Apple expected to unveil new iPhone on Tuesday
By Michael Liedtke September 9, 2013 7:56PM
Updated: September 10, 2013 9:41AM
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is expected to unveil its latest take on the iPhone Tuesday during an annual ritual that will probably cast a spotlight on the gadget maker’s drive to regain market share and its sluggish pace of innovation.
In keeping with its tight-lipped ways, Apple Inc. hasn’t disclosed what’s on the agenda for the coming-out party scheduled for Tuesday morning at its Cupertino, Calif. headquarters.
But this is the time of year that Apple typically shows off the latest generation of its iPhone, a device that has reshaped the way people use computers since its debut in 2007. Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 5, the current model, last September. The company has never waited longer than a year to update the iPhone, which has generated $88 billion in revenue during the past year.
This year’s refresh of the iPhone line may address the growing popularity of cheaper Android phones. Based on leaks from suppliers, it appears Apple is poised to release a less elaborate and less expensive version of the iPhone in an attempt to appeal to consumers too frugal or too poor to pay for the high-end model that sells for more than $600 without a wireless contract.
If reports published in technology blogs and newspapers pan out, the stripped-down iPhone will be called the “5C” and be housed in plastic casing that will be offered in a variety of colors instead of an aluminum casing.
If it introduces a cheaper iPhone, Apple might end production of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.
A new version of the high-end iPhone also is expected to be revealed Tuesday. The top-of-the-line model is expected to be dubbed the “5S.”
The upgraded iPhone may include technology that enables its owner to unlock the device with a fingerprint instead of a four-digit code. There is also speculation that the high-end iPhone will be sold in a golden color to supplement the product line’s more prosaic choice of black or white. AP
