Next iPhone: faster, better, stronger

This time of year tends to be slow for news in general and gadget news in particular. Companies have laid out plans for next year, but it’s too far off to be talking devices. And when there’s no news it’s time for rumours.

Here’s a look at what’s swirling around Apple’s next models of the iPhone. These aren’t as far-fetched as they have been in years past. But, that said, rumours should always be taken with a grain or two of salt.

Using the Force (Touch)

Apple introduced the concept of the Force Touch earlier this year for the new MacBook and the Apple Watch. Devices with the feature can distinguish between a tap and a push and offer you different options based on how hard you’re pushing – think of it as a sort of right-click for your touchscreen or touchpad.

Last week Bloomberg reported Apple would put this capability into the next round of iPhones. Citing unnamed sources, the report said these Force Touch iPhones were already in early production.

Force Touch is a nice addition to the Apple Watch, giving users more options even with limited screen space. It’s not as intuitive as tapping and swiping, but it doesn’t take long to catch on to.

So shiny

MacRumors reports that the company is also expected to use the aluminium from the Apple Watch Sport. That comes from an analyst note by KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a strong record on Apple rumours.

The report says Apple will also offer a rose gold iPhone option – similar to the colouring of the $10 000-and-up tier of the Apple Watch Edition – and will tweak the shades of its gold and grey (Space Gray, to be exact) models to be more like the shades of the Watch.

Faster, better, stronger

A report from 9 to 5 Mac indicates Apple might be using a new Qualcomm chip to boost Internet speeds in its next model. The site’s Marc Gurman points out this addition could deliver “up to twice the theoretical LTE download speeds” of the current models, though real-world performance would vary based on your cellular network. The energy efficiency could also help extend the phone’s battery life, Gurman reported.

Other stuff

There’s a report from 9 to 5 Mac that Apple might be planning a refresh of the iPod. The music player’s sales have been flagging over the past few years as more people use their smartphones as their primary music players. – Washington Post