iPhone News Updated

iPhone 5 delays disrupt iPod touch 5, iOS 5 launches as Sept fades

iPhone 5 delays disrupt iPod touch 5, iOS 5 launches as Sept fades

The continued holdup of Apple’s iPhone 5 is now impacting the rollout of its other mobile products. For the first time since 2006, Apple looks set to not be holding a press event during the first twelve days of September. The event has traditionally been the launching point for iPod devices including the touch and nano, along with other included consumer products such as AppleTV.

After having been pushed back from a traditional summer launch, many have been expecting the iPhone 5 to surface at Apple’s early September press event as well, alongside the iOS 5 operating system which will power the new iPhone along with the iPod touch 5 if there is one in the pipeline. But with Labor Day coming and going, Apple has now passed up the opportunity to hold an event in the first week of September.

The clock now quickly ticks down for Apple’s chances to continue its multi-year streak of holding a press event within September’s first half. Press invites would need to be sent early this week for September 13th event; otherwise the company would be looking at a late September event and an October iPhone 5 launch. In 2006 Apple held an iPod nano launch event in early September quickly followed by a video iPod event in early October, with the latter arriving to market in time for the start of the holiday shopping season but without an assortment of third party accessories in tow. Now Apple faces an October launch for the iPhone 5, which would impact the device’s rollout in a number of ways…

One is the aforementioned lack of third party accessories which could result if Apple isn’t proactive. Typically Apple is so secretive about future products (for fear of designs being pre-copied by competing vendors) that accessory makers can’t begin manufacturing products such as cases until they get their hands on the specs. Apple can work around this in one of two ways. One is to offer its own iPhone 5 cases from the start, as it did with the iPhone 4 Bumpers last year and the iPad 2 Smart Covers this year. The other is for Apple to give iPhone 5 measurements to trusted accessory makers in advance, which it may have already done. But more than mere cases are on the line with an October iPhone 5 launch…

Apple must factor in marketing timeframes, retail arrivals, giving third parties time to flush out remaining inventory of the outgoing models, and more. In the mean time, the continued delay of the iPhone 5 now appears set to hold up the unveiling of other Apple products. iOS 5 won’t arrive until the iPhone 5 ships for marketing reasons, regardless of Apple’s vague claim that iOS 5 will arrive in the “fall.” There has been some level of interest in the iPod touch 5, although there’s sentiment that Apple could retire it in favor of a contract-free iPhone which would work as an iPod touch replacement.

Apple’s other iPod models, including the nano and shuffle, have become commoditized to the point that comparatively few appear to have much invested in the fate of the next generation, instead simply buying whichever generation happens to be on shelves. The most intriguing aspect of the iPod Classic is whether it’ll finally be discontinued. But even as Apple’s world isn’t about to stop spinning on its axis as a result of iPod delays, it’s worth noting that the continued iPhone 5 holdup is now in danger of impacting the rest of Apple’s product line if it doesn’t take quick steps this week in order to continue its streak of early September press events.

[Thanks: http://www.beatweek.com]

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