Putting an end to all the rumor mongering about an iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S, the company finally unveiled the smartphone flush with iOS 5, an A5 chip, iCloud, an 8MP camera and Siri.
–> Retina Display
– >3.5-inch (diagonal) screen multi-touch display
–>8-megapixel camera
–> Autofocus
–> Tap to focus
–>Video recording, HD (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
–> Talk time: up to eight hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM)
–>Standby time: Up to 200 hours
–> Internet use: Up to six hours on 3G, up to nine hours on Wi-Fi
–> Video playback: Up to 10 hours
–> Audio playback: Up to 40 hours
It may be a wee bit disappointing for those who were expecting radical changes in the new iPhone considering the number of improvements it’s been given. Measuring 4.5” x 2.3” x 0.3”, it sports the same 3.5” 960 x 640p Retina display with multi-touch support. The camera is now an 8MP AF snapper with LED flash and capable of 1,080p video capturing, as opposed to the 5MP one with LED flash on the previous generation device.
An A5 processor replaces the A4 chip on Apple’s latest smartphone and there are 16GB, 32GB and 64GB internal memory options to choose from. The handset that’s being given the boot offered only up to 32GB of hoarding space. In terms of connectivity, it’s a world phone and gets along with Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, CDMA EV-DO Rev.A, UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850/900/1900/2100MHz as well as GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz.
But the highlight is the Siri software which is being touted as an intelligent assistant that can take hints from natural conversation. Apparently, if users ask a question like ‘Will I need an umbrella this weekend?’, Siri is capable of figuring out that it’s the weather forecast they’re looking for. The utility can even work around instructions like ‘Remind me to call Mom when I get home’.
Sounding deliciously like something out of a sci-fi movie, voice-based functionality is something Android’s familiar with already. But maybe not as familiar as we’d like it to be. Hopefully, Siri has been blended into the iPhone experience in a more intuitive manner. Apart from routine functions like searching the web, sending texts and so on, the software can also deliver traffic information for the user’s current location on being asked ‘What’s the traffic like around here?’
Some of the other features which should be of major interest to users cover integrated Twitter and iMessages courtesy of iOS 5, iCloud, access to the camera via the lock screen and up to 8 hours of 3G talk time. The iPhone 4S sports an enhanced stainless steel external, dual-antenna design that switches between two antennas to send and receive. Additionally, Apple will be selling it in black and white color options.
The U.S. launch date for the iPhone 4S is marked at October 14, though pre-orders will be accepted starting from October 7. It will be vended through the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and select Apple resellers. The prices for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions read at $199, $299 and $399.
