iOS UZER #27: iPad 2 Predictions

This week on iOS UZER we predict what will happen at the already past Apple iPad 2 announcement. We also discuss the possibility of an iOS 5 announcement. We also discuss new methods of notifications on iOS using MobileNotifier as an example. Why Mike thinks the iPhone 5 is the iPhone Nano, and Tim’s Cooks discussion on a cheap iPhone. All that and more this week on iOS UZER!

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iOS UZER #26: Scoping Out the Competition

This week on iOS UZER we mainly talk about the competition. Specifically we have a long chat about WebOS and HP’s new products the Pre 3, Veer, and TouchPad. We also discuss the idea of the iPhone Nano, a potentially smaller iPhone. Have you ever wanted to run an Android app on your iPhone? We discuss an upcoming jailbreak application to do this called Alien Dalvik.

App Time: Google Translate

Pick of the Week: Monter iBeats by Dre.

http://player.wizzard.tv/player/o/i/x/129804084666/config/k-11bbb60f44473e8d/uuid/root.m4v

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Why the iPhone Nano IS the iPhone 5

With all the rumors and “insider sources” I thought I’d share my perspective on why this “iPhone Nano” IS the iPhone 5.   Lets start with the obvious, we heard a while back that the iPhone 5 would have a total redesign. When you have something like the iPhone 4, what more can you really do in terms of design?  With Apple investing so much in their tough-as-nails glass, I don’t see them changing materials.

Instead we can make it thinner, lighter and “smaller”.  When I say smaller I mean the physical footprint of the device. The screen size of the iPhone will not change. I am convinced it will never change; even if 4.5″ screens become an overbearing, outselling standard on Android.

How will we make it smaller?  Edge-to-edge design, which is a point I agree with in the rumor mill. This is a great way to significantly reduce the size all around.  Thats right all around!  A small bezel at top and bottom for the receiver and mic is enough. You know what that means?  Bye bye home button.  Not sure how well it will work, but full on gesturing is  ready for primetime. I’d say volume and mute buttons can remain.  Insert proc and RAM upgrades here.

Why do I think this is true?  Because I don’t see Apple supporting a third form factor.  It would further fracture development.  As we’ve seen, increasing resolution on an iPhone doesn’t give you more real estate, but pixel density.  The point to point ratio of the iOS UI on mobile (iPhone & iPod touch) cannot change, unless iOS adapts a webOS-like dynamic scaling.  But there are not hints of that as far as I know. I could be wrong.

As for the “cheap” price, a low storage entry level version of the iPhone 5 sounds good. Perhaps 4 or 8 GB models. Question is does that mean no $99 iPhone 4?  Who knows?  This is my brain thinking in JFK airport.

Mike Giannas
I wrote this on my iPad.

 

Update 2/18/2011

So I guess the NY Times took two days more to figure out what I did from common sense.

Via MacStories