Apple Inc. has virtually confirmed the September 12 launch date for its long-awaited iPhone 5, with invites featuring a giant “5” for a special event.
Tech site Mashable said the “giant shadowy 5” could be a sign Apple may be a little less mysterious in its product launch process.
Last year, Mashable said Apple “wrong-footed” the media, announcing the iPhone 4S after media outlets had predicted the device would be called the iPhone 5.
“No clues as blatant as this one had been offered beforehand, and as a result, many attendees at the product launch felt underwhelmed,” it noted of the invite.
It also noted the “5” may indicate the iPhone numbering system lives on.
“Indeed, if the iPhone 5 is little more than the incremental innovations we’ve been hearing about — a longer, thinner screen, a smaller dock connector, and no NFC (near-field communications, which would allow you to pay in stores with your phone) — it may be a prudent move for the company to deflate the bubble of speculation a little,” it added.
Mashable also noted that last March, those expecting an iPad 3 or iPad HD were surprised to be greeted with a tablet that Apple called “the new iPad.”
On the other hand, Mashable said there is still an air of mystery surrounding the September 12 event.
“We still don’t know if Apple will debut the much-anticipated iPad Mini there, or leave that for a separate event later in the fall,” it said. — TJD, GMA News
