Apple appears poised to debut its iPhone 5

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple fans are amped. The computer and gadget maker is expected to announce a new, more powerful version of its wildly popular smartphone this week -- more than a year after it unveiled the iPhone 4.

Last week, Apple Inc. emailed invitations to a media event at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., this morning.

The invite says "let's talk iPhone," implying the normally secretive company intends to show off the latest version of the device.

Beyond the iPhone itself, today's event is anticipated as Apple's first major product unveiling in years that won't be led by company co-founder Steve Jobs, who resigned as chief executive in August after being out on indefinite medical leave since January. He is now executive chairman.

And though Jobs did emerge from medical leave twice this year to present Apple's innovations -- most recently in June to show off its new mobile software and iCloud content storage service -- his successor, Tim Cook, is expected to take the lead this time. -- AP