Mikey Campbell
Apple engineers and designers working on the company's forthcoming "iPhone 8" are facing a software issues that, if not rectified, could see a number of major features disabled when the handset launches.
Citing an unnamed source with knowledge of the matter, Fast Company reports there was a "a sense of panic in the air" last month as the "iPhone 8" team worked to resolve software related issues ahead of debut this fall. Echoing rumors from last week, the report claims Apple is having problems deploying its first wireless charging solution designed to handle high-power applications like smartphones.
According to the source, the company is implementing Qi, or at least a variation of the standard, in the next-generation handset. Hardware, like inductive charging and power management chips, is reportedly being supplied by longtime partner Broadcom, but the components are not at issue. Instead, the problem lies in software, the report says.
Last week, blogger John Gruber made similar claims on Twitter, saying Apple's wireless charging solution might not be ready in time for launch. He went on to say Apple engineers might build the functionality into iOS 11.1, suggesting software was at fault. Today's report reiterates Gruber's tweet and maintains Apple could release "iPhone 8" without wireless charging enabled, then take feature live once the bugs are worked out.
Apple is also having difficulties with software powering the front-facing 3D-sensing camera, the report says. Earlier this month, a Bloomberg report claimed the company would ditch Touch ID fingerprint recognition in favor of facial scanning, though that rumor seems unlikely considering Touch ID's integral role in Apple Pay and other tentpole features. The Fast Company source believes Apple will have the 3D sensor firmware ready in time.
Finally, the source says recent reports claiming Apple has yet to determine a final location for Touch ID are plausible, though they believe the sensor will end up being embedded within the display. The upcoming iPhone is anticipated to feature an edge-to-edge OLED screen — another source of potential production delays — that will do away with iPhone's traditional home button. Apple was initially expected to embed a Touch ID module beneath the display, though recent predictions from industry watchers like Ming-Chi Kuo note the sensor might instead be integrated into the handset's rear cover glass.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
63 Comments
Hmmm....
Is it me, or are the doom and gloom reports starting earlier this year? Also, are we assuming that the iPhone Pro will be launching in September?
Make sure I have this correct. There're software issues in a system not due out for months at the earliest. Is testing and iteration not part of product development?
In other news, the 2018 and 2019 iPhone is having some software issues too, hopefully they can figure it out in time...
I'm not one to speculate but these rumors are questionable. Hundreds of successful iQ rollouts and Apple's custom designed power solutions, including fast charging tech in current products, refutes any real threat.
On the camera front, I'm sure someone in any of the AR teams acquired in the past couple years, might figure it out. Or maybe Apple bought them all for fun, oh wait, AR worked flawless in the demos.
Really? These pathetic rumors over a month before the keynote? We could just wait and see what happens...
I’ll believe it if the source was from the kremlin.
Reports for tomorrow say that the iPhone 8 will ship with 3G only because of software issues...and the fingerprint reader was seen on the rear, but thats unconfirmed.
Perhaps these stories were deliberately leaked to counter a dip in sales resulting from this year's early rumours of the next iPhone. (I.E. Released to discouraging new customers from holding out.) As far as rumours go these seem odd, the software rumours are premature and the hardware rumours are late. There is still time to address software issues, while the hardware would need to be finalised past the point of significant design alteration. If Apple are last-minute flipping and flopping on the finger print sensor location then there will be evidence of this in the final design, which in itself will be an unusual compromise for this company and such a thin device.
This has become an embarrassment. Apple’s next iPhone was wrapped months ago. This stock manipulation is pathetic.