We know, as Apple failed to deliver the redesigned iPhone 5 and opted to push out the slightly upgraded iPhone 4S, now everyone is expecting the redesigned iPhone 5 to appear later in 2012, and word has come down that although it isn’t being referred to as the iPhone 5 but rather the next generation iPhone, word has it a redesigned iPhone will surface in the fall of 2012, and we won’t see the device around June or July of 2012.

According to a “close source” who spoke to BGR, that the Gorilla glass that currently houses the fourth- and fifth-generation iPhones — which is notoriously susceptible to cracks and smashes — will be replaced by aluminum for the next-generation device. And like the iPad, the sixth-generation device will reportedly sport an aluminum rear casing, with a rubberized bezel much like Apple’s iPhone 4 bumper cases. If true, it will act as a bezel similar to the one on the iPhone 3GS and sit on the front edge of the phone.

It will also cover a redesigned antenna that Apple is going to be included with the phone.

Though the report doesn’t mention the phone’s screen size, but speculations suggest that next iPhone will come with a 4-inch screen; if true then the iPhone 5 is the “worst” nightmare of app developers because they will need to adjust the software to take advantage of the larger screen, and to avoid the pixel-y display. We’d like to hear your thoughts on this. Do you like the idea of a redesign and aluminum backing? Let us know with your comments.