iPhone 5: 20 most-wanted features

Apple didn't show off any new voice-control features as part of its iOS 5 preview. But rumor has it that those features weren't quite ready to be shown off at Apple's WWDC in June, so we may very well get them. We do expect that Apple will continue to flesh out the voice controls for the iPhone with significant enhancements. It would be cool to be able to compose and send e-mails or text messages by just using your voice, no?

Chances of implementation: 70 percent

19. Micro-HDMI out

In March, Apple finally announced support for full 720p or 1080i HD video output for the iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G, and iPad 2. However, you need Apple's $39 Digital AV to send that HD video (audio) to a TV or monitor, whereas many Android-powered smartphones offer a built-in Micro-HDMI port that only requires an inexpensive $5 cable to run video to your TV.

Apple's recent announcement that it would be adding AirPlay mirroring as part of iOS 5 fueled hope that the feature would be available for the iPhone. In demos, Apple has shown the new feature working with the iPad 2, (what's on your iPad 2's screen is wirelessly streamed to an Apple TV connected to a TV), but it's quite possible that the next-generation iPhone will support AirPlay mirroring. Still, it's worth mentioning that Apple TV is a $99 accessory.

Chances of implementation: 2 percent

18. Removable battery

This well-known rendering of a future iPhone dreams of a model with a removable battery. That appears to run counter to Apple's current design principles.

Chances of implementation: 0 percent

17. Expandable memory

Not happening, but just thought we'd mention it.

Chances of implementation: 0 percent

16. Biometric security

It's hardly a must-have upgrade, but it would be cool to swipe your finger--instead of enter a password--to unlock your phone. It could also be combined with NFC (near field communication technology--see next slide) for making mobile payments. Image note: Allegedly, Apple has filed some patents related to this feature.

Chances of implementation: 25 percent

15. NFC-enabled (near field communication technology)

Rumor has it that Apple may be working on adding near field communication technology (NFC) into the next iPhone. This is sort of a bar code replacement technology that would allow your iPhone--among other things--to act as a payment device (e-wallet) or even a car key.

Chances of implementation: 35 percent

14. More memory

A lot of people were disappointed that the iPhone 4 didn't come in a 64GB version (only 16GB and 32GB). Maybe next year we'll get 64GB.

Chances of implementation: 50 percent

13. Improved home screen and notifications system

iPhone users have been waiting a long time for a more customizable home screen, with a real "dashboard" and a better, streamlined notifications system. Apple is delivering all that in OS 5, and though the new design may fall a little short for some folks, it's certainly a huge advancement. Of course, Android users will point out that these features, including customizable widgets, have long been available on Android smartphones.

Chances of implementation: 100 percent

10. Better cloud-computing support

In previous versions of this list, we've asked for this feature, and we'll now get it with iCloud in the fall. In some ways iCloud is more restrictive than Amazon's iDrive cloud storage solution, which allows you to store all your photos and videos (Apple's iCloud has not addressed video yet), but it's a big step forward, and the fact that you can mirror your iTunes music library (regardless of where you got your music) for $25 a year is an enticing offer.

Chances of implementation: 100 percent

12. Video chat (FaceTime) over cellular network

Currently, on the iPhone 4, FaceTime only works over Wi-Fi (yes, there are some workarounds to get it to work over 3G, but Apple doesn't officially support it). In iOS 5, doing FaceTime over a cellular data network is now part of the settings menu but it looks like the carriers have control over whether it's enabled.

Chances of implementation: 75 percent

11. Flash support

It'll be a cold day in hell when Apple allows for Flash support on the iPhone. But that doesn't mean we can't ask for it.

Chances of implementation: 1 percent

10. Larger screen

Rumors continue to surface that Apple will be expanding the size of its iPhone screen to compete with the larger screens on Android smartphones.

From our polling on CNET, we've found that a clear majority of our readers want a larger screen. However, they don't want the iPhone to get any bigger or lose any battery life.

We're hoping Apple can come up with the right balance, but as you can see from this mock-up, going to 4 inches makes a significant difference and is probably the optimal size for a smartphone screen.

Chances of implementation: 50 percent

9. Better camera

We certainly appreciate that Apple improved the camera in the iPhone 4 (5 megapixels; LED flash), but we've seen rumors that Sony is developing an even better 8-megapixel camera for the fifth-gen iPhone.

It's worth noting that as part of iOS 5, you'll be able to launch the camera app right from the lock screen, and the hard volume-up button on the side of the phone now becomes the shutter button while taking pictures. That's a big improvement.

Chances of implementation: 95 percent

8. Dual-core processor

With Apple's acquisition of PA Semiconductor, it's started designing and churning out its own CPUs, including the new 1GHz A5 dual-core processor that's in the iPad 2. That same processor will almost assuredly make its way into the next iPhone. (The iPhone has an A4 processor that also runs at 1GHz, but the A4 has a single-core architecture).

It's worth mentioning that LG, Motorola, and others have already released dual-core Android phones.

Chances of implementation: 100 percent

7. Improved 3D graphics

The A4 CPU has a Imagination PowerVR graphics chip integrated into it. Like the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 uses a PowerVR SGX535 chip. But the iPhone 5 will presumably get the PowerVR SGX543MP found in the iPad 2.

For those who keep track of this sort of stuff, a PowerVR SGX545 was also announced last year.

Chances of implementation: 95 percent

6. Universal carrier support (CDMA and GSM)

When the folks at iFixit tore down the Verizon iPhone 4 back in February, they discovered that the Qualcomm MDM6600 chip inside was the same dual-band "world" chip found in Verizon's Motorola Droid Pro that's capable of running on both CDMA and GSM networks. However, Apple didn't enable GSM network support in the Verizon iPhone 4 (alas, there's no SIM card slot).

Now there are strong indications that the next iPhone will indeed support both CDMA and GMS networks, making it a "universal" model that's a true a world phone. (That would allow Verizon customers to use the phone abroad, something they can't do with the current Verizon iPhone 4).

Whether the next iPhone will become available with such carriers as Sprint and T-Mobile is unknown, but rumor has it that a Sprint iPhone is in the process of being tested and vetted with Apple.

Chances of implementation: 70 percent

4. Better battery life

Every time Apple puts out a new iPhone, the battery life gets better, so we expect no less from the fifth-generation iPhone. Apple says the iPhone 4 has 40 percent more talk time than the iPhone 3GS. So, if the past is any indicator, we might see similar gains in next year's model, though Apple did not improve the iPad's battery life when moving to the A5 processor in the iPad 2 (many say it made it worse).

Chances of implementation: 80 percent

3. Fewer failed and dropped calls

AT&T has always had problems with its iPhone service in big cities like San Francisco and New York, where AT&T complaints seem to run highest.

Some have questioned whether it's the phone or the carrier, but either way, so far Verizon seems to be handling the influx of iPhone users just fine, although it hasn't sold as many iPhones as some analysts initially forecast. It's also possible that the migration of some AT&T iPhone customers to Verizon will bring relief to AT&T's network and perhaps its service will improve. Let's hope so.

Chances of implementation: 45 percent

2. An actual redesign

Rumors have been all over the map with the next-generation iPhone. Some reports suggest that the fifth-generation iPhone will actually be called the iPhone 4S and offer performance improvements (along with a better camera) but maintain the same design.

You'd hope that a true iPhone 5 would look different than an iPhone 4 and offer an improved design. Some say that Apple may mimic the design of the iPad 2. Or the company could even do two different models (an entry-level iPhone along with a standard higher-end model). We'll know soon enough. Chances of implementation: 50 percent

1. 4G network compatibility

The one big thing missing from the iPhone 4 is next-gen 4G data network support, which is probably why Apple called it the 4 instead of the 4G.

AT&T will reportedly have a 4G network up and running in 2011, whereas Sprint has already rolled out its next-gen network. Verizon has also deployed its 4G network, which currently works with one phone, the HTC ThunderBolt (the data speeds are impressive but the phone's battery life is a major drawback). However, the Verizon iPhone 4 doesn't support 4G data.

Many don't believe Apple will include "true" 4G data support in the next iPhone 5, mainly because using 4G data networks are taxing on battery life. However, if Apple decides to delay the iPhone 5's launch date until the fall, the odds increase that it will make the iPhone 5 a true 4G phone.

Chances of implementation: 50 percent

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