Guide Note

Apple rumors are a tradition that accompany product releases from Apple Inc. Rumors range from photographs sent to web sites and purportedly leaked product information to hearing something from a friend of a friend. Web sites such as MacRumors and AppleInsider have been known to occasionally guess Apple products and components correctly based on acquired clues and first-hand reports. Usually a sign that a rumor is true is if the site in question receives a take down notice from Apple. Successful rumor reports include the iPhone 3G, Intel MacBooks and the MacBook Air.

Fast Facts

1. Apple annual events: MacWorld Expo, WWDC, COMPUTEX
2. Current Apple products: iPhone, MacBook, iMac, Apple TV, iPod, iPod Touch, Mac OS X
3. Rumor site ThinkSecret shut down by Apple in lawsuit settlement deal
4. Parody rumor site: Crazy Apple Rumors Site

When the forthcoming announcement of the 3G iPhone began circulating, speculation appeared on Apple rumor and technology web sites as to what features the phone would include. Engadget reported on the possibility of an iPhone Nano as early as July 2007, relying on a statement made by JP Morgan. This was debunked days later. Other rumors included potentially Photoshopped images of the iPhone. Some had colorful plastic cases ranging from orange to pink, while others sported a swivel camera which could be used for video chats. Finally, reports claiming that a copy and paste feature would be included arrived; each of these reports wound up to be untrue. Rumor sites did correctly report on the iPhone 3G's GPS capabilities, the iPhone App Store and the phone's plastic back.

A persistent Apple rumor is the possibility of an Apple video game console. MacRumors ran multiple articles in 2006 discussing Apple's hiring of C++ programmers, as well as the potential morphing of the Mac Mini and iTV to try and compete with Microsoft's XBox 360. In February 2008, reports on a handheld console arrived. Apple has not publicly discussed the possibility of a Apple branded video game console since the failure of the Pippin in 1997.