The Rumour Mine: iPhone 5 antenna redesign, LEGO Pirates, and Xperia Play-exclusive games

The Rumour Miner never stops uncovering Apple device news.

We just got through a frenzied period of speculation over iPad 2 and now it's right onto iPhone 5 (or whatever it'll be called - I still like iPhone HD from last year's rumours).

This week's rumour haul doesn't feature the most surprising of iPhone 5 rumours, but it does confirm what we've all suspected: the design will change to avoid another antenna fiasco.

If the antenna issue is addressed in the newly designed iPhone, will you get one? What if the antenna stays the same - would you be willing to purchase one?

Next iteration of iPhone to feature revamped antenna

This shouldn't come as a surprise considering the furore that followed the launch of iPhone 4 last summer. Apple is keen to avoid the issue with the next version of iPhone by opting for a completely redesigned antenna. It's unclear, however, just what that entails.

Rather than returning to the antenna design used for iPhone 3GS, the fifth-generation iPhone is likely to employ a modified version of the one that surrounds the exterior of iPhone 4 - this time tweaked so as to avoid the hand-holding issue that led to so much public outcry.

While the severity of the antenna issue remains debatable, any effort to improve the design and increase the quality of the handset is good in my book. Expect confirmation of the new design this summer when Apple announces the next iPhone model.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean setting sail for iPhone, iPad

Traveller's Tales did a fantastic job adapting LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, which makes the prospect of another LEGO platformer hitting the App Store a promising one indeed. Handled by the portable group at TT Fusion, a division within Traveller's Tales, upcoming LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean looks a likely candidate.

The game is already on track for release on Nintendo DS, successor Nintendo 3DS, and PSP, and an iOS release is more than likely. Solid sales of LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 and a vocal community calling out for more LEGO games make it a wise move.

As with the previous game, expect LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for iPhone and iPad to be a modified version of the PSP game with new control options (include a digital analogue stick from the outset, please).

A summer release alongside the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie is planned - the price could match LEGO Harry Potter at £2.99/$4.99, though it would still be a steal at £5.99/$9.99.

Sony Ericsson funding development of Xperia Play exclusive games

Although there are several dozen games accompanying the launch of game-centric handset Xperia Play, Sony Ericsson understands it's going to take more than iPhone and iPod touch ports to draw in gamers. Hence the company's efforts to bolster development of exclusive titles.

It's not an uncommon strategy: Microsoft was open about its effort to fund the development of Xbox-exclusive games when it first entered the console market, Nintendo has aided talented developers by subsidising and then publishing their work, and even today Microsoft is encouraging Windows Phone 7 game development by writing a few checks.

The question isn't whether Sony Ericsson is doing the right thing by splitting development costs with select Xperia Play developers - it's with whom Sony Ericsson is partnering.

Specific game announcements are planned for this summer.