iPhone rumors heat up ahead of launch

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In a little over two weeks, Apple is expected to announce the next iPhone. Already, the rumors are flying.

Photos have started appearing showing bits and pieces of what could be Apple's next iPhone.

CNET Senior Managing Editor Kent German explains they are usually leaked photos from overseas.

"We get a lot of it actually from auxiliary suppliers in Asia that are building parts for the iPhone," German said.

One photo seems to show the next iPhone will have a bigger screen, like some newer Android and Windows phones.

"And if apple wants to compete at that level, they really should increase the screen size," German said.

"The extra reach for my thumb ends up causing me pain, it's more work for me to move my thumb further," iPhone app developer Kevin Sullivan said.

But one CNET photo shows one thing that might be getting smaller -- the dock connector on the bottom of the phone.

"We've seen Apple for years has used that 30 pin connector, it's in the iPad, it's in the iPod, it's in the iPhone -- supposed to go to a smaller connector which would mean that all the cables you have now wouldn't work," German said.

German says one reason to shrink the connector is to squeeze in extra hardware -- possibly a near filed communication chip that would work with Apple's new Passbook app to make your phone act like a wallet.

"You'd basically just kind of touch your phone to a little reader that's near the cash register and then it deducts money from your account," German said.

Even if you think your old iPhone's just fine and you don't want to stand in line at the store for a new one, you can still get some of the new features in the form of a software update. One of the biggest changes -- Apple is saying goodbye to Google Maps.

Noam Bardin, CEO of map company Waze, gave ABC7 News a sneak preview of Apple Maps, which will replace Google Maps entirely. Waze is listed among the companies who've provided map data for Apple's new app -- which Bardin says will have big shoes to fill.

"Users have an expectation; Google Maps have created an expectation in terms of quality, in terms of coverage, in terms of search," Bardin said. "We're not used to the experience of searching for something on Google Maps and not finding it."

Apple Maps will use the locations of thousands of iPhones to predict traffic jams -- something Waze has been doing for a few years as part of its own free app -- the same one used by ABC7.

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apple, iphone, waze, technology, jonathan bloom

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