iPhone 4S Parts Indicate Evolutionary Design Changes

We’ve gotten our hands on some leaked iPhone 4S parts, courtesy of our friends at iFixitDirect. These particular parts match up with previous leaks, and we believe they indicate that the next iPhone will be an evolutionary update to the iPhone 4, rather than a completely revolutionary design change.

These iPhone parts come from the same source as the leaked white iPod touch parts we showed you earlier. We have a prototype of a lower tier iPhone 4S back and flex cable. Let’s take a closer look…
While we weren’t able to get our hands on the device’s front, the backing and flex cable indicate several things about the next iPhone.
The flex cable indicates that there will be changes made to the front screen of the iPhone 4S, as the current sensors in the iPhone 4 for light dimming and shutting off the screen when in close proximity to the face are no longer there. It’s been rumored that the next iPhone will feature a larger display, and device will most likely have sleeker edges.

Our source did indicate that Apple may be working on a special paint to blend sensors with the device’s color. This paint would need to allow light through for the device’s display senors as well. We find this speculation to be probable, as the iPhone 4S will most likely be an incremental upgrade with different design aesthetics and internals. A cleaner design with sensors blended behind the paint would definitely be something up Apple’s alley.
The iPhone 4′s proximity sensor has been a huge pain for Apple, and there were many cases of users reporting problems with the sensor randomly turning on and off. ‘Antennagate‘ has also plagued the iPhone 4, and this leaked back corroborates previous leaks that the iPhone 4S will feature an antenna redesign. We also affirm previous reports that Apple’s next smartphone will be a global device enabled to run on both GSM and CDMA basebands.

This back is very similar to the current Verizon iPhone 4′s design, which would mean definite changes to the device’s logic board. There is also a flash diffuser present. Our source said that light leaking into the camera is most likely no longer an issue, hence why Apple has not changed it in this 4S design.

These parts negate the previous rumor of a separated flash in the next gen iPhone. It looks like Apple will keep the current camera/flash placement on the device’s back.

This back looks identical to a recent leak, minus certain labeling and the allusive N94/N93 labels, which have previously indicated Apple’s next gen device. The lack of these labels does not detract from this leaked back’s authenticity.

Our source told us that there is word among suppliers that this back may in fact by part of the device’s antenna, which would defy all rumors of a redesigned antenna design. Apple is a company that throws curve balls all over the place to maintain secrecy, so decrypting everything proves to be very difficult.
The iPhone 4S will most likely be an evolutionary update with a faster A5 processor, larger display, and minor aesthetic changes, as we have mentioned. Rumors are that Apple could also introduce a redesigned home button with multitouch gestures, but that feature may only be present in the iPhone 5.

There’s a very good chance that Apple will unveil two new iPhone models at once this Fall, with the announcement expected to take place in late September or early October. Out source feels that it’s “safe” to say that there will be an 8GB iPhone released alongside a totally different iPhone 5 device.

Apple Was Given the App Store Trademark and URL

It’s no secret that Apple is very protective of its App Store. Its submission guidelines have to be some of the toughest in the industry. The Cupertino company even took Amazon to court over the moniker.

But while you might know those stories, chances are you’ve never heard this next one. It’s the tale of how Apple acquired the App Store’s trademark and URL. No, it wasn’t won in a high stakes poker game. It was actually given to Steve Jobs…
9to5Mac passes on the interesting story, originally told by Bloomberg television in an interview with Marc Benioff. The Salesforce.com CEO shared some kind words about Jobs before beginning his anecdote:

“He has probably given me more help and more advice than just about anybody. And when I get in trouble and I kinda get lost in my own vision, I’ve been fortunate to be able to go and see him and he’s been willing to show me the future a couple times.”

Benioff then explains that back in 2003, Jobs raved about Salesforce’s “fantastic enterprise application” and urged him to dream bigger and consider a broader “ecosystem. He took the idea and ran with it, launching an enterprise app store called App Exchange.

But the company loved the “app store” term so much that they trademarked it, and bought the matching URL. Fast forward to 2008, Benioff was in the crowd when Apple announced its new App Store.

After the keynote, Marc went up to Steve Jobs and told him that he could have both the App Store trademark and URL. He considered it payback for the help Jobs gave him back in 2003.

In this day and age of frivolous lawsuits, it’s cool to hear a story like this. It’s also interesting to hear that Jobs was talking about an end-to-end ecosystem for distributing apps, 5 years before Apple launched the App Store.

Apple Quietly Discontinues 99-Cent TV Show Rentals

Several websites reported yesterday that Apple has discontinued its TV show rental program. The service launched last Fall and just never really garnered support from the major networks. They felt that the $0.99 price point was too low.

TV Show rentals were available through both the iTunes Store and Apple TV, but that is no longer the case. And Apple’s website has even been updated to remove mention of the rental option. So, what happened?
AllThingsD received a statement from an Apple Spokesperson on the matter:

“iTunes customers have shown they overwhelmingly prefer buying TV shows,” Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said. “iTunes in the Cloud lets customers download and watch their past TV purchases from their iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac or PC allowing them to enjoy their programming whenever and however they choose.”

Right. Or, as MacRumors points out, maybe it was the fact that ABC and Fox were the only major networks on board. Warner Brothers, NBC, and Viacom all opted out of the program. With such little studio support, why wouldn’t Apple cancel it?

The move is definitely interesting, considering all of the recent rumors going around that the company is looking to start a TV subscription service. Maybe Apple doesn’t have as much pull in the industry as it (and everyone else) thought it did.

Will you  miss the ability to rent TV shows?

RapidContact: Quickly Dial or Text a Contact

You don’t have to be jailbroken very long before you hear about Activator. The popular tweak allows you to initiate frequent tasks with button taps or on-screen gestures.

What’s cool about Activator is that it’s compatible with hundreds of other Cydia packages, including the one we’re going to be discussing here — RapidContact. The tweak allows users to quickly call or text a favorite contact…
RapidContact is just a simple utility that allows you to launch the SMS composition screen or dial pad with a pre-programmed number. You can preset the number from the Settings app, or tell it to automatically recall the last number you called.

The package would’ve received bonus points if it had a BiteSMS-style quick reply keyboard. The fact that it just launches the stock SMS app is kind of pointless comparatively. However, the quick-dial function would be useful for folks who frequently call the same person.

I won’t be trading SMSPlus in for this tweak, but I think other users will find it handy. The price is certainly right. You can download RapidContact from Cydia for free.

Have you tried RapidContact yet?