NOTE: While the differences were subtle, we feel that the two-two back is enough to constitute a "different look." Therefore we are judging this topic as YES.

YES THERE WAS a little bit of carping when last fall Apple -- gasp -- released an iPhone 4S that looked a lot like the iPhone 4. That carping was largely confined to the chattering class, as the new model went on to smash sales records, all as Apple made a claim to being the most valuable company in the world. Of course it's no big surprise when the chattering class is wrong. But all the disappointment came from scintillating rumors that last fall's release would actually have a new form factor, one that was even a hands-on product of the late Steve Jobs. Indeed we saw everything from "leaked" new iPhone cases to fake images of the new look, which apparently was iPad-2-like with a larger screen and sloped aluminum back. That would have been cool, we admit. So the stage is set. Will this new-look iPhone emerge, or is it merely a unicorn? When will it be released? And what will it be called -- will Apple simply call it the "new iPhone," as it did with its most recent iPad iteration, or will we get another numbered name? The Apple rumor mill kicks into high-gear once again as we look ahead to what may be the biggest and craziest iPhone release yet.