Apple Leak Tips Freemium GarageBand for iOS

Ahead of tomorrow's Apple extravaganza, a new leak suggests the company will offer GarageBand for free to iPhone 5s users.

Cupertino's Built-In Apps page highlights gratis software like iMovie, iBooks, Podcasts, and Find My iPhone, among others. But on Sunday, it also briefly suggested a no-charge version of the music-mixing application.

According to MacRumors, a footnote on the website tipped the free basic download of GarageBand for iOS 7 devices activated on or after Sept. 1. A number of other iLife and iWork applications are also free for certain iOS users.

The fine print has since been removed from the iPhone 5s website, and Apple declined to comment on the reports.

GarageBand currently costs $4.99 for gadgets running iOS 5.1 and above. According to the leaks, the app will be free to download on iOS 7, with in-app purchases available for new instruments and sounds.

GarageBand landed on the iPad in March 2011, while the iPhone and iPod touch version followed in November for $5 or as a free upgrade for those who already purchased it on their tablet.

Ahead of Apple's Tuesday press event, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, expectations for another iPad reveal are high. This week's announcement comes one year after Apple unveiled the iPad mini and 4th-gen iPad, both of which will likely get a refresh, perhaps alongside a new 7.9-inch iPad mini with Retina display.

For more, see PCMag's review of Apple GarageBand 1.3 for iPad, as well as the iPad Rumor Roundup slideshow above.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 5:50 p.m. Eastern with comment from Apple.