Jul 22, 2014 01:47 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Since Apple never lets anything slip before officially unveiling their latest and greatest, the Internet is left to scratch for unconfirmed rumors as production moves along.

This year, Apple is reportedly planning a major shakeup in its iPhone line with the newest device expected this fall. The iPhone 6 is apparently going to expand the size, improve the camera and alter the traditional release strategy of Apple's handset.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Apple CEO Tim Cook has a good reason to feel confident in the tech giant he took over from Steve Jobs. While some have questioned Apple's direction under Cook, 2014 is shaping up to be the new boss' year.

For one, the Times noted, Apple's stock price is back up to where it was when it dropped off a year ago. Apple is also getting bolder by purchasing Beats Audio for $3 billion, a move that will help the company develop a music streaming service.

Along with customary releases of a new iPad, MacBook, iMac, iOS, Apple is expected to release an iWatch and a Smart TV set some time in the near future.

However, it is the iPhone 6 that is generating the most buzz right now, so here are the four features that seem all but confirmed for Apple's new handset.

1.     Two Different Size Models

Mac Rumors released a "sketchy" report in Feb. about how Apple was planning to release two versions of the iPhone 6, one with a 4.7-inch screen and one with a 5.5-inch screen. As it turns out, that has been the most dominant rumor surrounding the iPhone 6, with several experts and insiders echoing the report.

Level of confidence (scale of 1-10): 10 - its generally accepted in basically every rumor report.

2.     Separate Release Dates

After some whispers spread that Apple was struggling to produce a battery powerful enough for the larger iPhone 6, Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities and an accurate insider, confirmed those rumors. Earlier this month, he told Apple Insider the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could well be released in 2015, unless Apple wants to release in limited quantity in the fall. Kuo still expects the smaller one to be out in mid-Sept., as is customary for the iPhone.

Confidence level: 5 - it could go either way, but Kuo has been right many times before.

3.     Better Camera Resolution

Two months ago, Engadget reported that Apple hired Ari Partinen, an engineer who formerly worked for Nokia to develop the Lumia's 41-megapixel camera. Mac Rumors then reported last week that the iPhone 6 is getting a new camera sensor that will up the resolution from 8MP to 13MP.

Confidence level: 8 - Apple has not upgraded the iPhone's camera resolution since the 4S.

4.     Sapphire Crystal Screen

Marques Brownlee, a tech blogger, has released two videos on YouTube of him with an 4.7-inch iPhone 6 dummy screen. In the first, he took a knife to it, bent it, but nothing happened. In the second, he scraped it with sandpaper and the screen appeared scratched. One expert told the Guardian sandpaper was able to scratch the screen because it was made of a sapphire crystal blend.

Confidence level: 6 - Apple did buy the sapphire crystal factory in Arizona, so they definitely want to increase their use of the material.

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