The term “a sense of panic in the air” is almost never indicative of a good situation — yet according to an internal Apple source talking to Fast Company, that is the current description of things in Cupertino as they confront software problems in the much-anticipated next iPhone edition due out this fall.
Those software issues, according that source, could cause shipping delays for the 10-year-anniversary edition of the phone or for the phone to launch without all of its major features switched on.
That’s a difficult situation to face for a phone that experts believe will cost $1,200 a pop and is supposed to come loaded with features no iPhone has ever had before. The name still remains up in the air — could be the iPhone Pro, the iPhone 8 or the iPhone X.
So what are the issues that are the holdup? Wireless charging seems to be one of them. The hardware elements are in, according to reports — but the software that controls it is “not ready for prime time.” Also at issue seems to be the new 3D sensor, which — according to reports — will be key to using facial recognition technology to unlocking the phone (some say it might even replace Touch ID). But for it do any of those things, it would have to work — and once again, though the hardware seems to be functioning fine, the accompanying software remains problematic.
The source believes Apple will likely have the 3D software working in time. But if not, the company could include the sensor in the phone anyway, and turn it on later on with a software update.
The software problems are increased by the fact that Apple is under tremendous pressure to get this ten year anniversary edition of the iPhone to the market on time and shortly after it is announced.
The “iPhone 8” will be one of three new iPhones announced by Apple in the fall — the other two will likely be the 7S and the 7S Plus. iPhones’ features, sources note, often remain fluid well into the summer before launch — though this is considered late in the game for Apple to still be wrestling with features.