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New iPhone to feature 3D graphics chip?

Published on 5th June 2009 by Joe Martin

Apple's rumoured new iPhone SKU could include a 3D graphics chip and better bluetooth support for third party devices.

Apple is prepating to unveil a new iPhone model at the annual World Wide Developers Conference it seems, according to sources close to the company.

According to reports the new model iPhone will feature a number of hardware changes from existing models and should go on sale in mid-July. The iPhone will be linked to AT&T, in the US at least, and is rumoured to hit American shelves on July 17th.

Hardware changes which have been mentioned for the new SKU include the addition of a built-in 3D graphics chip that should speed up game performance and offer a higher level of graphical fidelity for iPhone users. Bluetooth support is also said to get an overhaul to make wireless performance faster and more reliable, with Apple apparently hoping that add-on controllers such as keyboards and even game controllers could be a possibility in the future.

Further proving that Apple is re-focusing the iPhone as a games platform is the news that the company has recently started buying up game developers and bringing some development studios in-house. It's also been heavily rumoured that Apple may be readying to update the AppStore and create a new storefront exclusively for game content - but that's all baseless rumour at the moment.

That said, a lot of this is rumour at the moment and though Kotaku claims sources close to Apple those sources have also elected to remain anonymous. It looks like we'll have to wait until the WWD conference next week until we know for sure.

What do you think of the iPhone as a gaming platform? Let us know your thoughts in the forums and don't forget to check out our round-up of iPhone and iPod Touch games - we've done two of them so far!

15 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

hitman012 5th June 2009, 11:01

I wouldn't say Apple had announced it :|

GFC 5th June 2009, 11:04

Yes, but will it be able to play Crysis?

mclean007 5th June 2009, 11:08

Isn't this going to create confusion - with two tiers of hardware capability, we'll have App Store games that can only run on the new hardware. I guess the App Store could easily detect if you are using an older device and filter out apps that won't work due to the lack of the new chip, but it strikes me as odd. Not that I'm complaining as I've been holding out to see what the new iPhone delivers.

wuyanxu 5th June 2009, 11:21

just wait until 6pm BST Monday to see.

these rumour "leaks" by Apple are pure gimmick, just ways to get more publicity.

CardJoe 5th June 2009, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitman012
I wouldn't say Apple had announced it :|

Whoops - fixed. :o

I-E-D 5th June 2009, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by GFC
Yes, but will it be able to play Crysis?

Now that would be cool, apart from not having any of the buttons. I thought computer components were changing too quickly, what about the Iphone?

mjm25 5th June 2009, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-E-D
Quote:
Originally Posted by GFC
Yes, but will it be able to play Crysis?

Now that would be cool, apart from not having any of the buttons. I thought computer components were changing too quickly, what about the Iphone?

I think GFC might have just died inside as someone missed his sarcastic irony :D

DarkLord7854 5th June 2009, 13:02

It'd be interesting to see the iPhone become such a wide-reaching platform. A seperate piece of the AppStore dedicated to games would be nice though, the current AppStore can be a real pain to find good stuff on, especially Free ones.

dyzophoria 5th June 2009, 14:25

i think they should just drop the "phone" part and rather create a pure gaming system out of that hardware if that's the case,lol

DarkLord7854 5th June 2009, 14:46

They did, it's called the iPod Touch.. lol

Fod 5th June 2009, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLord7854
They did, it's called the iPod Touch.. lol

phone contract expired at perfect time. sold phone and ipod touch, have about £320 - worked out perfect! new iphone here i come :)

(assuming it's actually decent, that is. otherwise may have to get something else :-/)

pimlicosound 5th June 2009, 15:04

Typo in the first sentence: "Apple is prepating to unveil a new iPhone model..."

B1GBUD 5th June 2009, 19:26

I've got a 1st gen iPod Touch and despite getting soaked in coffee (a few days ontop of a hot tumble dryer fixed that) I think it's a pretty slick platform for games. I'd love it if you could get the back catalogue of Lucasarts point and click adventures (minus the clicks of course) but the talk of new 3D graphics would mean that I won't have access to the new 3rd gen iPhone/touch games?

How will the current devices fair? are Apple forcing users to update too quickly?

riggs 5th June 2009, 19:27

Hmmm, I wonder if Carphone Whorehouse will offer the same upgrade deal as they did when the 3G came out (ie, free phone providing you sign up for a further 18 months)?
I could do with a new one to be honest; my 3G hasn't had much love...totally accidental though. There's a chip on the bottom, the case is coming apart and the dust underneath the screen is really ****ing me off!

As for the new rumored features...er...great! Although I'd prefer to see better battery life, video recording, > 3MP camera and proper Bluetooth file sharing (which every other phone on the market already has!)

perplekks45 5th June 2009, 19:32

I'll wait for the iPhone 2, then grab a 3G for almost nothing.