Next-Gen iPhone Specs, Release Date Leak

I wrote earlier about a post at a Chinese web forum reportedly from a beta tester of the new iPhone, which seemed to have reasonable (though of course unconfirmed) specs for the new device. On Tuesday, Apple iPhone Apps reported that they had been approached by a source "closely connected" to Apple’s hardware dev team claiming to have info on the next-generation iPhone’s specifications and release date.

In terms of release date, the source says July 17th. While only a month after WWDC, it's a lot sooner than past iPhone launches have been in terms of time between announcement and launch. Still, with optimizations, it's doable.

So let's compare the information, shall we? There won't be 100% overlap as there's no info from the new leak. Here’s the list:

• 32GB and 16GB storage (up from the current 16GB and 8GB models)
• $199 and $299 price points to be maintained
• 3.2-megapixel camera (up from the current 2-megapixel camera)
• Video-recording and editing capabilities
• Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
• Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
• OLED screen
• 1.5 times the battery life of the current models
• Double the RAM and processing power
• Built-in FM transmitter
• Apple logo on back will glow
• Rubber-tread backing
• Sleeker design
• Built-in compass
• The camera, GPS, compass and Google map combined will identify photo and inform about photo locations
• Turn-by-turn directions

The older leak:

• New iPhone model number "MB717LL"
• Identical Screen
• 16 / 32 GB versions (check)
  
• 3.2 megapixel camera (check)
• 256 MB RAM (up from 128 MB) (check)
• 600 MHz Samsung ARM processor (up from 400 MHz)
• FM support (check)
• Digital compass (check)

The new leak is unclear on the CPU and the screen, but it does match up with a lot of the prior info. As expected, the new iPhone will have a compass and FM transmitter as well as increased storage and RAM, and video recording (which Apple is probably not going to release for the , original iPhone 3G, ever, and definitely not for the first-generation iPhone). Older device owners will have to be satisfied with video recording on jailbroken phones.

One question that I'm interested is if Apple will allow users to buy the darn things online from launch, so we don't need to stand in line for it on a hot July day, and that has not been answered.