Photo Courtesy of Apple
Apple made the much anticipated announcement about the new iPhone today from their headquarters in Cupertino. The iPhone 4S will be available on October 14 and while it is identical to the last release on the outside, the new version features some of the biggest and most impressive upgrades under the hood that we have ever seen. The iPhone 4S features the same A5 Chip as the iPad2, with a dual-core processor making the computer operations twice as fast as the last phone, and faster download speeds that rival those of 4G wireless networks. The phone also features eight hours of 3G talk time on the new battery, 50 hours of music, and a new antenna to wash away those memories of the debacle revolving around last summer’s release.
For the global traveler, the iPhone 4S operates on both CDMA and GSM, which is a huge relief for jetsetters hopping between countries. Speaking of travel, the camera on the phone allows users unprecedented photographic capabilities, with an eight megapixel camera and an f2.4 aperture lens. That makes this far and away the fastest lens on any phone, and is faster than the lens that comes with most DSLRs. In addition, it also helps out with action shots, as it can shoot two frame-per-second bursts.
For software, Apple has introduced Siri, a digital personal assistant. Voice recognition allows you to ask your phone questions like, “Do I need an umbrella today?” and many other tasks that you used to have to look up on the internet on your own. Siri can also read you text messages, ask you if you want to reply, and then type it up as you dictate your response—all while the iPhone4S stays in your pocket. Siri seems to be the good help that people are always searching for, as she can also find good restaurants nearby, schedule meetings, and convert currency.
The iPhone 4S is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB from $199-$399 with a two-year service contract. In addition to being sold on the AT&T and Verizon networks, Apple has added Sprint to its list of carriers. Preorders for the new smartphone will be taken starting Friday, October 7.
For more information, visit Apple.com.
