Each week, there are dozens of rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but many are totally bogus. As always, we’ve parsed the rumors, ranking them in order from "utterly ridiculous" to "duh, of course." First up…
DON'T COUNT ON IT: Sapphire Crystal iPhone Display Glass Tested in Video
YouTube user Marques Brownlee apparently got his hands on the new sapphire display glass of the upcoming iPhone and tried scratching it a variety of ways. Brownlee used a knife, keys, and tried bending it, and the sapphire crystal was unyielding---good news for those of us that toss our phones in our bags with our keys inside. Brownlee is a 20-year old web producer and Internet personality. It's unclear how he would have gotten his hands on a iPhone display glass, so we're skeptical this is legit.
DON'T COUNT ON IT: Next iPhone to Include Haptic Feedback
New Apple rumor source, GforGames, reports that the next iPhone will feature advanced haptic feedback. Android and Windows Phones have featured haptic feedback for years, but Apple has yet to employ it in any way. According to the report, Apple devices would be able to produce different types of vibrations, and could emit different vibrations depending on what part of the screen is touched. The source says the part Apple would use is two to three times more expensive than its current haptic motor because it is more advanced. Other than that, there are very few details that lend any sort of credibility to this rumor.
ASK AGAIN LATER: iPhone 6 Front Panel Captured in Photo
A blurry, low-res photo purportedly shows the front panel of the next iPhone. Included in this LCD touch panel (which lacks the actual LCD) are metal mounting brackets and EMI shielding. The mounting bracket for the Touch ID home button is slightly redesigned from the iPhone 5 and 5s, thinner and more rectangular. With the iPhone's debut coming up fast, and the detail in the parts, it's possible this could be a real photo leak. Possible.
ASK AGAIN LATER: Rear Shell of 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Photographed
A luxury iPhone modding company called Feld & Volk says it's been working with some sapphire display suppliers Apple has also recently begun working with. Through this connection, it says it has gained access to the rear body plate of the iPhone 6. The company photographed and videoed the piece which, while incomplete, shows the intricate internal designs we'd expect from a legit iPhone backplate. The shell is almost completely metal and features a cutout Apple logo, which some are speculating could house an NFC chip.
ASK AGAIN LATER: iWatch Production Delayed Till November
It looks like that yet-to-be-announced Apple wearable may not be making a fall debut after all. A note from oft-correct analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests Apple's iWatch won't enter production until November. Previously, it was thought the watch would go into mass production earlier in September for an October debut. In the note, Kuo says the watch is presenting substantial new hardware and software difficulties for Apple. Hardware issues potentially relate to sapphire manufacturing, using an OLED display, and keeping its tiny components waterproof. All of this sounds reasonable, but without knowledge of Apple's internal plans, it's unclear whether the product is actually delayed, or only delayed in eager Apple fan imaginations.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple Finally Ditched Samsung as a CPU Supplier
While Apple has been duking it out with Samsung's consumer electronics division in courtrooms around the world, the Cupertino company has continued to rely on Samsung as a chip and component supplier. Not so much anymore, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reportedly began shipping the first batch of Apple's A8 chips in the second quarter of this year, and has agreed to work with Apple on future chip production into 2015. This processor is expected to be more efficient than the current A7 chip, thanks in part to a new 20 nanometer production process. It's not clear whether TSMC is the only company producing Apple's mobile CPUs or if Samsung is still producing some.
