next generation

There is no doubt that Apple plans to improve camera technology on the next generation iPhone. The question is, how significant will the changes be? According to a report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (KGI Securities) and detailed by MacRumors, the upgrade to the iPhone 7 Plus could be significant indeed. Kuo predicts that a dual-lens rear camera is in development, basing this assertion on Apple's acquisition of LinX imaging last April.

It should come as no surprise that Apple is working on the next generation Apple Watch. A report detailed by MacRumors indicates Quanta Computer has confirmed development of an upgraded watch coming late in the second quarter of next year. With the initial release planned for June 2016, production can then ramp up later in the year to fulfill demand. Rumors have pointed to several hardware and software improvements in the Apple Watch 2.

What if your iPhone protected itself from damage automatically when dropped? A patent awarded to Apple seeks to build this functionality directly into future mobile devices, analyzing sensor data to detect free fall. The concept continues from there, imagining a system that would react physically to reposition the iPhone in space to minimize damage on impact.

Physics could save the day, along with movement within the iPhone to change the orientation of the falling device. Existing technology could be used, such as the vibration mechanism inside the phone. Alternatively, a headphone jack that is in use could lock around the plug, giving the owner time to catch the headphone cable and cut the fall short. AppleInsider explained the patent titled “Protective mechanism for an electronic device” was awarded this month after being filed early last year.

Apple consistently improves the camera in each iteration of the iPhone, and the iPhone 6 will be no different. The company's secret plans have already leaked, pointing towards several design changes and tweaks that will make the iPhone 6 an even more capable image capture device. The iPhone 5s camera was already proof that Apple is more interested in quality over quantity when it comes to the megapixel race.

The iPhone 6 will certainly build on improvements seen in the 5s. The iPhone 5s improved low light sensitivity by increasing the aperture to f/2.2 and bumping up the image sensor pixel size to 1.5 microns. The most obvious redesign feature involves a protruding lens ring on the iPhone 6. The new device will allegedly be so thin that in order to incorporate an improved camera assembly, an iPod touch style camera lens will be required.

More alleged iPhone 6 parts have surfaced on China's version of Twitter. A Weibo user posted several photos of what appears to be the next generation display backlight. According to Nowhereelse.fr the design of the leaked backlight matches current parts from the iPhone 5s, except for one thing.

The ribbon cable position and connector have been updated, indicating changes to the part. While the original poster claims the backlight is indeed 4.7 inches diagonal, the origin and size of the part could not be independently confirmed. Assuming the backlight is real, production of the larger iPhone 6 handset must be in full swing.