Every week the numerous blogs covering the machinations of the Apple empire float tons of unconfirmed rumors, futuristic speculation, and questionably-sourced reports on what the company might be unveiling in the near or distant future. Let's take a look back at what these Mac blogs were excited about this week, from August 21- 27. Check out last week's Apple rumors here.
This Week In Apple Rumors: iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4 Edition
The iPhone 5 Will Either Be Smaller Than The iPhone 4 Or Bigger Than The iPhone 4!(01 of10)
So, a bit of big news this week was that 9to5Mac found an icon in a beta version of some new Apple software that looked like the iPhone 5. So, obviously, building on that news, they made a mock-up of two different versions of what that iPhone 5 might look like. The first version, above, has a screen that is more "edge-to-edge" on the phone and is smaller than the current iPhone 4. Not so exciting, right?BUT, click over to the next slide to see Version Number 2, which imagines an iPhone 5 with the same screen proportions that is bigger than the iPhone 4... (credit:9to5Mac)
Here's A Bigger Version Of The iPhone 5!(02 of10)
Booyah!The iPhone 5 is on the left in this picture, and the iPhone 4 is on the right.These mockups are all based on screen dimensions gleaned from a teensy-tiny icon in a beta release of a piece of Apple photo software, remember, so don't get your hopes up too high. If 9to5Mac is right, however, the iPhone 5 could be moving into recently announced Samsung Galaxy Note territory in terms of screen proportions.And hey, speaking of side-by-side iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 comparisons... (credit:9to5Mac)
The iPhone 4 Does Not Fit In What Might Be iPhone 5 Cases!(03 of10)
It's just like the O.J. trial all over again!!!Italiano Apple site macitynet.it apparently got its hands on one of those iPhone 5 cases that 9to5Mac had leaked photos of back in July. Naturally, the first thing they did was plop their iPhone 4 in the case to see how it compared, and guess what? IT DIDN'T FIT! WE MUST ACQUIT!If the cases are real, the iPhone 5 is going to be both skinnier (in terms of depth) and wider (in terms of width) than the iPhone 4; the iPhone 4 is sticking out of that case like a small deep-dish pizza in an extra-large thin-crust pizza box: Lots of slipping and sliding going around in there. For a full gallery of the ways in which the iPhone 5 case does not hold the iPhone 4, head over to Macitynet.it.But really, why bother asking if this is an iPhone 5 case, when we could be asking... (credit:Macitynet.it)
Is This A Next-Generation iPhone Prototype?(04 of10)
HuffPost Tech sister site Engadget had a tipster send in some photos of what they say is a prototype of a next-generation iPhone. They seem to think it's the iPhone 4S, rumored to be the cheaper of the two iPhones Apple might release this fall. The device in question features a few of the hallmarks of Apple prototypes, including an Engineering Verification Test (EVT) number and the designation that it is an N94 (the supposed code name of the next-gen iPhone). Engadget says that the insides look a lot like the insides of the iPhone 4, and I believe them; of the two rumored iPhones, it is the iPhone 5 that is supposed to be the huge update, anyway.But, again, should we be asking "Is this a next-generation iPhone prototype?" when we could be asking more important questions? Questions, for example, like... (credit:Engadget)
Is THIS An iPhone 5 Prototype?(05 of10)
All together now: "That's not an iPhone 5 prototype; THIS is an iPhone 5 prototype!"Macpost has photos of what it says is a prototype for the LCD screen of the next-generation iPhone. A shot of the other side of the screen shows that this prototype also has an EVT number and the N94 designation, just like Engadget's. And hey, they do look pretty similar don't they?These prototypes have all posed for the camera, but really, the biggest prototype is one that we haven't seen yet. I am talking, of course, about... (credit:Macpost)
The iPhone 5 That Some Drunk Apple Employee Forgot At A Bar!(06 of10)
Yes, again. This story has taken some strange turns over the week: First, the iPhone was reported missing in San Francisco, and a police investigation was said to be under way. Then, the San Francisco police said they had not received any calls about a missing iPhone. Then, some security guards hired by Apple were accused of impersonating police officers, which is a crime. SFPD said they had no record of an investigation, yet the people accused of having the phone were shown badges. Now, SF police apparently do remember being along with the Apple security guards, in plainclothes, though the guy whose home they searched said the Apple employees presented themselves as cops.And the carousel goes round-and-round...Anyway, besides hired Apple goons perhaps committing a casual felony out in California, there was another bit of news this week that hinted we are getting closer to an iPhone update... (credit:Flickr: cogdogblog)
The iPhone 5 Gets An FCC Number!(07 of10)
Remember that iPhone prototype codenamed N94 from two posts ago? (God, I hope you do). Well, apparently it got an ID number from the FCC this past week, which you can see above. 9to5Mac found that file in a beta release of iOS 5 and saw fit to share its glory with the world. Doesn't really tell you anything about the phone, except that it exists and the FCC knows it exists.So, there's an FCC ID for one iPhone, but where is the FCC number for the other phone that will supposedly be released at the same time? I plan on emailing the Federal Communications Commission non-stop until they release it.And, really, they better get on it, because the release of the newest iPhones might be coming really soon to a great country I think we're all pretty familiar with... (credit:9to5Mac)
That's Right: New Zealand Is Getting The iPhone 5 On October 9th!(08 of10)
Oh, did you think I was talking about America?New Zealand's fourth most popular folk parody tech website techday says it has learned from "a source within apple" of the release date for the iPhone 5 in the Land of the Long White Cloud. The date in question? October 9. Mac Rumors notes that this would put the release on the Sunday, "which seems a strange launch day"; but then again, New Zealand seems a strange country, what with all the ents and orcs and everything.Just kidding, New Zealand. You're beautiful, you have great weather and, pretty soon, it won't matter how far you live from a Genius Bar if you want to get your iPhone repaired, because... (credit:Flickr: Mark Lincoln)
Apple Is Building A Remote Diagnostics Tool!(09 of10)
It's your Patently Apple patent of the week!Francophone website Hardmac first reported on the remote iOS checkup service, which they had heard Apple was putting "the finishing touch" on. Patently Apple backed up that rumor by publishing an Apple patent filed last week that would allow devices running iOS to go through software and hardware checkups remotely--that is, without having to be in the hands of a techie in order to have their malady discovered. The user would simply connect to iTunes and then hand the controls over to the technician, who could run through the system diagnostics and, well, diagnose the problem from there. The technician could then help the confused owner fix their iThing, or instruct them to come into the store. Wouldn't it be nice to have your iPhone repaired from the comfort of your own home? Imagine yourself, getting your smartphone fixed with your dog in your lap and your Ramen noodles on the stove, and you, feet up on the couch, watching your favorite soap opera on your... (credit:Patently Apple)
Brand New Television Set Made By Apple!(10 of10)
Apple just might be getting into the TV-manufacturing business, per a story in VentureBeat citing "multiple sources in Silicon Valley". An analyst told the paper that 15-inch or 19-inch LCD Apple TVs with touchscreen functionality running iOS could be a possibility in 2012 or 2013. No word on whether or not those television sets will be able to play Flash videos.That's all for This Week In Apple Rumors. Check back here next week to see if they caught the guy with the iPhone 5, or the guys who were trying to catch the guy with the iPhone 5 by impersonating policemen. (credit:Flickr: timsnell)
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