Celebrated Christmas Early...

[cycocelica]

...and got an iPhone. Now, usually I would rip it open and start playing with it but I know Apple. With Macworld coming up, is it safe to keep it?

Mind you I don't need 3G, I will survive without it. What I am more concerned about is more added features that can't be put in through software updates. I read through most of the posts about Macworld, but I was wondering what others thought.

 

[EricNau]

MacWorld is still too soon to release a new iPhone IMO (look how many complained after the price drop ...can you even imagine?!).

Although I would expect a software update.

 

[docprego]

MacWorld is still too soon to release a new iPhone IMO (look how many complained after the price drop ...can you even imagine?!).

Although I would expect a software update.

And a boost to 16GB. The Touch has had it from day one so it would appear to be a simple upgrade for Apple.

 

[Drumjim85]

And a boost to 16GB. The Touch has had it from day one so it would appear to be a simple upgrade for Apple.

I think i post this once a day... The touch has 2 8gb chips, but the touch can only have one memory chip because the other slot is used for the gsm radio. So saying that the iPhone can compete easily with the touch isn't true. Apple would have to buy 16gb chips which would cost a lot more. It can be done, but at what price?

 

[ntrigue]

Commence iPhone'ing. There will not be a new iPhone until June, minimum.

 

[docprego]

I think i post this once a day... The touch has 2 8gb chips, but the touch can only have one memory chip because the other slot is used for the gsm radio. So saying that the iPhone can compete easily with the touch isn't true. Apple would have to buy 16gb chips which would cost a lot more. It can be done, but at what price?

So this means that the iPhone does not have the space to fit the two 8GB chips inside?

 

[Drumjim85]

So this means that the iPhone does not have the space to fit the two 8GB chips inside?

correct... At least how its currently designed. Who knows what can happen with 2nd gen.

 

[Victor ch]

I think i post this once a day... The touch has 2 8gb chips, but the touch can only have one memory chip because the other slot is used for the gsm radio. So saying that the iPhone can compete easily with the touch isn't true. Apple would have to buy 16gb chips which would cost a lot more. It can be done, but at what price?

Your 100% correct, the guys over at ifixit.com had theirs disassembled and they had (because it was an 8gb one of course) two 4gb memory chips.
Now remember that any physical change like adding memory and/or 3G to the internal components would mean that it will need to be approved by the FCC and I assume that can take a while so thats another fact to add.
I for once can't rally take advantage to "new" technologies due to my geographical location: Costa Rica; we don't have 3G, GPS is poorly implemented (non-aviation wise) and we have a monopolized cellular communication service, that even though is extremely cheap it has crappy GSM coverage. Anyways hope this helped.

-Victor

 

[dacreativeguy]

There are so many people monitoring the patent office and FCC for Apple product tips that we'll all know when a new iphone is on the way. That is why Apple pre-announced the iphone last january. If they didn't, someone else would have discovered the phone at the FCC and would have beat Apple to the punch.

The iphone will definitely have to go back for testing for the 3g version, but if it has to be certified even for just a memory upgrade, then I wonder if they will even bother. They might just wait and upgrade the radio and memory at the same time to maintain as much secrecy as possible.

It should be interesting to see how Apple handles this. They are a very private company, but FCC certification is a back door to their secrets. They certainly don't want to pre-announce then next iphone version 6 months early, as it would kill sales of the existing model.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Open it up and enjoy your Christmas present for god sake!

 

[pscoble]

Open that baby up there won't be an update until April at least unless they managed to speed things up ( which would be more or less impossible)

 

[runplaysleeprun]

There are so many people monitoring the patent office and FCC for Apple product tips that we'll all know when a new iphone is on the way. That is why Apple pre-announced the iphone last january. If they didn't, someone else would have discovered the phone at the FCC and would have beat Apple to the punch.

Well, we can perhaps expect apple to announce the new iPhone at macworld, and it not ship for 6 months until after FCC review.

 

[nlivo]

It will definately not be upgraded to 16gb. No way. The 8gb iPhone currently costs the same as the 16gb touch. If they upgraded the iPhone to 16gb then they would have to increase the price which they never would do. They could not have the same price for the iPhone and touch.

 

[Drumjim85]

Well, we can perhaps expect apple to announce the new iPhone at macworld, and it not ship for 6 months until after FCC review.

wouldn't this kill current iPhone sales??

 

[Ryan1524]

Darn. I was hoping I'll only have to wait till Mid-january. I'd love to get an iPhone now, but will hate myself if they updated it. How likely is a 16Gb update, do you think? There are 32 and 64gb chips out there for a while now. an 8Gb chip can't be that expensive, anymore...right? right?

 

[TJROCKSTAR]

It will definitely not be upgraded to 16gb. No way. The 8gb iPhone currently costs the same as the 16gb touch. If they upgraded the iPhone to 16gb then they would have to increase the price which they never would do. They could not have the same price for the iPhone and touch.

True, Unless they upgraded the Ipod Touch to 32 Gb, and the iphone to 16Gb. If the costs allow it, then they could keep the prices the same and therefore the value points of each on par to current standards.
There have been a couple rumors by analysts who have looked at supplier's trends who have hinted at an early 08 capacity increase, and 3g in the second half of 08. Yet what to consider is, the question of would they upgrade both , within the 2 weeks after Xmas.

My wife bought me an ipod Touch 16GB, instead of the iphone due to capacity(she couldn't keep it a secret for longer then an hour). I have yet to open it, and she said she was told I had two weeks after Xmas to return it.
SO my personal debate is, would they increase capacity right after Xmas, and within the return time frame, or not change either.
My hopes is they will increase both capacity wise by 2x. And announce the 3G iphone for June, since as it has been pointed out the FCC filing will expose the new iphone anyways. But I can't deny the thought they could shoot themselves in the foot, if they made those changes. Granted I don't' have details on the storage chips, or current related costs for them. But then again that is why I am trolling the rumor sites, and forums to find a hint of what SJ's got up his turtleneck wearing sleeves.

 

[runplaysleeprun]

wouldn't this kill current iPhone sales??

More than likely, but the FCC outing it will have a similar effect as well. That is just how the cell industry is working now. Tons of phones are being shown before their manufacturers announce them from internal FCC documents. So you have to ask yourself this: will apple announce it six months in advance on its own terms, or allow the FCC to do it 3-4 months in advance.
The first time round, they chose the former.

 

[Brianstorm91]

No new iPhone, SDK, remember?

 

[Drumjim85]

More than likely, but the FCC outing it will have a similar effect as well. That is just how the cell industry is working now. Tons of phones are being shown before their manufacturers announce them from internal FCC documents. So you have to ask yourself this: will apple announce it six months in advance on its own terms, or allow the FCC to do it 3-4 months in advance.
The first time round, they chose the former.

the first time around they also didn't have a similar product on their line...

 

[runplaysleeprun]

the first time around they also didn't have a similar product on their line...

Yeah, they're damned if they do, damned if they don't.

 

[Ryan1524]

FCC filings can now be kept secret. There is a process that allows companies to defer the announcement or the listing of a device, even after it's approved. So I wouldn't count on the FCC watchers to predict anything. Unless of course you have someone IN the FCC, whispering you all these things after seeing the private archives - then it's a completely different story.

 

[dacreativeguy]

FCC filings can now be kept secret. There is a process that allows companies to defer the announcement or the listing of a device, even after it's approved. So I wouldn't count on the FCC watchers to predict anything. Unless of course you have someone IN the FCC, whispering you all these things after seeing the private archives - then it's a completely different story.

I challenge you to find a government related organization that doesn't leak like a sieve. If iphone is at the FCC we'll know about it.

 

[Ryan1524]

I'm just saying, based on first hand knowledge, that there is such a request document. And so far, from what I've seen monitoring the web, the only rumors circulating are just that, rumors. They often come close, but the source has never been the FCC. Then again, people are smart and can put two and two together, a small hint here, a confirmation there. An official declaration is not required. lol.