October4
Latest
Rumor: App rentals coming to iOS?
TheTechErra went searching through the code in iTunes 10.5 beta 9, and found an interesting series of strings hinting that Apple is about to allow "rental" of iOS apps. The functionality is referred to as "renting," but it sounds much more like an official implementation of app "trials" that lots of developers have been hoping for. Customers would essentially download these app "rentals" (for free or for a price), and then after a certain period of time, the app rental would either expire, or customers could jump in and buy the full version of the app. Most developers on the store have worked around functionality like this, either building up two versions of apps (lite and full), or doing things like putting certain content past in-app purchases. But if Apple is finally including this functionality into the official system, then most of those devs will be happy to hear about it tomorrow. We'll have to wait and see. [via MacRumors]
Apple special event forecast for October 4
The sense of something coming soon grows stronger, as AllThingsD cites "sources close to the situation" saying that Apple's next media event will be held October 4. The hypothetical event, for which no invitations have yet been issued, would presumably be the venue where the next generation of the iPhone is announced to the world. Those same or similar sources also told ATD's John Paczkowski that the new phone would ship several weeks after the event. As important as the iPhone announcement is to Apple's performance over the next year, the host of the event is equally important. ATD says, unsurprisingly, that Tim Cook will be presiding over the announcement presentation. The newly promoted CEO will have some big shoes to fill on the presentation side, but no word yet whether he's planning to don the ceremonial black sweater. We judge this report largely credible; it correlates with the dates that have been bandied about, and ATD usually has good sources (some via the elder statesman of the tech beat, Uncle Walt Mossberg). Mark your calendars.
