A reuters article reports that Apple plans to use a larger screen on the next-generation iPhone, and has already placed orders for the new displays. The screen will allegedly measure four inches from corner to corner, a 30% increase in viewing size. Reueters says the larger display represents a competitive move, after Samsung revealed its Galaxy smartphone with a 4.8 inch touch screen. As smartphones are becoming more capable of tasks traditionally filled by desk and laptop computers like writing e-mail and watching movies, it's not surprising to see manufacturers move towards larger screens.
Another rumor for the new iPhone according to a business newspaper in South Korea is that a retina display will be used in the next iPhone, a technology currently avaialble in the iPad that enhances image quality.
Even more rumors have thus far included the following:
-Improved camera optics,
-Apple will introduce a quad-core processor
-The look will be redesigned with a slimmer, metal backed casing
-Google Maps will be dropped in favor of Apple's own 3D map service
-Siri overhaul
-4G LTE conectivity
Apple itself has posted no new information or confrimed any of these rumors for the iPhone 5 as of yet, and the iphone5.com has been down ever since Apple won control over domain rights. But hopefully they have a "Wow" factor as the proverbial "ace up their sleeve."
Apple is currently in talks with the world's biggest telecom carrier, China Mobile, to have them begin carrying the iPhone in China. That wow factor that could break the iPhone into the Chinese market is the Qualcom Inc chip, which does support China Mobile's network. Reuters reported that in a recent shareholder's meeting, Chairman of China Mobile Xi Guohua said, "We've been actively talking to Apple on how we can cooperate...I can't give you too many details, but I'd like to repeat that both sides do hope to boost our cooperation."
No official release date has been mentioned, but Apple is expected to make SOME kind of iPhone5 related announcement at its World Wide Developer's Conference in San Francisco beginning June 11th.