iPhone 5 Release Date Potentially This Fall, with Apple's New iOS 6

Apple Inc CEO Time Cook speaks from onstage during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 in San Francisco(Photo : Reuters)

By Zanub Saeed

At the 2012 Apple annual WorldWide Developers Conference this week, CEO Time Cook all but confirmed that the long-awaited iPhone 5, which will have a larger screen than its predecessors, may be released this coming September, with iOS 6.

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During the Apple WWDC event, the new iOS 6 operating system was debuted, which will be used for the next generation of iPhones. Cook confirmed that iOS will be out this fall, according to a report by CNet, and only work for the iPhone 3GS and later models, as well as the second- and third-generation iPads. Such new features will include making the Siri-voice system integral rather than a novelty set, which will also be available for iPad, and that it will be able to open apps via voice-control, said CNet. Products with iOS 6 will be available at Apple Stores around the world, and via Apple.com

Maps for iPhones and iPads will be heavily updated via iOS 6, which will include having 3D maps for traveling, a possible transition away from Google Maps, and the ability to have turn-by-turn directions via the Flyover mode.

With the new iOS 6, consumers will be able to make phone calls with their iPhones, include the much-rumored iPhone 5. This includes being able to reply to an incoming call with a text message, or to ask to receive a reminder about the call later, said CNet's report from WWDC this week. A new "Do Not Disturb" addition will allow incoming calls to be blocked while still letting texts and alerts go through.

Various photos of what the new iPhone 5 may look like, in both black and white, were released by blog 9to5Mac, which include a metal trimmed layer across the back of each phones. They currently, according to the blog, have an unknown purpose.  

As for size specs, the new generation of iPhone is rumored to have a larger four-inch screen diagonally, as well as a new aspect ratio, around 16x9 - similar to a regular high-definition television, as noted in a report by Mashable. This will be a significant increase from the iPhone 4 generation and previous models, which have a 3.5-inch diagonal screen and aspect ratio of 4x3, like a standard definition TV.

The rumors from all the sources that attended WWDC do all but confirm the fall release for the iPhone 5 with the update and upgrade to iOS 6, and will have more user-friendly features and a larger screen with which to work.