TORONTO – Apple fans are on the edge of their seats ahead of Tuesday’s special event, which promises to bring a bevy of long-awaited product announcements – most notably a new iPhone.
The notoriously secretive company has yet to officially announce precisely what the event – set to start at 1 p.m. ET at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. headquarters – will unveil.
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From the allure of a new “champagne gold” coloured iPhone 5S, to the release of Apple’s totally redesigned mobile operating system iOS 7, here is what to expect from Tuesday’s Apple event.
iPhone 5S
Apple is almost certainly set to unveil an updated version of the iPhone 5 – which, in keeping with tradition, might be named ‘iPhone 5S’. According to reports, the physical design of the phone itself will stay identical to the current version, except for one major change – new colours.
Whispers of an elusive gold iPhone have been making the rounds through Apple rumour blogs for months and, more recently, leaked images of a ‘graphite’-coloured phone have surfaced.
But it’s not just the luxury of a golden iPhone that has made headlines; Apple has a reputation for its simple, clean cut, black-and-white designs that have become iconic of the iPhone brand. Introducing new phone colours seems risqué to some.
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As for the tech specs, the phone is expected to include a faster processor and possibly some changes to the camera’s capabilities. The Verge speculated that the main update to the camera would be in a dual-LED flash that could include different colours to help correct colour balance in photos.
The phone also may include a fingerprint scanner built into the home button for added security.
iPhone 5C
Apple is also said to be introducing a new lower-end ‘budget iPhone’ that would poise the company to better compete with smartphone-makers like Samsung, known for designing inexpensive models.
Based on leaks from suppliers, the phone will likely be made of a cheaper plastic casing instead of aluminum. The device is rumoured to come in a variety of bright colours – similar to Apple’s iPod lineup.
Not much has been said about the tech specs of the device, though it will almost certainly be less powerful than the iPhone 5S.
iOS 7
Apple unveiled the newest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 7, at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June; but Tuesday’s Apple event should finally confirm when the OS will be available for the public to download.
Surprisingly, the company completely redesigned the look and feel of the OS – Apple CEO Tim Cook called the design, “the biggest change to iOS since the iPhone.”
iOS 7 strives for a clean, simple, translucent look. The software displays translucent panels. On the main screen, the background image moves subtly with the movement of the phone, creating an illusion of depth. Other screens are padded out with plenty of white space.
Release date in September
The good news for Apple geeks is that they won’t have to wait too long to get their hands on these new devices.
The majority of reports point to a Sept. 20 release date for both the iPhone 5S and 5C. This would remain on par with Apple’s past releases; the iPhone 5 was available for purchase just nine days after it was announced.
But, if previous iPhone launches are any indication, those who want to get their hands on the phone right away may need to pack an overnight bag. Apple product launches typically come with long lineups outside stores and the iPhone 5 pre-orders sold out online in less than an hour for U.S. customers.
Extras
Users can also expect to see a few smaller announcements, including an iTunes Radio update for Apple TV and small updates to Apple’s iPod lineup, which could range from software updates to price adjustments.
However, Apple fans shouldn’t get their hopes up about a new iPad. Almost all reports point to a separate event to come later in the year to unveil updates to the tablets.
Global News will have full coverage of Apple’s iPhone event, starting live at 1 p.m. ET.
For live updates during Apple’s event follow tech reporter Nicole Bogart on Twitter:
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