iPhone 5 mock-up created by the author. It’d have a keyboard, but that’s harder to Photoshop than you might think.
Update (9/29/11): This article was originally posted in early March and contained a lot of complete speculation about what might or might not be in the iPhone 5. Since then, the chatterers have been chattering at full-throttle and we’ve got a much better picture of what we think might be in the iPhone 5 that we think might be introduced next week.
To be fair, this is rumor clarified by rumor, so we won’t have anything resembling a clear picture until Apple makes its announcement. That said, here’s an updated picture of the wishlist and the features that might or might not make it.
My update notes will be interspersed with the text of the article, but shown in italics. Also, a procedural note: since this story was originally published in ZDNet Government, the update is here. Further general tech articles will be in my DIY-IT blog instead.
My wife has started to scope on my iPhone. For years, she was satisfied with her simple, old feature phone (although pretty much its only feature was calling people). But now, she’s decided she’s interested in getting a smartphone and likes my iPhone 3G.
She got her iPhone 4 in May and loves it. I still have my 3G, but intend to replace it with the new iPhone.
That, of course, gives me an excuse to get a new phone. I’m obviously not going to get an iPhone 4, what with a new iPhone just around the corner. To be fair, I’m not entirely convinced I’m going to get another iPhone at all, since the Android phones seem far more capable and far less restrictive.
See also: 10 reasons NOT to buy an Android and why I’m waiting for the iPhone 5
That said, I decided to take a new approach towards the Apple devices. Rather than complaining about what they don’t do, I thought I’d list out the features I’d like to see, features that would make me happy about buying and owning a new phone.
Since the scuttlebutt is that Apple will introduce a new phone in October July (and it might be a whole new iPhone 5 device, rather than an upgraded iPhone 4G), I thought I’d take a few minutes to think about my personal feature wish list.
We originally expected the new iPhone to be announced in July, so my wait has been longer than I expected. the 3G is definitely in need of retirement.
I know you might not agree, and I also know this is not a universal list, or even — in some cases — a list of practical requests. That said, a guy can dream, can’t he?
1. 4G or LTE
Let’s start with the obvious. Verizon and Sprint already have 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) phones. These have much faster data access than the current 3G phones.
The gotcha is that AT&T doesn’t have much of a 4G network in place (it could be argued that AT&T doesn’t even have much of a 3G network in place!) and while Apple’s new phone will possibly support Verizon, it’ll almost definitely support AT&T.
No matter what, I want a 4G phone and if Apple can deliver, it’d be a point in its favor.
We’re still not clear on this. We’ve heard rumors going either way. AT&T isn’t prepared for 4G, but Verizon might be. Then there’s the rumor that Sprint is coming into the iPhone game, but they’re also not really ready for ultra-fast speeds. I’d now call this a low probability, but possible.
2. Unlimited data
It used to be that my number one desired feature was the addition of a personal hotspot capability. I like my MiFi, but I’d rather not carry around an extra device (or bill). Now that iOS 4.3 will include mobile hotspot capability (although, predictably, AT&T is spoiling the fun), I’d like one other feature.
I want unlimited data. I have unlimited data on my iPhone 3G. Actually, that’s why I still have an iPhone 3G. I like my unlimited data plan and don’t want to have to spend time worrying about whether or not I’ve exceeded some silly arbitrary limit.
Give me unlimited data on either Verizon or AT&T and you’ve got my attention.
Neither Verizon nor AT&T will offer an unlimited data plan. Sprint (who has yet to be a confirmed iPhone seller) has stated a willingness to support unlimited plans.
3. Native Google Voice integration
We all know the challenges Google Voice faced getting onto the iPhone, and some users are happy it arrived — in any form.
But that’s not good enough. I want native Google Voice, so tightly integrated into the iPhone experience that you can use Google Voice as your incoming and outgoing number just as if you were using the regular (albeit crappy) iPhone dialing interface.
The Google Voice app has gotten better, but there’s no way there will be native integration. On the other hand, a surprise announcement about iOS 5 is how tightly integrated Twitter will be.
4. Less sucky traditional phone experience
That brings me to my next wish list item: sucking less. Look, we know everyone seems to love the iPhone, but that’s despite the iPhone calling experience, not because of it.
AT&T’s legendary dropped or failed calls are certainly part of the suck, but definitely not all of it. In order to call or be called, you often have to do a bunch of swipes and button pushes, which makes using the phone a more difficult and distracting experience than it needs to be.
It looks like iOS 5 will have a more capable home screen. Whether it’ll suck all the suck out of the phone experience remains to be seen. Then, of course, there’s still the matter of AT&T’s terrible network, but we’re probably going to see a marked improvement.
While we’re on the topic, let’s talk about a wish list item in a wish list item. Ford Sync instantly turns a perfectly functioning iPhone into a lump of autistic plastic. You all know I’m a huge Ford fan. I also know that Ford now has a MyFord Touch system in place, but I gotta tell you, I’m hating on Ford Sync. Every time I get into the car, it takes over the iPhone, turning it essentially into a dumb screen and blocks almost all the functions of the phone.
I know some people like Ford Sync, but I dislike it — intensely. Today I got a call on my phone while in the car and I just wanted to answer my phone. Instead, Sync decided to pipe the call through the car’s speakers (good so far), but when the call ended, I actually had to pull into a nearby gas station, stop the car, and fiddle with the iPhone screen by hand to end the call. Sheesh!
My wife loves using her iPhone 4 with Ford Sync. I’m starting to think it may be that Sync and the 3G don’t get along all that well. Either that, or my wife gets along better with consumer electronics than I do. If it doesn’t have a command-line, I tend to get frustrated.
5. An antenna that doesn’t suck
According to Consumer Reports, the iPhone 4 — even on Verizon — still fails when gripped in certain ways.
It’s pretty simple. I don’t want to buy a phone that fails when you hold it. If Apple can fix this, I’d be more interested in the iPhone 5.
We’re seeing rumors of a so-called “teardrop” design for the iPhone 5. That’s more of an Air look than the older, boxy iPhone 4. This would imply that there was an antenna re-design, but it’s anyone’s guess whether we’ll see anything better. It has been some months since we’ve heard complaints about the iPhone 4’s antenna, so maybe everyone got themselves bumpers and cases and the problem is behind us.
