Apple's iPhone Event Tomorrow

How much of an update the next iPhone will be? Shall we see some noticeably new features in the new iPhone 5 as a result from the longer wait? The answer of those questions we will have tomorrow morning, when Apple holds its "Let's Talk iPhone" event. The iPhone 4 was a big step up from the 3GS, which itself was basically the iPhone 3G with a better camera and speedier insides. The iPhone 4 also did the camera and speed tricks, while adding a considerably sharper screen.

New hardware

The most obvious thing to expect, of course, is a new iPhone. As mentioned earlier, the real question is just how new that new will be. Apple didn't have to do a whole lot between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS to make the 3GS a success. The extra processing power and souped-up camera added video recording, and enabled a whole new class of apps.

New software - iOS 5 gold master

In June, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs referred to software as the "soul" of the company's products, and for the iPhone, that includes iOS. Tomorrow you can expect more release details on, if not the full release of, iOS 5, Apple's next version of the software that powers the iPhone, the iPod, the iPad, and Apple TV.

Among iOS 5's new features is an overhauled notification system that puts a history of notifications on a user's lock screen, as well as a new pull-down menu that adds things like weather and stock information. The software also brings tweaks to the built-in camera software, and a new messaging platform called iMessage that lets iOS users text and chat with each other using the phone's data connection.