Submitted by Thomas Estilow on
The list just keeps getting longer. Soon we're going to expect iPhones to finish up the laundry and walk the dog. More details have leaked about the extensive capabilities being developed for the next generation iPhone. Of course, hardware improvements are going to work hand-in-hand with the new OS.
Apple recently ordered 100 million 8GB flash chips, twice the number they ordered last year. Video recording is the perfect way to fill up 32GB of memory on your iPhone 3.0. Not only this, but Apple has ordered both 3.2 and 5 megapixel cameras. The iPhone camera will definitely see an upgrade, but there is even speculation that a front-facing camera could be added to the next iPhone.
The 3.0 software includes references to an 'auto-focus camera' and video recording and editing options.
Another piece of hardware fueling speculation is the Broadcom BCM4329 wireless chip. The addition of this single chip to the iPhone would make three things possible: 802.11n wireless connections, FM receiving, and FM transmitting. Apple has limited the functionality of its current Broadcom chip, however with iPhone 3.0 it's possible they could add an FM tuner or even allow iPhones to broadcast to external speakers using the FM transmitter.
Other iPhone 3.0 changes and improvements on the horizon:Mobile Safari JavaScript runs 3x faster in iPhone OS 3.0
Battery remaining percentage indicator
Digital compass (magnometer)
Voice control and/or voice dialing
OpenGL ES v2.0 support
Newest iPhone FAQs
Apple's World Wide Developer Conference is from June 8-12, 2009. It's a good bet that we'll know much more about iPhone 3.0 after the keynote address.