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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/758586
iDropNews Business Insider, citing sources with deep ties to Apple’s Far East supply chain, reported the Silicon Valley tech-giant is gearing up to introduce larger iPhone displays next year. Not only will the standard, 4.7-inch iPhone jump up to a 5-inch panel, but the larger 5.5-inch Plus model is said to be jumping up to a whopping 5.8-inch curved OLED display. 3. Iris Scanning Security Mechanism In 2014, Apple was allegedly investigating including the technology on its phones, and was experimenting with how the iPhone’s existing sensors — like the compass and accelerometer — could improve facial recognition. And more recently, leaked investor documents also seem to confirm that Apple is expected to include features such as biometric facial recognition and iris scanning as soon as 2017. Additionally, Apple currently owns a number of patents concerning facial recognition technology, including a patent describing how 3D rendering could lead to better accuracy. Earlier this year, Apple purchased a startup called Emotient, which was developing technology that used artificial intelligence to read facial expressions. In November of last year, it also acquired the motion capture company FaceShift, all of which points to iris scanning security features being developed and deployed on Apple’s iPhone 8. 4. No Home Button The round home button has been an iPhone staple since day one – it’s a key design element that separates the iPhone 7 from its competitors; however some might argue that the home button seems a little stale. While it is functional, it’s not exactly new, and to some, it’s actually unnecessary. Phones running Android have done away with physical home buttons in many incarnations including Google’s own smartphone, the Google Pixel. Like the scenario we experienced with the removal of the iPhone 7’s headphone jack, removing the home button will add more space the device, which will make room for more highly-desired features, like a larger display. Consumers want a smartphone that offers the largest display, packed into the smallest device possible, and removing the home button is the first step in the process. 5. Touch ID It’s expected that the iPhone 8 won’t feature a home button, and it’s reasonable to wonder where Apple might place the iPhone 8’s Touch ID sensor, which allows us to easily unlock our iPhones with a simple press of a finger. Recently, Apple has been awarded a patent to employ the Touch ID sensor directly within the iPhone 8’s display. The patent, titled “Man-machine interface for controlling access to electronic devices”, describes three different methods of integrating the Touch ID sensor underneath the display. “Optical”, “Capacitive”, and “Ultrasonic” methods are all described in detail, the latter of which being the most intriguing. Removing the home button and featuring Touch ID directly within the display will create a futuristic and minimalist approach to the security mechanism, and we are very excited to see this come to fruition deployed on the iPhone 8. 6. Available in 3 Sizes, All Glass Design It has been voiced by several people close to the company’s supply chain that Apple will release three sizes of the iPhone 8, adding a 5-inch model in addition to the 4.7-inch, and will ultimately bump up the 5.5-inch iPhone Plus model to a whopping 5.8 inches. The report claims that all three models will “have glass backs, departing from metal casings adopted by current iPhones, and China’s Biel Crystal Manufactory and Lens Technology is likely to be providing all the glass backs for the new iPhones next year.” Ming-Chi Kuo echoed the return to a glass enclosure last month, when he claimed that the next generation iPhone would return to glass front and back design akin to the iPhone 4 and 4s, noting that the high-gloss finish of the Jet Black iPhone 7 has been so popular, but that glass would prove more scratch resistant. Kuo’s claim that, also like the iPhone 4s, the glass front and back will likely be combined with aluminum casing around the edges or with stainless steel for ‘high-end models’. Keep in mind, a larger display on Apple’s iPhone 8 won’t necessarily mean a larger phone, in fact, all leads point to Apple’s iPhone featuring a bezel-less edge-to-edge display – meaning a larger display packed into a chassis of a familiar size. 7. Storage Capacity Based on market trends and Apple’s current storage capacity options for the iPhone 7; the iPhone 8 will most likely be available with the same three storage capacity options including 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB. 32GB has proven to be sufficient storage for most iPhone owners, while 256GB will prove to be enough for power-users, sitting at the top-tier of the options available. 8. Pricing Apple has been criticized in the past, and even currently, for over-pricing certain products. Most recently the 2016 MacBook Pro saw a major price increase, pushing the product’s availability out of financial feasibility for many consumers. However, this hasn’t been the case with Apple’s iPhone 7, as consumers have reported the device’s price meets expectations for quality and value. Even though the newly redesigned MacBook Pro received a major boost in price, up roughly $200 dollars for the base model, the laptop computer continues to sell like hotcakes. While Apple’s iPhone 7 hit the nail on the head, in regards to pricing strategy, we can predict based on the major changes being deployed for the iPhone 8, the price of the newest iPhone will increase by at least $50 dollars for the base model, and continue the trend for the 5” iPhone 8, and again for the largest top-tier 5.8” iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone 8 will certainly be a revolutionary device for Apple and consumers alike. We can expect it to be officially announced in the fall of 2017. Follow iDrop News on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Apple News for updates on Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8. http://www.idropnews.com https://www.facebook.com/idropnews