iPhone fanboys and fangirls the world over have likely been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of next-generation iPhone rumors that began near the end of 2008 and have picked up again post-iPhone 3.0 firmware update.
While most rumors the past few months have revolved around a potential iPhone nano–a smaller iPhone with lesser power requirements and a cheaper price–or simply a 2009 version of the 3G iPhone released last July, AppleInsider reports a source as reporting the iPhone 3.0 firmware contains new device strings that allude to at least four, and as many as six, new iPhone and iPod Touch models.
Back in January when Apple released the 2.2.1 firmware update, MacRumors uncovered the designation “iPhone 2,1″ buried in the firmware code. Given the 2007 iPhone was known as iPhone 1,1 and the 3G iPhone is dubbed iPhone 1,2 this is clear evidence that a new device is on the way. But with the 3.0 firmware comes the strings iPhone 3,1 as well as iPod 2,2 and iPod 3,1.
So there’s added evidence that Apple could have four new devices in the pipeline. While I’m not sure that an iPhone nano is likely unless it’ll be sold only in developing mobile markets, I could see a 2009 iPhone including an updated cellular radio to support AT&T’s HSPA+ upgrade and possibly an LTE-ready 2010 model. What exactly new iPod Touch models would entail I’m not sure at all.
Also interesting is mention of iProd 0,1 and an iFPGA device that AppleInsider speculates could be a reference to “a field-programmable gate array, or a chip whose functions can be reprogrammed either by the user or the manufacturer after it’s created.” Would that be a reference design? I’m not sure. Apple is rumored to be releasing a netbook sometime in the third quarter and has a tablet-related patent floating around as well. Could these unknown strings possibly reference two new devices other than the iPhone or iPod Touch?
