After all the waiting, hype and buildup, well, get ready to wait a bit more, but at least we have a firm date for the next iPhone’s big announcement bash: Apple says it’ll out the phone (their words: “let’s talk iPhone”) next Tuesday, October 4 at its Cupertino, California headquarters. The event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (that papery whooshing sound’s a million day-planners moving into alignment).
That’s all we know from Apple’s laconic invite, so I’ll keep this short: Don’t expect Steve Jobs to take the stage, or even be in the vicinity. Instead, looks for Tim Cook’s maiden voyage (as Apple’s CEO) before the spotlight. Not expected: Cook to take the stage in jeans and black turtleneck.
As for actually-available-in-your-hands dates, we’ll probably get those at the event next week, but the most recent rumors suggest the so-called ‘iPhone 5’ will be available in the U.S., much of Europe and Japan by Friday, October 14.
Could this somehow not be about the company’s fifth-gen smartphone? About an entry-level iPhone 4 instead? Don’t bet on it, though I wouldn’t necessarily bet against the latter happening, too.
MORE: Report: iPhone 5 to Be Released October 14?
Matt Peckham is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @mattpeckham or on Facebook. You can also continue the discussion on TIME‘s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.