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How Likely Is Apple To Announce iPhone 4.0?How Likely Is Apple To Announce iPhone 4.0?
Apple has scheduled an event for Wednesday, January 27, to show off its "latest creation." Pretty much everyone expects Apple to introduce a tablet computer. Rumors of new iPhone software are plentiful, too. Will iPhone 4.0 make a special guest appearance?
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Apple has scheduled an event for Wednesday, January 27, to show off its "latest creation." Pretty much everyone expects Apple to introduce a tablet computer. Rumors of new iPhone software are plentiful, too. Will iPhone 4.0 make a special guest appearance?Here's the scoreboard:
Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek says we'll definitely see iPhone 4.0. He wrote, "We believe there is a good chance that the 'One more thing…' part of next week's presentation may include two iPhone-related announcements: namely, the release of iPhone OS 4.0 and the unveiling of iPhone 4G coming to Verizon in June." That's a bold prediction.
PCWorld's David Coursey also thinks iPhone 4.0 is likely. He says, "The current iPhone 3.0 has gotten a bit behind the curve lately, as first the Palm Pre, then the Droid, and most recently the Nexus One have all been released with features the iPhone lacks... The best announcement at the event might actually be a bit of a sleeper: iPhone 4.0 as a 'catch-up' release."
An Apple source told FOX News that iPhone 4.0 is on deck. FOX reported, "A source at Apple ... said the event would likely focus on three projects: The tablet device, iPhone 4, and a new round of iLife 2010 software. While we won't see new iPhone hardware just yet, we will see the next-generation software."
Bloomberg reported that the iPhone will be announced and should be available by June. Goldman Sachs analyst Roobert Chen believes, "Apple's going to put a lot of innovation, not just on the hardware, but also on the software of the new iPhone." He goes on to state that the new iPhone will have touch-sensitive casing.
On top of all these analyst and insider sourced reports, supposed details of iPhone 4.0 have leaked all over the place. The new features include:
There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
"A few new ways" to run applications in the background - multitasking.
Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven't had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will "put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers" more than any other phone to date. Everyone is "really excited."
The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.
Does all of this speculation add up to concrete proof that iPhone 4.0 is going to be announced next week? No. But it makes it much more likely. Apple's January events typically offer more than one product announcement. Despite the enormity of a tablet announcement, Apple probably has at least one more thing up its sleeve for January 27.
Ahead of Apple's anticipated, but unconfirmed announcement of a tablet PC, information is tracking the sizzling market for slates, Webpads, e-readers, and related devices. See full coverage of the tablet PC wars here.
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