MacRumors

Following today's media event, Apple has seeded the golden master (GM) version of iOS 7 to developers. This represents the final build that will be released to the public on September 18 for installation on existing devices. iOS 7 will also be included on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, which launch in the first round of markets on September 20.

The GM version of iOS 7 arrives as build 11A465, and Apple has also released a GM build of Xcode 5 to support iOS 7.

At its media event today, Apple introduced the new iPhone 5s. In line with expectations, the iPhone 5s will be the same size and design and the current iPhone 5 but will feature improved specifications and will be available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.

Internally, the iPhone 5s will feature a 64-bit A7 processor that will be up to twice as fast at CPU tasks. Another significant new feature is a "Touch ID" capacitive fingerprint sensor built into the home button that's capable of scanning sub-epidermal skin layers. Touch ID can be used to unlock an iPhone and authorize iTunes purchases.

Built into the home button, Touch ID uses a laser cut sapphire crystal, together with the capacitive touch sensor, to take a high-resolution image of your fingerprint and intelligently analyze it to provide accurate readings from any angle. Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life. All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5s; it’s never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store®, App Store or iBooks Store.

iOS developers will not get access to the users' fingerprint as a means of authentication, according to AllThingsD, which spoke to Apple SVP Phil Schiller. He declined to comment on whether that sort of access may come in the future.

The rear camera in the iPhone 5s has a new 5-element lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a sensor that is 15% larger than the current iPhone 5, as well as a dual-LED "True Tone" flash that will adapt to the existing lighting to provide better colors and more accurate skin tones. Other new camera features include Burst Mode, capable of capturing 10 pictures per second and automatically selecting the best shot, and Slo-Mo 720p video capture at 120 frames per second.

The company also launched a new line of $39 leather cases for the iPhone 5s.

The iPhone 5s will cost $199, $299, and $399 for the 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models respectively with a 2-year contract. Non-contract, unlocked devices will be available at launch for $649/$749/$849.

The iPhone 5s and the lower-cost iPhone 5c that was also announced today will be available in stores in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK starting on September 20.

Notably, there will be no preorders for the iPhone 5s.

Apple today announced the new lower-priced iPhone 5c, replacing the iPhone 5 in Apple's phone lineup. The new device is available in five different colors -- green, yellow, blue, white, and pink -- in a polycarbonate design. The phone uses the same A6 processor and rear-facing camera as the iPhone 5. Apple posted a new product video, featuring Jony Ive, for the 5c.

"iPhone 5c is everything iPhone 5 was and more, in an all-new design packed with great features," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPhone 5c is designed with a beautiful polycarbonate enclosure that looks and feels so solid in your hand."

The new phone includes some upgraded parts as well, including an improved front-facing FaceTime camera and support for more LTE bands.

The phone is made of what Apple calls a hard-coated polycarbonate, using a steel-reinforced interior that also serves as the antenna. The company also introduced a line of $29 cases that snap onto the back of iPhone 5c and come in pink, yellow, blue, green, white and black.

The iPhone 5c is available for preorder this Friday, September 13 for $99 in 16GB and 32GB for $199 with a two-year contract. It will go on sale Friday, September 20.

At today's iPhone media event, Apple executives announced that iOS 7 will be released to the public on Wednesday September 18, two days before the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c are released.

Apple SVP Craig Federighi once again highlighted iOS 7's major redesign and the numerous new features it includes. He touched on Control Center, a revamped Notification Center, AirDrop, iTunes Radio, and new multitasking capabilities.

"iOS 7 is completely redesigned with an entirely new user interface and over 200 new features, so it's like getting a brand new device, but one that will still be instantly familiar to our users," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "Next month we'll be shipping our 700 millionth iOS device, and we're excited about what our hundreds of thousands of iOS developers are doing to bring great new features to their apps."

Apple also announced that iOS 7 will support the new 64-bit technologies introduced with the iPhone 5s, with all built-in apps re-engineered for 64-bit and iOS 7 will support both 32-bit and 64-bit apps.

The OS has been built to complement both the iPhone 5c's colors and the new internal capabilities of the iPhone 5s, including its Touch ID fingerprint sensor and camera features like automatic image stabilization, Burst Mode, and Slo-Mo 120 fps video.

iOS 7 will be available on September 18 for the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini, and the fifth-generation iPod touch.

Apple's highly anticipated September media event is being held today in Town Hall auditorium at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California. The event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time, and Apple is expected to unveil new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models while also providing a final overview of iOS 7 before the redesigned operating system launches to the public.

Unlike the past several Apple media events and keynotes, it does not appear that the company will be offering a live video stream of today's event. Prior to other recent events, an "Apple Events" channel has appeared on the Apple TV and the company has promoted the live streams on its home page, but none of those indicators have appeared so far.

While Apple will apparently not be providing a live video stream, a number of tech sites are on hand for the event and will be posting live blogs: Engadget, Ars Technica, The Verge, TechCrunch, The Loop, Macworld, AllThingsD, CNET, SlashGear.

In addition, we will be updating this article with summary coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the event unfolds. Separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event.

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A pair of photos posted to Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo and shared by HDBlog.it [Google Translate] show what is alleged to be packaging for an official Apple case marketed for the iPhone 5S but which would also fit the iPhone 5. Text on a paper insert within the packaging indicates that the case is at least partially constructed of aniline-dyed leather, similar to Apple's Smart Covers for the iPad and iPad mini.

This case is made from natural aniline leather. Its appearance will change as you use it. [...]

Compatible with iPhone 5 and 5s.

As the report notes, the informational text included on the paper insert is similar to that seen on other Apple accessories, and the "iPhone 5S Case" name printed on the plastic packaging matches the styling seen on an alleged leaked box for the device itself.

One questionable aspect of the paper insert is the use of a lowercase "s" in "iPhone 5s", as Apple has traditionally used a capital "S" when printing the names of its "S-model" iPhones in plain text. The packaging itself also appears to be rather large considering Apple's usual standard of minimal packaging for its products.

Apple is expected to unveil both the iPhone 5S and a lower-cost iPhone 5C at a media event beginning in just a few hours.

The much-rumored fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S may be referred to as "Touch ID", according to an alleged new photo of an iPhone 5S user guide uncovered by Nowhereelse.fr [Google Translate].

The photo features what looks to be an iPhone 5S running iOS 7 and also shows off the rumored silver ring around the home button.

However, the photo also appears to showcase a slight departure for naming conventions for iPhone buttons in user guides, referring to "Volume Buttons" and "Sleep/Wake button" instead of the usual "Volume Up/Down" and "On/Off Sleep/Wake". Although the naming conventions in this photo do appear in the user guides for some iPod and iPad models.

Late last night the Wall Street Journal confirmed that the new iPhone, which is set to be unveiled early Tuesday at a press event at Apple's Cupertino, CA headquarters, will feature a fingerprint sensor.

In recent weeks and months the support for an iPhone with a fingerprint sensor has gathered steam, with questionable photos of iPhone 5S packaging, leaked parts and iOS 7 beta code hinting that the new hardware feature is forthcoming.

The new iPhone will be unveiled today at 10:00 AM Pacific Time at Apple's Cupertino headquarters. MacRumors will have live coverage of the event.

Update: Several other pages from the guide have been posted by C Technology, but they primarily show safety and warranty information and do not reveal any other details on the device.

Apple will include a fingerprint scanner on the high-end iPhone that the company will introduce at a media event tomorrow, widely thought to be called the iPhone 5S, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Placing a finger on a computer or smartphone has long been proposed as a way to avoid the need for passwords to authenticate users of computers and other devices. People familiar with the matter said last week that Apple will include a fingerprint scanner on the more expensive of two iPhones it is expected to unveil Tuesday at an event at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters.

The paper notes that the fingerprint scanners used in older electronics devices have been inaccurate, but newer devices can take several scans with the finger held in one place, allowing for better reliability.

The WSJ notes that reliability and ease of use are key and will be essential for widespread public adoption. The iPhone 5S will, by far, be the most high-profile consumer electronics device with a fingerprint scanner. Apple purchased fingerprint sensor company AuthenTec in July 2012 for $356 million.

The new iPhone will be unveiled tomorrow at 10:00 AM Pacific Time at Apple's Cupertino headquarters. MacRumors will have live coverage of the event.

The entrance to Apple's building at 4 Infinite Loop, where its Town Hall auditorium is located on its Cupertino, California campus, has been decked out with new banners ahead of tomorrow's media event, as seen in photos posted by iGeneration.fr. The banners show the same colorful circles seen on the invitation sent to the media last week.

Apple's event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific tomorrow, and the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, as well as give a final preview of iOS 7 before its public launch in the very near future.