iPhone 5 release date delayed: iPhone 4S suffers from Steve Jobs death

The iPhone 5 release date is delayed to sometime in 2012, most likely the summer but it’s anyone’s guess and Apple itself may not yet be sure. Enter instead the iPhone 4S, a brilliant backup plan engineered by Tim Cook, who’s been in the CEO chair for far too short a time to take credit or blame for much that’s transpired since. But he has been Apple’s chief operations officer for fourteen years; it was on him as COO, not Jobs as innovations guy, to figure out this escape hatch. However there’s one bit of Steve Jobs-style magic (here’s more on the death of Steve Jobs today) missing from the iPhone 4S, one which has left mainstream customers confused and showing rare anger toward Apple, a company which most among the mainstream have spent the past decade thanking for having rescued them from a tech landscape which had previously skewed geeks-only. Yet the anger and disappointment today is palpable, and it’s based purely on external expectations; Apple never said there would be an iPhone 5 in 2011, and even our use of the word “delay” here is subjective relative to when Apple most likely thought it was going to launch the iPhone 5. That bit of missing magic has to do mostly with nomenclature, and it’s a shame that Cook appears to have outsmarted himself in that regard, because the iPhone 4S is a brilliant play otherwise…

The full scoop may never publicly surface, but the pieces of the story are easy enough to fill in based on logic and circumstance: Apple wanted to launch the iPhone 5 this past summer. By late spring it knew it had a problem, which is why it launched the white iPhone 5 to buy more time and set its iOS 5 software system on an extended development cycle which didn’t see it surface even in developer beta testing form until June. One theory says the iPhone 5 was too thin and was overheating thanks to the A5 dual core processor; that’s not verifiable but it fits within the pattern of events. Whatever it was that held the iPhone 5 up, Apple kept trying to buy itself time. Giving up on a summer release, they announced that iOS 5 would be available in the fall, a clear sign that the company thought it could have the iPhone 5 ready by that time. Except when it came down to it, the iPhone 5 just wasn’t ready. And the holiday shopping season, for all intents and purposes, is upon us. So Apple swallowed hard and did what it had to: it took all of the iPhone 5 components and features, or as many as could fit, and crammed them into the existing iPhone 4 shell. Maybe the A5 processor works better in the iPhone 4 body because it’s thicker. Perhaps the iPhone 5 was doomed by component issues. That’s less important than the fact that this was the move that had to be made, as the only alternative would have been to stick with the iPhone 4 through the holidays. The problem? They called it iPhone 4S…

Apple solved its true holiday sales problem by replacing the iPhone 4 (or rather, regaling it to the sub-$100 bargain bin) and launching a “new iPhone” which now buries the “But isn’t the next iPhone just around the corner?” talk and allows customers to buy an iPhone 4S feeling safe that it’ll still be the current model by the time they gift it on Christmas morning. In doing so, they’ve created another problem: today’s headlines read “iPhone 4S released instead of iPhone 5.” That means that while most consumers will go ahead and take the plunge on the iPhone 4S if they were already intent on buying an iPhone upon its next revamp, they won’t be as happy about it. They’ll be inclined to overlook the fact that the 4S beats the pants off the 4 in most measurable categories: speed, battery life, camera quality, on board memory, you name it.

Without Steve Jobs in the room during the final iPhone 4S deliberations (as now appears clear upon Apple’s announcement of his passing today) Tim Cook went and outsmarted himself. You have to wonder why others in the room like Phil Schiller who are marketing guys didn’t veto it. Apple’s longtime nuts and bolts guy Cook had the sense to get a new iPhone to market ahead of the holidays, be damned what it looked like or what it did or didn’t do. Unfortunately for Apple, he didn’t have the guts to make the ridiculously arrogant move which Jobs probably would have: Steve would have called this new iPhone the “iPhone 5″ even though it physically looks exactly like the iPhone 4.

Why? Because a whole lot more people would have bought it. A whole lot more people would be gearing up to use the new “Siri” voice assistant feature, which Apple is clearly proud of. Also, Jobs would never have allowed an Apple product to go out the door with a name as asinine as Siri, even if that was the given name of the product at the time Apple acquired it. He would have called it “iAssist” or something more clever. And despite the tremendous amount of critical flack from inside the tech beltway he would have taken for doing so, Jobs would have referred to this new iPhone 4S instead as “the new iPhone 5″ because that’s what would have worked best. Instead Cook played it safe. He’s underselling this new iPhone because he knows it’s not really the iPhone 5. He knows it looks just like the last one. But then that’s what the new guy tends to do when he’s taking over for a legend. That strategy can work, except not when you play it so safe in the name of protecting what the last guy built that you’re not willing to take the kinds of chances he would have. Cook will get burned for this, in the form of lower sales than Apple is hoping. The iPhone 4S will sell far better over the next several months than the aging iPhone 4 would have, if no action had been taken today. But if the 4S numbers aren’t what Apple is hoping, nowhere near what they would have been if the real iPhone 5 had been ready, Cook and company might ultimately learn from studying Jobs’ body of work what you’d think they had already learned from all those years under him: the guy got away with all that arrogance of his because that arrogance – and a willingness to dust it off as professionally needed – was a big part of what made him brilliant. All Apple would have had to do was to slap the “iPhone 5″ name on the new-ish iPhone it introduced today, and the headlines and sentiment all read differently in tomorrow’s papers. But Cook is still new in the CEO role, and there’s plenty of time for him to remember what it was he learned from his mentor in the first place. One would hope. Here’s more on the iPhone 5 release date.

Updated 10:00pm PST with information on the death of Steve Jobs

New iPhone 5 – Out Of Body Experience?

The iPhone 5 Will Be Shaped Different From The iPhone 4

That might be a slight assumption, but let’s face it, why would they release a NEW phone that looks like the old one? I know it makes sense financially for, them in the short term, to release a phone with the same body just because sales of the iPhone 4 are still amazing and that would mean it’d be cheaper for Apple to produce theiPhone 5‘s 200 Million (that’s the projection) proposed units for the next years worth of sales.

But think about it, again this comes down to them doing what’s right for them. When the iPhone 4 came out they took a BATH for a while because they had to offer a case for the phone, and that really dug into their overall numbers. They make a ton of money from the accessory products that are sold with an iPhone 4 and they just couldn’t sell all that many accessories after having to give the case away for free. So why on earth would they release the iPhone 5 NOW without it being at least different enough in size that you would need a new case? Makes sense when you really think about it.

I’ve seen conflicting reports all over the internet about how the new iPhone 5 will have the same ‘body’ as the iPhone 4, just a better camera and potentially a better processor. Well that’s an obvious fact! I mean, come on… the iPad 2 has a better processor than the iPhone 4 so we know they have the technology to make it better, they just have to shrink it. The camera HAS to get better because the Droid Bionic came out just last week and it has a better camera. That’d be like pulling up to a race against a bunch of 2012 Mercedes in a 1985 BMW, it just wouldn’t fair well for the BMW.

So all in all, there is absolutely NO reason for a company like Apple to produce the iPhone 5 with the same body as the 4.

Why Release The iPhone 5 At All Right Now?

I have to admit, the timing is good in some ways, and bad in others. It’s almost holiday season which seems to have Apple’s interest peaked. If I were to guess I would assume they are releasing the iPhone 5 now, so they can release the iPad 3 closer to the holidays and make Apple lovers around the world ask for both as their gifts. Pretty amazing way to dominate Christmas guys! I think a lot of factors are playing into the release date to be honest -

• Less Sales Of Accessories For iPhone 4 Because Of Antenna Problems
• Holiday Season Is Around The Corner And Little Jimmy Loves New Tech
• Droid Bionic Was Recently Released And Apple Had To See That Coming
• People Are Still Critical Of The Horrible Antenna On The iPhone 4
• The iPhone 3g Is Basically Done For, Now They Can Replace It With The iPhone 4
• We’re Apple… We Do What We Want!

Obviously those aren’t ALL of the reasons, just the ones I see most readily available. I also heard a rumor that the new iOS 5 would be released soon, and that just simply can’t happen until the iPhone 5 comes out. If they were smart, they would release the iPhone 5, and then put the new iOS 5 on a delay for iPhone 4 users. That way, those who MUST HAVE the newest and best will pony up and get the iPhone 5 and everyone else can just wait until that buying frenzy dies down and get the upgrade on iTunes.

Either way you shake it, I am iExcited for this new phone and can’t wait to get my hands on the iPhone 5 – I’ll make sure to keep you all in the loop on release date and important information regarding the iPhone 5 Release

No Vacation Days for Apple Employees in Mid-October Weeks

Over the past few weeks, Apple has been denying vacation requests from employees for the second week of October. There is much speculation that Apple is doing this in anticipation of a large increase of customers because of the release of iOS5 and the iPhone 5.

A few sources that are familiar with the matter have said that Apple has blacked out vacation time for two date ranges: October 9^th- October 12^th and October 14^th- October15^th.

It is believed that the first date range could be when Apple releases iOS5 for existing iPhone and iPod Users. This comes after AppleInsider reported that some sections of AppleCare have already been told to prepare for a large increase in the amount of iOS5 inquiries during that range.

Further fueling the fire is Twitter releasing a pair of “Develop Teatimes” on October 10^th and October 12^th. The main focus is going to be on Twitter’s integration with iOS5.

Finally, Apple has a history of releasing new operating software immediately before a new release of an iPhone. For example, Apple released iOS4 on June 21^st, 2010 and then rolled out the iPhone 4 only three days later.

With this information available, it is highly likely that the second date range will be the release of the iPhone 5. Rumors have mentioned that Apple plans to hold a media event announcing the release of the iPhone 5 of October 4^th, which would give Apple ten days to fill the large amount of preorders that will most likely be had before the official launch.

New Apple CEO Tim Cook Will Introduce The iPhone 5 On October 4

Apple is going to have one of its big product events to introduce the iPhone 5 on October 4, John Paczkowski at All Things D reports.

New CEO Tim Cook will be in charge of the event, just like former CEO Steve Jobs used to run events. This will be an interesting test for Cook since he's never done the big product roll out before. Paczkowski says he will be aided by other Apple executives who will also make presentations on stage.

The phone is expected to go on sale weeks after Cook's presentation.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs Resigns, Replaced by Tim Cook

Today marked the end of an incredible era for Apple as Steve Jobs resigned as Chief Executive Officer, citing that he is no longer fit or able to serve as the head of the company. With his resignation, the CEO role will be filled by Tim Cook, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer.

In a press released that seems to be directed both to Apple’s Board of Directors and the world at large, Jobs gracefully stepped out of the CEO role while asking to remain as Chairman of the Board, as well as an Apple employee. Unsurprisingly, his wish was granted and Jobs will remain with the company to assist in the transition. Commenting on behalf of Apple’s Board of Directors, Art Levinson said that “Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” and that Jobs had “made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

Apple’s board members wasted no time in approving Tim Cook as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. Cook has been with Apple for well over a decade, rising through the ranks to his previous position as COO. Cook was widely rumored to be next in line for the CEO position, although many expected Jobs to hang on for a bit longer. Although Jobs has been on medical leave since the start of the year, he has kept up with his normal schedule of public appearances for Apple, including delivering the iOS 5 keynote at the WorldWide Developer’s Conference in June.

Jobs has kept his health matters private since word broke that he was dealing with some form of cancer some years ago. The letter that he issued to the public to announce his resignation (posted below) didn’t shed any light on a possible decline in his health or whether it was related to his resignation. It is our sincere hope that Jobs’ battle with cancer has not taken a turn for the worse.

Below is Steve Jobs’ resignation letter as released today, in its entirety. Our many thanks go out to Mr. Jobs for the brilliance he has brought to Apple, taking the company from the brink of disaster to having the largest market share of any corporation in the world in just over a decade.

Nobody really knows if this will effect the iPhone 5 Release Date or not, but Apple likely already has a strict launch plan.

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Sprint Set to Join AT&T and Verizon as an iPhone 5 Carrier

According to a report issued today by the Wall Street Journal, Sprint will join AT&T and Verizon in offering iPhone handsets starting this fall with the launch of Apple’s next-generation iPhone 5 handset.

Sprint is currently the third-largest wireless carrier in the country, behind Verizon and AT&T respectively. With more than fifty million customers, Sprint represents a huge new market for Apple and its wildly-selling iPhone. After launching the first iPhone handset exclusively with AT&T, Apple has continually moved to add new carrier partners to continue its push to become the number-one smartphone manufacturer in the world.

Interestingly, the United States was the first country to receive Apple’s iPhone in 2007, but the last to drop carrier exclusivity which only happened in January of this year with the launch of the CDMA iPhone 4 handset on Verizon. The rumor mill has been speculating that Sprint and T-Mobile were possible new carriers that would be on board following the launch of the iPhone 5; this new report from a source as reputable as the Wall Street Journalseemingly confirms it. As T-Mobile is currently in merger negotiations with AT&T, it’s likely that subscribers will have access to the iPhone in the future anyway.

Sprint currently operates its cellular network using the same CDMA technology as Verizon. While this would indicate that Sprint should be able to sell the same iPhone 5 handsets as Verizon does, many reports suggest that Apple may do away with its multiple handsets instead offering a “world phone” capable iPhone 5 that can connect to nearly every cellular company’s network on the planet. A number of news outlets reported this week that app developers have seen an iPhone model like this one reported in app usage logs, so it’s likely that a single iPhone 5 handset will be offered to all of Apple’s carrier partners.

Receiving the hottest-selling smartphone on the planet couldn’t come at a better time for Sprint, a company that has seen its customers leaving in droves due to poor handset selection, and of course because they can’t get an iPhone. AT&T and Verizon have been quick to scoop up these lost customers; AT&T reported half-year sales of over 7 million iPhone handsets (iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4) through June 30, while Verizon sold about 4.5 million iPhone 4 handsets during the same time period.

Finally, a number of reports came out in the last day that suggest Apple may be planning to release a cheaper version of its iPhone 4 handset along with the next-generation iPhone 5 around the end of September. It’s currently unclear if this less-expensive handset would be offered to new carrier partners such as Sprint, or if it would only be offered to carriers that already sell the iPhone 4.

As usual, Apple had no comment surrounding the news that Sprint would be joining its huge family of carrier partners. As the clock ticks toward the inevitable launch of the next iPhone, we shall all see soon enough if today’s news is true.

AT&T Readying the Troops for a Mid-September iPhone 5 Launch

According to a report published today on Boy Genius Report, Apple’s major US carrier partner AT&T is getting its staff prepped for the release of the next iPhone handset, expected sometime in mid-September. The report cites a ‘proven source’ that claims that AT&T’s retail arm has been communicating with its legions of employees, telling them to “finish training in order to have employees available for the influx of foot traffic expected in September.”

While this report is simply another rumor, there’s little doubt in anyone’s mind at this point that September will bring some sort of new or updated iPhone handset; it’s even possible that Apple will completely revamp its lineup and launch more than one new iPhone. The BGR report claims that Apple will announce the next iPhone sometime in late August, and then handset will then go on sale in early September. The site has a decent track record in regards to Apple and iPhone related rumors, and has numerous contacts deep in the wireless industry.

The BGR report coincides with the release of further speculation on the launch date from MacRumors, which recently stated that Apple has started contacting some of its former retail employees to see if they will return to work part-time between mid-August and mid-September. Since this timeframe also happens to be the lucrative ‘back to school’ retail extravaganza, it’s possible that Apple just wants its stores fully staffed to avoid any sales or service issues. However, it’s also possible that this is in preparation for the flood of customers expected with the launch of the next iPhone.

Most sources to date have placed the highly-anticipated iPhone 5 launch as occurring sometime this fall, ushered in with the launch of iOS 5, the newest version of the operating system powering the iPhone and iPad. Apple further hinted at this on their 2^nd quarter earnings call last week, with CFO Peter Oppenheimer stating that Apple will have a “future product transition” that will “have a material impact on the September quarter”.

At this point, it appears to be all-systems-go for the next iPhone to hit shortly. Recent reports have claimed that Apple’s supply chain and manufacturing partners have all been preparing for production of the next iPhone, and while today’s report claims a mid-September launch window, rumors have speculated that the iPhone 5 could launch anytime from the end of August through the end of October. Regardless of when it comes, there’s little doubt that the handset will be a huge blockbuster for Apple.

Some reports have claimed that the next-generation iPhone will be both lighter in weight and sport a thinner profile than the iPhone 4, and perhaps will feature an upgraded rear camera, and possibly a larger display. The Wall Street Journal claims that the iPhone will contain new wireless chipsets manufactured by Qualcomm, which may make a single iPhone 5 handset compatible with GSM and CDMA networks around the world.

As for Apple, the company didn’t comment on the latest report, and has kept mum in regards to the next iPhone handset. Those in Cupertino did state that the company plans on manufacturing upwards of 25 million handsets through the end of 2011; to get this many out the door, the handset will need to launch within the next couple of months. For now, it’s simply a game of ‘wait and see’.