iPhone 5 Rumors RoundUp: Lytro Camera, NFC, Physical Camera Button, Launch Date and More (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)

The rumors about Apple next generation handset - dubbed iPhone 5 - are incessantly surfacing and will continue to do so until the Apple smartphone actually shows up. The latest rumors claim iPhone 5 will boast of Lytro camera, NFC, a physical camera button, etc. The launch date has been reportedly set for Summer.

Start the slideshow to check out the rumored features of iPhone 5 in details.

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Lytro Camera will be reportedly packed in the highly anticipated iPhone, according to iPhone 5 News Blog.

You might ask, what is Lytro? It's a camera sensor, which can take " takes in a great deal more visual data and light than even the most advanced camera sensors."

If the forthcoming iPhone is empowered with the camera, the users can easily make even their casual snapshots look like works of art. They even can toggle focus in both the foreground and background objects.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had strong enthusiasm to include high-quality digital cameras into iPhone. Thank to his passion for photography, iPhone now can not only take clear, sharp snapshots, but also take amazing videos.

Jobs reportedly met with the CEO of Lytro only several months before his death, which suggests that the next generation iPhone will integrate Lytro camera technology.

Click the video to check out the excellent performance of Lytro camera.

There's a rumor swirling that due to the internal conflict over naming conventions, Apple has delayed the launch of iPhone 5, according to Beatweek.com.

The iPhone 5 is the sixth generation iPhone, rather than the fifth one. That has become an issue because people are wondering why the sixth generation iPhone has retained the '5' moniker? Currently, Apple marketing execs are reportedly chewing over the standard naming conventions.

They must be moaning, "Oh woe! What are we to do? What will we call it? If we call it 'iPhone 5' all those skeptics will point out that it's outside of standard naming conventions. Oh woe. What would Steve do?" Beatweek.com reported.

In a word, the naming issue may be hindering the next generation iPhone's release. Apple fans must also be wondering what name is better.

Visa has confirmed that it is in discussions with Apple to include NFC technology in the next version of the iPhone, but it may still be months away before the technology is incorporated in the new iPhone, Power Retail reported, citing the Global Head of Mobile Product Bill Gadja.

"I can't tell you when Apple is going to put NFC in the next version of the iPhone," Gadja told business magazine Fast Company, "but we've had discussions with them around the PayWave standard and they've asked to look at our specification and certification process so that when they do decide to do something those lines of communication are open."

The news and Apple editor Matthew Panzarino for the Next Web has analyzed, "why the iPhone should have a dedicated physical shutter button."

According to Panzarino, the current position of the rear camera and the use of the volume button as the shutter button lead to "an awkward, unstable and suboptimal shooting experience."

Accordingly, he suggested iPhone 5 should have a physical camera button, where an index finger can just naturally press. Panzarino hopes the next iPhone will feature a dedicated physical shutter button. Moreover, he said the new Nokia 800 has come to the same feature.

Not everyone, however, agrees with the suggestion. Artysx replied in the comments section, saying, "iPhone doesn't need camera button, it's not a step forward - more like 10 back. There is no need in this paradigm [to] 'hold your phone like a real camera' any more, it's over."

Citing a "reliable source" at the Chinese factory Foxconn, 9to5Mac reported that iPhone 5 might be unveiled this summer.

It might sound familiar. A similar rumor flew thick and fast at the same period last year. However, Apple refuted that speculation by launching iPhone 4S in Fall (October).

The source said there are several iPhone prototypes reportedly floating around in Foxconn, a major manufacturer for Apple.

Once Apple chooses the best design among the prototypes, Foxconn will immediately put it on production. However, without final version, it's difficult to predict the features of the next generation iPhone.

Nonetheless, the Foxconn insider offers some hints to Apple watchers and fans. All the prototypes, the insider said, boast of at least a 4-inch display. And there's no teardrop design, as was previously rumored.

Even though 9to5Mac said the source is reliable, the rumor is still questionable.



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