According to a report from TUAW, sources close to the site when going through the Apple’s newly announced iOS 5 platform’s USB device files could find references to at least two new iPad models and another two iPhone models. Interestingly there is not even a mention about any iPod Touch model.
The system files that were inspected contained “iPad3,1”, “iPad3,2” (iPad models) and “iPhone4,1” and “iPhone4,2” (iPhone models). Before you fret over these confusing numbering of models, let me clear you, these are the internal identification numbers of the corresponding models. For instance iPhone 4 is not essentially the 4th generation iPhone, but the forthcoming iPhone 5 i, since the iPhone 3G is considered as the first generation iPhone. Coming to iPad models, iPad 2 had three internal builds “iPad2,1”, “iPad2,2” and “iPad2,3” each corresponding to the Wi-Fi, GSM and CDMA versions of the device. Interestingly the next version of iPad is having just two internal builds, which supports earlier rumors that the next version of iPad would be a global device with both the GSM and CDMA support.
However we need to note that the internal builds of the models showed up in the OS system files do not always end up being a real product. For instance iPhone 4 had three internal builds “iPhone3,1”, “iPhone 3,2” and “iPhone3,3”. Only the “iPhone3,1” (GSM) and the “iPhone3,3” (Verizon CDMA) versions were released and the “iPhone3,2” could never see the light of day.
Another interesting finding here is the missing iPod model listing. Apple usually refreshes the iPod Touch models during September and no mention about the future build could suggest that this year might be an exception with iPod paving way to the iPhone 5 release just along the same time as that of iOS 5’s public launch. But again, nothing is conclusive or final until the actual manufacturer says something.