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| Separated iPhone 5 LED Flash Rumor Makes Little Sense Posted: 24 May 2011 07:53 AM PDT
 The latest iPhone 5 photo shows a separated LED flash. But does that really make any sense? Rumor has it that the iPhone 5 is due to get an upgrade on its rear-facing camera, bumping up to an 8-megapixel design. But new purported, leaked photos of iPhone 5 parts and cases show what looks like a LED flash on the other side of the device. Where’s the logic in this new design? The tech media is currently abuzz with newly-surfaced photos of cases and backplates that seem to show an LED flash that is positioned on the other side of the supposedly new iPhone 5 design. There is a great deal of excitement and anticipation surrounding this new development, with iPhone enthusiasts anticipating a dramatic shift in the iPhone 5′s rear-facing camera array, which is already purported to be getting an 8-megapixel upgrade. While few are questioning the voracity and reliability of the photos and sources, even fewer are scrutinizing the logic of a separated LED camera flash, and what the basis would be for Apple to shift the iPhone’s camera flash so dramatically far away from the sensor itself. The few theories on why the iPhone 5 could feature a separated LED flash are seemingly logical at first glance: we all know that there were light issues with the camera sensor on the white iPhone 4, and even flash and camera issues with lighting on the original iPhone 4 back in the Summer of 2010. It would be easy enough to assume that moving the LED flash to the other side of the iPhone 5 would somehow solve the problem. But given the lights limitations of LED flashes, this seems doubtful at best. While LED flashes have become increasingly popular on smartphones, the light that they emit is still not as bright as other flash forms, such as a Xenon flash. As a result, the camera flash from a LED is sometimes not bright enough to fill the photo with ample light in low-lit conditions. This is why devices like the iPhone (and all other smartphones with rear-facing cameras) have positioned the LED flash in close proximity to the sensor; it’s a way of maximizing the amount of light that ultimately enters the camera, as reflected off of the subject. By definition, moving the camera flash away from the sensor on the iPhone 5 would put an already lesser-lit flash at a farther distance from the sensor — and at a greater angle to the subject being photographed. It’s hard to believe that moving the LED flash could ultimately help in this regard — unless the new flash turned out to be something of the Xenon type. Shifted LED Flash on the iPhone 5 To Eliminate Red Eye? Another theory suggests that the moved LED flash on the iPhone 5 could be to counteract red eye. But this new design seems dubious as well.  the Nokia Astound's 8-megapixel camera sensor array with dual LED flashes. It is true that red eye is caused by red light being bounced back off of the irises of people into the camera, which is often caused by on-camera flashes that are in close proximity to the sensor or shutter. But in order to truly eliminate red eye, the flash source would need to be sufficiently far from the optical axis of the camera, and it is doubtful that moving it a couple of inches to the right would do the trick. In order to reduce red eye, it would make more sense for Apple to further refine the use of a pre flash on the iPhone 5, a technique that causes a person’s irises to contract, thus minimizing the bounce-back of red light.  HTC's Evo 4G also has two LEDs in close proximity to the sensor. Does An 8-Megapixel Camera Require That the LED Flash Be Farther Away? Finally, perhaps the moved flash on the iPhone 5 has something to do with the addition of a 8-megapixel camera? That could be the case, however, to date, no other 8-megapixel smartphone sports a separated LED flash like the one that is purported in the photo. The Nokia Astound features not one, but two LED flashes right next to the sensor. The same goes for Nokia’s N86. But it isn’t just Nokia that is using this camera and LED flash set-up. HTC is doing the same thing with their Evo 4G. Like the Nokias, it features two LED flashes in close proximity to the camera sensor. What is apparent from these other smartphones with 8-megapixel cameras is that the 8mp sensors need more light, and they need that light relatively close to the sensor in order to avoid grainy photos. If this is the case, then why would Apple continue to use just one LED flash for an 8-megapixel camera, and put it on the other end of the rear plate?  Newer iPhone 4 case designs account for the LED flash so as not to interfere with it . . . Separated LED Flash Could Lead To a New Photo Discoloration Problem on the iPhone 5 As we have reported in another article, photo discoloration was an early problem on the iPhone 4, and more than a few theories abounded as to why this was the case. While some suggested that it was the result of a software issue in how the iPhone 4 processed yellow light, others postulated that many photo discoloration problems were caused by iPhone 4 case designs, which were too hastily retro-engineered from iPhone 3Gs designs and did not account for the LED flash. As a result, some of the cases came too close in contact with the LED flash and resulted in partially concealing the flash strobe. Anyone who has ever accidentally had a part of their finger over the flash of a camera knows how it can discolor a photo.  This purported iPhone 5 case -- and separated LED flash -- might discolor photos. Newer iPhone 4 cases have re-designed the camera lens cutouts around the iPhone 4′s sensor and flash so as not to conceal it. However, in the recent purported photo of the iPhone 5 case, the cutout for the LED flash would be closely cropped to the flash itself, lending to the theory that photos could easily become discolored. Another unknown is what the effect of having such a expanse of colored case between the sensor and flash would cause — could it lead to further discoloration? It is possible that Apple has a new patent for an LED camera flash that will be bright enough to be positioned on the other side of the iPhone 5. But I have combed all of the Apple patents, and I can find nothing to suggest this. I remain skeptical of all purported “leaked” photos of the iPhone 5 — and these recent ones are no exception. Photo enthusiasts: what do you think? Can you find any evidence out there to suggest how this new camera array would make any sense for the iPhone 5? We’d love to hear from you, and start a discussion on whether or not these new photos make any real sense. |
| iPhone 5 To Get Curved Display Glass And LTE 4G In 2012? Posted: 24 May 2011 04:21 AM PDT
 The curved glass display on the iPod Nano -- could the iPhone 5 get the same treatment? Read Charles Moore’s new reflection on rumors that the iPhone 5 will feature a curved glass display and the coveted 4G in 2012. I’m seriously dating myself by revealing that I remember well Volkswagen’s introduction of the new Super Beetle model in 1971 with a curved, mildly wraparound windshield. All VW Beetles previously had had completely flat windshield glass, so the curvature was considered highly revolutionary. I took a new Super Beetle belonging to a friend for a test drive and recall noticing how much better it rode and handled with its completely different suspension system, and the gracefully curved windscreen did much to eliminate the impression of viewing the world through a letterbox slot. The Super Beetle is my favorite VW Beetle of all time (I’ll take a Cabriolet Champagne Edition by preference, thanks), the most recent example I’ve driven being a hotrod built by my daughter and her friend as a bare chassis up project, with a twin-Weber carburated Porsche engine and Porsche alloy wheels, as well as a rock hard suspension that makes it handle and corner like a go-kart — at least on smooth roads. It’s seriously demanding to drive, but one seriously hot Beetle.  Curved glass: cool on the old VW Beetle -- how about the iPhone 5? Anyway, I thought of the curved-windshield VW announcement of 40 years ago when I read a DigiTimes report by Yenting Chen and Steve Shen noting that the latest scuttlebutt being circulated around the OEM componentry supply chain in Taiwan is that Apple is fixing to adopt a curved cover glass for the iPhone 5 according to DigiTimes customary unnamed industry sources. However, Chen and Shen report that cover glass makers are reluctant to invest in the necessary glass cutting equipment due to high capital cost, so, Apple itself has reportedly purchased 200-300 glass cutting machines to be used by glass makers, or so the sources affirm, currently storing them at associated assembly plants to be brought into production service once yield rates for curved glass reaches a satisfactory level, and further that there’s still been no timetable set for iPhone 5 volume production, at least in part because Apple is currently still working out logistics issues with suppliers including ones involved in cover glass, glass cutting, lamination and touch sensors to improve yield rates. So why would Apple want a curved iPhone display? Unlike the Super Beetle windscreen of yore, a curved iPhone screen would seem to not offer any obvious advantages, and actually seems sort of like a step backward, since the curved  Curved design concepts like this one from HTC can make for more ergonomic phone calls -- but is it a good idea for a touch screen? screen glass of CRT computer monitors long since gave way to flat plane displays almost universally acclaimed to be an improvement. One rumor I heard suggested it might have something to do with 3D, working like some sort of lens. And while we’re at it, DigiTimes’ Amanda Liang and Adam Hwang have posted a new report sayingthat China Mobile, China’s largest mobile telecom carrier, has reached an agreement with Apple for China Mobile to develop an iPhone model based on TD-LTE which to be offered in 2012, citing comments by China Mobile chairman Wang Jian-zhou at the company’s 2011 shareholders meeting on May 19, according to a report in the Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily. In an earlier report, Digitimes’ Irene Chen and Steve Shen noted that Apple is unlikely to launch LTE-enabled iPhone 4S smartphones in 2011 as originally planned due to problems concerning yield rates of LTE chips offered by Qualcomm. Many thanks to all of the folks yesterday who sent in links to stories about this rumored new feature for the iPhone 5! iPhone 5′ers are the best at keeping up on all things iPhone! What do you think the purpose of a curved screen might be on the iPhone 5? Cool looks? Ergonomics? And how would it affect gesture control on the touch screen? Let us know what you think!
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