Apple is planning to host a press event on October 4 to unveil the next-generation iPhone. The media gathering will take place on a Tuesday and will be hosted by new CEO Tim Cook, according to All Things D. Sources close to the event suggest that the new iPhone will go on sale a few weeks after unveiling.

Apple has remained tight-lipped about any new hardware or event and generally doesn’t send out media invitations until a week or so before a scheduled event. In that case, we should expect to hear “official” word about an unveiling sometime early next week.

The presentation will be a first for Tim Cook after taking over the helm in August when Steve Jobs resigned as CEO due to declining health. Cook will likely have help from other Apple bigwigs during the presentation, including Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and Eddy Cue as has been customary in the past.

It’s unknown as of yet if Jobs will make an appearance, which will likely be a decision made closer to the event based on his health at that time. If he does show, odds are he will play a small cameo role as to not steal the spotlight from Cook.

The iPhone 5 rumor mill has been building steam since the beginning of the year and things really started to heat up when there was no sign of new hardware at the annual WWDC in June. All current signs point to an October announcement and release which can’t come soon enough for Apple fans and media outlets sifting through daily rumors.