Blacked-Out Apple Vacation Days Indicate The New iPhone Likely To Launch Mid-October
September 24, 2011
Well, it's looking like things are finally coming together for this 2011 edition of the ever-churning Apple prediction machine. Supporting the iPhone 5 release schedule first hinted at by the fellas at Fortune, Kasper Jade of AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has now "blacked out vacation time for employees from October 9th through 12th and October 14th through 15th."
According to Jade, the two separate windows likely indicate a staggered release of iOS and the new handset proper. In a move reminiscent of last year's three-day disparity between heavy-hitting commercial software and hardware updates, iOS 5 will begin rolling out come October 9. Bolstering the notion is the fact that AppleCare staffers have allegedly been instructed to prepare for an irregularly large volume of support calls during this time. Then, just five days later, Apple Store employees need to be ready to start moving the actual Apple device itself.
Twitter, too, is reportedly ready to kick off a pair of "Developer Teatimes" for October 10 and 12. Again, says Jade, this activity
further suggest[s] that Apple's non-disclosure terms covering the new mobile OS will have been lifted by then via a public release of the software.We're getting awfully close, folks. The only question left is "When do the pre-orders start?" I'm still hoping for the fifth...
