Earlier this month at Apple’s (News - Alert) 2011 Worldwide Developer’s Conference, consumers anticipating official word on the release of the iPhone 5 were put on hold once again.

After past history of Apple making significant device announcements at three previous developer conferences, critics were sure concrete information about the release of the newest version of Apple’s iPhone (News - Alert) would be announced.

Although details of Apple’s newest operating systems iOS5 were indeed announced at the June 6 keynote address, particulars of the features and release date of the iPhone 5 were still kept mum.

Needless to say, in absence of the announcement everyone was hoping for, the rumor mill is now in overdrive again regarding the iPhone 5. Last week, CNET put out a report documenting every iPhone 5 rumor that has hit the Web so far this year.

Rumors have been circulating as early back last year as when the iPhone 4 was released, but few have become concrete reports.

According to CNET, the most recent leaks include two last week from DigiTimes and Bloomberg (News - Alert). Taiwan’s DigiTimes said the iPhone 5 will have a dual-LED flash while Bloomberg reported that the new iPhone will have a faster A5 processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and support for iOS 5. The last TMC heard, Reuters (News - Alert) said consumers can expect the iPhone 5 by September, a report that has yet to be confirmed but is from a more reliable source than most out there.

According to the report, Apple’s suppliers will begin production of the latest version of the popular smartphone in July, with hopes of the finished product being done and shipped sometime in September. In terms of details of the newest version’s features, sources have been keeping them under wraps, but the report said that if anything, the device will look similar to the iPhone 4 and will feature a faster processor. 

As anxious consumers and reporters, by now we are used to the rumor mill, especially when it comes to Apple products. And although some rumors wind up turning into extensions of the truth, I know just as well as anyone else that it’s best to wait until an official announcement is made than to get one’s hopes up in the meantime.

Stay tuned to the iPhone industry site, exclusively on TMCnet, for more updates on the iPhone 5 as the rumors and reports progress.

Stefanie Mosca is a Web editor for TMCnet. Previously she worked as a freelance copy editor for Digital Surgeons LLC. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of New Haven. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Tammy Wolf