What is Apple going to launch today?

Apple has announced that it will announce something today. The internet is awash with rumours. Which are the most plausible?

Speculation has been building over what Apple will announce regarding the iPhone later today.

Last week, the company sent out invitations for a special event it is holding in California, where the company will give an "advance preview of what we're building".

Ever since then, the blogosphere has been trying to guess what Apple has got up its sleeve. Although most commentators believe that the event will focus on an update to the iPhone’s software – the invitations made mention of the phone’s operating system - wilder rumours have emerged, such as the launch of a new “tablet” sized device.

Here is the round-up of the rumours so far. 


Theory 1: Calm down everyone. It is just a simple software upgrade, to fix some iPhone niggles…
Quite simply, Apple might just announce that the iPhone can finally cut and paste text, something it can’t currently do, to the frustration of many. There are a number of other iPhone problemswhich the update could and should address. The ability to picture message and take videos with the iPhone’s camera, for example. A better way to organise your applications is also much desired. This could mean creating an “app folder”, which can then categorise your apps.

Surely, we can expect more that this, though? After all, why have a “special event” without at least something a little special to announce? 


Theory 2: An iPhone software upgrade that will wow you…
As well as fixing current problems with the iPhone, we might see a real iPhone upgrade with exciting new features. One could be a ramped-up App store, with “premium” apps that could cost a lot more, but would deliver more bang for your buck.

Another rumour is that Apple is trying to find ways to allow other non-Apple devices to access and use Apple apps. Is Apple going to release operating software that can be used on other phones? If so, that would go some way to taking on Android, Google’s operating system for mobile phones. 

Theory 3: They release a device. Any device. And people will go wild…
Any new Apple product would be exciting. The biggest rumour has been that Apple is ready to release a much bigger iPhone – a “tablet” sized device that might be a touch-screen netbook, or even a first foray into creating an eBook type machine (like Amazon’s Kindle, but with flashier features). The argument goes like this: why create a bigger and better platform for apps, without a device that can really play them?

This theory seems unlikely. But the current betting is on a significant Apple announcement regarding software, which will lead to a huge device announcement in the coming weeks. Watch this space.