Hasta La Gadget!

When Apple goes on a memory buying binge, the tech world sits up ad takes notice. The company has reportedly ordered some 100 million 8Gb NAND flash chips, primarily from Samsung. The ginormous order is expected by some analysts to cause something of a shortage, with added demand from companies like Nokia and Sony.

The timing of the order, of course, points to the anticipated release of new iPhone models this summer. But why such a large order? After all, at a maximum capacity of 16GB, that’s an awful lot of handsets, right? Even for one as popular as the iPhone. Of course, no would be too shocked if the next iteration of the handset were bumped up to, say, 32GB…

By most accounts, the next generation of the iPhone is still a few months away. Rumors about the upcoming handset have already begun pouring in, however, including the addition of an FM transmitter, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and basic video-editing capabilities.

Of course, Apple’s not discussing any of these proposed additions to the new iPhone, because Apple never discusses future releases. But I wouldn’t be surprised at least one of them proved to be true. After all, no one expected the company to play all its cards when it introduced the iPhone 3.0 software to developers–and, effectively the world–a few weeks back.

The Wi-Fi boost and FM transmitter seem most probable. Video-editing capabilities, of course, would likely hinge on whether the company finally rolls out supported video recording in the next iPhone.

There’s no way to watch Microsoft’s keynote address at CTIA Wireless today without hearing “iPhone. Apple. iPhone. Apple,” like the whispering voices in the background on Lost. Of course, Microsof’t’s Robbie Bach and Jim Wilson never mentioned either of those words during their keynote presentation, as they demoed a mobile OS whose navigation and interface work almost identical to the iPhone’s.

Wilson kept a straight face while showing the finger-swiping, double tap to zoom, and Start button on the Windows Mobile 6.5 interface. Bach played it straight while talking about how Microsoft is building a consumer tech ecosystem that involves a user’s PC, TV, phone, and syncing service, and when talking about how excited he was that EA Mobile’s Sim City was coming to Windows Mobile.

The only overt mention of Apple came when Bach showed a Windows commercial in which an attractive young girl goes laptop shopping and decides she’s “not cool enough to be an Apple user.”

I’m a Windows Mobile expatriate who defected to the iPhone, so maybe this is all in my head, but the entire keynote presentation appeared to be Microsoft talking up all the features they’d cribbed from Apple, knowing full well that the audience was in on it.

If I were better at video editing, I’d splice the clips of Bach and Smith demoing iPhone-esque features and put together a mock Apple commercial for YouTube.

Anyway, sorry for the diversion. Now go back to reading Sascha’s excellent CTIA coverage.

Remember how last week China Unicom brazenly threw up product images for the iPhone and a few other smartphones, implying that in the very near future it would be providing service to them? Well, funny story: turns out the company’s chairman, Chang Xiaobing, is now saying negotiations are actually still ongoing with Apple and that the two have a good bit of wheeling and dealing left to do. What could they possibly still be discussing? According to Barron’s, the debates focus on two primary issues: a Chinese law banning WiFi use in mobile phones; and Unicom’s insistence on installing its own software on the iPhone, including some sort of *gasp* non-iTunes media player. How long now until these issues are resolved? Barron’s is citing research firm Wedge Partners, who indicates it may not be until the end of the year. Better stick with those gray-market imports, folks.

Read — Negotiations still under way
Read — Barron’s

Filed under: Cellphones

China Unicom still not confirmed as Chinese iPhone provider originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yesterday you saw the iPhone prototype with secret messages, but here you have it in full video action. It’s ultra fast, but it looks like if it was designed in the 90s. By Jean-Luc Picard.

I like how the matte screen looks. And definitely, I love how fast this thing is. The Interface icons are fugly, but the combination of colors and the rounded buttons remind me of the computer consoles in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Not bad at all. Actually, someone should try something like that for real: A total ST:TNG makeover of the iPhone interface. [eBay via Nowhere Else]