Here are your Apple rumors and news items for Tuesday:
iPhone 5 Feature Buzz: While the word is that a new iPhone 5 will likely not appear during Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) traditional second-quarter iPhone release window, TechCrunch hints at some of the new features users can expect to see in the new device. As also suggested in a Feb. 17 New York Times report, the upcoming new version of Apple’s mobile operating system will introduce greatly improved voice command and voice navigation support to future and existing models of the iPhone and iPad. The artificial intelligence and assistance technology-based voice command features, likely to be a highlight of the fifth-generation iPhone, will debut alongside other features at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June, although the iPhone 5 itself won’t be in attendance. TechCrunch‘s MG Siegler also believes it’s possible that Apple will license the voice command technology for third-party applications.
Amazon’s Cloud Casts Shadow: While an official app isn’t yet available through Apple’s store, a new streaming music service from Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), is accessible on Apple’s portable devices. Video stored through Amazon’s service can also be viewed, provided it’s in a format supported by Apple’s Safari Web browser. Amazon’s new service opened Monday, beating a long-rumored similar service from Apple’s iTunes to the market. As of now, Apple has not moved to block Amazon’s streaming music services from its mobile platforms.
Sold Out: All 5,000 seats for Apple’s developers conference this June i in San Francisco sold out within 10 hours of going on sale on Monday, according to Fortune. The $1,600-a-ticket event will provide software developers early access to both the final version of Apple’s Mac OS X 10.7 home operating system (beta versions have been available to certain developers since January) as well as first access to iOS 5, the company’s mobile software update. The brisk ticket sales imply that software creators understand the vital importance of Apple’s platforms to their businesses now more than ever.
As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at @ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook.
