As part of their new iPhone 4S promotional web pages, Apple has included several full-resolution sample shots for download.
We've included three of the shots here. Clicking on the image will download the full-size 2-3MB 3264x2448 pixel photos to your computer.
Several other examples are available to download at the bottom of Apple's 4S camera page. Of course, these may represent ideal shots, but should give you something to analyze while you wait for the 14th.
(via TheNextWeb)
If for some reason, you don't want to get the new iPhone 4S, Apple retail stores are selling the remainder of their iPhone 4 16GB and 32GB models while supplies last. The clearance prices for the units are $149 and $199, with the usual 2 year contract. Apple will offer a $99 iPhone 4 model going forward, but that model only has 8GB of storage.
The prices are $50 and $100 cheaper than their 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4S counterparts, though you are losing a fair number of features (faster processor, Siri voice assistant, better camera).
Apple today introduced the iPhone 4S, the company's next generation iPhone. The iPhone includes a number of improvements including an improved camera, A5 processor, faster graphics and support for the Siri intelligent assistant software.
iPhone 4S will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries by the end of October including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Existing iPhone owners can check their upgrade eligibility using this tool.
Today, Apple announced that iOS 5 would be released to the public on October 12th. In the meanwhile, they have seeded the final Golden Master copy to developers and are now asking developers to submit iOS 5 applications for inclusion in the App Store.
Apple has already been quietly approving many iOS 5 applications, but this gives developers a chance to test against the final shipping version of iOS 5. iOS 5 delivers over 200 new features to customers and will be available for a free download on October 12th. iOS 5 is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad, and the 3rd and 4th generation iPod touches.
That means Apple is presently selling 3 generations of devices: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S. Having a free option will help Apple compete with many of the cheaper Android phones. The 3GS is the oldest iPhone to support iOS 5.
In 2010, the European Union introduced a new policy to require new phones sold in Europe to support charging via MicroUSB, in an effort to standardize charging systems across all mobile phone makers.
Apple has begun offering Micro USB Adapters for the iPhone, shipping October 14 to EU customers. The adapter costs £8 or €9 and should also be included in the iPhone 4S when it ships later this month.
"Introduction of the universal charger will make life much simpler for EU consumers," said Dennis Abbott, a European Commission spokesperson. "When you discover you've left your charger at home or work, you will be able to use someone else's, knowing it will fit your phone. How cool is that?"
The industry agreed that the new charger will be for all smartphones and all "data-enabled" phones - and will use a micro-USB connector. The new universal chargers will not cover older mobile phones.
Support for micro-USB charging via an adapter, rather than plugging directly into the phone, is allowed by the EU policy. Apple isn't required to include an actual micro-USB port directly on the iPhone.
With the release of updated iPod nano models today bearing new features such as large icons, enhanced fitness features, and sixteen new clock faces.
From Apple's press release announcing the new iPod nano:
iPod nano now features larger icons for even easier navigation of its intuitive Multi-Touch user interface, and you can choose from 16 new digital clock faces, ranging from classic analog looks to your favorite Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. iPod nano now tracks your runs and walks right out of the box with no accessory required, making it even easier to get your fitness program up and running. iPod nano can track the time, pace and distance of your run, the calories you burn, and the number of steps you walk. iPod nano encourages you with motivational real-time voice feedback during your run, available in seven languages, while listening to your favorite music or FM radio station. You can also easily upload workouts to the Nike+ website to set goals, track your progress and challenge friends.
In addition to the new iPod nano models introduced today, Apple has made the software update available to the previous-generation models released in September 2010. Those iPod nanos carry the same form factor as the current models, and will be essentially identical to the current iPod nanos once the software update has been applied.
Earlier this year, Apple introduced new Bluetooth 4.0 chips in the MacBook Air and Mac Mini lines. The chips include support for Bluetooth Low Energy, a specification which opens the door to a number of new kinds of Bluetooth-powered devices. In the specifications for the iPhone 4S, Apple notes Bluetooth 4.0 support is built-in.
There haven't been many products built for Bluetooth 4.0 yet, but there are a variety of possibilities:
- Find Me - electronic leash applications
- Proximity - wireless locking and unlocking, out of range alerts
- Sports / Running - stats and vitals
- Health - heart rate monitor, blood pressure, glucose monitors
Apple joined the Bluetooth board of directors in June and Bluetooth claims virtually all new smartphones will include Bluetooth 4.0 support by the end of 2012.
With media members in attendance at Apple's iPhone 4S event having had the opportunity to spend some time with the new hardware following the presentation, hands-on reports and first impressions are beginning to come in.
Engadget highlights the improved internal specs of the iPhone 4S, noting that everything "just feels zippier".
We were able to spend a few quality moments with the refreshed iPhone 4 here at Apple's campus, the Sprint flavor no less, and as you might expect... it's an iPhone 4. But S-ier. Much in the same way that the 3GS improved the overall experience of the 3G, the 4S does likewise compared to the existing 4. The dual-core A5 chip is a laudatory improvement, and whisking about pages, loading the camera application and launching -- well, just about everything -- just feels zippier.
Engadget was also impressed with the Siri personal assistant feature, describing their attempts to "psych it out" without success, as Siri "never faltered" in bringing up the requested information and transcribed voice input perfectly.
The BBC has also posted a brief video hands-on with the iPhone 4S, showing off a demonstration of the Siri functionality.
Apple’s new voice-control assistant, Siri makes promises that we’ve learnt to be wary about over the years, but after a brief test we’re surprisingly impressed. Easily activated, with a new microphone icon on the regular on-screen keyboard, Siri managed just what it did on-stage during the keynote. We could ask it local information, such as the weather or to find nearby stores, while online searching and complex questions for Wolfram Alpha were handled with little delay. Speed can be the killer for services like this – people just won’t wait if their phone takes 30 seconds to look up an answer – but Siri delivered in just seconds.
Apple will begin taking pre-orders for the iPhone 4S this Friday, with the device going on sale in the first batch of countries on Friday, October 14th. Pricing comes in at $199 for 16 GB, $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for 64 GB on contract, with both black and white models available in all capacities.
Apple already posted the video stream for their iPhone 4S introduction today. Amongst the product introductions:
- Two New Apps: Find My Friends and Cards
- iPod Nano Updated, Price Reduced
- iPod touch Now Comes In White, 8GB Model Now $199
- Apple Introduces iPhone 4S with A5 Chip, Faster Graphics, Siri Voice Assistant
- Siri Voice Recognition Arrives On the iPhone 4S
AT&T is launching a new app later today to help existing iPhone owners preorder the iPhone 4S. Preorders start this Friday, October 7.
The app, called AT&T Upgrader, informs customers if they are upgrade eligible, what the new iPhone will cost, and let's them place their preorder.
Non-iPhone AT&T customers who want to preorder can visit AT&T's iPhone Upgrade page at www.att.com/phoneupgrade. Both Verizon and AT&T customers can also check upgrade eligibility on Apple's website.
AT&T already offers a number of apps, including myAT&T to view and manage AT&T accounts, and AT&T Mark The Spot which allows users to report dead zones and dropped calls directly to AT&T's network operations team.
AT&T Upgrader will be available on the App Store later today.
Apple has built significant antenna upgrades into the iPhone 4S, saying in the press release announcing the phone that it is the first phone to intelligently switch between two antennas to send and receive. We spoke to Spencer Webb, owner of AntennaSys, about the antenna history of the iPhones. He wrote extensively about the AntennaGate issues with the original iPhone 4 last year.
"With the iPhone 4," Webb explained, around the steel band "we had one cell antenna at the bottom. On the top, we had another antenna for GPS and Wi-Fi." This turned into Antennagate.
With the Verizon/CDMA iPhone, Webb believes Apple's designers "moved the GPS and Wi-Fi antennas beneath the back glass and turned the top antenna into a second antenna for the cell phone." This brought spatial diversity to the iPhone. This design helps solve the Antennagate problem, because the phone can switch between the antennas depending on signal conditions.
"If you cover up an antenna, you're probably not covering up both antennas," Webb explains. "Spatial diversity on the receiving side is required for use with the Verizon network."
The Verizon iPhone had 'receive diversity' -- it used two antennas for receiving data, but may have only transmitted on the bottom antenna. With the iPhone 4S, Apple claims to have both 'send and receive diversity' for GSM and CDMA. They're using this diversity as the solution to the antenna problem.
"The iPhone 4S may indeed be the first phone to have diversity on both the send and receive sides, and that is a decently big deal. They still have the antenna around the rim, though, so it's evolutionary, not revolutionary."
Image via This Is My Next
In addition to today's seeding of the iOS 5 golden master version for developers and several associated releases, Apple also seeded the golden master 11C73 build of OS X 10.7.2 on the Mac side of the developer community.
OS X 10.7.2 includes the required components for iCloud, which will be going live to the public on October 12th alongside iOS 5. The release will also include a number of other fixes and enhancements and will bring Safari to version 5.1.1.
OS X 10.7.2 should be released to the public as we approach the iCloud launch.
Alongside all of today's other announcements, Apple also quietly debuted AppleCare+ for the iPhone, a new extended warranty program that also includes coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage with a $49 service fee. The new AppleCare+ offering is valid for all iPhone models and is priced at $99.
Every iPhone comes with one year of hardware repair coverage and 90 days of telephone technical support. AppleCare+ for iPhone extends repair coverage and technical support to two years from the original purchase date of your iPhone and adds coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage due to handling, each subject to a $49 service fee.
Basic AppleCare for the iPhone, which is no longer available, had been priced at $69.00 but did not cover accidental damage.
As one of the main features of the iPhone 4S, Apple today introduced Siri a personal assistant that can
answer questions and perform for tasks for users based on voice input.
Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you’ll keep finding more and more ways to use it.
Siri understands context allowing you to speak naturally when you ask it questions, for example, if you ask “Will I need an umbrella this weekend?” it understands you are looking for a weather forecast. Siri is also smart about using the personal information you allow it to access, for example, if you tell Siri “Remind me to call Mom when I get home” it can find “Mom” in your address book, or ask Siri “What’s the traffic like around here?” and it can figure out where “here” is based on your current location. Siri helps you make calls, send text messages or email, schedule meetings and reminders, make notes, search the Internet, find local businesses, get directions and more. You can also get answers, find facts and even perform complex calculations just by asking.
Siri is launching as a beta with support for English (US, UK, and Australia), French, and German. Additional languages and features will be added in the future.
Apple today officially introduced the iPhone 4S, the company's next-generation iPhone offering a completely redesigned interior with a number of new features.
Apple today announced iPhone 4S, the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri™, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.
One of Apple's most highly-touted features for the iPhone 4S is its camera, which checks in at 8-megapixels and contains a host of improvements over the iPhone 4's camera.
iPhone 4S includes an all new camera with the most advanced optics of any phone. The 8 megapixel sensor has 60 percent more pixels so you can take amazing high quality photos with more detail than ever. iPhone 4S includes a new custom lens, a larger f/2.4 aperture and an advanced hybrid IR filter that produce sharper, brighter and more accurate images.
Apple also notes that it has completely redesigned the antenna system for the iPhone 4S, making the device the first phone to intelligently switch between antennas for sending and receiving. The iPhone 4S is a world phone supporting both GSM and CDMA technologies, and also supports HSDPA download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps, twice that of the iPhone 4.
Talk time over 3G comes in at eight hours on the iPhone 4S, with the device also offering six hours of 3G browsing. The iPhone 4S also included Bluetooth 4.0 for improved short-range wireless interfacing.
The iPhone 4S will debut in an additional 22 countries by the end of October. Those countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
With the announcement of an October 12 ship date for iOS 5, Apple today posted the Golden Master (GM) release of iOS 5 to developers this afternoon, with a build number of 9A334.
Apple notes that users "must use iTunes 10.5 beta 7 to install iOS 5 GM seed on your devices. iOS 5 GM seed is not available via over the air software update" and encourages users to back up their devices via iCloud before installing the GM.
Apple posted a GM seed of Xcode 4.2 as well, and notes that the GM seed "can now be used to submit iOS 5 applications to the App Store for review."
Apple today announced modest changes to its iPod touch lineup, dropping the price of the 8GB model from $229 to $199, breaking the important $200 price barrier.
iPod has revolutionized the way we listen to music and with over 320 million sold is the world’s most popular music player,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “iPod touch, now available in both black and white, is the best selling iPod ever, and with iOS 5 and iCloud it is better than ever.
Beyond the availability of a white version of the popular media player, no other changes to device's hardware or specifications were announced.
The updated iPod touch is compatible with iOS 5 and is scheduled for release alongside the latest version of iOS on October 12. It will also work with iCloud, Apple's revamped cloud service formerly dubbed MobileMe.
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Image Playground is Apple's dedicated image creation app that can build cartoon-like pictures based on text descriptions.
If you're experiencing issues with iPhone Mirroring, follow these steps to get it working again.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
iPadOS 26 brings Apple's Liquid Glass design overhaul, new Phone, Preview, Games, and Journal apps, and more.
Apple's new Liquid Glass design, a Workout Buddy for motivation, a Notes app, and more.
3 hours ago by Tim Hardwick
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4 hours ago by Tim Hardwick
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2 days ago by Joe Rossignol