With hype reaching fever-pitch, Apple is expected to unveil the long-awaited iPhone 5 later today.
Apple confirmed the event last week, sending out invitations with the tagline “Let's talk iPhone”.
New CEO Tim Cook will take to the stage for the presentation, which will take place at the company's Cupertino campus. According to reports, Apple's PR has confirmed the presentation will not be live-streamed to the public. The reason for this has not been specified.
Among the many rumours surrounding the iPhone 5, the next-generation handset is said to have an 8MP camera, an aluminium back, a larger screen and a slight tear-drop design. It is also expected to be thinner and faster than its predecessor.
The latest speculation is that Apple will unveil “The iPhone Assistant”, the company's update of the Siri Personal Assistant Software. Apple acquired Siri in April last year, for its artificial intelligence software, according to former CEO Steve Jobs.
Mashable reports that Assistant will be able to understand voice commands and carry out functions with minimal input from the user. The software will also be able to perform Web searches and transcribe voice inputs with advanced voice-recognition technology.
World-changing?
Assistant will reportedly be capable of learning and adapting to the user's needs - where it will establish which results one likes, which types of restaurant one enjoys and who one engages with the most.
Arriving in time for the holiday shopping season, the iPhone 5 will need to sustain Apple's smartphone momentum. According to Reuters, more than 20 million iPhone 4s had been sold in the third quarter.
Apple is also expected to unveil a cheaper iPhone 4 model catering for the mass market.
Reuters says Apple faces stiff competition from Google's Android OS, which currently leads the US market with a 43% share. The iPhone is in the number two position with 28% of the market.
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