format"". Ironically, T-Flash (or MicroSD) is still the standard 5 years later. Imagine that!
I first joined you a few weeks later though, after scouring the web for more information on this "MPX" PocketPC Phone edition(http://www.engadget.com/2004/03/19/even-more-photos-of-the-motorola-mpx/). Since then, since that moment, a bookmark you resided, later the homepage, and finally a homepage tab.
Over the years, you've covered everything with a battery, screen, important software, not-so-important software, fishing lures, robots, overlords, implants, houseplants, automation, that stupid blender that has tainted every post since that fateful december day in 2006 (http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/14/will-it-blend-if-its-an-ipod-you-betcha/), live trade show coverage, trade show hotties, HDTV's, cellphones, etc. etc. The latter 2 being so diverse themselves, you chose to spin off the 2 into their own show.
Your successes are visible from space, your geekdom can be smelled from Jersey. You tease Jimmy Fallon with fake high 5's. You played it off so well when you were acquired by AOL. You are on your 3rd Editor in Cheif, and it still seems as if the first was still in charge (continuity much?)
I appreciate you, and applaud you. I refresh you at 3am when i sleepwalk. Bravo, Engadget. I look forward to the next 5 years. Hopefully, we'll still be sporting the T-Flash.
Happy 5.1,
-Rock
@Homeboy "If that turns out to be true the iPhone will be reduced to a fossil over night"
Oh, you mean like what the original Zune did to the iPod?
well let's be fair, there aren't any other Snapdragon or Tegra handsets out yet. It can't be outdated if it doesn't have something that no one else has either (unless you consider all phones outdated, since none have Snapdragon yet).
That said, I'm a Palm Pre fanboy :) I will keep my eye on Apple but I much prefer the Pre. I also like the Nokia N97 and the Omnia HD. All good phones, too bad none are available :(
Jacob,
Specs wise, the even as of yet unannounced iPhone is already outdated compared to what's currently available on the market.
3.2 MP = outdated when 5 - 8+ MP cameras of higher quality are already available for other phones
128 MB of RAM = outdated when many devices ship with 256+ MB of RAM (this helps SIGNIFICANTLY when multi-tasking)
3.2" screen = outdated when other devices already pack larger screens (such as the 3.8" Touch HD)
480x320 res = outdated when we have VGA and WVGA screens out there that do 2-3 times that resolution
Yes, it's already outdated before it even hits the market, and that processor is packing isn't helping it much either.
Apple never revealed the microprocessor/GPU used in the iphone and probably will not.
3.2mp camera..are you kidding? 5mp is the minimum on new smartphones. I have a 2 year old SE P1i which boasts a 3.2mp cam. But, its Apple...they won't upgrade the camera so soon (2 years ain't too much for them). People should be satisfied that they are putting video features in 3.0. With a camera upgrade...we are asking too much. :)
ARM Cortex.
Hmm, hope they're working on the battery life. With these specs and a more powerful processor (if it happens), I'm guessing it'll run out of juice in under a day...
@Hamidxa,
"3.2 MP = outdated when 5 - 8+ MP cameras of higher quality are already available for other phones".
I chop my head off if you can find a camera phone that can produce real (>1) mega pixels images. Phone cameras are still a joke, folks. High Quality? LoL
More outdated , well that would open the door for zune phone
To kill iPhone n start selling 24 million zunephones in 2 years like iPhone.,.
Winmo fanboys would be celebrating for years to come.
The lens probably sucks if the supplier is Largan precision. Why? Cause they only make shitty plastic lenses for cell phones as far as I am aware.
@Hamidxa: the 128MB RAM being necessary for multi-tasking won't be such a big problem, as iPhone OS 3.0 will be using this 'push notifications server', which is designed to eliminate it.
Then again, if this server requires some form of payment to be able to use it - and the cynic in me says it'll be tied into MobileMe on launch - then I'll be looking elsewhere anyway. Palm, Nokia, RIM, Google - I'm looking at you.
when will it be released globally?
Actually, the current 3G has a PowerVR MBX graphics core, which shits all over most. I imagine iPhone 3.0 will have a similar / updated version
The Omnia HD's is superior, noob.
Whats the point in being HD and having a better processor when the UI is not up to par with the best?! Its not the specs, its the software idiot!
Pardon...it is Palm that is counterattacking, not Apple.
Apple is plodding along doing what it does quite well, introducing new ideas and cool stuff while other manufacturers play catch up by largely imitating Apple. REALLY imitating Apple.
Nothing that Apple is about to introduce was derived from any fear of the Pre - it was ALL decided on well before the Pre was vaguely introduced in January (unless you folks think the Apple guys are even better than they REALLY are and can go from vague impressions to finished Product competing product in less than 6 months!).
Other than great interface and the form factor there was nothing new about iphone when it launched, and there was certainly never nothing new added ever since then. In fact, it's been playing catch up with the entire market for the past 2 years.
@wrabbit the app store, multi-touch, sms all in the same screen (small, but so so nice), the app store, visual voicemail, accelerometer, proximity sensors, and YES the app-store. There's no denying it has it's flaws, but to say there was nothing new about it and nothing new added after, that's ridiculous - the reason I'm highlighting the app store so much is 'cos how many phones do you know of that get better and become more useful with age.
"Apple is plodding along doing what it does quite well, introducing new ideas and cool stuff while other manufacturers play catch up by largely imitating Apple. REALLY imitating Apple."
Copy & Paste?
MMS?
Exactly what new ideas has Apple put into the iPhone anyway?
Does anyone know?
Yes yes, Apple is clearly not trying to keep up with palm :rolleyes. They only had one of their own Apple fanboys announce in a conference on the 3.0 OS that it will have "Pre-like capabilities".
If this list is true then Apple will really have changed nothing in two years except for an OS update that will add MMS and copy&paste? LOL.
Yea, I know about the app store, but soon enough that will be something everyone will have (WinMO phones already had "apps" but normal people just called them "programs").
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3980
and their superiority has really helped them too..
Let's see what you get when you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on attacking Microsoft, coupled with douche bags like you oozing man paste every time any new trinket is released by lord jobs and his crew of i-mbeciles. What does this add up to? Ah, a reduction in sales unparalleled. a whopping -42% retail year-on-year on desktop revenue. Read the what the apple homeboys at encrapet won't write about..
-16.7% retail year-on-year mac unit growth (PC numbers +22.0%)
-36.4% retail year-on-year desktop unit growth (PC numbers -10.0%)
-7.5% retail year-on-year notebook unit growth (PC numbers +36.0%)
-42.5% retail year-on-year on desktop revenue growth (PC numbers +1.4.0%)
-14.3% retail year-on-year on notebook revenue growth (PC numbers +6.1%)
Why is this happening?
Because their products are overpriced, over hyped garbage...
and you have to turn into a douche bad, dick head to own one.
People, smart consumers do see through the veil of horse shit, only small minded twits fall for the market hype, thankfully, these numbers prove they're the very small, albeit, loud minority..
This was posted on ZDNETby: derekgore Posted on: 03/20/09
I liked his reply so much I thought I'd share it here.. :)
I asked you to stick to the topic and if you would post fixes you helped with on Apple computers.
False premises:
1. Apple has some kind of superior quality control.
Truth: Apple computers are made on the same assembly lines of Quanta/Compal et al as the Windows machines are made on. Notice I did not say PCs, because Apple machines are Intel PCs now too. Apple manufactures nothing. If you take offense to that, neither does Dell/HP/et al. If they are made on the same lines, where is the superior quality? Since they use the same components, but hide them, so they can limit the hardware they have to be compatible with, I would think that driver issues would be reduced, along with limiting upgrade capability since they write only for their own machines.
Oops, sorry, I forgot they write for Windows machines too. Quicktime, and a browser, and a few other programs that have consistently been poorly written and caused vulnerabilities. I have five years of links to QT vulnerabilities.
2. Apple machines cannot be infected or compromised.
Truth: Both have been done. I have the links and so do you, don't you? Now that they have been compromised the issue is some pipe dream that there are no ODMs (the real manufacturers, and Apple is not alone the Windows people hide that fact too,) Apple has some quality that the Windows units made on the same assembly lines don't? OK, let's imagine a guy at Compal named Soo works on the assembly line at Compal. One week he makes Windows units for several
manufacturers, the next week he makes Apple computers. Do you honestly think he cares which manufacturer he is assembling? He just does his job to the best of his ability for all the computers that come down his line.
3. Apple writes better software.
Truth: Linux and derivatives have been around for a long time. Security by obscurity (read market share) has been proven. Apple has as many, if not more security updates as Windows. The only difference is that they monthly/bi monthly have to rewrite their QT for windows and safari for Windows (as well as their QT and Safari for macs.) How many security updates for MS office for macs do you see monthly?
4. Apple has an unlimited pocket and will innovate and prevail.
Truth: This article was about revenues year by year. It seems that there are a lot of answers about, "well what about this," like the iPhone. Yah, AT&T which is failing to have 3g operable for anybody in quantity. Like I said before, AIG had a lot more money, and see where they are now.
I truly feel for ya. And your Apple friends. For a fancy case you fork it out. I can send you links to computer cases that can be used for Apple and Windows boxes that are from the lit up and clear sided cases to sleek designs like apple for a hundred bucks and most for much less.
Do you honestly think a case makes the case? Posted by: derekgore
@inno8sky
Those growth numbers you are referring to probably speak more to the growth of the netbook market. I assume computers sales in general are taking a hit from the current economics, so potential buyers are moving towards cheap netbooks. And since Apple does not have an answer for that market yet, they're suffering the consequences.
It's not due to over-hype, it's not due to a veil of bullshit, it's not because suddenly people hate Apple, it's just that nobody is buying computers and if they are, they want the cheapest one available.
As for your reposting of another comment:
It seems like the argument derekgore presents is that when it comes to internals (hardware and software) Macs and PCs pretty much are on the same level. Same components, same manufacturing lines, same amount of security patches. No questions there, no links needed.
So it boils down to design, which is agreed that Apple puts an emphasis on this department. The question is, when did good design become a negative and isn't there value to good design?
@ theanticrust
That's an interesting theory, but, this listing doesn't include Netbooks. That's an entirely new/different category. The author of this post specifically didn't include Netbooks because of the fact you stated, apple doesn't produce them, and there isn't sufficient data year over year to track a trend.
And to answer your question; no, I don't think design is worth the premium that apple puts on it, just as I don't think the new adamo is worth what's being asked for it. Firstly, design is subjective and for me, apple don't design the most attractive hardware. Secondly, the quest for thinness by sacrificing functionality, is poor design in my books. The fact that the mba comes with one USB port and no optical drive is ridiculous. Convenience, power, durability and is it customizable is what I look for in anything I purchase. When the prescribed model forces me to unplug a device to plug another in, I'm being inconvenienced. When the product in question is also more expensive, I want MORE convenience, not LESS..
apple lately have offered LESS for MORE.. that's the reason they're getting slammed in the market place... Remember, those stats are for US only, where apple have their best performance.. In the world market, the numbers are even worse, 50% worse.
world wide market share for apple 3.83%
http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-ww-weekly-200903-200912
@ htowngator :
It's ammusing to see how 'wrabbit,' 'Look_Around_You' and a bunch more really go out of their way and try to make sorry attempts at discrediting Apple for the major shifts in the smart phone market they started with the iPhone. You think Apple was doing nothing till Palm's announcement of the Pre and all of a sudden rushed out to, as you say, "catch up" haha. Please. One day, if you ever get a job in a high tech industry you may perhaps come to understand things just don't work that way. They take much much longer.
'rhodesy22' and 'Freakin Ijit' are totally right. And when iPhone 3.0 launches we'll then see the full breadth of new capabilities the highly integrated software AND hardware will do together. Only then will we be able to make good comparisons VS the Pre.
@inno8sky
You think you're being clever because you're quoting from ZDNet? LOL
No wonder your opinions are so innocently twisted. ZDnet is one of the largest bastions of sensationalist anti-Apple rhetoric publishers in the web. Those people get paid by the click so their entire business thrives around controversy and instigating flame wars. Of journalists they have nothing and rightfully do not deserve that tittle. Try reading from a real and professional site, like Ars Technica or another respectable site.
Wake up buddy.
@ inno8sky - spam posting another person's comment from another website? Yeah, good one, mate. But since you think it is such a good comment ...
"Security by obscurity (read market share) has been proven."
and right there you fail completely. It is well known, and has been shown, more than once, that security via obscurity is a myth. As of 2009 this notion is only trotted out by the most die-hard, card-carrying, reality-rejecting iHaters. If it were true, then Macs would have had 7% of viruses when they had 7% market share, 8% when they had 8%, 9% when they had 9%, and so on.
They did not. Not even close. Not even with super-powerful iHater rose-tinted glasses on.
And what about these last 18 months? The Mac market share has not risen at all significantly, yet there have been dozens of exploits revealed in OSX, and a few actual in-the-wild viruses released, far more than in the entire previous decade for Pete's sake!
How can you claim that market share and security are linked, when so obviously, they are not? Not in either direction, no matter how you look at it! Do you actually understand this topic at all?
The new iPhone will undoubtedly be a piece of crap that everyone will buy except me because I am a techno snob..
Really? You like that music? I thought it went out in the 90's, but to each his own.
By the way - if you are a snob, which is a form of an elitist, the comments section here on Engadget would lead me to believe you use nothing but Apple products?
Confusing...
you may be a gadget snob, but the majority of us are gadget geeks.
i happen to be one of them, and hearing '3.1mp' and 'new iphone' in the same sentence - i'm so there.
As a 1stgen iPhoner, the thing I am awaiting eagerly is a decent battery!
Is it a possibility that apple is making their own chips? They did by a chip maker a while back. Its time they started putting their own chips in. I think thats where the real innovation will be.
Qite definitely. Apple has had a very long history of designing its own chips or closely working with other companies to engineer custom chips. This page has some really good info:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/04/28/how-apples-pa-semi-acquisition-fits-into-its-chip-history/
So basically it will have the same specs as what my att fuze has now?
Yes but without the shitty slow winmo, and without the postage stamp size screen and stylus
Digitallysick winmo is not slow. once you do the att remove trick its much much faster.
Plus my screen isnt much smaller then the iphones. Its also a bigger resolution then the iphones.
So now we have detailed information on which corporation manufacturers all the bits of a gadget. Foxlink apparently makes the connector. Important stuff!
Where will the fanboism boldly go next? Do we get to know the names of all those 14 year old chinese girls who make the damn things?
yes, yes we do. no pedo.
please explain? Was the last maker of the connectors crap? I have a 80GB 5.5 with a bad connector and was wondering if I should replace it? I believe the whole MB has to go and that is not cheap.
@ Rauha:
To answer your question: YES. This is a gadget site after all. If you don't like gadgets, and/or do not like the iPhone, why are you reading this page?
A WCDMA power amplifier? What for?
Amplifying power.
Yap but iPhone has no WCDMA
federico if i am not mistaken wcdma is 3g. which the iphone 3g has.
WCDMA is the 3G of CDMA. iPhone has GSM, its 3G is UMTS. I think.
WCDMA is a GSM technology. EVDO is CDMA's 3G.
Ok, my mistake, I'll shut up.
I'm the guy behind the surface acoustic wave filter.
3.2MP?
Lame.
needing a camera on your phone... lame
Seriously how many people need a high megapixel camera on their phone?
Anyway everyone knows that its not the megapixels its the ccd!
@strat... conversely if the phone had an 8mp camera you'd probably be slobbing all over that fact and not downplaying it.
> with a target of 5 million units for launch
seems like it was just yesterday when the rumors told the target was 4m, and before that just over 3m. if this trend continues there will be a rumored target of almost 100m units before the phone actually launches.
3.2 megapixel = garbage. The first iphone should have been 3.2 and this one should be at least 5 or 8 megapixel.
I hope its a damn good camera , every 3.2 cam i have used sucks. Nokia N95 has a damn good camera
Like others have stated its not the mega pixels but the quality of the sensor used. Example my 6 megapixel nikon d40 puts out much better pictures then my 10 megapixel point and shoot.
You call Nokia N95 a good camera, is it a joke? If 3.2 megapixel = garbage, then camera phone = crap, at least for now.
I Agree With You They Should Have A Way Better Camera
Like A 8Mega Pixle Would Be Awesome
It's quite obvious you have not a clue about digital photography. Here is why:
- More mega pixels does not equal better images. This is SPECIALLY true on pinhole-sized camera-phone sensors. Why? quite simple. The more pixels you cram into that dinky little sensor space the smaller the pixels have to be. The higher the content of tiny pixels the higher the noise ratio. Even at low ISO.
- The higher noise ratio in an image the more chances of really bad chromatic aberration.
- Lens: No way on Earth is a camera phone's lens going to compare in quality even to your average point-and-shoot's lens on grounds such as aspherical and ED glass elements. Camera-phones have what? a fixed, single piece of plastic or glass lens?
To truly have a better camera phone you need a larger sensor with larger pixels (not more), a larger, better lens and a better processing engine such as good analog signal amplifiers to fight chroma and luminance noise. Mega pixels are meaningless.
So is apple planning on releasing something in June, or simply just announcing the new iPhone?
Whats the WCDMA amp for? Do i smell a CDMA version of the Iphone on Verizon?
I'm wondering why Apple appears to be dropping capacitive for SAW. Maybe so special gloves aren't necessary?
What's the scoop on Apple and AT&T's contract expiring? Will other phone companies add the iphone to their product line?
Am I the only apple hater who thinks the iPhone is a good product? Maybe the contracts/etc that go with it suck but the actual product is wonderful despite its flaws (every phone has em).
Hamidxa, I get what you're saying, in fact I even call myself a Palm Pre fanboy. But, your first post hammered it for possibly not having Snapdragon. Therefore I think it's necessary to point out that Snapdragon isn't available on any device yet. By the way, these are rumors, so I'd take it all with a grain of salt. Oh, and just so you know, some 5-8 MP cameras are still crap.
Oh and also:
"128 MB of RAM = outdated when many devices ship with 256+ MB of RAM (this helps SIGNIFICANTLY when multi-tasking)"
What multitasking? lol seriously, iPhone doesn't have real multitasking. That's why I'm loving the Pre more and more, the multitasking looks killer.
Engadget, what a piece of crap comment system, it keeps losing my comments, thank god for Firefox and it's caching abilities.
Damnit that was supposed to be a reply to Hamidxa
Exactly ;)
That point helps to further illustrate the fact that multi-tasking is out of the question for the iPhone.
Take anything Hamidxa says with a grain of salt. He trolls Engadget all day looking for posts on Apple and immediately jumps in to start the iHating and iBashing. It's his life's quest.
Where is the oled screen?
What is the acoustic wave filter for? Think they could be using it as a pressure sensor?
The SAW filter is for the touch sensor, instead of capacitive. It's an interesting move.
It's part of the radio circuitry... I don't know where people are getting the idea from that it's something to do with the touch screen, it's nothing to do with that...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_filter#SAW_filters
Apple will not go with Nvidia's tegra becasue They have invested in Imagination Technologies.
Do people not understand that it doesn't matter if you have a 3.2 or 5 mega-pixel camera if there isn't proper auto-focusing and sensor capabilities!?! I'll take a 3.2 over a 5 mega-pixel camera if it's done right!
Look people, there are lots of smartphones out there. Apple has always took pride in it's, software, design and UI for it's products. Will the new iPhone be absolutely perfect with every bell and whistle included? Probably not, but I don't know of a phone out there that is perfect! What Apple will introduce is a much upgraded iPhone with lots of new and exciting options to keep it's users happy. I don't know of many unhappy iPhone owners. I'm currently on the 3.0 software and it's amazing (even as a Beta!). When the new hardware comes out, it's going to be a homerun for Apple. I'm still amazed that people want to bust on the iPhone when it clearly raised the bar for what a smartphone should be for companies that have been making phones for years! Stop hatin' and just admit that the iPhone is a great (maybe not perfect) smartphone. Of course there is always going to be competitors out there trying to top Apple by focusing on features they have excluded or currently working on.....that's what competition is about. However, to bash Apple and the iPhone makes no sense. Everyone should be thankful that Apple released the iPhone 2 years ago. Otherwise, we would probably be seeing the same pieces of shit smartphones that preceded it!
The closest anyone has gotten to the perfect device is Samsung with their Omnia HD.
3.7" 640 by 360 Capacitive (yes, no stylus), AMOLED 16M colour touch screen.
Symbian 5th Edition (which supports a massive amount of custom apps).
8MP Camera with single LED (fail), auto focus + video recording at 720p (@24fps) (win).
Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which is getting better and better.
OMAP 3430 chipset which not only allows HD recording, also has the grunt to play games such as this: http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/images/reviews/Omnia-HD/kull-tb.jpg
16 or 8GB internal + MicroSD
HSDPA, GPS, WiFi, BT, 3G + only 12mm thick
The only thing it's lacking is either a Dual LED or Xenon flash.
You are correct that the lens matters .. but the problem is they are going with a shitty supplier for that lens. Largan Precision only makes crap plastic lenses as far as I am aware.
I'm the owner of OmniVision and I can assure you we are NOT part of any iPhone.
Please say I'm not the only one that is instantly reminded of phpinfo() by that blue/grey table?