iPhone 5

Now that next generation iPhone production has ramped up, we've seen diagrams, engineering samples, and spare parts leak. Case manufacturers don't want to be left out of the fun and now there are several of the accessories available on Alibaba.

These inexpensive silicone cases reflect the expected dimensions of the iPhone 5, with a taller form factor and thinner profile. One has to wonder, what if Apple has other plans up its sleeve? Many manufacturers were stuck with inventories of unusable cases after the launch of the iPhone 4S.

Photos of a scale model of the next generation iPhone have leaked to Gotta Be Mobile from a source within Apple's supply chain. Assuming these images are authentic, the engineering sample confirms several parts leaks and previous reports of a larger form factor.

According to the engineering sample, which is typically used to mock up a product when fine tuning manufacturing processes, the iPhone 5 will be longer than its predecessor to accommodate a larger 16:9 display. Other aspects of the new design are also apparent in the metal model, such as camera placement similar to the iPhone 4S.

A 19-pin dock connector and 4G LTE may not be the only new features the next generation iPhone will be packing. The new device could be equipped with NFC (Near Field Communications) technology. An NFC chip allows smartphones to interact with other devices in a very close proximity. The addition of NFC capabilities and the recently announced Passbook app will allow Apple to finally compete with Google Wallet.

9to5Mac claims that they discovered clues of Apple's plans to add NFC hidden in a hardware code dump. They also cited Jim Peters, CTO of SITA who said retailers should prepare themselves for Apple to sneak its way into the lucrative world of mobile payments.

There have been many reports claiming that Apple has been working on a smaller port to replace the 30-pin connector currently used with the iPhone. TechCrunch claims that they have independently verified that the next generation iPhone will feature a 19-pin port. Several purported parts and case leaks have already shown the smaller slot, which TechCrunch describes as "similar in size to the Thunderbolt port available on many MacBook devices." This is bad news for independent manufacturers since it will make millions of iPhone accessories obsolete.

The change is most likely due to size constraints from the iPhone's new design. The new iPhone is expected to be thinner, and feature a larger screen leaving less real estate for Apple to work with. Apple has been using the 30-pin port since the release of the third generation iPod.

Hot on the heels of the impressive next generation iPhone renderings revealed last week, designer Martin uit Utrecht has given us even more eye candy. This time the renderings of the iPhone 5 are done in both white and black, complete with fingerprints on the metal back.

These designs are based on leaked parts and diagrams showing a slightly longer device with a thinner profile. The taller iPhone 5 will accomodate an extra row of home screen icons thanks to a larger film-aspect ratio display. Apps not optimized for the larger screen are expected to run in letterbox format.