Apple to unveil iPhone 5 at own campus

Apple's October 4 iPhone 5 event will take place on Apple's own campus, insiders tipped off on Sunday. Breaking with Apple's 'tradition' of unveiling new iOS devices at larger venues like the Moscone Center or the Yerba Buena Center, it will host the event at the Town Hall theater on Apple's campus, AllThingsD heard. No explanation was given as to why, although it's not likely to have been a long-term, intentional choice.

The most probable explanation may be a conflict with Oracle's OpenWorld conference, which runs from October 2 to 6. Along with booking the Moscone Center, the event is likely to have consumed many of the hotel rooms in San Francisco and could make it difficult to accommodate enough media.

The Yerba Buena Center doesn't have known active events booked for its theater and only has events at its gallery building next door. Apple, however, is believed to have a tight iOS 5 release schedule. With iOS 5's completion and the iPhone 5 unveiling possibly within a week of each other, Apple may not have wanted to book a third-party venue with a shifting date and, again, a shortage of open hotel rooms nearby.

Apple's event will mark the first for what should be a completely new model outside of the summer and may have disrupted Apple's typical pattern. For Tim Cook, the event is also his first as permanent CEO following the resignation of Steve Jobs in August, although this wouldn't have necessarily triggered a change in venue.

By Electronista Staff