iPhone 5 rumor: LTE and smaller dock connector

Besides 4G LTE, which was rumored ahead of the iPhone 4S, this is the latest such mention of Apple working on a miniaturized dock connector to help make extra room in its portable devices. A report from Japanese Apple-centric blog Macotakara in October claimed as much, with iMore adding to those claims last month, saying the smaller ports were headed to the iPhone and iPad so that Apple could make more room in those devices for other components.

The 30-pin adapter, which Apple uses on iPods, iPhones, and iPads, was originally designed to help make iPods thinner; Apple began with full-sized Firewire ports, later switching to USB exclusively. It’s since become the standard for third-party docks and accessories.

Ahead of the iPhone 4S unveiling last October, the slew of rumors about the device took on a life of their own, due in no small part to the extended wait between models and the growing importance of the iPhone to Apple’s business. Some of the big ones included mention of a complete redesign, the likes of what Apple did between the iPhone 3G/3GS and the iPhone 4, as well as the chance of multiple new models, and tweaks to longtime features like the screen size and home button.

The Apple iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 continue to sell strong despite the iPhone 5 rumor mill churning out new 'intel' about the upcoming smartphone on a weekly basis.

Target drops iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 price until end of this month

Now we usually see Apple drop the price of its current generation iPhone model when the next iPhone arrives, so it is very rare to see retailers drop the price of the iPhone 4S in particular when we are months away from any kind of launch. Target for one has kicked off a sale on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 which will run until the end of this month only.

These are the deals to be had at Target: iPhone 4 (8GB): $74.99 (regularly $99.99); iPhone 4S (16GB): $174.99 (regularly $199.99); and iPhone 4S (32GB): $274.99 (regularly $299.99).

Now this of course isn't that big of a savings when compared to the expensive monthly plans you will be paying the carriers, however that problem applies to whichever smartphone you buy so any kind of savings off the price of the actual phone is good in itself.