Rumors

Most of the hype surrounding the iPhone 5 display has been centered on its size, with industry observers predicting that Apple will increase the next generation display to 4 inches. New information points to an even more intriguing possibility, that the iPhone 5 will feature Sharp's IGZO display technology in a cutting-edge mobile touchscreen.

The diagram above from Semiconductor Portal illustrates the advantage of IGZO transistors. These indium, gallium, and zinc (IGZO) transistors replace standard amorphous silicon thin-film transistors in the Sharp components, which provide higher electron mobility. This means display pixels can be smaller and more light passes through the IGZO display.

iLounge is promising three new Apple products in 2012. According to their "most reliable source," the iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro will all be receiving redesigns next year. The next generation iPhone will not feature the rumored teardrop-design we were promised in 2011. Instead it will feature a 4-inch display, aluminum back and be 8mm longer than the current models. The new iPhone will be available sometime next summer.

Another "industry source," who claims to have handled an iPhone 5 prototype, confirmed it featured an aluminum back and larger screen. The scrapped iPhone 5 was also supposed to be equipped with a 10-megapixel camera and be available in various colors.

Siri still has plenty of tricks up her sleeve. According to the German website Macerkopf.de, iOS 5.1 will enable Siri to control your iPhone's hardware by the end of this year. This should allow Siri to do more than tell you where the nearest coffee shop is located by giving the voice assistant more control over your device.

If true, iPhone 4S users will be able to ask Siri to do things like shoot video, or turn off their Bluetooth when they get home from the office. Macerkopf.de isn't known for the most accurate iPhone predictions, but Apple needs to do something to make Siri more useful. I know the novelty of the voice assistant has worn off for some.

Those always reliable "industry sources" must be feeling lonely since the Apple rumor mill was shutdown back in October. Good thing for them the iPhone 4S wasn't interesting enough to hold our attention for longer than a month. So grab your supply of salt, and prepare yourself, because I predict a very long winter of new Apple rumors.

The latest comes from the Business Insider, who refuses let a great rumor die. According to their unnamed source, the iPhone 5 was very real, but it was abandoned 3 months before the iPhone 4S was announced. Their tipster didn't say why the iPhone 5 was scrapped, but he did say Apple engineers thought "a new fully re-designed iPhone was going to be Apple's next big announcement." He also says he played with the prototype.

Google gets credit for Gmail's sharp mobile web interface on the iPhone, however despite several native apps available from the company we have yet to see Gmail for iOS. This could all be set to change, as a Gmail app is said to be on its way to iTunes. Google has not made any official comment about a possible iPhone and iPad mail application, but observers think the time is right considering Apple's launch of iOS 5 Notification Center.

Sources have told tech reporter MG Siegler that the Gmail iOS app has already been submitted for review and should be released shortly. Besides Gmail's powerful search capabilities, push notifications would make the app infinitely more useful for iPhone owners. Unfortunately reading Gmail on the iPhone currently does not provide a push option.