If you want proof that there is an iPhone 5 in existence and it is coming out this year, all you have to do is check out the official Apple iOS 6 webpage suggests PopHerald (PH).
Apple has always liked to keep things a secret and they made this clear when they said they were doubling down on secrecy this year. During the WWDC, Apple introduced their iOS 6 and called it one of the most advanced operating systems. However there was not even a whisper regarding the iPhone 5 or a release date for the handset.
PopHerald: iPhone 5 release date confirmed’ by 2 features
However wouldn’t it make sense that if they are releasing a brand new OS in the fall, they will want to show it off on a brand new phone? The iPhone 5 would then be able to make the most of the new features of the OS such as Facebook integration and the mail app. PopHerald suggests that two of the new operating system’s features do wave a red flag and tell us that the latest incarnation of the iPhone will be coming before Black Friday this year.
The first of these apps is Passbook which will see Apple with a new stream of revenue floating their way. Apple said on their webpage that the app keeps movie tickets, retail coupons and the like, all in one place. You can use the iPhone to check for flights, get in to see a movie and use coupons. Passes appear on the lock screen at the right time and place, such as on reaching the airport or you enter a store where you want to use a coupon. The app in short relies on the user using a credit card or debit card, for example when buying a plane ticket. It is thought the iPhone 5 will have NFC installed and Bluetooth 4.0, which happens to be the money maker.
The second feature that is a giveaway to a new iPhone 5 is opening up FaceTime over 3G which PopHerald suggests is Apple setting it up for 4G LTE which would work better. With this app users are able to chat face to face via video chat using the data plan supplied by their carrier. The app will work great on 4G LTE as this connection is faster and is stable with a lower ping. This of course depends on your location but Verizon offer the fastest 4G LTE connection at 10 Mbps in some areas. AT&T come in second with 39 markets and Sprint take 3rd place with 6 later in 2012. T-Mobile in the US will get the LTE network in 2013. Knowing Apple’s attention to detail, they wouldn’t suddenly allow FaceTime over 3G after blocking it all this time unless they were certain the video chatting experience would be good. And the most important aspect of video chatting other than video quality would be smooth usage i.e. solid connection.
Do you think PopHerald is on to something here or are they just grasping at straws? Sound off in the comments below.
