Thursday, December 06, 2007, 12:15 pm

Rumors: iPhone update to add disk mode, iCar project on hold

By AppleInsider Staff

A forthcoming iPhone software update will add features such as voice recording and disk mode, according to an unconfirmed report from an overseas publication. Meanwhile, a previously rumored relationship between Apple and Volkswagen appears to have never made it to first base.

iPhone Software 1.1.3 rumors

Apple may be preparing a significant update for the iPhone as early as this weekend that will have some heavily requested features, according to a claim from CNET France translated by Electronista.

The overseas publication says multiple rumblings suggest that a 1.1.3 upgrade for the iPhone will appear by Saturday, adding both a disk mode for storing general data on the device and a voice recording mode for capturing lectures or voice memos.

The disk feature will reportedly behave like the equivalent for iPods but will still block users from simply dragging and dropping media content onto their phones, CNET says.

While unverified, the reported release would come roughly a month after the 1.1.2 update that added international keyboard support and other minor upgrades to the iPhone for its launches in Germany and the UK.

It should be noted that the report runs contrary to recent claims by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who in a note to clients last month stated that Apple would hold off on issuing any additional significant software updates for iPhone until early next year. At that time, the analyst said, the touch-screen handset would gain a system-wide Spotlight search function.

iCar project "on hold"

Not that there was ever an indication that such a partnership had blossomed, but Germany's PressPortal is reporting this week that talks between Apple and automaker Volkswagen over an "iCar" concept have stalled.

"The project is shaky," according to the report, which notes that Apple has since entertained discussions with several rival automakers.

Back in August it was reported Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn flew to California where he sat down for a brainstorming session with Apple chief executive Steve Jobs.

Though in the early planning stages at the time, it was report that the two firms hoped to cooperate on the development of a new generation of Volkswagen compact cars that would include several Apple tie-ins.

Soon thereafter, market intelligence firm iSuppli weighed in with its thoughts on the matter, essentially warning industry watchers that such a partnership was unlikely to materialize for several years.