While Apple is good at keeping many things secret, they find it impossible to keep those secrets, secret. In a recent find, the code names for three new Apple products are revealed.
In a recent article on
BoyGeniusReport.com, the code names of three new Apple devices are revealed in a line of code from the iOS. The code specifies that devices that identify themselves as "iProd2,1", "iPhone3,2" or "iPhone3,3" will automatically bypass the activation process. This is done to help easily field test new units.
The code names are not the same as product names. For example, the iPad was originally known as "iProd1,1." The existence of "iProd2,1" suggests a second generation version of the iPad. The iPhone 4 is classified as "iPhone3,1" which would suggest that the two devices listed here are minor updates, and not completely new models. This evidence supports the idea that Apple is currently prepping a CDMA iPhone 4, not a whole new device.
The timing is perfect for this to appear. If the iPad is updated on the same annual schedule as other Apple personal electronics, then we should see a second generation iPad in January. January is also the rumored time frame to see a CDMA iPhone. Having all three devices show up in code at the same time supports the idea Apple is prepping them for the same time frame. But why are there two iPhones?
It is possible that Apple is testing two different ways of adding support for CDMA networks. The easiest way is to pull out the GSM radio and SIM card slot and add in a CDMA radio. Unfortunately, having two different models would cause Apple's iPhone supply issues to get even worse. The second possibility, which sounds more like Apple's way of thinking, is a handset capable of
both CDMA and GSM. As mentioned last year on
AppAdvice.com, Qualcomm has a radio chip capable of GSM, CDMA and even the new LTE "4g" networks. Using this chip in future devices would give iPhones and iPads the ability to work on any network without hardware limitations.
What do you expect in the iPad 2? Are you rooting for a Verizon iPhone or even a multi-network iPhone? Let us know in the comments box below.
