iPhone 5 curveballs range from T-Mobile to 4G to metal to actual curves

The iPhone 5 is all about the curveballs, from the undocumented release date to whatever tricks up it sleeve Apple has lined up for motivating current and potential iPhone users to plunk down on the new model. And they are potentially aplenty, from the 4G equation, to the T-Mobile question, to whether it might be made of bare metal, to the latest curveball: actual curves. Here's a look at what each of these curveballs would mean if real, and what the fallout would be in each case.

4G iPhone 5: The carriers all want this to happen. It's less clear how much the public wants it, as few understand what 4G is, and among those who do, most are aware that 4G LTE exists in very few places. But as of right now, 4G is the lone feature which competing smartphones can brag about having over the iPhone, at least on paper. Apple could seek to eliminate that potential gap by adding 4G to the iPhone 5 whether many folks will be able to take advantage of it or not.

T-Mobile iPhone 5: With AT&T already having the iPhone, and AT&T in the process of acquiring T-Mobile, it only makes sense that there will be a T-Mobile iPhone eventually. Whether that happens in time for the iPhone 5 release date is another story. But it would make for good television, so to speak, as many T-Mobile customers have made it clear they're not leaving their preferred carrier under any circumstances. So the only way Apple can get them on board is to bring the iPhone5 to them.

Metal iPhone 5: The original mostly-bare-metal iPhone, along with the bare-metal-backed iPad 1 and iPad 2, have only gone to show just how easily scratched and dented bare metal is. As it turns out, the glass used on the iPhone 4 is much stronger and more durable than any metal surface has ever employed – and that's going back to the comically scratchable mirrored chrome backing on various iPod models over the years. Unless Apple has come up with a new metal exterior which isn't absurdly fragile, this does not sound like good news. And whereas the iPhone 4 was the first iPhone which could be kept in perfect condition without a case (unless you're the overly clumsy type), a metal iPhone 5g would sound like the first iPhone in which you absolutely MUST keep it in a case. Fingers crossed that someone made this one up.

Curved iPhone 5 news : First there was talk of the iPhone 5 having rounded edges, which makes sense as the change was made to the iPad 2 review with positive results. Now there's talk that the iPhone 5 screen might also have curved edges. Huh? We'll have to wait til we see it to have an opinion, but the idea of a non-flat touchscreen surface would certainly be out there. Here's more on the iPhone 5 4g.