iPhone 5 Release Date: Oct. 4 Confirmed for Apple Media Event
Apple has confirmed that it will be hosting a media event Oct. 4 at its campus in Cupertino, Calif.
The press conference will begin at 10 a.m. PDT, 1 p.m. EDT. It is expected to be hosted by new Apple CEO Tim Cook, and may feature the unveiling of the highly anticipated iPhone 5 and iOS 5.
Various media outlets have begun receiving invitations to the event. It is reported that the invite reads, “Let’s talk iPhone”, along with four iOS icons depicting the date, time and location of the venue.
Recent months have been flooded with rumors and speculations about the specs and release date of the iPhone 5.
The Oct. 4 event in conjunction with reports that Apple stores have blacked out employee vacation dates from Oct. 9-12 and Oct. 14 and 15, have localized the Apple iOS 5 release to between Oct. 9 and 12 and the iPhone 5 release to Oct. 14.
Various dates in October, such as Oct. 7, 12, 15 and 21, have also been considered.
There are also reportedly two "Developer Teatimes," events to be hosted by Twitter scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, where it is expected iOS 5 will be discussed.
Specs anticipated for the iPhone 5 include 4G capability, a higher resolution, 8MP camera, a teardrop shape, a larger screen and a thinner, rounder body, in addition to an iOS 5 upgrade
Some analysts however suggest that the iPhone 5 may not feature 4G capabilities or 4G LTE capability.
While most expect that the iPhone 5 will be unveiled and released in the foreseeable future, some sources indicate that production delays may see the smartphone's release postponed as late as 2012.
These rumors detail that a low cost iPhone 4S, which has been compared to the current iPhone 4, may be the smartphone unveiled at the Oct. 4 conference and released soon after.
There is also word that wireless networks T-Mobile and Sprint will carry the iPhone 5. Neither network has confirmed or denied this to date.