Will The iPhone 5 Look Like This?

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.9to5mac.com/63344/iphone-5-ipod-touch-back-3-7-inch-display-gesture-based-home-button-inductive-charging/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+9To5Mac-MacAllDay+(9+to+5+Mac+-+Apple+Intelligence)' target='_blank'>http://www.9to5mac.com/63344/iphone...e+Intelligence)</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"This is my next drops a bombshell, claiming that the next-generation iPhone will not be a minimal departure from the iPhone 4, like others are saying, but will be a completely re-designed phone, as Engadget reported earlier this year."</em></p><p><img height="521" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1303512060.usr105634.jpg" style="margin-left: 125px; margin-right: 125px;" width="350" /></p><p>This from a story at "This is my next..." and I have to admit I kinda like it. We don't get too involved in rumors around here but since it appears the iPhone 5 might not show up until later in the year, it's interesting to see what kind of mock ups are out there and eventually how close they come to the real deal. What are your thoughts, yay or nay?</p>

[Michael Knutson]

this picture seems to parallel the switch to the MacBook Air form factor. A thin wedge would make sense, if the ergonomics don't get too crazy ...

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Smaller bezel and gesture support are winning features. Wish Palm didn't go screw up the launch of the Pre...

[DaleReeck]

I like the edge to edge screen, but I think a phone can't be too thin. A really thin phone can be difficult to hold.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

I like the edge to edge screen, but I think a phone can't be too thin. A really thin phone can be difficult to hold.

Thicker phones also mean bigger batteries. Why don't people want bigger batteries?

[Dyvim]

I really love the flat sides on the iPhone 4 because it makes it so much easier to hold and use as a camera (and also when viewing videos). That mockup looks pretty difficult to hold as a camera in landscape position. It seems to me you'd want/need flat sides even more with a bezel-to-bezel screen: with thin edges it seems your fingers would tend to wrap around to the front and back when gripping it by the edges, accidentally triggering screen touches.

But I'm all for a bigger, edge-to-edge screen and a home button with gestures.

[Phronetix]

This design doesn't look practical, can't see this being authentic, at least the rear. The MBA lies flat, and it's flatness IS practical. I could see a thinner phone, even tapered, but not like this... Besides, is the dock connector supposed to go at the top? The side? On the other hand... Wireless sync, to the cloud... AirSync?

[Jason Dunn]

I like the edge to edge screen, but I think a phone can't be too thin. A really thin phone can be difficult to hold.

Agreed. Even the difference between the iPod Touch 3G and 4G was very noticeable. I found the newer iPod much harder to securely hold than the last one. Once I got a skin on it, that made a big difference. This rumoured design looks like an ergonomic nightmare, though I do love the edge to edge screen. My worry is that Apple continues to be obsessed about thinness at the cost of real usability. :(

[Jason Dunn]

The MBA lies flat, and it's flatness IS practical. I could see a thinner phone, even tapered, but not like this... Besides, is the dock connector supposed to go at the top? The side? On the other hand... Wireless sync, to the cloud... AirSync?

A good point - but even with wireless sync, which Apple is way behind on - you still need to recharge the phone, attach it to docks, etc. And being able to put your phone flat on a table and use it would be impossible with this design.