Apple Handing Out A5 Chip Equipped iPhones To Developers?
by Joe White
April 22, 2011
Apple has reportedly been handing out iPhone 4 models equipped with an A5 processor to select developers, in an attempt to have a series of apps optimized for the fifth generation iPhone in time for its launch.
As outlined by 9to5Mac, these devices really are just A5 equipped iPhone 4 models - meaning they aren't prototype iPhone 5s. The devices themselves are "virtually identical to the iPhone 4," and they spend their "evenings in a safe in the company’s offices."
However, during the day, the devices spend time with iOS developers ("seemingly from high-level gaming outfits") who are testing the modified iPhone against their own A5 optimized apps. It looks like Apple is aiming to have a handful of powerful iOS games ready to support the iPhone 5's impressive capabilities - which will in part be thanks to the A5 chip.
(In case you forgot: An A5 equipped iPhone 5 was hinted at in iOS 4.3's SDK.)
Apple is rumored to announce the iPhone 5 at its annual September event, as opposed to WWDC (which will take place in June). Instead, WWDC is rumored to concentrate on software only - Mac OS X Lion and iOS 5 - with the September event mentioning a new line of iPods, but concentrating on the new iPhone 5.
We'll keep you posted. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the upcoming iPhone in the comments below.