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It鈥檚 almost August 鈥� which means rumors about the new iPhone are coming at a good clip. Though Apple has made no announcement about unveiling a new iPhone in September, it鈥檚 widely expected to do just that, and new reports suggest that the latest version (which is being referred to as the iPhone 5S) will include a fingerprint scanner. There鈥檚 also evidence that Apple will release a separate, less expensive 鈥渋Phone 5C鈥� model with a plastic case.

Information about the fingerprint scanner comes from Apple rumor site , which quotes an iPhone developer who dug into a leaked version of the iOS 7 beta software.

The software includes a folder called 鈥淏iometricKitUI,鈥� which suggests some kind of input that takes advantage of a user鈥檚 fingerprint. The folder mentions 鈥渇ingerprint status,鈥� and describes a print scan that involves a user touching the Home button with their thumb. 9to5Mac cites an unnamed 鈥渟ource familiar with the development of the new iPhone鈥� who says the fingerprint scanner is meant to unlock the phone 鈥� though it could also be used for other things, such as making mobile payments more secure.

This folder鈥檚 presence doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean anything 鈥� but it鈥檚 worth mentioning that last year Apple bought Authentec, a security company that builds fingerprint sensors and encryption technology. An iPhone with a fingerprint sensor would be a boon for password-management and financial companies, which would (theoretically) be able to use it to make sensitive information carried on the device that much more secure.

Also on the hardware front, rumors of a plastic 鈥渋Phone 5C鈥� model have popped up in several different places this week. On Tuesday, case manufacturer Elago a set of cases on Amazon.com that purport to fit the new iPhone, though none are available for purchase. Meanwhile, Chinese phone site WeiPhone a picture of what looks like retail packaging marked with 鈥渋Phone 5C鈥� decals. French site Nowhereelse, which first noticed the image, that the 鈥淐鈥� stands for 鈥渃olors,鈥� in deference to an earlier rumor that the lower-cost iPhone will come in several different hues, much like the iPod.

These rumors certainly don鈥檛 come from ironclad sources, but taken together they paint a believable picture of what we might see from Apple this fall. They join earlier rumors that the new iPhone will sport an improved camera that will take dramatically better pictures in low light, and new voice features including better dictation.

Readers, what鈥檚 your take on these rumors? What would you most like to see in a new iPhone model? Let us know in the comments section below.

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