There’s been a veritable flood of rumors and speculation on just when Apple will announce the iPhone 5, but all of that speculation could come to a close on October 4.

According to a report by AllThingsD, Apple is gearing up for the company’s next big media event on October 4. As you may recall, October just so happens to be the long-rumored date for Apple’s announcement of the long-awaited iPhone 5.

AllThingsD’s sources say that while the date may change, Apple is currently set to announce the successor to the iPhone 4 during the big media event. The sources also claim that Apple will make the iPhone 5 available to the public a few weeks after the announcement.

Assuming that the sources claims are true, the iPhone 5 will undoubtedly be the highlight of the event, but it will also mark the first time that Apple’s new CEO, Tim Cook, introduces a major new product from Apple – and it will also be his first public appearance after taking over the company’s reigns.

The iPhone 5 may not be the only big news we hear about at the event, either. There’s been strong evidence recently that another provider will be announced this year, with evidence pointing at Sprint. T-Mobile was previously a rumored candidate, but T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman was recently quoted as saying “We are not going to get the iPhone 5 this year.”

When the iPhone 5 is inevitably announced, do you plan to make the upgrade?

iPhone 5 announcement coming on October 4? is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Apple rumor mill was in production overdrive this week, on news that a smaller, cheaper iPhone was in the works, to be announced this summer.

A new, smaller set of rumors has emerged courtesy of the New York Times, lending credence to half the original buzz while debunking the other half. According to an anonymous source who has worked on several versions of the iPhone, the impending new version will be roughly the same size as the iPhone 4, but will be a cheaper, more accessible version of the device aimed at capturing even more smartphone market share.

The source says changing up the device’s “innards” could result in a cheaper iPhone:

Apple is also considering changing internal components of the device to bring costs down. “Although the innards of the phone, including memory size or camera quality, could change to offer a less expensive model, the size of the device would not vary,” said the person, who has worked on multiple versions of the device.

Another person who was not identified in the piece suggested cloud storage and device syncing could also be part of the cost-cutting strategy:

“The goal is that your photos and other media content will eventually just sync across all your Apple devices without people having to do anything,” the person said. If more iPhone users stored files online, Apple could make cheaper devices with less storage. Flash storage is one of the iPhone’s most expensive components.

Of course, this logic seems to rely on users owning other Apple devices- but if you’ve dropped over a grand on a desktop, you’re probably more likely to be in the group buying the fully-featured iPhones, right?

Which features could you easily part with for a cheaper iPhone?

Apple source to NYT: New iPhone won’t be smaller, just cheaper is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple is said to be developing a more budget-friendly, scaled down version of the iPhone in order to better compete with Android handsets, swirling rumors indicate.

Some guy supposedly saw a prototype for one of the smaller, cheaper iPhones, reporting that it was about 2/3 the size of standard iPhones and lacked the device’s Home button. Further rumors from the alleged leakers say the tiny iPhone would be available for about $200 without a contract, and that it would be made of the same parts iPhone 4s are built from, but could be priced lower due to eventual dropping costs for the technology.

Some reports say the smaller iPhone could debut as early as “mid-year,” but others caution that the budget iPhone could never see the light of day at all. According to an analyst that spoke to Bloomberg, the move is intended to gain an even bigger foothold in the mobile phone arena:

“Instead of targeting 25 percent of the global mobile-phone market, Apple would be going after 100 percent,” said Charlie Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Co. in New York, who has a “buy” rating on Apple shares.

If you’re a current iPhone user, could you give up some screen real estate for a lower price or easier to carry device? If you’re not an iPhone owner, could this cheaper, lighter iPhone tip you toward making the switch?

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Apple said to be working on “smaller, cheaper” iPhone is a post from: The Inquisitr

With near certainty a new iPhone will be launched at Apple’s WWDC Conference in San Francisco Monday, and the lead up to the launch has (as usual) involved no shortage of speculation and so-called leaks.

Some of the leaked details will undoubtedly hold true, such as increased memory in new models, and video capture. But some leaks are not only far off the mark, they’re purposely trying to take the piss.

Take for example the shot above from the Italian site SpazioCullulaire which supposedly shows a store inventory listing in Canada and is being reported by numerous sites as being real. We picked it up from The Next Web who described the shot as “believable.” Look carefully at the second last item on the list.

“Apple iPhone Video iChat 64Gb/ Yellow W/Fluffy Bunnies“

The emphasis is mine, but it’s the key: this list claims that an iPhone will come with Fluffy Bunnies. Some how we just don’t think so. The option above fluffy bunnies claims that there will be an iPhone that is “Green with Flowers”….. yeah…ok… someone pass the bong. Still, in the event that I’m wrong come Monday, I guess I know what my next iPhone will have on it

Fail: fake iPhone price list claims one iPhone will come with fluffy bunnies is a post from: The Inquisitr