iPhone 5s

A European patent surfacing on none other than Patently Apple gives a detailed sneak peak at what could be a major part of tomorrow's iPhone 5S announcement. Not only has Apple been working on an integrated home button fingerprint sensor, but the company plans to integrate the technology with Near Field Communications (NFC).

Glimpses of the new home button can be seen on leaked iPhone 5S packaging, showing a silver ring around the home button on the black front bezel. The device would automatically scan the user's fingerprint using capacitive touch technology, which analysts predict will be housed under a sapphire lens. Fingerprint scanning and NFC would be facilitated by redesigned internal parts, including a home button ribbon with integrated chip.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on Tuesday, September 10th at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. The iPhone 5S is the rumored successor to the iPhone 5, and the iPhone 5C is Apple's rumored plastic low-cost device. Here's what the rumor mill is saying about the iPhone 5S.

Design:

Apple fans are preparing themselves for another "boring" iPhone S-model launch. However, Apple is expected to spice things up with the announcement of a gold iPhone model, and the company has completely redesigned its OS. The radical new design of iOS 7 will help most people forget that the new iPhone looks exactly like the iPhone 5.

More images of the iPhone 5S have leaked before Apple is expected to announce the rumored device on Tuesday. This time the alleged photos feature the iPhone 5S packaging. If you look closely at the box, you will notice the redesigned home button and new iOS icons. The iPhone 5S pictured on the package also features the same color-matched wallpapers seen in previous iPhone 5C leaks.

Both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are expected to make their official world debut on September 10. Apple sent out press invites to the event on Tuesday. The invites include the tagline: "This should brighten everyone's day," and feature pictures of colored dots that resemble the redesigned iOS 7 icons. Some tech blogs have speculated that the random grey dots on the invites also hint at the iPhone's new home button with fingerprint sensor.

Apple could be shaking up the entire iPhone lineup with the release of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. A leaked screenshot from Canadian carrier Telus reveals that the mobile provider is planning to discontinue the 32GB and 64GB models of the iPhone 5 on September 28. That's only a few days after the rumored launch of next-generation iPhone and new low-cost iPhone. The 16GB iPhone 5 model will most likely replace the iPhone 4S as the $99 model in Apple's new lineup. While this is nothing new, it is the rumored iPhone 5C that is really throwing a wrench into Apple's future iPhone pricing plans.

In a typical Apple iPhone cycle, the iPhone 4S would normally slip into the Free slot of the upcoming lineup, but the iPhone 5C could be slated to take its place. If the rumors are true, this means we will be losing the iPhone 4 and 4S, instead of just the oldest model, and Apple could be planning to announce an all iPhone 5-branded lineup on September 10.

Finally, proof of the fingerprint scanning iPhone 5S home button has surfaced, assuming photos posted on Nowhereelse.fr are the real thing. Previously only the home button metal spacer was pictured, indicating a change to the home button internal design. Now the full iPhone 5S flex cable appears to have an embedded chip of its own.

Not only this, but the purported fingerprint scanning sensor looks to be pictured as well. The other home button parts pictured don't have the same color or suspicious dark hole in the center. This could very well be the eye of the sensor, which is expected to be contained underneath a sapphire home button. The part leak comes to us just days before Apple is scheduled to announce the upcoming iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.