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iPhone 6: new phone 'to get pressure and heat sensors'
Reports from China suggest that Apple is lining up weather and health sensors for the iPhone 6
THE iPhone 6, expected to launch later this year, will monitor the temperature, humidity and pressure of its surroundings, according to an Apple analyst based in China.
Sun Chang Xu, the chief analyst at ESM-China, quoted a contact within Apple who works on MEMS – micro-electromechanical systems – for the company. She said that the new phone would be able to gather information about the weather and relay it to Apple.
According to technology news website The Register, the iPhone 6 is likely to monitor not only meteorological conditions but also the condition of its owner.
“The addition of sensors tallies with a recent leak which showed Apple was developing a health monitoring system and an app called HealthBook,” the site reports. “The rumoured iWatch would probably work with this app to help [users] monitor their fitness levels and chart day to day exercise.”
If these sensors do turn up in the iPhone 6, which is expected later this year, Apple would be following the lead of its great rival, Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy S4, unveiled a year ago, included humidity and temperatures sensors, and the Galaxy S5 was launched last month alongside a suite of health-monitoring apps.
Reports published earlier in the year suggested that Apple was planning an app codenamed Healthbook timed to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 6.
“The software will be capable of monitoring and storing fitness statistics such as steps taken, calories burned, and miles walked,” . reported. “Furthermore, the app will have the ability to manage and track weight loss.”
A Liquidmetal shell: As Apple strives to make the new handset as slim and strong as possible, some commentators have speculated that it may turn to Liquidmetal, an alloy that's stronger than aluminium. In theory that would mean the handset could be lighter and slimmer without skimping on strength or build quality, but in practice it seems unlikely. Although one of the inventors of Liquidmetal predicted two years ago that Liquidmetal cases would be possible by mid-2014, its use has so far been limited to small components.
Liquidmetal components: This is much more likely. Documents published by Apple-watching website MacRumors, suggest that the alloy could be used in buttons and switches in order to toughen up what have often proved to be weak points on previous iPhones.
A curved screen: At the end of last year Bloomberg carried a report predicting the next iPhone models would have screens that curved down at the edges. Curved screens are said to be more durable, more comfortable to use, and better suited to watching videos and playing games, according to Sky News. This would be a bold move for Apple, which usually likes to stand back and see how other phone-makers fare with new, risky technologies – and last month a source told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has no plans to make use of curved glass.
Sun Chang Xu, the chief analyst at ESM-China, quoted a contact within Apple who works on MEMS – micro-electromechanical systems – for the company. She said that the new phone would be able to gather information about the weather and relay it to Apple.
According to technology news website The Register, the iPhone 6 is likely to monitor not only meteorological conditions but also the condition of its owner.
“The addition of sensors tallies with a recent leak which showed Apple was developing a health monitoring system and an app called HealthBook,” the site reports. “The rumoured iWatch would probably work with this app to help [users] monitor their fitness levels and chart day to day exercise.”
If these sensors do turn up in the iPhone 6, which is expected later this year, Apple would be following the lead of its great rival, Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy S4, unveiled a year ago, included humidity and temperatures sensors, and the Galaxy S5 was launched last month alongside a suite of health-monitoring apps.
Reports published earlier in the year suggested that Apple was planning an app codenamed Healthbook timed to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 6.
“The software will be capable of monitoring and storing fitness statistics such as steps taken, calories burned, and miles walked,” . reported. “Furthermore, the app will have the ability to manage and track weight loss.”
More iPhone 6 rumours
There's no shortage of speculation about what will be included in the next iPhone, much of which seems to be based on wishful thinking:A Liquidmetal shell: As Apple strives to make the new handset as slim and strong as possible, some commentators have speculated that it may turn to Liquidmetal, an alloy that's stronger than aluminium. In theory that would mean the handset could be lighter and slimmer without skimping on strength or build quality, but in practice it seems unlikely. Although one of the inventors of Liquidmetal predicted two years ago that Liquidmetal cases would be possible by mid-2014, its use has so far been limited to small components.
Liquidmetal components: This is much more likely. Documents published by Apple-watching website MacRumors, suggest that the alloy could be used in buttons and switches in order to toughen up what have often proved to be weak points on previous iPhones.
A curved screen: At the end of last year Bloomberg carried a report predicting the next iPhone models would have screens that curved down at the edges. Curved screens are said to be more durable, more comfortable to use, and better suited to watching videos and playing games, according to Sky News. This would be a bold move for Apple, which usually likes to stand back and see how other phone-makers fare with new, risky technologies – and last month a source told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has no plans to make use of curved glass.
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