Symmetric Engineering Group

By: Don Reisinger

NEWS ANALYSIS: The iPhone is standing atop the mobile phone space, but consumers and enterprise customers are hoping for more from Apple's next iteration of the device. Here, eWEEK takes a look at some of the features the new iPhone should have before it hits store shelves later this year.

As summer gets closer, the entire tech industry is waiting to see what Apple will unveil for its fourth-generation iPhone. Apple has already shown what it plans to do with the iPhone's software going forward, but when it comes to the actual iPhone hardware, the company has been tight-lipped, allowing tech pundits to speculate on what may or may not find its way to the product. Because of that, several people are making predictions on what the fourth-generation iPhone will offer. Some industry insiders stick with easy predictions, like a front-facing camera, while others say Apple will totally revamp the iPhone's design.

In either case, what Apple has planned for the iPhone this summer remains unknown. However, that won't stop us from highlighting some features the next iteration of the iPhone should offer. The iPhone 3G and 3GS are fine products in their own right. But they do need to be improved upon.

Let's take a look at 10 features that the next-gen iPhone needs.

1. Apple's aluminum design

As the iPad has shown, Apple can make its familiar aluminum design work with a mobile product. Some have said that the aluminum backing on the iPad is hindering its WiFi abilities, which might make Apple think twice about an aluminum iPhone. But whether or not that's true is decidedly up for debate. Apple's design decisions over the past few years have brought it to an all-aluminum strategy. A nice, aluminum finish on the iPhone would be a welcome addition.

2. Front-facing camera

It might sound like the obvious choice, but a front-facing iPhone camera is a must-have. The biggest hardware issue with the iPhone right now is that users can't point the iPhone towards them and snap a picture without reaching around the device to do so. It's a pain. Plus, with the potential ability of having a Webcam chat with the iPhone, a front-facing camera would be a necessity. Years ago, offering a single camera on the back of a device was fine. But that's standard nowadays. If Apple wants to push its products forward, delivering a dual-camera iPhone is a great first step.

3. A flash for that camera

Try snapping a picture with the iPhone in a dark room or at night. Notice anything? Yeah, there isn't a flash, which means it's practically useless at night. That can be fixed without a hitch in the next iteration of the iPhone. With the addition of a flash, the iPhone can finally be used as a camera alternative all hours of the day and night. It might not sound like a big deal to some, but for the vast majority of teenagers and twenty-somethings using the iPhone, having a fully functioning camera in their hands at all times is a nice option.

4. A better mic

Trying to have a conversation with someone over the iPhone's speakerphone can be difficult. In my experience with the device, I've been forced to hold it close to my mouth just so the person on the other end can hear what I'm trying to say. A better mic with some noise-cancellation technology could go a long way in improving the iPhone's appeal. Such an addition is especially important to enterprise users who sometimes rely on a device's speakerphone to get through the day. The better the mic, the better the speakerphone, the more the device might appeal to enterprise customers. It's a win-win for Apple.

5. An improved display

The iPhone's display is beautiful. It's fully capable of displaying videos in high fidelity, making it one of the best displays in the mobile market. But that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be updated. Speculation abounds that Apple is planning to offer an improved display with higher resolution to make video and other content look even better on the device. It's certainly not the most important feature Apple should be bringing to the iPhone, but anytime a new display can be added to a device without any major change in price, it should be done.

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