“Taiwan Economic News reported on Wednesday [that] Apple plans to diversify its iPhone product line in order to widen its reach in the mobile phone market,” Joseph Lee reports for The Financial Post.
“The new models will adopt a smaller, plastic casing… Other reports even suggest the possibility of a 5 megapixel camera, video recording and playback and an FM radio tuner,” Lee reports.
MacDailyNews Take: In some quarters, the quixotic quest for a built-in FM radio will never die.
Lee continues, “One of the three new models won’t offer 3G support… The new models will weigh between 110 and 120 grams [and] offer a 2.8-inch screen, rather than the 3.5-inch screen currently offered on the iPhone.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “John B in Montreal” for the heads up.]
Plastic? FM radio?
Not sure about this…
don’t really care about more megapixles, just better sensor in low light! dont like the sound of plastic though, i thought the rumor was magnesium.
“One of the three new models won’t offer 3G support… The new models will weigh between 110 and 120 grams, much lighter than the 135-gram weight of the current one. It will also offer a 2.8-inch screen…”
The iPhone Nano is coming! Maybe the low end is unlocked and the high end still locked?
It was semi-believable until they brought up the FM radio.
Pure crap.
Why does anyone want an FM tuner. Seriously there’s nothing to listen to on the radio.
I’m getting really tired of all these rumors. Apple will not add FM radio to any of their products, ever.
Now who’s interested in the “news” inventions of a taiwanese newspaper? Let alone suggesting that shrinking the iphones display size would be feasible or even what apple would do is completely moronic.
Quit reading after “FM radio tuner.”
iPhone will dominate just like the iPod. Within 3 years we’ll have multiple iphones just like the iPod line…
re: quit reading after “FM radio tuner”
ditto. clearly the writer doesn’t have a clue about Apple or the market. seriously
I’m surprised they didn’t “report” that Apple will add a real QWERTY keyboard and a two button mouse to the iPhone…
FM radio? Gimme a break.
Add one of those hand cranks for power, too.
I’d love an iPhone with NO camera, actually ANY decent phone, everything else. If I want to take pictures, I’ll carry a real camera.
I’m very surprised that there isn’t more negative reaction to the “rumors” circulating that the screen size will be reduced by 20%…not only will it suck for video and web surfing, but presumably for typing as well…unless they add a real keyboard…hmmm
iPhone Shuffle, anyone?
Hehehe!!!
“The smallest cell phone in the market, at the size of a quarter”
The iPhone camera can be a pain in the ass. I have to keep an old clunky cell phone around to take into courthouses that don’t allow camera phones.
They are not going to shrink the iPhone display, at least not across all models. There might be an iPhone Air version that is slimmed down, but why degrade the user experience across the board for web surfing and other display hungry activities that make the iPhone stand out relative to its wannabe peers?
And it they are even thinking of including radio, it will be HD radio from satellite. No way Jobs would go backward to FM.
This is Apple trying to find leaks.
FM Radio?
Smaller scn on all models?
right …
Let me guess, it runs Windows Mobile too and Apple will launch a “SmartPhone Switcher” campaign.
FM radio on the iPhone?
Pah.
Bring back C.B. radio to the masses.
Just remember to keep your shiny side up and your greasy down. And I’ll shake the trees if you rake the leaves. There’s a baby bear on your back door so watch your donkey.
Over.
Thanks Mr. Reeee!
Now I can write on my blog that I have it from a reliable source that the next gen iPhone will come with hand crank power!
One of the new iPhone models is a nose plug.
You navigate the interface by pulsing a finger into the other nostril. Cab drivers and technical analysts are the prime market targets.
It also filters the air and creates a surround sound chamber in your sinuses. And it comes with a handy tether for your neck to wear during cold and flu season.
Why not have a radio?
I’m sure Apple has received a LOT of requests to add this feature and it makes sense. On many occasions Steve Jobs has said he wouldn’t do one thing yet he goes ahead and adds features according to the demand.
The new iPhones (2 of them) will be a step down and up from the current iPhone. So, basically, there will be three models: An iPhone Nano, iPhone, and iPhone Pro, just like we had an iPod, iPod Nano, and Shuffle. The Pro will have 3G, two cameras, and real GPS, the current iPhone will add new applications, better battery life, and a non-recessed headphone jack. The Nano will be made of durable plastic, come in black and other colors.
The Nano will start at $149, iPhone at $249, Pro at $349 and each will come in two capacities.
Launch date: End of July
😀
iPhone Shuffle
It’s brilliant. You want to talk to someone, but don’t care who. It’ll call people at random for you.
I♥it!
Leak bait. Heads are gonna roll. My opinion, of course.
FM radio is massively popular in the UK, the two breakfast dj’s on BBC Radio 1 & 2 get about 15m a day between them, when you consider the population that’s a lot. Add in radio 3, 4, 5 and all the popular commercial/local stations and there is a big audience. Just because US radio is crap doesn’t mean everywhere else’s is too. Of course the US is currently the main market but still.
@ OpJ
I have to keep an old clunky cell phone around to take into courthouses that don’t allow camera phones.
I recently saw a news item that some courthouses in New York City are now allowing cell phones with cameras – anymore phones without cameras are rare. People are just told not to use the cameras, and warned of the penalties if they do.
At the same time, they are removing the pay phones!