Apple iPhone 5, 'iCloud phone' event set for Sept. 7?
Source: Lance Whitney
The latest reports and rumors in the world of Apple purport that the company is planning a media event for September 7 and may unveil a free "iCloud iPhone" alongside its standard iPhone 5.
Japanese tech news site Kodawarisan (English version) says that Apple will announce its new lineup of iPods at the September 7 event. That's around the same date that Apple typically shows off its new iPods, though last year the company kicked off the event slightly earlier in the month, on September 1.
Kodawarisan has been on the mark in the past, having revealed the correct launch date of new Macs in 2009.
Though Apple watchers and users have been anxiously awaiting the next iPhone, there are no clues as to whether the company will also reveal the iPhone 5 on September 7. But MacRumors, which said it confirmed with Kodawarisan that the date came from a "source in the know," claims that this year's event has been expected to include the iPhone 5 announcement.
In recent weeks, the latest crop of rumors has maintained that the iPhone 5 will hit the market in September or in October at the latest. Assuming that time frame is correct, it's still a guess as to whether Apple will announce its new iPhone on September 7 or stage another later event to focus just on the phone.
Another report says Apple will hold a special event to announce not just one, but two new iPhones. Apple news site AppleNApps claims the company will launch a free cloud-based iPhone side-by-side with the full iPhone 5.
Citing information from three independent sources "all connected to Apple in different capacities," AppleNApps says the new phone would combine iOS 5 and iCloud to use Apple's new cloud-based service more so than local storage to house data. Cannibalizing parts from the iPhone 4 and using less flash storage, the iCloud iPhone would be cheaper to produce than the full iPhone 5 and ultimately be free to consumers who sign up for the typical two-year contract.
Apple's desire to hit consumers with both the iPhone 5 and the cheaper iCloud phone was the main reason the company stalled the launch date, say AppleNApps' sources, which claim that the phones will make their debut during the last week of September.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20091609-37/apple-iphone-5-icloud-phone-event-set-for-sept-7/#ixzz1UpIDtOy4
| }
|