The guessing game finally ends when Apple opens its media event on Oct. 4 in San Francisco, Calif., to unveil the highly anticipated iPhone 5. Consumers will get their hands on the fifth-generation iPhone within weeks after the launch, although a guy on eBay claims that he could get one two weeks ahead of everyone.

While the iPhone 5 will be the center of everyone's attention, note that according to Antoine Saint Exupery, what's essential is invisible to the eye. Aside from betting that the iPhone 5 won't have radical changes, you should think outside the box when comprehending what happens on Oct. 4 and thereafter:

* A Rose by Any Other Name. It doesn't matter if the iPhone 5 has a new 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording, near field communication (NFC) chips, the A5 dual core processor found in iPad 2, etc. The aesthetics, the wide array of apps and its brilliant user interface are no longer unique to the iPhone. And rivals have already released handsets that have dual core processors, bigger touch-screen displays, and 8-megapixel cameras. The iPhone has a 20% market share compared with just under 50% for Android phones, but Apple has only released one iPhone model in the past year, compared with possibly tens or a hundred from Android device-makers. If Apple is able to boost its market share with the iPhone 5, notwithstanding the superior specs of the Samsung Galaxy S2 -- or the upcoming Galaxy S3 -- then rivals may have been barking up the wrong tree.

* Glory that was Greece. The Greek nation was powerful in its day, but it eventually fell, and it is falling again to due to a possible default stemming from its debt woes. Does the recent succession at Apple erase the grandeur that was Apple? The Oct. 4 event will be hosted by its new captain, Tim Cook, although there's a rumored possible appearance from the main man, Steve Jobs, in his turtleneck shirt and blue jeans. But what's worthwhile to know is whether or not Jobs is still steering the ship, at least on product development, or if he's moving to the pool deck on a cruise ship. Cook has been with Apple for a long time, but he took care of Apple's financials while Jobs has been the innovator and the brand ambassador. To appease shareholders, Cook will take the stage at the Oct. 4 event and show that he's capable of running a Jobs-less Apple. Will Cook veer away from the highly temperamental Jobs' obsession for aesthetics and design, and blaze his own trail? In the first place, does replacing an inventor with a businessman really work?

* The New World. If Tim Cook discusses the iPad 3 or the iPhone 5 -- or possibly just a souped-up iPhone 4 at the media event, instead -- it would qualify as front page news. Also, Apple's expanded presence in China and emerging countries could boost revenues. But those plans have been in the pipeline for years. And unless this is the era of 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus, the result of expanding into uncharted territory will lead to additional dollars from products developed by Steve Jobs. What matters is Apple's plans beyond the touch-screen phone or the tablet fad. Will Cook finally pursue an Apple console? Or maybe a single operating system that would work for all Apple devices? What are Apple's plans against Windows 8 and Metro?

* Avatar Movie. The iPhone 5 could emerge as either James Cameron's Avatar (the world's biggest blockbuster) or M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar movie (a flop). The iPhone 5 has higher pre-launch demand than any previous iPhone launch. Historically, each new iPhone model found higher sales than previous ones. Investors have been buying Apple's shares at $400 apiece on forecasts that the iPhone 5 will have record sales. Apple has sold 20.3 million iPhones in the quarter ended June 25. Analysts from Jefferies are already counting on 25 to 26 million iPhone 5s in the next three months and 100 million iPhone 5 units in 2012. But given the quality offerings by rivals and production problems at Apple's end, what if the iPhone sales start to slow down? What if Apple just releases a refreshed iPhone 4 with an iOS5 OS? It will automatically be labeled as another expensive Kevin Costner movie.

* Three Loaves of Bread for 5,000. Digitimes reported Friday that Wintek, which makes touch panels for the new iPhone, is having problems with laminating the panels, resulting in bubbles. This means that in the short term, Apple won't be able to entertain everyone in the long queues for the iPhone 5. 9to5Mac reported earlier that the iPhone 5 could suffer shortages this year due to a manufacturing problem. If it only gets to have adequate supply in 2012, the iPhone 5 will no longer be the most attractive offering among the Galaxy S3, Windows 7-based phones from Nokia, the Motorola phones from Google, and many more.

* Trojan Horse. Apple is Samsung's number one customer. Samsung is the number one supplier to Apple. But then Apple has sued Samsung for slavishly copying the iPad and the iPhone in three continents. Samsung said that because Apple was its top customer, it was indifferent to the objections of the Cupertino, Calif., company, due to the latter's possible infringement of Samsung's wireless patents. Now, given the successful injunctions obtained by Apple against Samsung devices in some countries, Samsung said it will aggressively pursue counterclaims against Apple. According to reports, Samsung is planning to seek an injunction when Apple unveils the iPhone 5. Will we need to go to China -- where IP laws don't mean much -- to get hold of an iPhone 5? What will happen to Apple's supply-chain if the number one supplier leaves?