iPhone 6: The Wish List

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Nothing whets the appetite of gadget lovers quite like a new iPhone. With Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) still at the head of the smartphone market, and the iPhone undoubtedly remaining the premium smartphone on the market, despite strong competition from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930), the release of a new iPhone still captures the imagination of the public like no other device. And with the new iPhone 6 due to be released at some point next year, speculation is already rife regarding what the new Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) handset will offer consumers.

Yet this is also a more demanding marketplace, in which the initial functionality which was delivered by the original iPhone is no longer remotely good enough to impress anyone. To stay on top of the pile you have to produce a smartphone which is evidently superior to the competition.

iPhone 6 specifications

So what would we most like to see contained with the iPhone 6’s specifications? Here are some of our suggestions.

Built-in infrared

The Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) Galaxy’s last model, the S4, included infrared capabilities, meaning that the handset could be used as a universal controller for numerous household devices. This was a particularly nifty innovation and would be very welcome in the iPhone 6.

Near-Field communications

This wouldn’t just be a valuable inclusion for Apple, it would also be a big deal for this form of technology. Near-field communication (NFC) enables a phone to communicate with others nearby, and particularly lends itself to payment systems such as Google Wallet and PingIt, although there are other valid uses for NFC as well.

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As of yet, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have steadfastly declined to include NFC in the iPhone, which has been a blow to the producers of the technology. But with several rival smartphones now supporting this technology, Apple could be tempted to take the plunge with NFC for iPhone 6.

Improved voice control technology

One area where the iPhone has perhaps disappointed slightly is with regard to voice control technology, which is presently delivered through its Siri feature. This is generally considered to be an inferior system to the Google Now device, and there will be some pressure on Apple to implement a souped-up version of Siri in the iPhone 6.

Integrated wireless charging

Apple is well known for greasing their palms by charging the public extra money for a variety of extras for their devices. For example, beautifully though they are designed, the current generation of iMacs has been criticized for not including any form of disc drive.

Thus, at present if you wish to charge your iPhone’s battery wirelessly, a separate charging sleeve and mat are required. There is a strong argument for Apple to utilize one of the custom charging chips which numerous companies now manufacture to make wireless charging as convenient as possible. Whether Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would view this as economically viable is highly debatable.

Improved Wi-Fi

The very latest Wi-Fi technology, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, has been implemented by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) with regard to its MacBook Airs and AirPort routers, but they have yet to integrate the same tech into either the iPhone 5S or 5C. Rival companies have created devices with this Wi-Fi included, so Apple will hopefully consider including it within the iPhone 6, as this would greatly enhance its Internet capabilities.

More storage

This seems highly likely, as there have already been leaks which suggest that the iPhone 6’s launch will incorporate a 128Gb model. Although there are less storage requirements associated with a smartphone as opposed to a computer, with the last range of Apple’s tablet computer, the iPad, having embraced a 128Gb model this may be seen as a natural development for the iPhone. It is thus expected by many analysts that Apple will ditch the 16Gb iPhone and release a new 128Gb model this time round.

Customizable home screen

Apple make beautiful devices, but they are known as being a bit of a closed box. More customization options would be welcome with the iPhone 6, particularly the ability to customize the display. Android devices enable users to add widgets and set out the display in a manner that suits the user, so Apple ought to give this some serious consideration.

Better camera

Apple has improved the camera in the iPhone with each new version of the smartphone, and it seems highly likely that they will do so again with the iPhone 6. Thus, we might see a more powerful camera in the iPhone 6 than the 8 megapixel device which was part of the iPhone 5S.

Bigger screen

This has been virtually confirmed anyway, but hopefully Apple will follow through on the murmurings that the iPhone will have a 5 inch screen. It would certainly make the HD content which it offers more pleasurable to view.

Faster processor and improved 3D graphics

This is an area where Apple can really blow consumers away, and indications are already on record which seem to suggest that we will see a new 64-bit A7 chip in the Apple iPhone 6. The company claims that this will give the iPhone 6 double the performance capability of the previous device, so this is certainly something which will make the iPhone 6 worth waiting for.

Better battery life

It is obviously difficult to deliver a bigger screen, with a faster processor and graphics chip, while also requesting the battery life of a device to be improved. Although Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) improved the battery life of the iPhone 5S compared to the previous iteration of the iPhone, it still sapped its battery pretty rapidly, and any improvement this time around would be greatly appreciated.

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