Case-Mate leaks iPhone 5 images, confirms iPhone 4S
Now you see them, now you don't. Accessories maker Case-Mate got a little too excited about its upcoming iPhone 5 case lineup by posting and then abruptly pulling product shots and details from its website earlier today, as first reported by BGR. But the landing page that replaced the product shots is just as revealing, or maybe not.
Genuine mistake or not, Case-Mate just provided the world with the first glimpse of the iPhone 5, which Apple is widely expected to introduce within the "coming weeks", perhaps even at Macworld Asia, according to the accessory company. Judging from the shape of these cases, it would appear the iPhone 5 will have a tapered edge and aluminum back like the iPad 2. But as TechCrunch pointed out, Apple is not known to provide dummy devices ahead of launch so these photos are likely just renderings and not actual photos of the phone and case.
Further, on the landing page that replaced images of the iPhone 5 cases, Case-Mate makes a point of listing both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S as separate devices when asking visitors to sign up for updates on upcoming cases. It goes on to explain it has "inside resources" with details about the upcoming phones and reiterated the following rumors, which could lend credence to these speculations:
The rumors are [the] new iPhone 5 will feature a completely different form factor than its predecessor. Wider and thinner, the redesigned device features an extended home button. The screen size could see an increase to 4 inches.
Also included in the rumors is that the iPhone 5 will be an A5 dual-core processor, similar to the one used in the iPad 2. It will also be equipped with an 8 mega-pixel camera, wireless charging and iOS 5, which features iCloud portable storage capabilities.
The latest report is that the iPhone 5 will be available on all major carriers across the globe, including China Mobile, which has 600 million subscribers. In addition, it will be available in black and white with 16GB and 32 GB options. Insiders expect an early October launch.
On whether Apple will be introducing an iPhone 5 and 4S, or just one or the other, Case-Mate's sources are saying both:
From our inside resources, it appears that Apple will be indeed launching both an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 4S in early October. The speculation indicates that the iPhone 4S will feature the same form factor as the iPhone 4 but will be upgraded with the latest technology, including the A5 dual-core processor and 8 mega-pixel camera.
It's highly possible for an accessory maker to have advance knowledge of unannounced devices, at least their dimensions and things like the location of buttons and cameras, especially for a company as established as Case-Mate. Of course, with the official announcement of the new phones just around the corner, it's hard to believe any and everything about the next-gen iPhones unless it's coming from the horse's mouth.
[Source: TechCrunch, BGR via ThisIsMyNext, Case-Mate.com]
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