The top 10 features of iPhone 5

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New Apple iPhone 5 features and pricing will surprise all of us. Although it is yet to be released and there is no official information about any specific release date yet, but there is definitely a lot of speculation around it. As per the information, iPhone 5 is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2011, coinciding with Apple's traditional June-July and would release of new iPhone models. As far as I'm concerned, January 2011 also seems to be a nice release date. This can also help Apple correct the antenna problem evident in the current iPhone 4. They can also introduce another version 4 with the rectification rather than waiting for fifth installment. There are Top 10 features we want from the iPhone 5 as below:

A bigger screen

There's no major issue with the size of the iPhone 4's screen, especially when you consider it's super-high resolution, responsive and one of the best on the market.

However, with companies moving towards larger screens, such as HTC with the HD2 and the rumoured HTC Desire HD, it would make sense for Apple to bump up the size of its display to 4-inches.

This would make the iPhone 5 have a bigger screen, but in a world where everything is going super-sized, we're sure people wouldn't mind having a slightly larger bulge in their pockets.

After all, with that extra real estate, the iPhone 5's Safari browser will be absolutely stunning.

No more dropped calls

The key issue with the iPhone 4 was the antenna issues that causes signal to drop when the antenna is covered.

This affects phone calls and data if you hold the iPhone in the position known as the 'death grip'.

A key factor we'd like to see with the new iPhone is this issue rectified - whether that means the antenna goes back inside the iPhone, or it remains positioned around the outside in Apple's quest for design supremacy, but without the technical issues. IPhone 5 will resolve the problem of the dropped calls.

Better call quality

Antenna issues aside, many iPhone 4 users have reported that the call quality on the new iPhone isn't as tip top as it used to be on previous iPhones, or other smartphones.

Whether this is linked to the antenna issues or it's a whole other issue remains to be seen.

The iPhone 4 features a second microphone specifically introduced for noise cancellation to try and improve the sound for phone calls.

Unfortunately, this seems to have had detrimental effects and many people are struggling to make clear calls. Maybe going back to a single mic is the way forward?

Other iPhone 4 customers have complained that they are having trouble hearing on calls. This could be down to issues with the speaker, despite it being in the same position as on previous iPhones. Apple could integrate a second mic into the top speaker to act as a noise cancellation device, as it does on noise canceling earphones.

Xenon flash

The iPhone 4 is the first iPhone to feature a flash on its camera, but it isn't as effective as other devices with dual LED or Xenon flashes.

Sure, Xenon flashes can bleach out light, but the colour balance is usually substantially better and it will eradicate some of the graininess often seen in low-light conditions.

Failing a pricey xenon flash, maybe dual LED will be the way forward, to give those dark shots a bit of oomph.

Proper multitasking

Every iPhone fan was overjoyed when Apple announced multitasking in its iOS4 update - it something we've all been waiting for since the iPhone entered the smartphone game.

Unfortunately, it isn't on the same level of the other smartphone platforms out there.

Multitasking on the iPhone doesn't support every applications and those that it does don't keep running in the background in the same way as they do on rival platforms.

In fact, they pause in the background. This gives the illusion that they're still running, and they are still open, but they consume much less power this way.

API's introduced by Apple will allow certain functions to remain running in the background (such as playing music or using Skype), but this is limited.

Apple's argument is that it wastes too much battery life and memory to keep apps running in the background.

Now here's the question - if all other devices can do it, many with slower processors and less powerful batteries - why can't IPhone 5?

Cross-firmware app compatibility

One issue Apple has always had when it launches a firmware update is that applications aren't always compatible across different versions of the OS.

For example, many applications crash when launched on iOS4, despite them working perfectly well on an iPhone 3GS.

Although Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile applications aren't always compatible across all versions of a particular OS, the manufacturers ensure incompatible apps can't be downloaded by mistake.

For example, if you have an HTC Hero running on Android 1.6, you won't be able to download an app that only works on Android 2.2 because it doesn't show up as available to download.

IPhone 5 either needs to ensure all apps work across all platforms or adjust the App Store so only applications compatible with a particular firmware edition can be downloaded.

Better earphones

One gripe that has always existed with the iPhone is that the earphones are awful, especially if you're a die-hard music fan and want to use the iPhone as your only music player.

The white handsfree kit has shipped with iPhones since the beginning, but many have come to hate the tinny noise iPhone produce. Even those sitting next to you on the tube hate them because sound leakage is so high.

IPhone 5 needs to develop its default earphones to meet the standard of its iPod functionality that include noise cancellation, improved drivers and better-fitting earpieces.

Pre installed apps

It's all well and good Apple boasting that its camera and video functionality beats everyone else on the market, bragging that you can record and edit amazing HD films (which you can), but why not pre install these apps on the iPhone?

Maps comes pre installed, and so should those apps heavily pushed by Apple, such as iMovie and those available on the iPad such as Pages, Numbers and Keynote. The screen may be small, but that keyboard is powerful!

Having to pay $5.99 a pop (on iPad) feels like just another scam to squeeze money out of the iPhone owning public, and other platforms such as BlackBerry and Android offer basic document editing pre installed on its smartphones.

A faster processor

The 1Ghz processor inside the Apple iPhone 4 does a wonderful job at keeping the device whizzing along, no matter which app you're using.

However, if iPhone 5 is to improve the multitasking functionality, or run higher-powered apps/games (such as 3D gaming, below) a more powerful processor will be required.

As yet, most high-end mobile phone processors only reach 1Ghz, but with rumours of Qualcomm introducing a 1.3Ghz, or even 2Ghz processor towards the end of the year, it seems suitable to suggest that iPhone 5 should bump up its power and have a faster processor too.

3D gaming

There's no denying that the iPhone 5 will be the best mobile phone gaming platform currently available.

It's a combination of the games that are available to download, graphics chip, processor and stunning screen that make this possible.

But, what about the next step in a gaming revolution? What about 3D gaming?

Nintendo has managed to port 3D gaming to the DS with the forthcoming 3DS, albeit through the use of three cameras, two screens, motion sensor, a gyro sensor and a Slide Pad, but take some bods from Apple, a little hardware support and some app developers and Bob's your uncle.