Apple iPhone 5 Rumors: Can We Trust The Photos, Components, Features Are Legitimate? [PICTURES]

By Dave Smith | August 10 2012 5:04 PM

Photo: TMZ

Am I Getting Old?: Column Written By Ryan Dunn from 2009

Ryan Dunn, the former MTV star of the hit show “Jackass” who died in an automobile accident Monday, wrote the following column for “Chester Country Cuisine and Night Life” of Chester County, Pa., in 2009:

I hate to ask, but am I getting old? It appears I am based on my extreme displeasure with the choice of attire the kids are opting for these days. When I say kids, I'm referring to college age and younger …let’s say 15-23. Oh boy, it’s official; I’m an old whiny fart.

When I see these hipsters happily sidestep their way into the bar gleaming with optimism, I can only assume that there are no mirrors within a ten-mile radius of their house. I don't know if it’s just a great marketing campaign launched by Spencer Gifts, Airbrush kiosks, etc … or did the Care Bears throw up on our youth?

What happened to the good ole' days of British Knights, Z Cavaricci, tight rolls and high hair? Now those were looks demanding respect from our elders! Nothing says future political leader like an arrogant 15-year-old white kid breaking out an iffy at best rendition of what he thinks is the MC Hammer dance to the smooth and eloquent lyrics of Vanilla Ice, then wrapping up his mating call with the Running Man.... Cool as ice!

I’m aware we all looked like application forms to Jim Henson growing up, it’s just a part of being a kid but pink sweat pants with juicy printed on the ass? Seriously, that’s where I draw the line. Not only is it ridiculous looking but there are parents out there splurging the money for these wardrobe eyesores and in doing so, asking each and every passerby to stare at their daughters butt! And is it just me, or is juicy the last thing you want to think about when looking at said butt? I’ve got an idea...WIPE IT! On top of it all -- they're sweat pants. Can we write a law that states sweat pants can not see anything other than the inside of your bedroom, and/or your gym?

On to the next painfully irritating eye raping, visor caps! This one will be short...I promise. The following is a fact, and in no way up for dispute....unless it’s transparent green and your playing poker in a 1980s movie or you’re currently holding a golf club, have pig tails and a vagina....you at no point in your life should ever own a visor -- let alone wear one outside.

Yet for some terrible reason, Joe P. Hipster decided in his inherent style wisdom to not only wear one, but wear it in the most illogical and horrendously ugly way possible … backwards and upside down, GENIUS!

Actually, you know what would go well with that look … maybe a nice polo shirt, ooooh, but make the Polo logo obscenely huge for no reason whatsoever and then follow it up with a nice sensible going out shoe, like say, flip flops.

You don't want to keep those gorgeously hairy and entirely gross feet to yourself now do you? We need some icing on this cake? Alright, now hear me out … this is going to be GREAT! Pop that collar dude! Now you got it Dapper Dan.

And if you have time before you stampede out the door in hopes of attracting a mate with your new frock of feathers, grab a pen … write something totally cool under your collar, like BAAAD, BOOB INSPECTOR, or just plain LONELY. There you go fella. Go get em'! (I lied, it wasn't short)

My observations have led me to conclude that people have simply given up on caring what they sleep with. Because if that wasn't the case, human population should have come to a screeching halt 10 years ago!

SOURCE: Dailylocal.com

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Windows 8 vs. OS X Lion: War of the platforms?

There are two upcoming operating systems round the corner. Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Apple’s OS X Lion. Apple will release its OS next month while Microsoft’s version will not be out until 2012.

Both the companies have a reputation that has leveraged them to top spots in the industry, and now a new war is about to be waged on a new platform. Here’s a look at what these platforms will offer:

Touch Support:

Both the operating systems claim to have a good multi-touch interface and support. However, in reality, Windows 8 will be the one which will actually support the touch interface, while Lion won’t let you use your screen as an input device, but instead rely on the commands you send from touchpads. Windows 8 will also come with a thumb-based on-screen keyboard for tablets.

Apple, however, will make full use of its touchpads. The touch experience will be much more direct and natural. The company will also bring in rubber-band scrolling, page and image zoom. You will be able to switch between full-screen apps.

digitalconqurer.com: Microsoft's Windows 8

Full screen applications:

Here’s something Microsoft has been doing for years now with a simple F11 key. Mac, on the other hand, has displayed its menu on top of the screen, which is set to change with the new Lion, which will make use of the full screen to view any program full.

Mobile interface:

This may be one area where the platform war becomes a bit heavy. The new Windows 8 mobile interface has been made on the blueprints of Windows Phone 7. The Lion has no such link with the iOS. Microsoft will make use of the “Metro Interface” which is available in Windows 7 phone at the moment, which shows “live titles”. Microsoft is aiming at satisfying business users who mainly use desktops by integrating the Windows 8 OS with tablets. Business users will definitely look for a tablet that works the same way their desktops do.

Processor traits:

Microsoft, earlier this year, said Windows 8 will be running on ARM-based mobile processors. Intel and AMD x86 chips will also be used. This will make Windows 8 compatible for both desktop and tablet. Apple, it seems, will go on with the Intel Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7, or Xeon processors.

osxdaily.com: Apple’s OS X Lion

App Store:

The App Store is already available on OS X Snow Leopard, and will become an important feature of Lion. The user will be able to buy app on a single computer and then download the app to about five more. The apps will be automatically updated and you will have the option to make additional purchases of other stuff that are linked. Microsoft hasn’t revealed anything clearly about their app store for Windows 8, but said that it will be considered.

Application switching:

Apple, for OS X Lion, has refurbished its virtual spaces by placing a Mission Control app. The user will now be able to switch VDs through simple swipe gesture. The Windows 8 version is just virtual desktop switching versus app switching.

Unique features:

Lion will showcase its AirDrop feature which will let you transfer files to another Lion machine nearby without disks, USBs, or even a WiFi connection. An Autosave mode has also been introduced so that even if you forget to save, it will still be there. Microsoft will soon need to show something to counter these cool features.

Windows 8, however, will not let this go unanswered. The very attractive live tiles on its new start screen are a welcome addition which Apple will have to take a note of. The new Snap feature, which lets you see a second app while running your primary app in full screen, is also something to take into account. The most fascinating feature, however, is that it will allow you to retrieve files from other apps, and not only from the OS’s file system. Windows 8 is still getting built so you can expect a lot more than that.

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Why Winklevoss Twins Dropped Facebook Suit: A 'million dollar' Answer

The Winklevoss Twins, who sued Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for allegedly copying their idea for Facebook, have dropped their lawsuit and will accept their $65 million settlement.

The Winklevosses said that after careful consideration, they had decided not to seek Supreme Court review, according to a court filing.

They would accept the earlier agreed settlement, which includes $20 million in cash and $45 million in Facebook stock. However, the Olympic rowing twins didn't give a reason for their withdrawal.

But one of the key reasons would have been the surging valuation of Facebook, the most popular social networking site. Since their 2008 settlement deal, Facebook has grown exponentially.

According to the latest statistics, Facebook has more than 500 million active users and over 250 million are currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices. People spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook.

Moreover, there are more than 200 mobile operators in 60 countries working to deploy and promote Facebook mobile products.

So, the worth of shares held by Winklevosses would have also grown along with Facebook. The shares, which were then valued at around $45 million, would now be at least worth $150 million. This is possible as Facebook itself is valued at over $100 billion today.

Winklevoss twins - Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss - along with Divya Narendra, had claimed that their Harvard classmate Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook.

Facebook countersued them and their competing social networking site, ConnectU, in California, alleging that the Winklevosses and ConnectU hacked into Facebook to steal user data, and tried to steal users by spamming them.

In 2008, Winklevoss twins accepted a cash-and-stock deal worth $65 million. But later, the twins objected on the grounds that they'd been misled about the value of the shares they received.

At that time, Facebook notified the Winklevosses that an internal valuation prepared to comply with Section 409A of the tax code put the value of its common stock at $8.88 per share. The Winklevosses argued that Facebook misled them into believing its shares were worth four times as much, court filings show.

In April, the U.S. federal appeals court turned down a request by the Winklevoss twins to release them from their settlement.

The lengthy legal spat between Zuckerberg and his three Harvard classmates was immortalized in the 2010 movie The Social Network.

However, Zuckerberg cannot relax. Paul Ceglia, an American businessman, is after Zuckerberg, claiming 84 percent ownership of Facebook and seeking monetary damages.

Ceglia says he had a contract with Zuckerberg in April 2003 that gave him a 50 percent share of Facebook for his $1,000 investment, plus an additional 1 percent stake for every day Facebook was not online past Jan. 1, 2004.

Recently, Ceglia has passed a lie detector test that was focused on the authenticity of the 2003 contract with Zuckerberg.

Photo: iLab

Why Apple Cannot Release The iPhone 5 And The iPad Mini On The Same Date

If Apple plans to release the iPad Mini to the masses at the same time as the iPhone 5, Apple could run into the biggest crowds in the history of the company. And that's not necessarily a good thing. Assuming Apple unveils the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini at the same time, will the release dates for both devices be the same?

Photo: iLab

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig - The Saga of Casting for James Bond

The name's Bond - James Bond. This iconic line has been repeated in several Bond movies; yet each time it is spoken, it never fails to make the viewer smile.

From 1962, when the first Bond movie Dr. No was released, right up until 2008 when Quantum of Solace opened, 6 different actors have portrayed the suave secret agent who likes his martini shaken not stirred. Roger Moore, having acted in 7 films, is the most prolific Bond and George Lazenby is the least - having done just 1 film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Casting for James Bond, the most profitable and longest running English-language film franchise, must have been an arduous task. The British super spy with a passion for fast cars, inventive gadgets, and beautiful women had to be just the right blend of smart and sexy, light-hearted and fast-footed.

A long list of actors was considered to play this coveted character through nearly 5 decades of its Hollywood existence. Surprisingly, not all actors thought playing Bond would be a boon to their careers - while Ewan McGregor refused for fear of being typecast, Gerard Butler felt it would destroy his career, and Liam Neeson had no interest in an action film. Of the older lot of actors, Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds both declined since they felt Bond had to be British. Cary Grant, 58 years old at the time of being offered the role, felt he was too old to play the part. Richard Burton rejected the offer because he wanted to be paid more.

Christopher Lambert was considered though not chosen, because of his French accent and Mel Gibson was rejected because he was too short and famous.

Not many know that Jude Law, Heath Ledger, Eric Bana, Colin Firth, Jason Statham, and Hugh Grant, were all at some time or other considered for the role of 007.

Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond in 4 films - from 1995 to 2002 - was originally chosen to play Bond in The Living Daylights. Unfortunately for him, his hit TV show, Remington Steele got renewed at the same time, and since he played the eponymous character, it was decided he could not play Bond at the same time. The role then went to Timothy Dalton.

The story behind Dalton's casting is even more interesting. Timothy Dalton was first offered the role in 1967 (at age 21). He refused since he did not want to be remembered as the actor who had replaced the first and hugely popular Bond - Sean Connery. He was approached again in 1979 - this time too, he declined since he felt the plot lines for Bond films were no longer original. Finally, in 1987, a good 20 years after he was first asked, he played Bond in The Living Daylights.

Before the release of Casino Royale in 2006, there was a massive hue and cry by a section of committed Bond fans over the casting of Daniel Craig. They felt Craig would never do justice to their beloved action hero. The fans wrote angry blogs and even threatened to boycott the film. Ironically, Casino Royale went on to become the highest grossing Bond movie of all time with a large section of critics feeling that Daniel Craig was the best thing to have happened to the franchise since Sean Connery.

The new Bond has been found and crowned - the casting directors can rest easy, at least for few more years.

Photo: iLab

Dollar Struggles to Remain Strong!

The dollar has started to weaken against the euro since early Asian session, with the pair finally breaking important 1.4130 at the time of writing and printing yet another weekly high at 1.4160. The dollar has been weak mainly due to the risk appetite which has been seen all across the markets and especially in commodities, as oil has made another multi week high above $73. Stocks have been trading mixed however, with Europe down slightly so far, as UK€˜s GDP printed a really negative number since the late 50€™s, indicating that the economy has shrunk with a fast pace and the damage is seen in most of the country€™s sectors.

The EUR/USD is trading on the upside once again and the dollar€™s strength we witnessed yesterday did not manage to last long. Although the risk aversion creeps back, the dollar has managed to keep key levels against the pound and the euro and for now as long as EUR/USD traders above 1.40 and GBP/USD above 1.65, there is room for further upside. Next level to watch for the euro is 1.4160 and a breakout may put 1.4230 back in the picture.

The economic calendar had few releases out of Euro zone and UK which came out mixed, as GDP reached multi year lows and house prices raised for the second month, giving out some kind of hope that a housing bottom may be nearing. The fact that the GDP was low made the pound dive against the buck and the pair found a top at 1.6750 for now. However, traders are aware that the situation in UK was dismal and therefore the pound has managed to take back some of its loses. Also later on we have Chicago PMI out of US and consumer confidence which both are expected to print better numbers, giving the stocks more reasons to rise and make wonders for trader€™s confidence.

The oil has managed to stage a rally, due to the weaker dollar and also the geopolitical unrest in Nigeria which always affect the commodity price. The Nigerian attacks make investors nervous and the oil is bought as an aftermath. For now, as long as oil trades above $70 another move further up towards $75 looks like the possible target. The coming days will tell us how the commodities react to several key data out of US.

It is clear that investors are getting more positive by the day about the state of the economy, however, beware of the incoming news we get especially out of employment sector as although we see improved numbers all round, we are still far away from recovery. The payroll data have been negative for several months now and the last months we seen extremely bad results on the -700.000 mark. So, the main point I try to make is that everyone wants to feel that the worse is behind us and things are back to normal, however sometimes the wishful thinking is playing us tricks and as we are getting ready to say goodbye recession, the risk aversion comes back to remind us that conditions are fragile and the recovery is not underway.

One thing is for sure, when markets are ready for a comeback and conditions improve officially, traders won€™t be on board for the move up, as too many fake rallies will make them stay in the sidelines, and when the real thing unfolds, it will be like the boy who cried wolf€¦too little too late€¦

Photo: Courtesy

Apple iPhone 5 Rumors: Can We Trust The Photos, Components, Features Are Legitimate? [PICTURES]

Apple plans to finally launch the iPhone 5 on Sept. 12. Since May, however, photos and pictures of future iPhone components have been popping up around the Internet, and by now, most people think they know what the iPhone 5 looks like. But to what degree can this iPhone evidence be trusted?

Photo: Courtesy

Why Apple Cannot Release The iPhone 5 And The iPad Mini On The Same Date

Photo: Courtesy

Apple iPhone 5 Rumors: Can We Trust The Photos, Components, Features Are Legitimate? [PICTURES]

Photo: Courtesy

Why Apple Cannot Release The iPhone 5 And The iPad Mini On The Same Date

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) will finally unveil its so-called Phone 5 -- the unofficial name for its sixth-generation iPhone -- on Sept. 12, according to iMore, The Verge, The Loop, Reuters, Bloomberg, the New York Times and CNN.

Since May, however, pictures of future iPhone components have been popping up around the Internet, and, by now, most people think they know what the iPhone 5 looks like. But to what degree can this iPhone evidence be trusted?

At the D10 Conference in May, Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., to tell the technophilic audience that Apple plans to "double down on secrecy on products."

"We're going to double down on secrecy on products," Cook said. "I'm serious. ... Secrecy on the product side is so important."

Cook emphasized his desire to plug the leaks from within Apple. Yet, the vast amount of iPhone 5 information out on the Web -- much of it seemingly legitimate and accurate -- completely defeats the purpose of keeping products a secret.

Apple can't respond to any of the alleged iPhone 5 photos and components out there -- even acknowledging the phone's existence is against company policy -- so the best we can do is examine the sources that provide these photos and components to us, and figure out whether they're legitimate.

iPhone 5 Rumors: Legitimacy Of External Components

Back in May, unofficial Apple website 9 to 5 Mac posted a series of photos showing new parts and components for a sixth-generation iPhone. The designs, which had lined up with previous reports of the phone, featured faceplates and backplates for a new black and white iPhone, as well as a smaller dock connector, migrated components like the headphone jack and FaceTime camera, and a two-toned back with a metal plate.

The photos were sent to 9 to 5 Mac from the repair experts at iFixyouri, based in Florida. This is interesting to note, because as you'll soon discover, most photos and components are provided by anonymous sources within Apple's foreign supply chains in Asia. This was one of the few alleged prototypes actually provided from an American-based source.

We don't expect 9 to 5 Mac or iFixyouri to explain how it managed to obtain these iPhone components, but the photos do look legitimate, and they line up perfectly with all previously rumored features and specs of the phone.

Months after iFixyouri released its iPhone 5 photo set in July, Gotta Be Mobile released "exclusive" photos of what it believed to be an engineering sample of the iPhone 5 design, which only helps to validate earlier rumors, reports, and even photos and schematics of the phone. Shawn Ingram of Gotta Be Mobile said that the engineering sample photos came from a "trusted source inside the Apple supply chain" in Asia.

Luckily for Gotta Be Mobile, more iPhone 5 evidence made its debut the same day it released its engineering sample photos: The Cydia Blog released what it said was a complete schematic of the new iPhone model, which matched perfectly with the front and rear plates acquired by 9 to 5 Mac. The schematics, which may or not be legitimate, showed the same migrated camera and earphone jack from the photos, and they also describe a bigger display.

But again, even though the source of the photos remained anonymous, the photos themselves perfectly mirrored the specs and features described in previous reports, as well as the iFixyouri iPhone 5 photo set.

The "sources" from Apple's Asian supply chains probably choose to remain anonymous as they do, because they're likely Foxconn employees, or workers on the iPhone production line, trying to keep their jobs. Given the strict rules of Apple secrecy in-house, the only place where legitimate iPhone information could leak would be abroad, where there are many more people that see the phone in production, but those people don't have the financial benefits of working at Apple. They don't have someone like Tim Cook hovering over them directly. Keeping secrets is probably not taken quite as seriously, especially since working conditions aren't great.

iPhone 5 Rumors: Legitimacy Of Internal Components

Designers and industrial engineers can easily sculpt what they think the iPhone 5 will look like based on the rumors out there, and try to pass it off as "legitimate." But what about the internal components? What about the pieces of the iPhone that few people ever see?

On Thursday, French tech site NowhereElse posted two sets of photos published by Chinese news site iColorOS, which provided the first comparison of internal components of the iPhone 5 with that of its predecessors, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4.

The photos show how Apple has modified the volume controls, migrated the power switch, and also altered the rotational electric motor to better resemble that same element from the iPhone 4, not the iPhone 4S. Check out the comparison photo set here.

While the audio components, sensors and power switches of the iPhone 5 line up across both photo sets, they also match up with the older components released by supplier SW-Box back in mid-May.

We haven't seen any photos of the iPhone 5's processor, but, on Friday, 9 to 5 Mac posted images of new iPhone battery packs, which feature a slightly higher capacity than the packs of previous-gen iPhones. According to iFixyouri, the new battery's capacity is 1440 mAh, an increase from the 1430 mAh from the iPhone 4S.

9 to 5 Mac said the photos came from Australian contributor Sonny Dickson, who the site calls "a reliable parts source." It's possible Dickson's physical proximity to Apple's Asian supply chains makes him a quality source on upcoming products in the pipeline, but the photos he provided definitely look accurate. The battery's label says it was produced in June 2012, but the slight increase in battery could be what Apple needs to bolster the LTE network, which many assume will be available on the iPhone 5.

iPhone 5: Can We Trust The Images?

When looking at all of the iPhone 5 evidence out there, it definitely seems like the most legitimate sources of Apple news, including 9 to 5 Mac and iMore, have the most legitimate scoops to deliver. There have been plenty of other posts about the iPhone 5, including photos released on blogs and the Chinese social network Sina Weibo, but those pieces of evidence lack any real support, and they don't match up with each other at all.

The components, features and specs laid out by the more trustworthy Apple publications actually have some validity to them. Not only do the iPhone 5 images align perfectly with the alleged specs and features of the iPhone, more importantly, the photos match up with each other. When many independent sources all report the same thing, there must be a fire under all that smoke.

Many of these sources can't afford to be wrong. Apple specialty sites like iMore and The Loop hang their entire reputations on single reports; they can't afford to get any information wrong, especially when it's as popular as the iPhone 5. Bigger sites like Reuters and The New York Times also stake their reputations when they re-report on the original news from 9 to 5 Mac or MacRumors. These sites aren't always right 100 percent of the time, but they're right about 90 to 95 percent of the time, which is good enough for most Apple fans.

iPhone 5: Likely Exterior Features

So if we can trust the reports that all align with each other, what will the iPhone look like? What will it feel like on the outside, or feature on the inside? Here's a rundown of what we know:

Bigger, Thinner Front Plate: On Aug. 3, ETrade Supply posted a highly-detailed image and video comparison between the iPhone 5 prototype and the iPhone 4S components, which just may be the most convincing photo evidence of the iPhone 5 we have to-date. The site shows the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S face plates side by side. Whereas the iPhone 4S measures 76.65 mm long and 3.61 inches diagonally, the iPhone 5 stretches those dimensions: The front plate measures 90.25 mm long and 4.065 inches across. The iPhone 5's width is identical to all previous-generation iPhones at 51.6 mm, likely for comfort reasons, but that's not what makes it important: The width and the new height of the iPhone combined creates a resolution ratio of about 16:9, which will allow for 1080p HD videos, TV shows and movies to be played in a beautiful widescreen format.

ETrade Supply also took an unprecedented look at the differences in thinness between the iPhone 4S and the alleged iPhone 5 prototype. Whereas the iPhone 4S face plate measured exactly 1 mm, the iPhone 5's front plate is 0.1 mm thinner at just 0.9 mm thick. This thinness makes sense: Apple had allegedly been looking to adopt in-cell touch panels manufactured by Sharp and Toshiba Mobile Display.

In-Cell Touch Panels: It's been said that Apple wants in-cell touch panels for the iPhone 5, which are multi-touch panels that experts say far outperform current "on-cell" touch screens. In addition, in-cell touch technology creates significantly thinner displays than their on-cell counterparts since their creation involves removing a layer between the multi-touch screen and the LCD display. Not only are the touch sensors vastly improved, but they're actually more powerful in resisting scratches on the touch panel, resulting in "a longer product lifetime." AUO Optronics, based in Taiwan, explains the difference:

"In contrast to the traditional resistive and digitizer touch controls, since a mere light touch can be picked up, the operation interface of In-cell charging sensing is more humanized," AUO said. "In addition, charging sensing not only can support multiple point touch control, but further support pen writing at present to meet different requirements by the clients."

Smaller Dock Connector: As predicted earlier by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple wants smaller dock connectors for its iPhones, and the newly released iPhone 5 models only confirm this. In addition, afterTechCrunch "independently verified" that the next iPhone will kick the standard 30-pin dock connector (a tradition since the third-generation iPod) for a newly designed 19-pin "mini" dock connector, Gotta Be Mobile released photos of the alleged "iPad Mini," which featured a similar 19-pin dock connector. Several other news sites, including The New York Times and Reuters, also believe Apple will implement the 19-pin dock into the iPhone 5, likely for the sake of making more space within the phone.

Redesigned Speaker Grills: The speakers on the bottom have been expanded and redesigned in the new iPhone model. Now that the dock connector from the iPhone 4 and 4S has been shrunk down, Apple has more room to create bigger and louder speakers.

Metal Back: The iPhone 4S features a back made of all glass, but the new photos from iFixyouri show black and white iPhones with much of the back encased in metal. It's not clear what function the metal back serves -- if it's simply a style choice, or if it's made out of an extremely-light "liquidmetal" solution -- but all of the photos of the new iPhones included these metal portions. There's a slight chance that the metal back could help improve call reception, given that the metal trim along the sides is molded into the metal backplates, giving it a "unibody" feel.

Migrated FaceTime Camera: To better mirror the faceplate of the iPod Touch, Apple has apparently moved the FaceTime camera from the left of the earpiece to above the earpiece itself. Moving the camera likely frees up more space to include more parts and components like LTE and NFC chips, but it also makes the iPhone more symmetrical and appealing.

Migrated Earphone Jack: Photos of the new iPhone show the earphone jack, which has traditionally been located on the top right corner of the phone, has migrated to the bottom left corner of the device. This design change aligns perfectly with a May 14 report from Hong Kong-based components supplier SW-Box, which claimed to have acquired a new headphone jack, ear speaker, and Wi-Fi cable part for a new iPhone. SW-Box's audio components would fit perfectly within the new design released by iFixyouri and 9 to 5 Mac.

New Camera Opening: Photos of the released iPhone show a subtle but interesting difference to the camera infrastructure: On the rear panels of the black and white iPhone models, there is now a small space between the camera lens and the LED flash. Looking at the inside of that space, there appears to be a tiny object that occupies the opening, which could be a small microphone to help with capture higher-quality audio when recording video.

IPhone 5: Likely Interior Features

LTE Connectivity: Despite the significantly higher download and upload speeds of LTE, previous implementations of the high-speed network in smartphones ravaged battery life, which was a major complaint from users. If Apple wanted LTE in the iPhone 4S, it would have been forced to increase the phone's thickness to accommodate a larger circuit board and a bigger battery. As Apple CEO Tim Cook noted in a company earnings conference call in April 2011, "first-generation LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises."

But now, with new LTE chips from Qualcomm now available, it's a foregone conclusion that Apple will implement radio bands for 4G LTE in the iPhone '5', given that Apple introduced the high-speed network on its new iPad, released March 16. Since LTE in tablets isn't a feature users were breaking down doors for, its implementation was likely done as a "practice run."

Advanced Haptics: Another recently published Apple patent describes a new haptics feedback system that allows a user to interact with the content on the screen by touching it, which is accomplished with sensors and actuators working simultaneously. The new multi-tiered system is extremely sophisticated: Using several layers of elastic screens stacked on top of each other, Apple's screen can produce 3D buttons or objects to interact with, as well as give texture to images, like topographical maps.

Apple's haptic system can create different types of actions, including vibration, net displacement, bending, deforming, or any combination of those elements. The technology can also work with a secondary display screen or audio system, which would be useful if Apple ever builds its iTV, but the system can also be applied to flexible organic light emitting diode, or OLED, screens. This advanced haptics system would also work with almost every portable Apple device, including iPhones, iPod Touch devices, iPads, MacBooks, and even TVs, video projectors and e-Ink displays.

OLED Display: Apple is reportedly testing the iPhone 5 prototype with an A5X chip, which is the quad-core graphics processor used to power the Retina Display in the new iPad. But why would Apple need such a powerful chip for an iPhone? Given that the A5X chip is a graphics powerhouse, if Apple doesn't drastically change the physical size of the screen to 4.6 inches, it may be changing the display's overall quality.

Apple has plenty of money to afford OLED screens in an iPhone-size display, and it would make sense for Apple to ask Samsung to help build its iPhone 5 displays. Samsung knows how to build big, beautiful screens for any size device: Just imagine what Samsung could do with Apple's Retina technology implemented into an OLED. Apple would effectively put distance between the iPhone and all other smartphone competitors for another five years, at the very least.

NFC: Near-field communication is nothing new. In fact, many current smartphones have the chip built-in so owners can use mobile payments solutions such as Google Pay. Apple has held off on implementing NFC technology into its iPhone, but a slew of recently granted patents seem to suggest that will change with the sixth-generation model. Two of the major features said to use NFC rather heavily are the iWallet, andiTunes "Gifting."

The iWallet: If you saw Apple announce iOS 6 at WWDC, you may have heard about a new application called Passbook, which is designed to keep all of your gift cards, coupons and tickets all in one place. With a simple flick, users can summon their Starbucks cards, loyalty cards, train tickets, plane tickets and sporting event tickets, too. While Passbook will work on every iOS device, Apple has reportedly been building an expansion of this software specifically for an NFC-capable iPhone.

Apple won a major patent on March 6 for a piece of technology called the "iWallet," which is a digital system that gives users complete control over their subsidiary financial accounts on their iPhones, and also leverages Near-Field Communication technology to complete credit card transactions directly on the phone as well. The iWallet has many different features, including giving users the ability to see their entire credit card profiles, view statements and messages from their banks, and even set parental controls for their children, should they also want to use their iPhones as digital wallets. Outside of the iPhone, users can keep track of their payments and statements within the iTunes billing system, which keeps credit card information and records safe and secure. There's a possibility that iWallet could also work with other Apple utilities, which could allow users to buy things like movie tickets directly within the apps, but only time will tell with that one.

iTunes Gifting: Speaking of NFC ... Another Apple patent unveiled in April described a system for standardized buying, sending, and receiving of media files from a media provider (iTunes) between multiple devices (iPhones, iPads, and iPodTouchs). The process was simply called, "Gifting," and it would certainly work with an NFC-capable iPhone.

Downloading and storing digital media with online service providers has become commonplace -- more so than purchasing DVDs and CDs at physical stores -- but it's not very easy to transfer digital files from one individual to another, usually because of copyright laws. Apple believes "Gifting" is the solution.

One method for gifting requires the sender to authorize a gift charge to their iTunes account, which is then transmitted from the sender's device to the receiver's device -- via tapping, or as long as they're nearby -- thanks to the NFC chip. If the recipient of the gift isn't nearby -- or you want it to be a surprise -- the gift-giver may submit an official request with iTunes, which then processes the request and charges the initiator's account for the given file. The patent also allows for multiple gifts to be sent in a single transaction, as well as certain customization options for the gifts -- including voice greetings and custom gift images, likely to conceal the gift's identity before the recipient opens it.

Audio Sharing Network: The last few months have seen Apple pay increasing attention to its audio network. It released its Podcast application as a completely separate application, and now, according to a newly-filed patent for the iPhone, Apple plans to make the iPhone into a "conference telephone" designed to cut out the background noise while recording audio, which can then be packaged and distributed. This feature would certainly appeal to students that want to record their lectures, as well as enterprise professionals that want to hold and record teleconferences with multiple individuals and be able to hear everyone clearly.

Crack-Proof Glass: Everyone who's ever had a rough Saturday night would certainly love this patent.Granted on Nov. 15, Apple's patent for crack-resistant glass uses the same alumino silicate glass solution used in the iPhone 4 and 4S, but chemically treats it with potassium and sodium ions to achieve greater compression thresholds on the surface and edges of the glass, making it less susceptible to cracks.

Apple also included a handy feature that will appeal to everyone who's ever dropped their iPhone: The patent calls for a shock mount to be placed between the glass and the body of the device, which will instantly inflate if the device senses it's falling. If the iPhone's internal accelerometer senses it's falling, an actuator within the device sucks in the cover glass as it accelerates to the ground, protecting it from damage.

Apple Avatars. If you want to buy movies, apps, or any content through Apple's iTunes Store or App Store, Apple requires you have an Apple ID. Your Apple ID sticks with you in the company's Game Center, which keeps track of a user's achievements across purchased and downloaded games. But if this recently granted patent has any bearing on the immediate future, Apple users may soon get to make customizable Apple Avatars, which users would use to represent themselves within potential online or gaming environments. Apple users could create a 3D model of themselves, customizing features like hair, eyes, nose, and eyebrows, as well as other features and accessories. While avatars seem to be geared towards kids, it would actually help give users a source of identity while making the Apple brand -- and identification procedures -- a little more fun. Don't be surprised if Apple had Pixar's help on this one: Just look at the eyes.

Micro SIM Connector: It's definitely not the sexiest feature, but if Apple decides to include this patented micro SIM connector in the iPhone 5, you won't be unhappy. Apple usually doesn't like people tinkering inside its devices, but the company's micro SIM solution is described as "easily removed and replaced," as well as "resistant to damage by an improper insertion of a SIM card, and may provide reliable mechanical performance."

The Photographer's Timer. Traditionally, self-timing cameras are used to take pictures of a big group, or a self-portrait. But in Apple's self-timer, a patent granted March 8, the iDevice's camera can identify the photographer and ask if they want to be in the picture. At that point, the iPhone will simply wait until it detects the photographer's face in the viewfinder before it automatically snaps a photo. If you are the "photographer" who also wants to be in the picture, the iPhone will simply wait until it detects your face to take the picture.

"But what about interruptions? What happens if I get a call after I set the self-timer?" Wonder no more. If you set the timer and then your phone goes off, the timer will still wait until it has detected, recognized and verified that you are the photographer and that you're in place for the photo. Now if only Apple patented a tripod...

3D Photography. While existing 3D cameras and video recorders can gather three-dimensional information from objects, they're generally incapable of getting detailed enough information in relation to the shapes, surfaces and depth of the objects. Apple's solution involves a series of systems, tools and methods to capture a 3D image by using multiple sensors and cameras. One sensor would capture a polarizing image, while two other sensors would capture two different non-polarizing images, and Apple's system would combine the images into a composite.

3D Object Recognition. On May 10, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a series of Apple patents relating to 3D face and object recognition technology. Apple's system involves taking a picture -- either with a front or rear camera -- and the 3D recognition software would distinguish between the two-dimensional projection of the image and the three-dimensional shape of the objects in the image. The process would be fully automatic, which would help for identifying faces in a group of objects, or even identifying objects in X-ray images.

Multiplayer Gaming. The iPhone 5 might also be the first phone to feature a new piece of software for multiplayer gaming. On March 15, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that describes a system for multiplayer gaming, which allows groups of people to play the same game together and even see it from different perspectives according to the devices' physical relation to one another. The system actually mimics that of the "Find My Friends" app, in which a user's device detects other nearby devices that it recognizes as "friends," and invites them all to join a common application. The technology also determines the relative position of those devices, so some games -- like turn-based role-playing games or card games -- can be played in a specific order.

iPhone 5: Your Thoughts

What do you think of the photos and this video of the alleged iPhone 5? Do you think the alleged iPhone 5 prototype is what Apple will release next month? Would you be disappointed if this were the case? Shoot us an email or sound off in the comments section below.