iPhone 5 rumor roundup

Well, it's been a long time coming. Tomorrow, on Sept. 12, Apple is expected to finally announce the next iPhone. Whether it's going to be named the iPhone 5 or "the new iPhone," have a bigger screen, or come with seven arms sticking out of it, we've sifted (and sometimes trudged) through months and months of rumors that will either be confirmed or done away with come tomorrow. As archivers of the iPhone rumor mill, it has been entertaining, but we're looking forward to a brief moment of peace until a whole new batch of rumors come out for the next iteration. Until then, remember to join us during our liveblog tomorrow as the iPhone specs are unveiled and the bets begin. (Who put $5 on NFC, anyone, anyone?)

 Tune in Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. PT for our Apple iPhone event live blog.

After unveiling a marginally improved iPhone 4S in 2011 instead of a radically different iPhone 5, Apple has returned to its development labs to cook up (no pun intended) the next iteration of its popular phone. In 2012, we're fairly certain that the real iPhone 5 will roll out of Apple's gates and that the device should be a bigger leap forward than the 4S was.

That's why after taking some time off at the end of last year, we've resurrected CNET's iPhone 5 rumor roundup to cover the new tidbits from 2012. So join us again in watching the rumor mill churn. We'll add to it until we get the real thing; please let us know if we've left any gossip out.

See also CNET's iPad Mini rumor roundup and Apple HDTV rumor roundup.

September 10, 2012
Those previously mentioned plugs may be the size of a Micro-USB
Not satisfied with just posting pictures of the supposedly new iPhone 5 plugs, Nowhereelse is now reporting that these updated dock connectors may be the same size as a Micro-USB port. In addition to the new phone sporting the smaller port, other future devices, like the next iPad, will include it too.

September 8, 2012
New pictures, new plugs
Leaked images from the French blog, Nowhereelse, suggest that the new iPhone skipped out on the Rogaine and got new plugs (har har!). The picture is consistent with ongoing rumors that the new handset will do away with the 30-pin dock and sport a smaller port instead.