iPhone 6 rumors

There's no shortage of speculation about what will be included in the next iPhone, much of which seems to be based on wishful thinking:

A Liquidmetal shell: As Apple strives to make the new handset as slim and strong as possible, some commentators have speculated that it may turn to Liquidmetal, an alloy that's stronger than aluminium. In theory that would mean the handset could be lighter and slimmer without skimping on strength or build quality, but in practice it seems unlikely. Although one of the inventors of Liquidmetal predicted two years ago that Liquidmetal cases would be possible by mid-2014, its use has so far been limited to small components.

Liquidmetal components: This is much more likely. Documents published by Apple-watching website MacRumors, suggest that the alloy could be used in buttons and switches in order to toughen up what have often proved to be weak points on previous iPhones.

A curved screen: At the end of last year Bloomberg carried a report predicting the next iPhone models would have screens that curved down at the edges. Curved screens are said to be more durable, more comfortable to use, and better suited to watching videos and playing games, according to Sky News. This would be a bold move for Apple, which usually likes to stand back and see how other phone-makers fare with new, risky technologies – and last month a source told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has no plans to make use of curved glass.

Eye-tracking: Some rumours suggested that the iPhone 5S would be eye-controlled, allowing users to scroll through pages without touching the device. When the technology failed to materialise in the last model, hopeful observers shifted their attention to the iPhone 6.

NFC: Another long-predicted feature, Near Field Communication or NFC would allow the phone to act as a payment system. Users would wave their handsets over a receiver to transfer money in shops and restaurants, or between friends. Several Android and Windows Phone devices already support NFC payments, but Apple has yet to make the leap.

Studio flash: Apple is working on a way of letting iPhones control flashes built into a range of phones and tablets in order to light a scene from multiple angles, according to Apple Insider, which unearthed a patent for the system. There's no hint about when the system might make it into production

Retina-scanning security: The same people who came up with the curved-screen iPhone now have more unsolicited advice for Apple. SET Solution’s video shows a phone equipped with an eye-scanner that would be used to unlock the phone and log in to iTunes, online banking and other accounts. Although this technology is very unlikely to make it into the iPhone 6, it looks like a good long-term bet.

iOS 8: Apple tends to announce new software at the same time as new hardware, so this is a dead cert – although what features it will include is much less clear. "We expect iOS 8 to build on the foundation of iOS 7, meaning users should not expect Apple to abandon the current design," says GottaBeMobile. "Instead, it should come with tweaks and enhancements  to current features in addition to new ones, of which the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s will both benefit."

Launch date: Some reports have suggested that the iPhone 6 could be with us as soon as May, but most analysts now predict a late summer or autumn release date, fitting in with Apple's yearly product cycle. The iPhone 5S and 5C came out in October last year.

A higher price tag: One prediction not based on wishful thinking is the suggestion that the new iPhone will be significantly more expensive. "We see the potential for the iPhone 6 price point to move higher, to avoid the profit margin erosion that occurred when iPhone 5 launched," said Chris Caso of Susquehanna Financial Group, according to Investors.com. "When iPhone 5 was launched, Apple's phone margins declined because the new features (most notably the display) added cost to the bill of materials, yet the price point of the phone remained unchanged.

This article provided courtesy of http://www.theweek.co.uk/