The iPhone and iPod have gradually increased their storage capacities with each new generation and the iPhone 5, expected to be released in the summer, is anticipated to have a greater storage capacity for data. Extra features, improved camera quality and more complicated apps resulted in the iPhone 4 storage being bumped up to 32GB and it is hoped that Apple will increase the capacity of the iPhone 5 up to 64GB. However, the company could also have another trick up its sleeve.
If the rumors are to be believed, the iPhone 5 will adopt extra features such as NFC technology, incorporate dual GSM/CDMA chips, and will have an improved processor and extra memory. However, for Apple to maintain its phenomenal design standards, the tight integration with online data storage services, such as MobileMe, together with a streaming iTunes music service could result in more data being stored in the cloud, rather than on the iPhone.
The clues indicating this type of change have been around for a while. Apple is obviously preparing for a huge cloud data revolution given that they are nearing completion of a massive data center in North Carolina. Combine this with the fact that Steve Jobs promised that MobileMe will be getting a ‘lot better‘ in 2011, and that Spotify, the phenomenal European music streaming service, is allegedly having issues getting started in the States due to Apple’s existing relationship with music labels.
The iPhone 5 may have increases in features and performance, but when it launches, it would not be surprising if onboard storage increases aren’t part of the package. Apple has already started the long slow death of optical media, the move to SSD storage over hard disks and their next move, albeit a little later than expected, could be a transformation of how we store and integrate with cloud data using our mobile devices. Running demanding applications contained solely in the cloud together with storing and streaming your digital content on demand from cloud storage could be Apple’s next big thing.
It’ll Get A ‘Lot Better’ If You