As Apple fanatics wait with bated breath for an iPhone 5 announcement, vague reports of a completely new Apple product line bubbled to the surface. Elsewhere, Apple asked iOS developers to give users a little more privacy, and the iPhone may take on yet another U.S. wireless carrier soon.As the summer draws to a close, Cupertino-watchers grow increasingly anxious for the big announcement proclaiming the iPhone 5's release date. New hardware is almost certainly on the menu, and a new U.S. carrier may join the iPhone family as well. Sprint (NYSE: S) will soon start carrying Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) smartphone, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed sources.
However, it may still be several weeks before rumors and unconfirmed reports turn into solid dates and product details.
Some Apple hounds were so anxious for news from the company this week that they contemplated vague reports from Asian suppliers that the tech giant could be introducing a gadget line so innovative and ahead of the curve that it could represent and entirely new product line. Reports didn't provide many details but speculated it could be a line of touch-enabled desktop-like computers.
"They're at a point, and a size and scale, where there always seems to be something coming, and the competition always seems to have something coming so they've got to stay ahead," Edward Zabitsky, principal and CEO of ACI Research, told MacNewsWorld.
Financial soothsayers, though, seem more focused on the company's future in areas like cloud offerings and its existing mobile lines.
"What's really happening is that we're moving toward light computing and these OSes that have been optimized and developed for mobile are really OSes for interface with the cloud. So over a long period of time they'll be migrating these light OSes -- that's the direction the industry is moving," said Zabitsky.
With the focus on the cloud, in particular its upcoming iCloud offering, Apple can really dig into its loyal, core user base to generate revenue and a truly streamlined product and consumer foundation.
"Apple is really focusing on the iCloud and Apple Me products. Apple can offer a free e-mail system, and I think people would rush up to have @me.com addresses. This is where it's headed, and it can be a pretty big thing," Hendi Susanto, analyst at Gabelli, told MacNewsWorld.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Privacy, Please
As for iPhones, Apple hasn't revealed when customers can start lining up for their upgrades, but it did make one announcement regarding changes to the iOS platform when it debuts. Apple asked developers to refrain from using a Unique Device Identifier (UDID) when creating iOS 5 apps.
The UDID is used in multiple apps, usually involving ads and gaming, and can allow a developer or a third party to collect personal data about the user. That data can be helpful for developers as they broaden their apps and personalize ads or games for certain demographics, but many users have voiced their opposition to what they see as a personal invasion.
That access to information has led to PR headaches that apparently just aren't worth it moving forward, so it's asked developers not to include the data in upcoming apps.
As consumers become more focused on online security and preventing data theft, that practice may become the industry standard.
"Once you put GPS on a device and you build a platform to use the GPS, there are always people who will misuse it. We're becoming more sophisticated, not just the market but the handset vendors. It's just something that needs to be corrected. It's not an Apple-specific problem, but providing an interface with GPS is a dangerous kind of thing with a few developers," said Zabitsky.
Since privacy concerns exist across the board, this probably won't lead to an exodus of developers flocking to different platforms.
"I don't think it's going to result in any dent because I do think that other companies like Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) will also follow suit and this will still be an equal playing field," Susanto said.
Product Rumors
Whispers about the iPhone 5's release date remain focused on October. Since networks' high-speed 4G LTE technology started making its way onto the scene, the idea has been tossed around that the iPhone 5 will be the first Apple phone with 4G connectivity. Some reports have indicated that suppliers confirmed the company was testing with 4G networks, but as the release date draws closer, it seems less likely the iPhone 5 will come equipped with LTE.
"Apple always wants to be leading edge, but not bleeding edge. Their standard of quality is that you need 10 hours of battery life, and obviously those radios could cause a power drain. Apple, for now, it appears, have sought to side with caution making sure that the technology is up to their standards. It's a tradeoff," said Zabitsky.
Another product that is likely being held off so as not to compromise quality is the iPad 3. A while back, rumors suggested Apple's next tablet would be on shelves for the holidays, and although there were rumors it entered production this week, it probably won't be available for consumers until after the holiday rush.
"I think that the current Apple supply chains still couldn't meet a high production yield, specifically for displays, because Apple wants to provide a much higher resolution for its new iPad. It might be pushed to early next year," said Susanto.
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