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As the week draws to a close, a new slew of rumors and reports concerning the latest iteration of Apples best-selling iPhone have hit the Web, including the news that Apple has won control of the domain name iPhone5.com, following a complaint the company filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
In addition, The Wall Street Journal, quoting unnamed sources, reported that Apple plans to use a larger 4-inch display for the iPhone 5. To top it all off, Bloomberg News reported that Steve Jobs, who passed away last year, worked closely to develop the latest version of the smartphone.
Technology blog TheNextWeb reported that brand-protection agency Corporation Service Company (CSC) now owns the iPhone5.com domain, noting that the complaint over the domain, filed by Apple Computer in WIPO case number D2012-0951, has been terminated. The article suggested the CSC is operating on behalf of Apple, though it remains unclear whether Apple is planning on using the domain to market the iPhone or is just making a protective play.
The Journal’s report of a larger screen size for the new iPhone grabbed the lions share of attention, as Apple seeks to remain competitive as a wave of new smartphones, particularly handsets from market leader Samsung, boast larger displays. The redesign, which would boost the display to 4 inches from the current 3.5 inches, would be the first to the iPhone since 2010, when the company launched the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4S, the current version of the smartphone, is nearly identical in look to the iPhone 4. Analysts expect the redesigned handset to launch sometime in the fall, perhaps September or October.
The launch of the latest iPhone will also likely coincide with the release of the updated iOS 6 mobile operating system, which Apple may preview at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Among the biggest changes to the operating system could be the replacement of Googles mapping technology for a brand-new in-house maps application using 3D mapping technology by C3 Technologies, which the company acquired in 2011. The app will be similar in look and feel to the Google Maps app, but will provide a faster, cleaner and more reliable user experience, according to reports.
Apple recently released the latest update to its iOS software for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad to fix bugs and repair security issues. The iOS 5.1.1 addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks and fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances, as well as security issues concerning Apple’s Safari browser. In addition to the bug fixes, the update also patches some serious security vulnerabilities, including a number of patches in the WebKit rendering engine, such as a memory-corruption issue.