Weekend-5-13
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
tech | iphone review<br />
Apple’s next gen<br />
Rumoured specs and what to expect from the new iPhone<br />
Mahmood Hossain<br />
The latest beta version of the iOS 11 has, so far, been received well, yet is still a risk. We aren’t brave enough to test the waters as our friends<br />
have so we can only hear from a second-hand account. While that’s still in the process, we’ll have to wait until September for a full-on rollout<br />
for our Apple devices. With the latest devices and OS updates right around the corner, we take a look at what we know so far.<br />
Future in specs<br />
• Expect three different models, alongside<br />
two minor “S” upgrades, and of course<br />
the new iPhone 8<br />
• There is a possibility that the home<br />
button and Touch ID is embedded<br />
beneath the display or located on the<br />
back<br />
• We might see iris scanning and/or facial<br />
recognition like the LG’s 3D sensor tech<br />
• New body design is curved with edgeto-edge<br />
OLED display and possesses the<br />
iPad’s True Tone technology, and also<br />
might have Ion-X glass<br />
• A surprising addition could be “wireless”<br />
charging. In other words, inductive or<br />
magnetic charging like the Apple watch<br />
• The dual-lens camera might be laid out in<br />
a vertical manner with AR capabilities<br />
• Support for the Apple Pencil<br />
• USB-C charger that connects with Apple’s<br />
existing Lightning connecter<br />
• Further steps for advanced water<br />
resistance and waterproofing will be in<br />
place<br />
• Better quality for the earpiece so that<br />
there’s a slightly louder and clearer audio<br />
• The obvious would be the A10X or A11<br />
processors in place of the predecessors<br />
• Better stainless steel and glass body build<br />
• There will definitely be an upgrade<br />
in storage and memory and possibly<br />
starting with 64GB and 3GB of RAM<br />
• The new iOS 11 will either be supported<br />
by Intel or Qualcomm modem<br />
• Only on assumption, the phones will be<br />
priced between $850 to $1,099<br />
Timing on point<br />
As far as we know, Apple will report that<br />
they are right on schedule. However, there<br />
are many sources claiming that there have<br />
been minor issues with supply chains<br />
through manufacturing in its hardware<br />
upgrades and new phones. Analysts predict<br />
the new devises won’t start shipping out<br />
until October or even November. While the<br />
“S” models might launch in September, the<br />
major release will follow in the<br />
coming months.<br />
What’s in a name?<br />
Since we have no idea what the<br />
company is planning to call the<br />
new mobile device, we can only<br />
refer it to as the iPhone 8. Earlier<br />
in the year, we saw Apple replace<br />
the iPad Air 2 with simply the iPad.<br />
What is most likely to happen is the<br />
introduction of the iPhone 7S and<br />
iPhone 7S Plus. Another possibility<br />
would be that they skip past the 8<br />
and 9 and claim the phone as the<br />
iPhone 10 or iPhone X, referring to<br />
the phone’s 10th anniversary.<br />
Staying home<br />
One of the biggest and long awaited<br />
changes to the iPhone is the home button<br />
and Touch ID. Leading sources like Kuo<br />
continue to emphasise that the physical<br />
home button will be replaced with a virtual<br />
one, sitting neat and tight under the display.<br />
However, the Touch ID will be positioned in<br />
a different part of the phone. The reason for<br />
this is the technology hasn’t been properly<br />
implemented, tried and/or successfully<br />
tested. It would be a mistake to make this<br />
technology available for the mass market<br />
when it hasn’t had the appropriate time<br />
period to be tested thoroughly. But who<br />
knows, Apple could pleasantly surprise us at<br />
the time of launch. In truth, this technology<br />
is very difficult; so don’t get your hopes up.<br />
A little bit more<br />
The new iPhone 8, according to JPMorgan,<br />
will definitely come with the AirPods. These<br />
Bluetooth earphones currently sell for<br />
$159. Staying within the price category, the<br />
iPhone 8 could cost a little over $1,000 in<br />
the US. Theories, if they turn out to be true,<br />
suggest that the 64GB entry-level model will<br />
start around $850, just like the Galaxy S8<br />
Plus. The 7S and 7S Plus models would start<br />
around $649 and $749, respectively.<br />
And for those hoping that Apple has<br />
heard the groans and pains of the average<br />
consumer, it is highly unlikely that they will<br />
bring back the 3.5mm headphone jack.<br />
While other Android phones have kept<br />
the favoured headphone jack, there are<br />
no signs of Apple nudging on their new<br />
design stance. Keep in mind all of these<br />
specifications have yet to be confirmed by<br />
Apple, so we’ll just have to assume and wait<br />
once the marketing goes on full affect. •<br />
WEEKEND TRIBUNE | FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017 17
Change language