Case maker hints at iPhone 5's 'radical design'

In what could be yet another slip leading up to the launch of Apple Inc.'s highly anticipated iPhone 5, an accessory maker briefly gave the public a glimpse of the gadget when it posted its iPhone 5 cases online. Enthusiast site Boy Genius Reports (BGR) reported Case-Mate published a page offering six case designs hinting at a slimmer iPhone 5 with an aluminum back - but took down that page shortly after. "We’ve heard tons of speculation that the iPhone 5 will be thinner and lighter than the current model and these cases suggest it will have tapered edges and a slim profile as well. ... (T)he images appear to an aluminum back on the fifth-generation iPhone, which also jibes with earlier reports. The iPhone 5 is expected to be available in the United States in October, so we’re not surprised to see leaks like this start to spill out across the web," BGR said. The BGR page carrying the story also featured the images of the supposed iPhone 5 cases. But as of Friday morning (Manila time), visitors to the Case-Mate page were redirected to a page with the message, "We'll have your cases when you have your new iPhone." Still, the redirected Case-Mate page also hinted the release of the new iPhone is near, as it suggested the next-generation iPhone will be released "in the coming weeks." Earlier reports had suggested an October launch for the next-generation iPhone. "The wait is almost over as the next generation iPhone 5 / iPhone 4S will be released in the coming weeks. The new iPhone promises more technology than ever, all in the palm of your hand. The guessing game continues whether Apple will unveil the iPhone 5 or the iPhone 4S. Case-Mate will be ready with a collection of iPhone 5 cases / iPhone 4S cases to protect your new iPhone in your own personal style," it said in the redirected page (http://www.case-mate.com/iphone-5-4s-cases/). A separate article on tech site Mashable noted the new iPhone is "thinner, wider, and it’s tapered with a teardrop shape." "Meanwhile, whoever the poor soul at Case-Mate is who posted these pics is probably currently being called onto the Apple carpet," it added. NYT: Was leak intentional? A blog entry on The New York Times suggested the "leak" may not have been accidental. "(I)t seems that Case-Mate might be sneakily trying to take advantage of the excitement over the phone by posting and then unposting the images. These things rarely happen accidentally, especially when it comes to new Apple products," it said. It also cited an Apple employee who requested anonymity that the launch of the new iPhone is "just weeks away." Meanwhile, the NYT cited its Apple insider as saying the phone's new features include an 8-megapixel camera and a faster A5 dual-core processor. Mobile payment coming up? The NYT also said recent Apple patents and new hires indicate plans to add mobile payment functions to a future iPhone but it was not clear if these will be in this upcoming iPhone. It cited a source familiar with Apple’s plans who said the phone’s payment information would be tied to customers’ iTunes accounts. The NYT said Apple had claimed 200 million people have stored their credit card information on iTunes. — TJD, GMA News