While there has been much debate about whether Apple will refer to the next-generation iPhone as "iPhone 5", "iPhone 6", simply "iPhone", or something else entirely, Fusible notes that Apple has filed a claim with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) seeking to gain control of the iPhone5.com domain. WIPO authorities are currently assessing compliance of Apple's claim with the agency's regulations, and proceedings are likely to be initiated in the near future.
The iPhone5.com domain currently hosts a very small discussion forum dedicated to discussion of the "iPhone 5". The forum was launched in October 2010 following the debut of the iPhone 4 earlier in the year.
Apple's pursuit of the iPhone5.com domain is interesting given how slow the company has been to take action to secure domains related to its previous products. Apple didn't gain control of iPhone4.com until nearly a year after that device launched and Apple didn't seek to gain control of iPhone4S.com until several weeks after that device debuted last October. In the latter case, Apple was likely extremely motivated to take control of the domain because it was being used to forward visitors to pornography sites.
Given that Apple typically doesn't pursue domain names for its products until after they launch, lest their names be revealed ahead of time by the negotiation process, it seems odd that Apple is already seeking to gain control of iPhone5.com. But with "iPhone 5" having been the name informally attached to Apple's next iPhone form factor redesign for nearly two years now and still in popular use, the company apparently believes that it should have some control over the name's usage.
Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras
Under-screen Face ID
Front camera in...
Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by Juli Clover
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows.
One Thing (Free) -...
Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones.
iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features.
Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen
A new slider in the Lock...
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases.
The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white.
They seem close to some...
Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by Juli Clover
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026.
Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by Joe Rossignol
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year.
Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out.
Below, we have...
I don't understand why they feel it's so important to have control of these domains. Clearly, with iPhone4S it was important to control it, but in general...
Trademark law precedent indicates that any mark that is not actively protected can be considered to have been "diluted". This can lead to the loss of control of the trademark by the registered owner.
If a company finds their mark (in this case, "iPhone") is being used without permission, they have two legal alternatives:
- To officially sanction the use of their mark
- To take legal action to stop the unauthorised use of the mark
If they do not do this, and just ignore the trademark violation, they can lose control over their mark.
Apple are just doing what they are legally required to do. The only other alternative is to give permission to the site to use the trademark, but that would be a risky move, as it would limit their scope for action in the future if the site's content becomes a liability.
How come they haven't done this with the iPad domain names?
I went to iPad.com, I get to an empty website saying Coming Soon with a picture of a city. I got to iPad3.com, it doesn't exist.
I go to iPad2.com, it directs me to MacRumors.com lol
My personal feature requests from the new iPhone...and I appreciate some of these are software/OS developments, but bear with me:
1. Bigger screen...I hope at least an inch diagonal larger.
2. Switch to super amoled plus (or some such non-pentile oled) display, so we can actually read outside.
3. More durable (the glass on both sides is just far too fragile).
4. LTE
5. HDMI out, or ability to get a cheap dongle to do this, also standard VGA, DVI, and composite cable capable would be nice.
6. Stereo speakers on the phone.
7. Longer battery life, a couple days without a charge should be here by now!
8. USB 3.0 support for syncing.
9. Printing support that actually supports more than a handful of licensed printers.
10. Incorporation of a stylus for jotting notes.
11. Support for wifi streaming to platforms like xbox, roku, etc.
12. Ability to block calls (you have to jailbreak for this today)
13. Fix buggy wifi syncing.
14. Led to blink for missed calls
15. VOIP calling.
16. Built in IR port for universal remote.
17. Laser pointer.
18. Pico projector.
19. Optical character recognition for snapped docs.
20. Access to the file system.
21. NFC.
Obviously, few of these will be considered...but almost all could be (battery tech simply isn't here yet)
And to the extent other phone makers do incorporate these features will make their products all the more compelling.
What the hell does this have to do with the story you're commenting on?
Well we know there will be another model of the iPhone, and we know Apple likes to gobble up domains to prevent people from profiting from their IP. So is this really news? I don't think it tells us anything about what the next iPhone's name will be -- and who cares anyway.
