iPhone 6: what to expect?

When it comes to the 2014 iPhone 6 it is all about word is and rumour has it…we are not really sure what to expect yet. Although the phone will be launched later this year, there are already speculations of what kind of package the gadget will possess. There are high expectations on Apple to deliver.

Here’s what we think we know about the iPhone 6, according to Zack Wittaker or ZDnet:

A brand new, larger, thinner design?

Many leaks have pointed to a brand new metal chassis and shell, perhaps taking a leaf from the iPhone 3G’s book, in that it may land with slightly rounded corners and a thinner overall depth.

The outside bezel remains a mystery, but some have pointed to a thinner edge between the shell and the display.

It’s also expected to land in a larger 4.7-in display, which would keep video aspect ratio perfect, but also add another row of icons.

Increased screen resolution?

In his latest reports, 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman — a reliable source of pre-release Apple news — suggests a new sharper resolution display is in the works.

This particular resolution means developers would have no additional work to make their apps run on a larger screen. This would give a resolution density of between 356-416 pixels per inch, significantly higher than the 300 pixels per inch limitation of the human retina.

The size is important because this reduces the fragmentation of display and resolution screen sizes that has previously angered Apple developers.

A stronger sapphire crystal-screen?

A new sapphire screen would make the iPhone 6 screen significantly stronger and scratch resistant. The scratch-proof crystal technology is already embedded in the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s, designed as such to prevent it from deteriorating.

Faster networking?

Wall Street and industry analysts, including Cowen analyst Timothy Arcuri have pointed to the iPhone supporting the latest 802.11ac wireless networking standard, which reaches speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second. It falls in line with Apple’s efforts to bring the next-generation networking technology to its other devices, including AirPort routers and storage units

A higher-resolution camera?

The iPhone 5s’ 8-megapixel snapper was a marginal improvement on previous versions. But in the past year a number of high-resolution camera-phones have been released — not least the Nokia 1020 — led by Ari Pertinen, who was recently poached by Apple. While the iPhone’s software is significantly ahead of its rivals, it has room for improvement. Apple’s next smartphone is said to be landing with electronic image stabalization, following the deal with InvenSense, which would reduce image blurriness.

Improved A8 processor, environmental sensors?

In line with previous releases, major iPhone versions typically land with the next-generation A-processors. Up next for the iPhone 6 may be the addition of the A8 chip, which lands with 64-bit technology as its A7 chip predessor— dubbed the world’s first 64-bit smartphone chip. It’s possible that this could lead the way to other sensors being added to the device, such as “environmental” sensors, according to one Chinese analyst. These could measure humidity and temperature, which could feed back into the elusive “Healthbook” app.

IOS 8 Software?

Aside from the design and the physical enhancements to the new phone, the crucial element widely overlooked is what the software, expected to be iOS 8, will look like, what it will feature, and how it will run.

Healthbook: One of the major breakthroughs reportedly on deck for the new software is a health-oriented app.

Song recognition: It’s expected that Apple will partner with music identification app maker Shazam to further help the company’s iTunes sales. You’ll recognize a song, and then buy it directly from your phone.

Touch ID improvements: It’s also expected that the fingerprint software will improve significantly, after receiving additional features and updates in the latest IOS 7.11 update.

Multitasking for iPad: To rival the Microsoft Surface’s “snapping” functionality, Apple may be bringing side-by-side views to the iPad, if previously reliable reporting is to be believed.

Release date?

Typically, Apple releases its smartphones in September, normally three months after its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June, where it shows off the device’s software and mobile platform.

Recent reports have pointed to the iPhone landing a month earlier than the company’s typical release schedule, according to Reuters.