Update: Apple has now confirmed an event titled ‘Let’s talk iPhone’ on October 4 at 10am PST.
Apple has blocked employees in its retail stores from taking leave during the first two weeks in October, according to reports. That’s a strong signal that it’s planning a major launch during that period and expecting a spike in the number of customers to those stores.
Two lots of dates are affected, October 9-12 and October 14 and 15. AppleInsider argues that the first set of dates could be a sign that iOS 5 will become available on Monday 10 October, as AppleCare staff have been told to expect an increase in the number of iOS-related calls that day. Additionally, Twitter has scheduled two developer meetings for OCtober 10 and 12 which will be focused on integration with iOS 5. Both iOS 4 and iOS 3 were launched a few days before the first iPhones to come with those versions of the OS pre-installed. If Apple sticks to that for iOS 5 then a new iPhone on October 14 would make sense.
Apple usually holds an event in late September to launch new iPods. That hasn’t happened this year, but the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital blog reports that an event is scheduled for the Town Hall on Apple’s Cupertino campus on October 4th.
Whether the new iPhone is a brand new device, the iPhone 5, or a relatively minor update to the iPhone 4 is not yet clear. All Things Digital, however, reporters in August that, according to its sources, the launch would be an iPhone 5 and that it would run on the same A5 processor as the iPad 2 and have an eight-megapixel camera.
Before Apple’s event, Amazon is expected to announce an Android tablet this week. It is expected to be competitively priced, run a customised version of Android 2.2 and have a 7in screen.
