Check out this interactive 3D mockup of a taller iPhone with a four-inch display

Our friends over at MacRumors did it again. Remember a recent iLoungue report describing a taller iPhone rocking a four-inch display that Apple may or may not have been prototyping for some time?
Tapping proven design talent of Federico Ciccarese, the publication published a pair of gorgeous-looking renditions depicting such a device sitting next to an everyday 3.5-inch iPhone 4S.
I wasn’t sure about a larger iPhone, but have definitely changed my mind having seen this image. Also, if you use a WebGL-based browser such as Safari on OS X or Google’s Chrome, you can play with an interactive 3D model of the mockup…
Blowing up a 3.5-inch display on the iPhone 4S to four inches in diagonal while maintaining the same width would add approximately 11 mm, or 0.45 inch, to the height of the display.
And what do you think the extra space could be used for?
According to MacRumors:

As had been proposed in earlier speculation, a taller display could allow Apple to add one more row of icons to the iPhone’s home screen, moving to five rows per page plus the row of pinned icons in the dock at the bottom of the screen.

Here, another shot:

iLounge called for a 10mm taller iPhone body compared to the iPhone 4S, which measures in at 115.2 mm.
If you can’t get enough of this mockup, why not rotate an interactive 3D model around using a WebGL-based browser such as Google’s Chrome or Apple’s Safari on OS X?
WebGL is disabled by default in Safari on OS X so you’ll have to enable it first by navigating to Preferences -> Advanced -> Show Develop in menu bar and then choose the “Enable WebGL” option under the Develop menu.
What did you think of this artist’s rendition?

Apple winding down production ahead of a sixth-generation iPhone refresh, says analyst

According to one analyst, Apple has begun reducing iPhone orders, another indication that a sixth-generation model is looming on the horizon.
Based on checks with suppliers, Sterne Agee’s Shaw Wu wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday that Apple has drawn build plans for the current-gen iPhone models by up to 25 percent compared to the 35.1 million iPhones sold during the first quarter of this year.
As a result, Apple may ship no more than 28 million iPhones during the June quarter…
The figure would represent a healthy 40 percent year-over-year unit growth as the company sold 20.34 million iPhones during the June quarter of last year,  which was nearly four million more units than what analysts projected.
If Wu’s estimate holds true, investors won’t necessarily be pleased: Wall Street projected between 30-31 million iPhones for the June quarter.
Apple also has nearly nine million iPhones in channel inventory, enough for about 4-6 weeks. Wu expects the next iPhone during the September-October timeframe.
And according to AppleInsider, the analyst “has heard that Apple has increased build plans for its third-generation tablet”, adding that “Retina display availability has been addressed by adding an additional supplier, beyond Samsung”.
For iPhone sales to drop ahead of a new model introduction is nothing new. Typically, Apple experiences a pause and inventory drawdown a quarter or two ahead of a new model launch.
Love or hate it, but such is the nature of the smartphone business.
Apple typically refreshes its handset once a year, unlike other manufacturers that churn out new models on a monthly basis.
Other analysts are expressing concerns that a flurry of iPhone 5 rumors will affect iPhone sales leading up to the next iPhone launch.
This is also to be expected as would-be buyers withhold purchases in anticipation of the iPhone 5, or whatever Apple chooses to call it (our bet: “the new iPhone”).
What about you?
Have you already delayed your smartphone upgrade plans as the next iPhone looms?

China Mobile in negotiations with Apple for iPhone partnership

To say that China is an important territory for Apple and its smartphone is an understatement. The country is home to more than a billion cell phone users, and the market is currently dominated by Android and other platforms.
That’s because the iPhone has only been available in mainland China for a few months now, and the handset has yet to land on its largest carrier: China Mobile. But according to Reuters, that may not be the case for long…

“We’ve been actively talking to Apple on how we can cooperate,” China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua, who assumed the post in March, told a shareholders meeting. “I can’t give you too many details, but I’d like to repeat that both sides do hope to boost our cooperation,” Xi added after the meeting.
He made the comments in response to a question about when China Mobile would sign a deal for the iPhone. Rivals China Unicom and China Telecom have already signed contracts with Apple.”

China Mobile is kind of like the T-Mobile of China, as far as Apple partnerships go. Despite not carrying the handset, there are millions of unlocked iPhones on its network. But due to its incompatible technology, the device is restricted to 2G data speeds.
The good news, however, is that Apple is expected to use Qualcomm’s MDM9615 LTE chipset in its next-generation iPhone — which just so happens to be compatible with a broad range of networks, including China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE.
So why does any of this matter? Because China Mobile is the single largest carrier on the planet, with more than 650 million subscribers. In comparison, Verizon, the largest carrier in the US, has just over 100 million. Wow.

WSJ: Production of “at least 4-inch” screens for the next iPhone begins in June

Putting its credibility behind a flurry of rumors calling for a sixth-generation iPhone with a screen larger than the current 3.5-inch form factor, the usually well-informed Wall Street Journal reported that production of displays for the next iPhone that measure “at least four inches diagonally” is said to be commencing in June…
Lorraine Luk and Juro Osawa, writing for the Wall Street Journal and citing the inevitable “people familiar with the matter”, reported from Hong Kong:

Apple, which is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone later this year, has ordered screens from its Asian suppliers that are bigger than the ones used in iPhones since they debuted in 2007, people familiar with the situation said.
Production is set to begin next month for the screens, which measure at least 4 inches diagonally compared with 3.5 inches on the iPhone 4S, the latest phone from Apple, the people said.

And sources who spoke with Reuters corroborated the report, claiming that “the new iPhone screens will measure four inches from corner to corner”.
According to the Journal report, Apple is thought to be partnering with multiple suppliers on the new screen, namely Sharp, LG and Japan Display, a new company born last month out of the partnership between the Japanese government and Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba.
Interesting enough, the report makes no mention of Samsung, which has been identified as a prime supplier of high-resolution display panels that go into the new iPad. Apple is Samsung’s top client. The iPhone maker has been sourcing processors, flash memory chips and displays from the South Korea-based conglomerate for years.
I opined a year ago that Apple was looking to slit Samsung’s throat with orders stoppage. That said, I’m not terribly surprised that Apple allegedly turned elsewhere for iPhone 5 panels.
People have been wondering if a larger display means a change in aspect ratio. A four-inch iPhone with a 16:9 aspect ratio display would require a re-write of third-party apps.
One possible solution to elegantly solve this issue involves using the extra space to render additional user interface elements.
Here’s a mockup depicting a regular 3.5-inch iPhone 4S next to a four-inch iPhone and another one featuring a widescreen form factor, credited to The Next Web.

And another one by Patrick Eckert, seen below and based on the oft-rumored “Teardrop” design and aluminum Unibody construction. Notice the extra space at the top being used to display a Facebook widget.
I wouldn’t bet on it, though widgets seem to be on everyone’s wish list for iOS 6.

If production of the new display is commencing next month, then “the new iPhone” could hit the market in the September-October timeframe, which would be in line with a recent report by the notoriously unreliable DigiTimes.
So, it looks like your prayer has been heard and that the next iPhone will in fact feature a blown up form factor.
I’m not sure I like the news.
Obviously there are a lot of people out there keeping their fingers crossed for a larger iPhone.
In my opinion, countless Android handsets with screen sizes measuring from 4.3 inches diagonally (the Galaxy S II) all the way up to 4.8 inches (the Galaxy S III) and beyond have polluted expectations. Some watchers think the Android carpet bombing with oversized devices has forced Apple into engineering a larger iPhone.
I don’t think Apple bows to market trends. They won’t make a four-inch iPhone just for the heck of it or because everyone else is differentiating their smartphones with larger displays.
If a larger iPhone is in the cards, I’d expect sensible changes to its user interface to take into account a larger canvas.
Is Apple bowing to industry trends here or at least giving in to popular demand?
Does a larger screen on the iPhone make sense?
The top mockup depicting a taller four-inch iPhone is credited to designer Federico Ciccarese, courtesy of MacRumors.

Poll: should the next iPhone have a bigger screen?

With Android devices typically sporting displays measuring between 4.3 and 4.8 inches diagonally (and beyond) and the usually credible Wall Street Journal throwing its weight behind recent reports asserting a four-inch iPhone, we’re eager to learn about your take on this drama.
Would you prefer the next iPhone to sport the same 3.5-inch display as prior iPhones? A four-inch iPhone, you say? How do you feel about a monstrous 4.8-inch iPhone?
Here, cast your vote now.

The next iPhone screen:

Keep it at the same 3.5-inch form factor as prior iPhonesI’d prefer a marginally bigger 3.7-ish display like the Lumia 800A four-inch display should be the new gold standard for iPhonesI want a 4.3-inch screen like on the Galaxy S III’m not settling for anything less than a 4.8-inch screen (Galaxy S III)Let’s talk about five inches and beyond (think Galaxy Note)

VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com

Just to give you some guidance, this is how a 5.3-inch device looks like in real life.

That’s why wielding a phablet in public makes one look stupid, in my opinion.
The above render depicting a regular 3.5-inch iPhone 4S next to a four-inch iPhone and another one featuring a widescreen form factor is credited to The Next Web.

Apple wins WIPO dispute, secures ownership of iPhone5.com domain

Less than two weeks ago, Apple filed a dispute claim with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over the iPhone5.com domain name. The move has been deemed an obvious attempt at keeping those pesky traffic-hungry web masters at bay ahead of a forthcoming sixth-generation iPhone introduction.
It appears Apple has won this dispute, as indicated on the WIPO’s website and WHOIS search, which now lists the iPhone5.com domain as ‘Terminated’, a tell-tale indication that the original owner has relinquished ownership…
As explained by The Next Web, the domain is now in the hands of brand protection agency Corporation Service Company.

The domain was registered in 2008 and operated as a online bulletin board. Its owners stated that it was “not endorsed, sponsored, nor otherwise affiliated with Apple” and was “for the sole purpose of entertainment and knowledge.”

All registrars must follow ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy which mandates that trademark-based domain name disputes be resolved by agreement, court action or arbitration before a registrar will cancel, suspend or transfer a domain name.
According to ICANN:

Disputes alleged to arise from abusive registrations of domain names (for example, cybersquatting) may be addressed by expedited administrative proceedings that the holder of trademark rights initiates by filing a complaint with an approved dispute-resolution service provider.
To invoke the policy, a trademark owner should either (a) file a complaint in a court of proper jurisdiction against the domain-name holder (or where appropriate an in-rem action concerning the domain name) or (b) in cases of abusive registration submit a complaint to an approved dispute-resolution service provider (see below for a list and links).

Apple, like other big companies, secures certain domain names through brand protection agencies. The company owns a lot of domains that simply forward to certain sections of their official website, thus preventing shady website owners from banking on the popularity of Apple’s brand names.
For example, Apple owns such domains as applesales.com, appleproductsonline.com, appleipods.com and ipods.com, all of which forward to appropriate sections of the Apple.com website.
The company also secured ownership of the iPhone4.com and WhiteiPhone.com domains that used to forward to pornography sites.
The iPhone5.com domain no longer shows a forum dedicated to discussion of the iPhone 5, as seen in a screenshot below, which was taken ten days ago.

Be that as it may, Apple owning the iPhone5.com domain doesn’t necessarily mean that the next iPhone will be called the iPhone 5, though it’s interesting how Apple recognized that the moniker has already gained enough traction to draw significant amount of traffic on the web.
Fancy sharing an iPhone 5-related domain name that could be used to make a quick buck?

Mockups show how apps would benefit from a 4-inch iPhone

The 4-inch iPhone. According to just about every major news publication — The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, etc. — it’s coming. But where does that leave the 600,000+ apps designed for a 3.5″ screen and their developers?

Well the most popular theory for how Apple will go about making a 4-inch iPhone is to give it a resolution of 640×1158, and an aspect ratio of 9:5. So Overdrive Design decided to show us what that would do to current apps…

Not only would this route make it easier for developers to update their apps, but it would also allow for them to display a considerable amount of more information on the screen — all without making the iPhone itself much bigger.

A screen that’s just half an inch larger may not seem like a very big deal. But for folks who spend more time on their iPhone — browsing the web, reading iBooks and emails — than they do on their computer or iPad, it could make a world of difference. Not to mention that a larger display would call for some kind of hardware redesign, something iPhone users have been clamoring for since last fall.

If you like the above mockups, Overdrive Design has several more high-quality renderings showcasing different apps.