Apple's iOS 5.1 Beta Code Hints At Possible Sprint iPad, iPhone 5 And Other Yet-To-Be-Released Gadgets

"This Week In Apple Rumors" is starting a little early this week.

On Monday Apple released iOS 5.1 to developers; this is good news for iPhone owners, as it means the general release of iOS 5.1, which should once and for all fix the battery drain problems, is coming soon. But Apple fans may have more than just a software upgrade to look forward to.

Apple blog 9to5Mac found a few interesting goodies in the code of iOS 5.1, namely references to a new iPad, iPhone and Apple TV.

First, the iPad: Last week the rumor mill churned up references to j1 and j2 iPads, internal code names for tablets in development (not necessarily products that will be released). In the iOS 5.1 code, 9to5Mac found a reference to an iPad 2,4, which the blog interprets as an upgrade to the current iPad 2 -- most likely a new iPad for Sprint with 4G WiMAX capability. The blog also found a reference to iPad 3,3, which might be the iPad 3, rumored for a March release with double the screen resolution of the current iPad.

Next, the iPhone: Yes, we've all heard a lot about the mythical iPhone 5, with the slimmer body, larger display screen and 4G capability. It was supposedly coming out in October, and many were disappointed when only the iPhone 4S was announced. No matter: Software developer Filippo Bigarella located a reference to the iPhone 5,1 in the iOS 5,1 code. Let the rampant speculation begin anew (as though it hadn't already, with rumors of 4G and 4-inch display screens already proliferating).

Finally, Apple TV: No, not the magical television set, or iTV, that Apple supposedly has planned for some time in 2012 or 2013, but the little black box that hooks your TV up to the Internet. A new one has been rumored to be coming in previous Apple rumors, and 9to5Mac pulled a reference to an upcoming update out of their magic code-searching hat.

A busy day for 9to5Mac writers!

These discoveries don't bring with them much new information, aside from the possibility of a wholly new iPad 2 for Sprint that would take advantage of their faster 4G WiMAX network. Otherwise, these are continued signs that Apple is working on new products: A new iPad 3 (most likely for March), a new iPhone 5 (for either the summer or October 2012) and a new Apple TV (rumored for this December or early 2012). This week in Apple rumors is heating up, and it is only Tuesday as of publication.

Check out our slideshow (below) for a refresher of the hottest Apple rumors from last week.

Comments

[BurtonDesque]

04:37 PM on 12/08/2011

Ah, the daily Apple ad posing as a legitimate news article on HP.

How much is Apple paying you for these?

[Pectin]

11:14 AM on 12/09/2011

Ah, the daily whining about an Apple-related article by someone who could have easily ignored it.

[BurtonDesque]

12:14 PM on 12/09/2011

Sorry, but ads are not articles.

Sometimes people need to be reminded when they're being subjected to marketing.

[signinname]

01:22 PM on 11/30/2011

You know what I heard about Apple TV? That it's outdated and has been for...i don't know...5 years?

Want apple TV today? Go to newegg, buy a home theater pc (HTPC). It hooks up to the Internets, has a hard drive, has a blue ray player, has an HD out (or two) AND can have Windows 7, Unix, Linux, or Apple OS if you want.

Hey, guess who just replaced their cable bill, whatever the subscription fee is going to cost, and provided you the freedom to do whatever the eff you want on your TV?

Most tv stations now provide streaming after the initial episode of the show is done. TV? Check. On Demand? Well, there is a pretty large selection of EVERYTHING EVER MADE EVER on the Internet. Blue Ray? If you want to buy a physical copy of something (for some reason...) it has that too. So...why would you get Apple TV? Or Verizon/Comcast for that matter?

[David LS]

11:38 AM on 11/30/2011

Ahhhhh, waiting for the next big Apple releases, using advanced marketing and public gullibility they can expect to sell to as many new products as the market will bare.
The problem is the hype is already exceeding the products mid level use of technology and there are only so many people that would buy an iPad for the same reason they would buy a Movado watch.
The use of more advanced technologies into creating a product that is more than just an added convenience will determine where the real growth market lies.

"The comment is finished, turn off my phone. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Onutz]

05:06 PM on 11/30/2011

((Ahhhhh, waiting for the next big Apple releases, using advanced marketing and public gullibility ))

Excuses, excuses...

[glockman]

07:54 AM on 11/30/2011

"It was supposedly coming out in October, and many were disappointed when only the iPhone 4S was announced."

But that's ok, because they'll just buy the iPhone 5 when it does come out, and they'll buy the next version after that, and so on and so on, even if they're in the middle of a contract. They'll pay a premium to get whatever new version of the phone comes out.

Same with android users. They pay gobs of money to break their contracts to get the newest 4g, superfantastic, whiz bang phone that comes out.

It's laughable when people bemoan capitalism, and then stand in line, camp out and go nuts over new releases of anything.

I've never broken a contract just to have the latest "it" phone. I keep whatever phone I have for the duration of the contract, and then make a selection from whatever is available when I'm ready for a new one.

[Dana Tufts]

05:33 PM on 11/30/2011

I don't even have a contract. I "top up" my Virgin Mobile phone account every 90 days; so I spend an average of $5 per month for cell phone service. When "smart phones" approach this price point, I'll consider upgrading.

[Newsmonger]

06:34 PM on 11/30/2011

$5/month on the virgin mobile $15/90 days automatic top up comes to about 25 minutes a month...

are you spend less than a minute a day on ur cell phone?

[Bethany Jones1]

04:58 AM on 11/30/2011

Again Irritating Apple Strategy....

[bring in swat]

03:14 AM on 11/30/2011

yaaaaaaaaaawn!!! oh look a new (i)dentity crisis has been "leaked" again...and again....and again....bahahahaha bahahahha and they will line up just like the lemmings in the 1984 commercial.

[vespachild]

02:56 AM on 11/30/2011

What if we spent 2-3 months without Apple rumors.
Their marketing strategy is becoming really boring.
What if they just come up with new machines out of the blue.
What if you walked into their stores one day and found an iPhone 5
No lines and panic. Just a wow effect as the people in Zappos call it, and really good customer service

[Angilena Christopher]

12:24 AM on 11/30/2011

I agree with " Jaime01 " But I still think there is much more then that Like a the most Sensitive screen as well if you drop then you have to drop it as well......!!!!http://365socialmedia.co.uk/

[Jaime01]

11:44 PM on 11/29/2011

Congratulations iphone 4s owners. You lined up and paid $300 for a paperweight.

[Onutz]

01:13 AM on 11/30/2011

((Congratulations iphone 4s owners. You lined up and paid $300 for a paperweight.))

I know this is terribly hard for you to believe, but some people can actually afford it.
Google map L.A. and you'll see that an awfully lot of people own swimming pools. They cost a bit more than iPads.
Face it - some folks are happy to have more "stuff" than you, regardless of how miffed you are about it.

[ComeOnDude]

02:14 AM on 11/30/2011

Samsung phones beat the livingcrap out of IPhones. You = clueless consuming s.heep.

[The Truth Seeker]

01:53 AM on 11/30/2011

Apple upgrades their phones less frequently than other smart phone manufacturers, which means you get less buyer's remorse and don't get outdated as quickly.

Apple won't release this phone for another 6-8 months so I hardly see how the realization that they are working on the next phone already (wow, huge shock) suddenly lowers the value of the current product.

Also, my three year old iPhone 3GS just sold for $300 bucks. So, I imagine my iPhone 4S is worth less than that.

[Ron Olander12]

11:41 PM on 11/29/2011

Only the 1% can afford these products....

[elizaix]

12:22 AM on 11/30/2011

where do you live? Here in NY there were tons of iPhone, iPads and other electronics at OWS. I even watched a news reporter interview a OWS participant who said he thought everybody should have the technology that he was holding (an iPad), yet when they asked him to loan it to other OWS as community property, his answer was, "well, this is personal property". LOL typical.

[ComeOnDude]

02:15 AM on 11/30/2011

he wants people to have personal property...not just the 1%...what is typical is you that cannot listen and only twist things to support your flawed world view.

[Justtheobvious]

10:36 PM on 11/29/2011

Like other pads, a new one seems to be inserted into the market every month.

[Grokenspiel]

03:48 PM on 11/30/2011

Justtheobvious: "Like other pads, a new one seems to be inserted into the market every month."

Obviously, you're confused about the difference between pads and tampons.

[Onutz]

05:12 PM on 11/30/2011

Now THAT was funny!

[Justtheobvious]

11:55 PM on 11/30/2011

Or maybe your just not intelligent enough to think of Inserted into crotch of panties.

[DougGrinbergs]

10:33 PM on 11/29/2011

This helps demonstrate what people and businesses can - and can't - be trusted to respect the legal promise made in their NDA with Apple; some people can be trusted, others obviously can't.

[liberalbug]

09:53 PM on 11/29/2011

How many electronics do apple product owners contribute to landfills every time a new version of their toys come out?

[Zork4]

01:52 AM on 11/30/2011

They pass them on or sell them. I usually have 2-3 versions behind the current.

[tigerianwinter]

02:35 AM on 11/30/2011

Yea, i have NEVER put any of my Apple electronics in the trash. If i break the screen I take them back to apple. Otherwise, I sell it on ebay for a later model. I have 3GS still. Waiting for iPhone 5. Next year baby!

[steamchip]

09:06 PM on 11/29/2011

>>found a few interesting goodies in the code of iOS 5.1, namely references to a new iPad, iPhone and Apple TV.

[jflorish]

09:01 PM on 11/29/2011

I would be interested in an apple tv without a doubt.