Apple denies employees' vacation leaves in October

Apple Inc. is quietly denying requests from employees for vacation leaves in the second week of October, hinting at the expected launch dates of its major products including its new iPhone 5 and iOS 5 operating system. Enthusiast site AppleInsider cited "people familiar with the matter" who said Apple blacked out vacation time for employees from October 9 to 12 and October 14 to 15 in some locations. "The first block of dates - the 9th through the 12(th) - could pertain to the release of iOS 5 for existing iOS device owners on Monday the 10th. As AppleInsider reported last week, certain segments of the company's AppleCare divisions have been told to prepare for an influx of iOS-related inquiries on that same day," it said. It also noted Twitter has also scheduled a developer event and "Developer Teatimes" for Oct. 10 and 12 with a "heavy focus" on Twitter's tight integration with iOS 5. Such a schedule further suggests Apple's non-disclosure terms covering the new mobile OS will have been lifted by then via a public release of the software, it added. AppleInsider noted issuing a major iOS release a few days prior to launching new iPhone that may feature the software is "not unexpected." Last year, it noted Apple released iOS 4.0 on June 21 and then rolled out the iPhone 4 on June 24. In 2009, it launched iOS 3.0 on June 17 and then followed up with the iPhone 3GS on June 21. Second block for iPhone 5 AppleInsider said the second block - October 14 and 15 - may hint at the availability of the long-awaited iPhone. "With Apple rumored to hold a media event to first unveil its fifth-generation iPhone plans on October 4th, that would give the Cupertino-based company roughly 10 days to field pre-orders ahead of an official launch," it said. — TJD, GMA News