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Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the next-generation iPhone at a media event on the Apple campus today, putting an end to months of rumors and speculation about Apple’s latest smartphone. Called the iPhone 4S, it features an upgraded A5 dual-core processor, a faster wireless network and an 8MP rear camera with improved optics. The 4S retains the same size and shape of the iPhone 4, categorizing it as an evolutionary upgrade rather than a revolutionary device.
Other notable features include dual-core graphics which Apple claims is seven times faster than the previous iPhone and will really scream in games. Despite the beefed up hardware, battery life has been increased to eight hours of talk time on 3G, six hours of 3G browsing, nine hours of Wi-Fi browsing, 10 hours of video watching and 40 hours of music listening.
Apple has addressed the antenna issue that initially plagued the original iPhone 4 by including two antennas on the 4S. The phone can intelligently switch between the two for improved call quality and data transmission.
The iPhone 4S is a world phone, meaning it can run on both CDMA and GSM networks and features faster “4G-like” speeds of 14.4 Mbps down and 5.8 Mbps upload.
As rumored, the 4S has received a significant camera upgrade as well. The new shooter is now an 8MP unit that outputs at 3264x2448 resolution and features a backside illuminated CMOS sensor that lets in 73 percent more light. A hybrid IR filter provides better, more accurate colors while the five lens inside the camera provides 30 percent sharper images and will go down to f/2.4 aperture. The camera is said to snap photos 33 percent faster than the original and includes an Apple-designed image signal processor that enables face detection and 26 percent better auto white balance. On the video side, the iPhone 4S shoots 1080p HD video with real-time image stabilization and temporal noise reduction.
Apple also unveiled a new voice assistant program called Siri which is described as an “intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.” With Siri, you can ask the phone a wide array of questions in a normal conversational tone and Siri will work to deliver accurate responses to any number of questions or requests. For example, in a demo of Siri, Scott Forstall wanted to create a reminder to call his wife after leaving work. He said, “Remind me to call my wife when I leave work.” Siri asked to confirm the reminder, already knew who his wife was and set up a geofence around his work. When he leaves that perimeter, Siri will remind him to make the call.
The iPhone 4S will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities for $199, $299 and $399 respectively in white and black. Pre-orders start October 7 and availability in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, France and Germany will be on October 14. The phone will be available on AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the US. 22 more countries will get the 4S on October 28 with 70 countries having availability by the end of the year.
We also learned that iOS 5 and iCloud will be available to current iOS users on October 12 as a free update. iTunes Match will launch near the end of the month in the US.
User Comments: 39
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StaffGuest said:
The S on the 4S stands for Sheep.
LOL
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Guest said:
The S on the 4S stands for Sheep.
iPhone-4-Sheep nice
Believe it or not there is, or at least there was, an app called "iSheep" in the App Store
SNGX1275 said:We'll see how much of a flop this is when we look at sales figures in a year.
It wont be a flop, its Apple, people will flock to it regardless, they're not called iSheep for nothing.
Surely even as an iPhone fan you expected a little more then this? BTW i wouldn't classify you as an iSheep.
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First off, many people use their phones as a camera now, the optics and image quality alone is worth the upgrade. I have used and tested most android phones, and I must say, am extremely saddened by the image quality of all of them. image stabilization, better dynamic range, increased aperature, and more.. Those alone make the upgrade worth it. Siri, while not the best in the world, is far better than what iphone 4 offers, as well as many/most androids. Implement Flash and apple FTW...
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"First off, many people use their phones as a camera now, the optics and image quality alone is worth the upgrade. I have used and tested most android phones, and I must say, am extremely saddened by the image quality of all of them."
You can't be serious??? Camera phone and good photo quality do NOT go hand in hand, not in a million years. Not in an iPhone, not in a Samsung S2, etc.
Any smartphone in the world is a joke for photo quality compared to a low priced camera. Honestly, spend $300-400 on a Canon S95/S100 that you can put into a pocket with ease. I carry it around with me all the time because I actually do care about good quality pictures and don't just talk about it.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canons100/
No one who understand photography is going to be fooled by an 8 megapixel sensor with limited optics in a smartphone.
All that apple has done here is barely matched the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S2, but is still not as customizable or as thin in profile. The screen is too small imho. It's funny how Apple fanboys considered dual-core CPUs, 4.3-4.5 inch screens irrelevant, 1080P video recording unnecessary, etc. until iPhone 4S delivered some of these. When iPhone 5 launches with a 4 inch screen, I am waiting to hear that it finally makes sense to move away from the tiny 3.5 inch screen.....
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Personally I find the cameras on Android phones very good, as well as the voice commands, to each his own i guess. FYI Apple have stated many many times that they will never implement flash
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Recipe7 said:
I will probably pick this up at the end of the year.
As a medical professional, I still use the iphone because of it's extensive line of medical applications.
It also seems that Android has more sheep than Apple now, thankfully.
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Incremental upgrade that looks fairly similar to what they did with the 3G to 3GS. More processing power is always great, and the Camera looks pretty nice as well (pretty much a replacement for pocket cameras now). Slightly bigger screen size would have been nice, but Apple doesn't want to force rework on all of the available apps for resolution differences (same reason the iPad 2 was same res as Ipad 1).
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Dunno dude, the processor in this thing is insanely fast, the camera and associated software is a very good upgrade.
Also I predict that within 5 years we will be doing more speaking to PCs and Phones and they will be interpreting what we want. Google is heading into AI and Apple once again shows it's 2-3 years ahead of Microsoft.
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How is this any better than the samsung galaxy s 2... that came out back in Feb?
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recipe7 said:
It also seems that Android has more sheep than Apple now, thankfully.
Did someone's panties get in a bunch?
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Lol I find it so funny how iPhone fanboys are so blind to reality. I got 2 of them at work I have to put up with. When I got my Galaxy S2 I said about its processor, ram and camra all being better their response was it dosnt matter its not an iPhone and anyway the new iPhone will be out soon which will be way better. To which I replied thats not what rumors say, rumors say all its going to do is have the same specs, dual core, 1gb of ram and 8mp camra.
So many many months later after realease dates have been put back over and over. I said looks like I was right iPhone 4 S is a flop, all they have done is match their competitors spec many months later. To which they replied you know nothing have you not seen the iPhone promo video the new iPhone is awsome and I will be upgrading.
Another quote from an email.
"I can only assume that you have not seen the iphone 4S promo video?
I will be buying the Iphone 4S as the Samsung will never go near my pocket.
I am an Apple convert end of story and nothing you can say will make me change my mind"
LMAO, cut them in half and it will say Apple inside. So so sad.
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Guest, I feel your pain for having to explain logic/facts to your 2 co-workers. But you will never win. If the competitors have superior specs, they will claim specs don't matter. If the iPhone starts to match specs of the competitors, they will claim their components have been carefully picked (i.e., their dual core is better than competitor's dual core, their camera is better than competitors, their screen is better, etc.). If you say a 3.5 inch screen is a bit too small, they will argue that 4.0-4.5 inch is too large to fit into their pocket (well until iPhone 5 comes out). See if Apple iPhone buyers said: "I am buying the iPhone because it looks the best to me and I want the iOS eco-system as I am used to it and I don't really want to relearn usability", then hardly anyone would object. But no, they go out of their way to put down every other phone as if it's inferior in every way. It's this heard mentality of dismissing logic based on emotions that results in a lot of people resenting this type of behaviour. After all, evolution has dictated that the most logical and intelligent species survive -- and acting on emotions is neither logical not intelligent.
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If they aren't out now why such the hate for this?
Specs look like a pretty good upgrade to me. Also, if the cell networks aren't improving (fast enough) I don't think its time for the iPhone 5.
We'll see how much of a flop this is when we look at sales figures in a year.
because the nexus prime and htc vigor will be out withing a month and a half and will have far better specs than any apple phone even the mighty iphone 5 will not stack up. i mean come on 1.5Ghz duel core cpu 1Gb ram and atleast 4.3" screen ????? whats not to hate about apple they are behind and dont know what to do about it. they only care about money because they know apple fanboys will buy whatever crap they think up if they told you a rock was the newest thing and called it irock people would buy it.
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Recipe7 said:gwailo247 said:recipe7 said:
It also seems that Android has more sheep than Apple now, thankfully.
Did someone's panties get in a bunch?
Thank you for proving my point.
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