SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Inc. is taking pre-orders for its new iPhone 4S starting on Friday, allowing fans who can't wait to snag the company's latest gadget a chance to order it in advance and receive it when it goes on sale in a week.
The iPhone 4S has a faster processor, a better camera and a voice-activated personal assistant service called Siri. It also runs the latest version of Apple's iOS mobile software, iOS 5, as well as its new iCloud content syncing service.
The new phone, officially on sale Oct. 14, comes in black or white and will be available from three wireless providers: AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless and, for the first time, Sprint Nextel Corp. It will cost $199 for a 16 gigabyte-version, $299 for 32 GB and $399 for 64 GB – all with a two-year service contract requirement.
Apple introduced the smartphone during a media event at the company's Cupertino headquarters on Tuesday – a day before co-founder Steve Jobs died.
Apple announced Jobs' death late Wednesday without stating a specific cause. He had battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January – his third since his health problems began – and resigned in August. Jobs became Apple's chairman and handed the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook.
Virtual Assistant
Apple debuted the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/04/siri-apple-iphone-4s-voice-personal-assistant_n_994605.html?1317758678" target="_hplink">Siri virtual assistant</a>, a voice-controlled interface designed exclusively for the iPhone 4S. Siri lets the user schedule calendar events and reminders, set alarms, find information about local businesses--just by asking. The hands-free system even talks back to you. <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/nickbilton/status/121288597952405504" target="_hplink">The New York Times's Nick Bilton</a> notes that it sounds like "A female Hal who had too many vodka tonics at the bar."
<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/apple-reveals-siri-voice-interface-the-intelligent-assistant/" target="_hplink">According to TechCrunch</a>, "Siri will be a beta for the time being, as it only supports English, German, and French voice input, but there are more language add-ons and tweaks to come."
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
Faster Processor
The iPhone 4S is built around Apple's dual-core A5 processor, which also powers the iPad 2. <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/04Apple-Launches-iPhone-4S-iOS-5-iCloud.html" target="_hplink">Apple claims that this new chip</a> "delivers up to twice the processing power and up to seven times faster graphics than iPhone 4."
<em>Image courtesy of the AP.</em>
Better Download Speeds
Although the new iPhone isn't a 4G device, Apple claims that it can rival high-speed devices. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5846504/" target="_hplink">Writes Gizmodo</a>, "the new iPhone 4S runs on faster HSPA+ networks. That means that your telephone will download stuff faster from the Internet. Before it was up to 7.2 Megabits-per-second downloads."
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
New Operating System
Right out of the box, the new iPhone will run Apple's upgraded operating system, iOS 5. Apple says the new OS introduces over 200 new features, such as push notifications to all mobile devices, wireless upgrades, improved mobile browsing via Apple's Safari app, location-aware reminders, a webcam shortcut that's accessible from the lock screen, the ability to edit photos and many others.
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
More Carrier Choices
In addition to availability through AT&T and Verizon, the iPhone 4S will be offered by a new carrier: Sprint. "[T]he specs for Sprint's version perfectly match the Verizon model -- both have an EVDO radio for 3G within the US, and a GSM one for service outside the country," <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/sprint-iphone-officially-announced-on-sale-october-14/" target="_hplink">Engadget writes</a>.
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
'World Phone'
Apple's latest iPhone is a "world phone," which means users can use it to place calls and surf the web on different networks, an ideal feature for jet-setters and one that previous iPhones didn't offer. <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/04Apple-Launches-iPhone-4S-iOS-5-iCloud.html" target="_hplink">From Apple's official press release:</a>
<blockquote>Improving on the innovative stainless steel external, dual-antenna design of iPhone 4, iPhone 4S is the first phone to intelligently switch between two antennas to send and receive. iPhone 4S now supports twice the download speed with HSDPA of up to 14.4 Mbps and iPhone 4S is a world phone, so both CDMA and GSM customers can now roam internationally on GSM networks.</blockquote>
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
Pricing
In the United States, customers can pick up a 16GB iPhone 4S for $199, a 32GB model for $299 and a beefy 64GB model for $399.
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
Availability
<a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/04Apple-Launches-iPhone-4S-iOS-5-iCloud.html" target="_hplink">Pre-orders for the iPhone 4S begin on October 7</a>. The device will hit shelves in the U.S. on October 14. Consumers around the world will have to wait until December 2011, when the handset will make its way to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/04Apple-Launches-iPhone-4S-iOS-5-iCloud.html" target="_hplink">according to Apple</a>.
<em>Image courtesy of the AP.</em>
Longer Battery Life
Apple promises that the faster A5 processor won't degrade battery life but will actually allow the iPhone 4S to use energy more efficiently than the iPhone 4. Indeed, the company promises up to 8 hours of battery life when placing calls via 3G. "If you set your phone to 2G, you will get 14 hours of talk time," <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5846504/" target="_hplink">writes Gizmodo</a>. "3G web browsing will give you six hours of battery life, while Wi-Fi access runs up to nine hours."
<em>Image courtesy of the AP.</em>
Stronger Camera
The new iPhone also comes with a camera upgrade. The device's rear-facing webcam has been bumped up from 5 megapixels up to 8 megapixels and will offer 1080p HD video recording. Images captured on the iPhone 4S will feature over 60 percent more pixels than on the previous handset, <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/04/apple-roundup-apple-throws-the-press-for-a-loop-with-iphone-4s-but-no-iphone-5/" target="_hplink">that's a resolution of 3264 x 2448</a>.
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
Airplay Mirroring
A feature of iOS 5, <a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/10/04/airplay-mirroring-comes-to-iphone-4s/" target="_hplink">Airplay Mirroring</a> allows the iPhone sync wirelessly to an Apple TV, letting the user watch videos or view photos from their phone on the big screen.
<em>Images courtesy of Getty.</em>
Familiar Dimensions
The new iPhone looks just like its predecessor, <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html" target="_hplink">measuring</a> 4.5 inches high, 2.31 wide and 0.37 inches thick, <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html" target="_hplink">according to Apple's measurements</a>. The 4S will weigh 4.9 ounces, just a hair heavier than its predecessor, which weighed 4.8 ounces.
<em>Image courtesy of Getty.</em>
Color Options
The new iPhone will be available in white as well as black.
<em>Image courtesy of the AP.</em>
SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Inc. is taking pre-orders for its new iPhone 4S starting on Friday, allowing fans who can't wait to snag the company's latest gadget a chance to order it in advance and receive ...
SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Inc. is taking pre-orders for its new iPhone 4S starting on Friday, allowing fans who can't wait to snag the company's latest gadget a chance to order it in advance and receive ...
If it wasn't for the Macs of this world, pushing the boundaries of what a job description is and could be, questioning the mundaneness of the 9-5, really progressing with new ideas and never stopping to question why, we'd all be stuck in a world with PCs that run beautifully well but never change.
This is a time when leadership is particularly important. We lack strong leadership in business and in politics; yet we need inspiration and direction more than ever before. What if the specter of the double recession is all down to a lack of leadership?
Hype-mongering is threatening the credibility of the Internet, and with the speed at which we're connecting, processing and spreading information, how is it possible to check sources or intercept rumors before they start?
Americans want cheap and good. They don't want good and expensive. Until the corp mindset changes from "make as much money as you can by cutting labor costs" this will continue. If everyone occupied their Corp headquarters and refused to buy from companies that hire any cheap labor this will not change. Maybe if all the people of the world were connected this movement might transcend culture and language. Hey wait -- our gadgets are connecting us to make this spring trend possible.
kinogod: Americans want cheap and good. They don't want good and
Apple products, as well as other major brands, first offered for sale in China. Is it any wonder we're falling behind?? Fareed Zacharia is right, our corporations are investing there, resulting in more employment there.
rMatey: Apple products, as well as other major brands, first offered
This is bit unrealted so please excuse me.Firts here we had I don't remember the name for cable etc,then charter came along and started buying them out stae by state,then and now we have new wave who did the same thing charter did and now I got the notice here that Time/Warner is going to take ober new wave.I wish to hell they would just leave one company and quit going thru all of these constan chages,it makes no sense at all to me
Charles_Queen: This is bit unrealted so please excuse me.Firts here we
ya,ya So i made some msitakes.I didn't see any sighn saying this was school eithr,if you took all of the meds I have to take you'd make mistakes you'r self
Charles_Queen: ya,ya So i made some msitakes.I didn't see any sighn
I'm leaning toward upgrading to the 4 rather than 4S. The only draw to the 4S is the faster processor and improved graphics.
I'm not thrilled about a talky phone. I already have enough real people telling me what to do......and don't come crying to me when Siri won't open the airlock door! "Sorry Dave, I can't do that."
I'm afraid Siri will be next "Clippy".
L-Hand: Went to store during lunch...it was a ghost town. I'm
Fantastic device. But I think the new updates are really for the creative who enjoy the camera feature, and perhaps those with physical disabilities or are often talking in their car - thanks to Siri. For everyone who upgraded to the 4 in the last cycle it'll be important for Apple come out with the 5 before next July - when 2 year contracts start to expire for a lot of AT&T folks.
CrashTest: Fantastic device. But I think the new updates are really
The price of the hardware is a small part of the cost of ownership. The extra $100 seems a small price to pay (over two years) for much faster hardware and a better camera.
WriterGuy: The price of the hardware is a small part of
I read an article this morning about how consumers go purchase crazy after the death of a celebrity. Sales of Michael Jackson music skyrocketed after his death, as did those of Amy Winehouse. Apple is taking advantage of Steve Jobs death. His body is hardly cold yet and they are already tromping on his ideals. I envision the company going downhill in the next few years if they keep up these kind of shenanigans. Bad enough they already have some of the highest mark-ups in the industry.
Tikiman: I read an article this morning about how consumers go
The timing of the sale of the iPhone was determined long before Steve's untimely death. It's not like the biographies that were in the works, whose publications dates have been moved up by months to take advantage of the attention to Jobs' life.
And selling a phone he had a large hand in creating is not exactly "tromping on his ideas." More like HONORING them, wouldn't you think?
WriterGuy: The timing of the sale of the iPhone was determined
After owning an iPhone for years I am finally deciding not to get the new one and instead move to a new OS. I had too many wants for the new version and the constant updating/managing of server applications on my PC to get extra functions from my iDevices is just absurd. Not saying the iPhone is not a great phone because it is; it just doesn't suite my needs anymore and I seem to have grown past it.
jgeurian21: After owning an iPhone for years I am finally deciding
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10/ 7/11 07:50 AM ET Associated Press