Apple : In Depth: iPhone 4S: what you need to know |
- In Depth: iPhone 4S: what you need to know
- Apple hits 250 million iOS device sales
- Analysis: iPhone 4S: our first impressions
- Updated: iPhone 5: all the latest details
| In Depth: iPhone 4S: what you need to know Posted:  Apple has announced the iPhone 4S tonight during a press event at its HQ. Here's everything you need to know about the new upgraded handset. 1. The iPhone 4S UK release date is 14 October The iPhone 4S UK release date is 14 October - UK pricing will apparently "stay the same" as iPhone 4 for the 16GB and 32GB models. Whatever that means. 2. The iPhone 4S will be offered by all the main networks And you can find out full details on when it'll be coming to your preferred provider. 3. iPhone 4S is available in 64GB As well as the 16GB and 32GB versions there will also be a brand new 64GB model. 4. iPhone 4S looks the same as iPhone 4 The 3.5-inch retina display is retained as is the "metal band" design. 5. The iPhone 4S has a dual-core processor And it's the ARM-based Apple A5 from the iPad 2. 6. The iPhone 4S has more RAM The handset now has 1GB of system memory, double that of the iPhone 4. 7. The iPhone 4S camera is a serious improvement... The f2.4 camera has 3264 x 2448 pixels - that's a total of 60 per cent more pixels over the iPhone 4's 5MP snapper. Apple also promises a 1.1 second start-to-shoot time for the camera while there's also face detection. 8. ...and it'll be far better in low light A Backside illumination feature means gather 73 per cent more light for the camera. Taking pictures in low light should mean a lot less noise. Apple is finally catching up in terms of image quality, 9. iPhone 4S records and plays back 1080p on your TV There's 1080p video recording including video stabilisation as well as AirPlay mirroring to a TV. 10. Apple promises better iPhone 4S call quality The 4S can switch between its two antennas while on a call for improved call quality and it supports GSM and CDMA networks - it's a World Phone. 11. Downloads are faster The iPhone 4S will mean faster downloads -14.4Mbps down - over HSDPA. 12. iPhone 4S battery life is improved The new handset has 8 hours of 3G talk time and can also run 10 hours of video or 40 hours of music. 13. There's better Bluetooth The new handset boasts Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology. 14. iPhone 4S Siri is the real name for Assistant Advanced voice control is also appearing but what we thought would be called Assistant is actually called Siri. That's the name of the company Apple bought that is behind the technology. It's still in Beta. It'll read out lots of things including Notifications and texts and you can dictate to it too - which actually might be quite useful. |
| Apple hits 250 million iOS device sales Posted:  Apple has sold over 250 million iOS devices worldwide, the company announced at the iPhone 4S launch today. That's a quarter of a billion iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads in people's pockets and bags around the world. As well as the iOS sale-a-thon, Apple announced that its App Store is also going great guns – no surprise there – with over 500 thousand apps now available, with 140,000 of those made for the iPad. AppgasmWe just can't get enough of those handy applications, it seems, having clocked up over 18 billion downloads – and still going strong with 1 billion more downloaded every month. It was good news on the Mac front too. Apple bragged that Mac OS X Lion has been downloaded over 6 million times since it was released in July 2011. "For the first time we've offered Mac OS as a digital download," said Tim Cook, Apple CEO, speaking at tonight's iPhone launch. "The results are staggering." BullishHe went on to talk bullishly about the MacBook Air, saying that "Our customers love it, and our competitors are trying to copy it. The Air is just a portion of our entire lineup of Macs, which are the best we've ever shipped." Speaking of which, he couldn't help but brag about how well the whole Mac line is doing, claiming that, "The Mac outgrew the PC market by almost 6x. This is incredible!" It is impressive - and a nice spot of Jobsian hyperbole there, we note. |
| Analysis: iPhone 4S: our first impressions Posted: The iPhone 4S has been outed during Apple's latest press conference at its HQ in Cupertino, California. And although there will be many disappointed with the lack of iPhone 5, it's not surprising that Apple has chosen to go down this route. After all, this is exactly what it did with the iPhone 3GS, which in itself was a retread of the phenomenally successful iPhone 3G. As per that refresh, we've got a beefed up model. The iPhone 4S has the A5 dual-core processor from the iPad 2, dual core graphics (like iPad 2, Apple is also claiming a 7x increase in graphics capability), 8 megapixel camera and 1GB of memory - the existing iPhone 4 makes do with 512MB. The iPhone 4S UK release date is 14 October and as well as 16GB and 32GB versions there will also be a brand new 64GB model. UK pricing will apparently "stay the same" as iPhone 4 for the 16GB and 32GB models. Whatever that means. It's a seriously upgraded handset by any reckoning. The 3.5-inch retina display is retained as is the "metal band" design. That last point is the shocker. Despite the fantastic looks of the existing iPhone case, Apple was widely expected to launch an iPhone 5 because of the previous problems with the handset. However, we expect Apple has been working hard with the new internals to ensure the problems aren't repeated. iPhone 4S camera, call quality and downloadsThe f2.4camera has 3264 x 2448 pixels - that's a total of 60 per cent more pixels over the iPhone 4's 5MP snapper. A Backside illumination feature means gather 73 per cent more light too. Taking pictures in low light should mean a lot less noise. Apple is finally catching up in terms of image quality, There's also 1080p video recording as well as AirPlay mirroring to a TV while Apple also promises a 1.1 second start-to-shoot time for the camera. The 4S can switch between its two antennas while on a call for improved call quality and it supports GSM and CDMA. There are also faster downloads-14.4mbp/s down - over HSDPA. The new handset has 8 hours of 3G talk time and can also run 10 hours of video or 40 hours of music. One group of people that will be happy are existing iPhone 4 customers. They don't have an outdated handset in terms of looks. Apple is clearly now working to a two year timetable with iPhones. Over 250 million iOS devices have now been sold, with a billion new apps being downloaded every single month. That's some ecosystem. Advanced voice control is also appearing but what we thought would be called Assistant is actually just called Siri. That's the name of the company Apple bought that is behind the technology. It's still in Beta. It'll read out lots of things including Notifications and texts and you can dictate to it too - which actually might be quite useful. Aside from that last bit we're not so sure about the feature - Apple seems to think it will be big, but then it said that about FaceTime. When was the last time somebody you knew made a FaceTime call? What we are sure about is that in iOS 5, Notifications look absolutely stunning. We can't wait to get our hands on the new OS. The iOS 5 UK release date is 12 October.The iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPad 2plus iPod Touch third and fourth generation all get the update. |
| Updated: iPhone 5: all the latest details Posted:  iPhone 5 release date and iOS 5Today, 4 October, is new iPhone day and TechRadar is at the Apple press event to bring you all the iPhone news as it breaks. We've added links to our coverage below - news, opinions, initial thoughts and reviews. The event kicked off at 6pm BST and as well as clicking through the links that will appear below you can also follow our iPhone launch live coverage for a minute-by-minute account of what took place. As it happened, there was no iPhone 5, but Apple did announce the iPhone 4S. Here's what you need to know... Apple iPhone 4S UK release date announcedApple has announced that the iPhone 4S UK release date will be 14 October, with pre-orders opening on 7 October. Our article on the iPhone 4S release date has more info. iPhone 4S: which networks will offer it?The iPhone 4S UK release date has been announced as 14 October, meaning swathes of queues outside the Apple Stores around the country - but most people will want to know when their network will be stocking it. So check out our handy list of all iPhone 4S networks - we'll be adding to it as we get pricing and release dates too. iPhone 4S: our first impressionsThe iPhone 4S has been outed during Apple's latest press conference at its HQ in Cupertino, California. And although there will be many disappointed with the lack of iPhone 5, it's not surprising that Apple has chosen to go down this route. Read our iPhone 4S first impressions article for more. iPhone 4 and iPad 2 iOS 5 UK release date revealedYes, we have a UK release date for iOS 5. Apple has announced the iOS 5 UK release date will be 12 October, allowing all those with the latest iDevices to upgrade to the latest platform. Read iPhone 4 and iPad 2 iOS 5 UK release date revealed for the full details. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below are the rumours that we've reported on leading up to today's press conference. iPhone 5 (or the iPhone 4S, as some are calling it) rumours have been flying thick and fast for months. And now Apple has finally confirmed a press conference for Tuesday 4 October, where the company will almost certainly unveil the iPhone 5. The invitation hints that it will be one phone that is announced, which is likely to be the iPhone 5 rather than the much-discussed iPhone 4S. Check out what TechRadar is hoping makes it into the next iPhone, in our video wish list: And if you're in a bit of a hurry, we've also got a handy iPhone 5 video detailing the latest rumours on release date, spec and more - so check if out for a quick fix of next-gen Apple fun: iPhone 5 release dateUPDATE: For the latest on new iPhone's release date, check out our regularly updated article iPhone 5 release date. Although we are still waiting for news on an iPhone 5 UK release date, we reckon an iPhone 5 release of late October is likely. It's possible that the iPhone 5 release date is November, but it's more likely set for October. In mid September the CEO of France Telecom (the parent company of Orange) got specific when commenting on the iPhone 5 release date, saying "If we believe what we have been told, the iPhone 5 will be released on 15 October." Price cuts of the iPhone 4 in August hinted at an autumn release for the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S and Apple reportedly began pushing up the amount of orders for the handset. In early September, Japanese site Macotakara reported that the iPhone 5 had entered production, saying that Foxconn and Pegatron had begun assembly on the new handset. A few days later, Digitimes wrote that Foxconn was producing 150,000 units of the new iPhone per day. Rumours of a UK Apple Store holiday ban also emerged on 26 September.It was also reported that Telefonica, which owns the O2 network, is set to begin scaling back iPhone stock in advance of "the launch of a new smartphone". However, it may not all be plain sailing for Apple, with rumours that Samsung will seek a sales ban courtesy of an injunction- another piece of the increasingly mixed up lawsuit puzzle between the pair. The iPhone 5 will debut alongside iOS 5 and iCloudApple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer was asked during an earnings call why he was suggesting a 12 per cent drop in revenues for the Q3 financial period - a traditionally robust time thanks to the scores of people buying the latest iPhone. He said that there is "a lot going on in the fall with iOS 5 and iCloud" but added there will be a "future product transition that we will not talk about today". That's almost certainly the new iPhone 5. And iOS 5 will arrive alongside it as well iCloud.
Apple says it is "cutting the cable" with iOS 5- just as well, as it claimed the iPad 2 was the first post-PC device earlier in the year. OS updates can be delivered over the air - you'll just received what's changed rather than the usual 600MB download - and devices can be activated without plugging them into iTunes. You can also now create and delete iOS calendars and mailboxes too, so you really can devolve your device from your PC or Mac. "You can activate on the device and you're ready to go," explained Apple's Scott Forstall. "Software updates are now over the air. So you no longer need to plug in to update your software. And they're now Delta updates. Instead of downloading the whole OS, you only download what's changed," he continued. iPhone 5: specifications and featuresiPhone 5 form factorThe Wall Street Journal has previously reported that: "Apple is also developing a new iPhone model, said people briefed on the phone. One person familiar said the fifth-generation iPhone would be a different form factor than those that are currently available… it was unclear how soon that version would be available to Verizon or other carriers." This has since been backed up by reports from Engadget, which state the design will be a 'total rethink'. Chinese case manufacturers have been sent design briefings of the new iPhone 5 chassis and apparently feature a return to the old days of iPhone design. But could iPhone 5 really have a curved back? We can't begin to tell you how sceptical we are over such a 'leak', given Apple's desperation to keep its forthcoming designs under wraps. However, earlier reports from China backed up the larger-screened, metal chassis-sporting iPhone 5 rumours, so the redesign still seems firmly on the cards. Interestingly, an Apple patent that we reported on on 7 April 2011suggests that we could see the bezel put to good use on the new iPhone. The patent describes how visual indicators and touch-sensitive buttons could be incorporated to the space around the iPhone screen. iPhone 5 AssistantCould the iPhone 5 have a new type of voice control? Know Your Mobile thinks so, Called Assistant, it could be used to play back music, send texts and make Facetime calls. This has beencorroboratedby numerous sources including 9to5mac.com. The phrase 'let's talk iPhone' from the press conference invite has also immediately been linked to a rumour that Assistant will be a key feature of the next generation phone. Will iPhone 5 actually be an iPhone 4S?Of course, since the iPhone 3G was followed by the 3GS it's possible the new iPhone won't be a total refresh and we'll see an iPhone 4S (or iPhone 4GS) before an iPhone 5. An iPhone 4S looked more likely on 16 May 2011 after analyst Peter Misek wrote: "According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support." Rumours that we covered on 3 May 2011, suggest that there may even be two versions of the new iPhone: a 'standard' iPhone 5 and an iPhone 5 'pro'. Apparently, Apple is buying in components of differing quality, and those parts wouldn't be required for a single phone. A cheaper, smaller iPhone 5 - an iPhone nanoA prototype version of a smaller iPhone is said to exist, built to ward off competition from cheap Android handsets. Rumours around an iPhone nano picked up again on 13 February when the Wall Street Journal claimed that the so-called 'iPhone nano' exists and may even be on sale later this year. On 23 August Reuters reported that two anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter" confirmed to it that an 8GB flash drive for the iPhone 4 is being built by a Korean supplier - this could be the cheaper iPhone. A white iPhone 5The Economic Daily News is reporting that white iPhone 5 glass is being shipped, with a supplier called Wintek being the sole touch panel vendor for the white iPhone. On 12 September 2011, a page which briefly popped up on Vodafone's site referenced the iPhone 5 in white as well as black. iPhone 5 will support 1080p HDIt's fairly likely - given that the iPad 2 supports Full HD - that the new iPhone will do the same. iPhone 5 specsAccording to the Chinese Economic Daily News (via AppleInsider), with the exception of Qualcomm chipsets - which would replace the current Infineon chipsets in the iPhone 4 - Apple's sticking with the same suppliers for the 2011 iPhone 5G components. We'd expect the basics of the iPhone 5 specs to get a bump - more memory, faster processor, and more storage. The A5 dual-core ARM processor from the iPad 2 is extremely likely to be included. The specs? A new antenna, 1.2GHz processor (possibly dual-core) and a larger screen: 3.7" instead of 3.5". The iPhone 5 may also be made from a new kind of alloy, or maybe meat. On 12 September 2011, a page briefly appeared on the Vodafone site referencing the iPhone 5 in 16GB and 32GB storage, and in white as well as black. Other sources expect double the RAM of the iPhone 4, so that would be 1GB instead of 512MB. On 20 September a bunch of internal iPhone 5 components were supposedly shown off. iPhone 5 screenVarious sources claim the iPhone 5 will feature a larger, 4-inch screen. Digitimes quotes the source as saying that Apple is expanding the screen size "to support the tablet PC market as the vendor only has a 9.7-inch iPad in the market." On 23 May, we reported on rumours that the iPhone 5 could feature a curved glass screen. These rumours also came from Digitimes, which said that Apple has purchased between 200 and 300 special glass cutting machines because they're too costly for the manufacturers to invest in. The iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S will also get a massive graphical boost as it moves to a dual-core GPU - this will herald true 1080p output from the new device. iPhone 5 digital wallet - NFCThere's been some speculation that Apple might include Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in the iPhone 5G, turning it into a kind of credit/debit card. However, as Techeye.net notes, "Apple has looked into NFC before" so this might not be imminent. However, with the tech being inside the Google Nexus S, the time for NFC may finally be here. On 24 June it was reported that the Google Wallet mobile payment platform could feature on the new iPhone. Eric Schmidt admitted that Google is looking to port the software to other manufacturers. LTE supportAt least one analyst thinks the iPhone 5 will support LTE, super-fast mobile broadband, in the US. That would make the iPhone 5G a 4G phone, which won't be confusing at all. LTE is certainly coming - AT&T plans to roll out its LTE service in 2011 - but an LTE iPhone has been rumoured for a while. USA Today floated the idea of an LTE iPhone on Verizon last year. According to PCWorld.com, there's a reference to 4G technology in the code of iOS 5, while carriers have been testing 4G-enabled iPhone prototypes and Apple has hired 4G network engineers to outfit one of its Apple Stores. iPhone 5 cameraSpeaking at a live Wall Street Journal event, Sony's Sir Howard Stringer was talking about the company's camera image sensor facility in Sendai, a town that was recently ravaged by the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami. According to 9to5Mac, he said something along the lines of, "Our best sensor technology is built in one of the [tsunami] affected factories. Those go to Apple for their iPhones… or iPads. Isn't that something? They buy our best sensors from us." Other sources have also said that the new iPhone could have an 8MP camera. On 8 September 2011 photo taken by an iPhone appeared on Flickr, but the EXIF data revealed that the camera is superior to that on the iPhone 4. Could this be the first pic snapped by the iPhone 5 in the wild? iPhone 5 priceIf the iPhone 5 is an evolutionary step like the move from the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS then we'd expect the price to stay more or less the same, although in the UK higher VAT rates may well mean a higher price tag. iPhone 5 reviewTechRadar is renowned for it's detailed phone reviews where we look at every aspect of a handset, and we'll be bringing you a full, in-depth iPhone 5 review when we get our hands on one. |
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