Apple iPhone 8 Latest: Wireless Charging and Touch Sensors on the Sides and Rear
As Apple users and fans anticipate the latest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 8, rumors about its radical features, specs and hardware continue to emerge. Many of these speculations come from reliable or reputable sources, including those from insiders in the industry.
Wireless Charging
One of the much anticipated features of the iPhone 8 is wireless charging. According to CNET, "Next year's iPhone could do away with the last physical wire: the Lightning cable needed for charging. Earlier this year, Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz predicted that Apple would reserve this innovation for the iPhone 8."
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In fact, Nikkei also reports that Foxconn Technology, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, is currently making modules for wireless charging for Apple's 10th anniversary iPhone.
Among other innovative features, Apple hopes the wireless charging technology of the iPhone 8 will help boosts sales, as the last quarter earnings of 2016 show an overall decline for the Cupertino-based company.
Touch Sensors on the Sides and the Rear
According to Ewan Spence of Forbes, a new patent released by the USPTO shows that Apple is working on "Electronic Devices with Display and Touch Sensor Structures."
If this technology is to be utilized by the iPhone 8, then the buttons at the side, such as the volume controls, of the smart phone will be replaced by touch sensors. This technology could also be used for other new user interface standards. The rear part, for example, could be used for scrolling and other applications.
The rear part of the smart phone draws interest from a lot of developers. With touch sensors, it could be used for a variety of purposes, including eInk screens, notification LEDs, pulse and fingerprint reading sensors, and more.
The fact that this patent was released doesn't mean that it will immediately appear in the next iPhone. But if it is implemented, it will introduce a new interaction layer the likes of 3D Touch, which adds without disrupting the central functions of the device.
Other Rumors
The Apple iPhone 8 is also said to be made of glass instead of metal. The home button will now be virtual, and the device will have an edge to edge screen. Inside the smart phone is a 10 nm processor.
With almost all rumors expecting the iPhone 8 to have most of the latest technology that can be put in smart phones, it seems the company may take more time than the September 2017 event. Many fans are hoping the iPhone 8 will be the best iPhone yet from Apple, as a fitting tribute to the smartphone's 10th anniversary.
