New, Arbitrary iPhone 5 Announcement Date Claim: August 7th
Posted by Michael Nace on Friday Jul 13, 2012 Under iPhone 5 Opinion, iPhone 5 RumorKnow Your Mobile has trotted out August 7th as their roulette number for the iPhone 5 announcement, citing “reliable sources.”
As the summer rolls on in the northern hemisphere, we’re bound to get an increasing number of moonshot guesses and purported announcement date claims for the iPhone 5. You’ll recall that last summer, CNET UK infamously staked its reputation on the iPhone 5 being released on a specific day in September. We now have our first post-WWDC iPhone 5 announcement date guess.
The claim comes from Know Your Mobile, who tells us the following:
“Apple will announce the iPhone 5 on August 7, Know Your Mobile can exclusively reveal.
A reliable industry source who wishes to remain anonymous revealed to Know Your Mobile that Apple’s highly-anticipated and much-rumoured iPhone 5 will be launched via a keynote speech on August 7.”
Sure! Ok! Let’s go with that! August 7th seems as good of a date as any, right?
Know Your Mobile substantiates the logic of their source’s claim thusly: “The new date correlates with reports from earlier in the month the iPhone 5′s release had been brought forward from October to August.” I’m about to sound a lot like John Cox here, but basically what Know Your Mobile is stating is that, because some other sources claimed that August would be the announcement month for the iPhone 5, that August 7th must be a viable release date. After all, it’s on a Tuesday.
Look at it this way: if one sincerely believes that Apple will release its most important product in the month that a large portion of people in the northern hemisphere are spending their hard-earned money on vacations (or “holidays” as some like to call them), then hey, you’ve got a 1 in 31 chance of guessing the day correctly. There are 31 days in August, right?
“30 days has September,
April, June, and November….”
All kidding aside, I’ve always found the prospect of an August announcement to be a relatively unlikely announcement month, for the above mentioned reason, as well as the fact that, most likely, most of the executives at Cupertino are probably on vacation. At the very least, if Apple was dead set on announcing the iPhone 5 in August, it would more likely be at the end of the month, when more people are coming back from vacation in anticipation of the school year. That way, the actual product launch would probably take place in mid to late September. August 7th, however, would put the product launch just ahead of the big Labor Day weekend, when many Americans are vacationing.
Also, will we have iOS 6 ready to go by August 7th?
From everything I’ve read, the iOS 6 golden master is expected in September. I had argued that, if Apple had announced the iPhone 5 at the WWDC, they could have theoretically released it with iOS 5.2, and did an OTA update of iOS 6 at the end of the summer when it was ready. But they didn’t do that, obviously because it’s important for Apple to ship new iPhones with new iOSs. Thus, if iOS 6 is on track for September, how it Apple going to announce the iPhone 5 on August 7th?
For as much as holding out hope for the iPhone 5 to be announced at the WWDC may seem to have been myopic in hindsight, there was much more credence to that claim, since Apple did have a track record of announcing iPhones at the WWDC, and at least June 11th was a day where we knew there was an Apple event scheduled. August 7th is just a day — a day like any other day between now and the day that the iPhone 5 is finally announced.
Is it possible? Yes. Probable? Not so much.
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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July 13th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
No way this is happening. Apples not going to release the new iPhone any earlier than October when iOS 6 is released.
July 13th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
There is nothing stopping them announcing it in August and releasing it in September or October when the iOS is ready though surely?
I haven’t had a holiday (or ‘vacation’ as some like to call them) for 9 years.
July 13th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
I posted something a few months ago about announcing it in june and holding it for August now I will agree that they want as short of a time frame between announcement and release, so announcing it that early will only give others time to try to one up it a month later – the Samsung phone was officially announced on a Tuesday and released on a Friday (to Att a week later for Verizon) I just don’t see them announcing it and then waiting to get it into our collectively waiting hands. They will want us to gloat that it was worth the wait, not wait and wait and wait. Just my 2 cents worth
July 13th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@Andrew, when Apple has (essentially) one telephone line (pun intended), and they announce the specifics of their next one, and hold it off for a period of time, longer than 2-3 weeks, it disrupts the sales at the store.
Since HTC and Samsung have breadth in their product lines, they can get away with that. Apple has length (3GS, if they’re still selling it… not sure) 4,and 4S, are a linear model line, and the only width to that product is the memory capacity, so announcing a new king (or “queen”, as some like to call it…
) causes the old king to lose sales, since those looking at the bottom are less likely to wait (ie. a person buying an iPhone 4 will still buy one, but those buying a 4S will wait and buy the 5).
The key in my scenario is the wait. For a wait of 3-10 weeks is acceptable (hey, look at us 3/GS guys) to those of us waiting so long, but for the supply chain and Apple, drying up the purchases for that period would definitely affect the bottom line. Plus, it would give an opportunity for those looking to compare, and lose the emotional tie to buying the latest and greatest.
Just a thought…
Now that I wrote this, if it makes no sense whatsoever, I blame it on low blood sugar (or BS)… heh heh heh…
July 13th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Maybe they feel preasurred from GS3 sale? It would be nice if they announce it. Im up for an upgrade and been waiting for IP5, GS3 is really looking good but I wanna IP5. JUST PLS. ANNOUNCE IT ALREADY! Thank you!
July 13th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Jeff That is exactly what it was trying to say I just didn’t say it as well as you did…. if they announce it now sales of the 4s will plunge because who wants the old junk (metaphorically speaking) when the newest and greatest is coming in a few weeks, when you only have one new model and an old model out there and aren’t like Samsung where they can announce it because they have 15 other choices if you don’t like that one. It makes sense to keep the cards close to your chest until you are absolutely ready to drop the bomb on everyone. Also almost immediately the price of whatever model was previous will drop by at least 50% so why not make as much as you can for as long as you can. Having worked as electronics manager at the Wally Mart. I knew to expect a price change within 5 days of the newest model being announced so as to clear house for the next model. It would be nice if August 7th was the date but I don’t think they would say that this far out maybe if this were July 31st I could believe it. The absolutely dumbest move they could make actually would be announcing it on September 11th so I hope they don’t do that. But until that time I will patiently sit here and salivate over what may come out
July 13th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
I work with some die hard Apple fans and today somebody brought in the new Galaxy S3. They were all salivating over it. I was very impressed. It’s a good size, great screen, very responsive, light weight. Apple has a lot to compete with and I don’t know anybody that likes the supposed leaked pictures of the iphone 5. These die hard Apple fans are all saying that they are seriously considering buying the Galaxy S3. I feel the same way. I’m torn. Wait for something that you HOPE will turn out awesome, or buy something now that you already know is amazing? Apple isn’t buying much goodwill or loyalty right now from customers…
July 13th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@Mike D. I’m in the same boat as you, not trying to convince you one way or the other but thought I’d just share:
as good as an android phone may look right now: HTC one X!! or yeah, the galaxy s3… its outdated as soon as the next os comes out as it takes forever for them to get an update.
Where as with iPhone you are guaranteed an update to the next os and your guaranteed quality apps with no fragmentation. Just something to think about. I was honestly going to buy the htc one x but held back when I realized jelly bean os for android is coming out and it will take almost a year for the htc phone to get it.
just something to think about, oh and i hope this august date is true. I really want to have the iPhone in my hands by the time uni starts in sept
July 13th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
why don’t you people get lives – the phone will come out, when the phone comes out, geeeeeeezzzzzzzz….!!!!
July 13th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
I bought the SIII it is a SUPER device, my wife has the 4S and it is way behind in tech with this SIII I would highly recommend the SIII. I was trying to wait for the Iphone 5 but seriously got sick of the BS and waiting. Now that I see that snarky prototype I’m glad I got the SIII.
July 13th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I think this is a response to the marketing blunder of not releasing this in June and watching as the sales of their rivals grow every day their is not, at least, an announcement.
July 13th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
@Drew, I agree. I actually have the old Droid Incredible and it’s still about 2 or 3 OS upgrades behind. It’s kinda frustrating but I don’t feel too bad because i’ve actually had a lot of features that Apple is just getting around to including in their OS. My other thought is that the S3 just barely came out, and so did jellybean. I would imagine they would have that OS available very soon for it and then it’s probably about a year away before another OS upgrade comes out. I’m not trying to convince anybody of anything here either, just stating my thoughts. I seriously wish we had a clue about what the new iphone is going to be. If it turns out to be that stretched out iphone 4, then I will definitely not be getting the iphone.
July 13th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Usually Apple announces the product right before its released, so I doubt they’d announce it August 7th and then release it 1-2 months later.
If its announced August 7th, it’ll be available for purchase within the same day or 1-2 weeks later.
Whenever they choose to announce it, its always available to purchase really soon so that people buy it while the hype is still through the roof.
Im sure they’ll make it to where you can pre-order the iPhone first, that way they can advertise “we had 5 million pre-orders” or some sort of marketing approach regarding the sales.
July 14th, 2012 at 1:00 am
-______________________-
This just gets more annoying by the millisecond….
July 14th, 2012 at 2:39 am
F all the rumors just LET THIS ONE BE TRUE so i can stop searching the web day after day for all the latest rumors about a phone that apple has yet to admit exist…JUST GIVE IT TO ME!!!!
July 14th, 2012 at 4:12 am
Let me just say, iOS 6 is barely the size of an update that iOS 5 was (iCloud for one example). It could be all possible that the gold master version of iOS 6 could be released between now and August 7th. Two betas could be enough. I’d say it would be. Also, August typically isn’t the vacation month. My August (disregarding my birthday) typically is full of school preparedness (school enrollment, supplies, etc.). I’m hearing a lot of August 7th all of a sudden, and I do like that it’s on a Tuesday, so I’m on this rumor train. One last thing, could it be that this could just be an announcement for something else (iPad mini, new iMacs, Apple TV)? Food for thought.
July 14th, 2012 at 6:05 am
@Sky, yeah I agree partially with the vacation part…
Most all of my friends go on vacation June or July,
But back when I was in Elementary, Middle, and High School I would always go to the beach for 1 week – 1 week before school started in August every year.
I don’t do that anymore but my entire childhood/teen life had August down as vacation month,
So personally I think June-August would be considered vacation months…
Or May as well because the last day of College this year was May 8th and quite a few of the graduates went on vacation right after. So May-August if you include education I guess, and June-July for typical adult workers (non-student)
July 14th, 2012 at 8:19 am
Although I would like an august iPhone release, I highly doubt it will happen. From what I hear, iOS 6 beta 2 is pretty good but it needs at least one more beta before the GM so having it ready by august 7 would be tough. Plus Apple said “this fall” at WWDC and when Apple says fall they mean fall. Unless Phil Schiller tries to pull another fast one on us.
July 15th, 2012 at 11:38 am
I jumped ship to the galaxy s3 and have no regrets. I love apple products and IOS but my original iphone 4 died and I could not wait any longer on a phantom phone. If Apple was smart and wanted to “blow the competition out of the water” they wouldnt have drug there feet on this refresh. Samsung is producing quality phones and the nearly 5″ screen is fantastic for viewing the web and movies.
July 15th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Michael, do you get the emails I send via the contact page?
July 15th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
A couple of thoughts.
I think since we are all following this blog and interested in the lead-up to releases like these, we are forgetting a major part of iPhone releases: a price drop for entry-level iPhones. I’ve heard plenty of people say they want an iPhone 4S but they are waiting for the next one to come out so they can buy it cheap. I’ve heard very few people (apart from this blog) that say they are holding out for the iPhone 5, which is still just a figment of our imaginations (at least, for the general public). This is why Apple could get away with an announcement and a longer wait until release. I specifically remember from past keynotes that the price drops were instant, as in the day after the announcement (pre-orders started very soon too). Right now is a bad time to buy a 4S, especially with a contract, and most people know that they can save $100 if they wait. I don’t know the figures, but I bet that sales of previous models stay relatively constant since there are buyers who would choose the discount over the hype. And if the announcement was over-hyped and the iPhone 5 fails to meet expectations, settling for a cheap 4S or 4 could be even easier. But I see no real advantage to waiting more than 2 weeks between announcement and release day, other than more prep time for shipping–I think many of us remember the pre-order SNAFUs and long wait times; they always seem to sell ‘em faster than they make ‘em.
Second thought: I’m sure Apple has their internal deadlines that they try to make, but gambling on a specific date? Even if it was in their realm of expectation, they wouldn’t consider it set in stone until they schedule a press event. When Apple sends those press invites, even if they don’t hint at whatever it is they are announcing, it really seems to induce hype. Maybe I’m wrong, and Apple really does have a date in mind. But I still think guessing on the date is like guessing what color Tim Cook’s shirt is going to be when he walks out on stage; it’s irrelevant and arbitrary indeed. Making an educated guess on the month is definitely appropriate, but it’s too soon for a date like August 7th.
July 15th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I’d almost be willing to bet that the iPhone 5 will be released on the anniversary of Steve Job’s death.
It’s been stated many times that the iPhone 5 was one of his last projects. It makes perfect sense to remeber Steve Job’s by showing the world what he was working on before he died.
On the other hand, it would be in Apple’s best interest to release the iPhone 5 before the next Google Nexus.
July 15th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
This won’t happen. You really think apple is scared of Samsung. Never have never will. Maybe they got a lil nervous at the gs3, but not enough to do this? It’s apple, I think they will do good this year. Ip5 here we go!:)
July 16th, 2012 at 12:09 am
@Aidan, well said!
@Parish Jackson The Third, exactly. Samsung’s like a mosquito biting Apple. They’re not a threat…just annoying as hell.
July 16th, 2012 at 7:59 am
I bet Tim Cook’s shirt will be blue.
July 16th, 2012 at 9:04 am
I say it’s going to be cream if it’s introduced on a Monday, and if the introduction is on a Tuesday, and the phone will be available on a Thursday, but both days are odd numbered, then I say pink… oops… salmon. However, if the phone is announced on an odd numbered day, but the phone is released on an even numbered day, I say tan.
Wait… I think I’ll make a blog. Michael, is iPhone5TimCooksShirtColorOnReleaseDateRumorBlog.com taken?
July 16th, 2012 at 9:06 am
ooooh… You have auto-justify on? You ARE a real reporter!
July 16th, 2012 at 9:52 am
Mmmm Salmon.
Why does everybody eventually turn these comments towards food.
I love food.
July 16th, 2012 at 10:06 am
@Vernicularis, because we all hunger for the iPhone 5…
July 16th, 2012 at 10:15 am
@Zorro… when you go to a site called, “iPhone 5 News Blog,” one would expect to see news and commentary on the… (wait for it…) iPhone 5! Also, one may think that the people that are commenting here are, well, iPhone 5 enthusiasts, and to come in and make comments such as yours is like shooting fish in a barrel. Not that I’ve ever done that, but I hear it’s pretty easy.
So, just relax. I would hope that a phone that comes out 9 months after a different brand (or heck, even the same manufacturer) would be a better phone. I’m not looking at buying a brick, a loaf of bread with butter smeared all over it and honey too*, or a piece of wood, which has been, essentially the same over the last 5,000 years, but a technological device, which is one-upped as soon as it is released.
*Vernicularis, that’s for you…
July 16th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Speaking of rumors… it looks like there’s a rumor that the Apple HDTV will have a retina display… (I really wish they wouldn’t have rumors like that… I’m drooling on my keyboard now…)
http://www.cultofmac.com/179051/expert-apples-hdtv-will-have-a-retina-display/
July 16th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
@JustinQ, wouldn’t you think that tying a major new product to the anniversary of someone’s death is a little morbid? I do.
July 16th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
@DudeAbides: Yeah thats true, didn’t even think of that.
July 16th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
@Jeff in Everett
I love honey but my favourite is a Cornish Pasty sandwich with mayo, gets me every time.
I think we may have seen SJ’s vision in the IP4s, this was the phone he helped design and had a VERY important new feature in Siri. However much Siri does or does not presently work it is indeed a truly innovative feature and one which will migrate to other devices when it is ready.
SJ did say that the screen size was perfect and also that he didn’t want a mini iPad, neither of which came about in his lifetime. Apple now needs to move on and do what it thinks is right and if that includes increasing the screen size and bowing to pressure from other manufacturer devices to make a smaller iPad then so be it. Whether this turns out to be a good or bad move, only time will tell and I am sure another genius is the form of SJ will be hard to find but there must be others.
If the IP5 really is SJ’s swan song then it must be a hard item to craft as it has been so long in the making and might just blow us away as we all hope.
Couldn’t resist…the pasty is in the oven….
July 16th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
@Parish, Yes…I think that Apple is scared of Samsung. That’s why they are trying to prevent Samsung from releasing their products. They are great products with high-end features. Apple is very quickly falling behind. You can’t tell me that Apple wouldn’t even bat an eye if Samsung really does sell 10 million S3 phones in July alone. That’s huge! I guarantee that Apple is worried about what Samsung is doing. By the way, Samsung has sold more phone devices than Apple. To say that Apple never has or ever will be scared of Samsung is a bit naive.
July 17th, 2012 at 10:23 am
I agree michael. Apple has patent lawsuits for the most ridiculous things, I’m sure they all do, but from what I’ve here, apple is over the top. As for the next phone, it better be a good one. No entry level stuff. They’re going to need something that is at least equal to Samsung if not better. Once upon a time, apple was the only place you could sync music and enjoy a quality video. Thats not true anymore. While I love my apple products, my iPhone is the bottom of the list. When I see my husbands Samsung and how light, thin and big the screen is….well, I’m getting to be a convert. Plus, no flash???? C’mon. In the yesteryears we could live with it, but these days…it’s just an inconvenience that can be rectified by going to another phone, syncing music to google which has a lot more space for FREE and throwing the phone in my purse without a case. Don’t get me wrong, I hope apple wows us all, I really do. But if they don’t, they will have lost an iPhone customer next time around.