Photos taken by new iPhone 4S owners have begun appearing on Flickr. Apple has touted Flickr's Camera Finder in the past to show how popular the iPhone 4 is as a camera. Photos of eggs, a remote control and a parking garage have been posted and all look very impressive.
iPhone 4S on left, iPhone 4 on right
iLounge have also posted a number of comparison shots between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cameras, including this pair of shots of peacockfeathers. Left is the iPhone 4S, right is the iPhone 4.
While iFixit performed the first thorough teardown of the iPhone 4S yesterday, Chipworks has now turned its more powerful equipment on the chips themselves, notably identifying Sony as the manufacturer of the 8-megapixel camera sensor in the first iPhone 4S they examined.
In order to get our readers the device manufacturer as soon as possible, rather than going through a fuming sulfuric acid chip deprocessing we chose to use our infrared microscope to look through the structure of this image sensor. What you see are the die markings on the base layer of the image sensor. The image isn’t beautiful, but it’s enough to tell us that Sony is in our particular iPhone 4S.
OmniVision has historically been the supplier for the image sensor in the iPhone, but comments from Sony CEO Howard Stringer earlier this year started rumors that Sony might take over production for the iPhone 4S. Later reports had said the two companies would be splitting the load with OmniVision handling up to 90% of production, but issues at OmniVision were later said to have led to Apple shifting orders to Sony. Weak financial guidance from OmniVision further fueled rumors that it had lost at least a substantial portion of the iPhone business.
As Chipworks notes, a single test unit is not sufficient to establish the balance of production should Apple be employing a dual-supplier solution for the iPhone 4S camera sensor. But Sony is at least involved in production this time around, and additional results should give a better picture of where Apple's orders have fallen.
Game studios EA and Gameloft are discounting many of their games in honor of the iPhone 4S launch. EA runs sales every month or two, and this is October's sale. EA is offering up a number of its more technically impressive titles aimed at iPhone 4S buyers, including the lowest price ever for Madden 2012.
One of the other major new features of the iPhone 4S is the inclusion of a 1080p capable camera. Several sample videos are starting to appear to demonstrate the new iPhone 4S camera. Some are being uploaded only as high as 720P into YouTube, while others are a full 1080P. You can click on the bottom right resolution button in YouTube to switch modes.
YouTube user Eurosausage posts a comparison video highlighting how much faster the iPhone 4S is than the iPhone 4 at launching apps.
While app launching is a basic task that doesn't show off high-performance graphics and other capabilities, it is one of the most common tasks initiated by users that forces users to wait for the system. The video offers comparison of a significant number of apps, giving a good picture of the everyday performance improvements users can expect in upgrading from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S.
With Siri on the new iPhone 4S having some problems recognizing speakers with heavy accents, it's important to note that users are able to tap Siri's transcriptions of their voice input and edit them to correct errors or change parameters. The tip is gaining some publicity from App Advice, who picked up on it from @mattgemmell.
For example, let’s say you want to know where the nearest Italian restaurant is located, but then change your mind. Instead, you’re hungry for American food.
To do so, you would say (or text): Siri, where is the nearest Italian restaurant.
Once Siri gives you an answer, you can adjust the question as follows: Siri, where is the nearest American restaurant.
While in some cases it may be easier to simply speak a new question or request rather than edit a previous one, the feature should be useful for those situations in which Siri is only slightly off in its transcribed text or when only a very minor change in the original request is required to obtain follow-up information.
This young man, in line for the iPhone 4S at Apple's Fifth Avenue flagship store, has a unique tribute haircut to Steve Jobs. On one side, Jonathan Mak's Steve Jobs tribute logo, and Albert Watson's famous photo of Steve Jobs from Fortune in 2006. On the other, he has Apple's famous "Think Different" slogan emblazoned.
No word on who actually did the impressive cut. The photos were snapped by navigation app maker CoPilot.
Thanks to MacRumors forum member kfury77 for the tip
Update: The artist who did the work was TheJohanRuiz
One of the big controversies surrounding the launch of the iPhone 4 was related to its antenna design. Several customers reported issues with significant signal loss when holding their iPhone in a natural way. The complaints grew louder until even Consumer Reports stated that they couldn't recommend the iPhone 4 due to the signal issues. Not all customers saw the problem, as the issue seemed to be related to regional signal strength.
Apple even held a press conference to address the controversy. Apple, however, focused on a related but separate issue during their press conference. They discussed normal signal attenuation while gripping any phone tightly, and rightfully pointed out that all mobile phones exhibit this behavior to some degree. The other iPhone 4 specific issue which wasn't addressed during the press conference was the effect of simply bridging the left lower antenna break also causing problems for some. This video from 2010 best demonstrates the effect.
Early testing and reports from iPhone 4S users seem to show that the signal drop from tightly gripping the iPhone has been diminished or even eliminated. One user tested their iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S from the exact same spot and found no signal drop at all in the iPhone 4S while gripping tightly with their left hand and covering the band.
The above picture tries to demonstrate the reduced effect, but even the iPhone 4 attenuation is rather minimal as compared to the worst case scenarios we've seen.
The iPhone 4S is known to have significant antenna upgrades, allowing it to switch antennas to maximize their signal. iSpazio also posted a video showing little effect from the "death grip" on the 4S, though the video shows the demonstrator holding it in the wrong hand for the demonstration. Typically the effect is most seen when holding the iPhone in your left hand to bridge the lower left antenna gap.
Regardless, this should be good news for anyone interested in an iPhone 4S. We expect to hear more real world experiences as more readers get their iPhone 4Ss activated.
Update: InsanelyGreatMac does a great followup video showing the issue seems definitely improved on the new iPhone 4S.
As has happened in the past, it seems AT&T's activation servers are having problems with the large influx of activations with the iPhone 4S launch. A quick search of Twitter shows many having problems activating their AT&T iPhone 4Ss due to server issues. A discussion thread in our forum also mirrors the complaints.
With the iPhone 4S launched now across the entire U.S., we are at the peak of simultaneous AT&T iPhone 4S activations. AT&T has had similar issues in previous launches. Japanese carrier Softbank was reported to have similar issues during their launch this morning.
UK insurance firm Protect Your Bubble today conducted a survey of the iPhone 4S line at Apple's Regent Street retail store in London, finding a record line of 778 people just as the store opened for sales.
Analysis of the data, comparing against previous Regent St exit polls on the iPhone 4, iPad and iPad 2 launches, shows that the crowd of 778 people for the iPhone 4S comfortably beats the previous record holder of 668 for the original iPhone 4; 662 for the iPad 2; and 451 for the original iPad.
The company has also put together an infographic highlighting a number of pieces of data collected in surveys of the crowd. Among the most interesting results:
- 53% of those in line were there because they missed the pre-order window, while an additional 7% thought the iPhone 4S was only available in-store. A substantial fraction of the crowd was also there primarily for the experience, with 18% saying that simply wanted "to be there" and 11% noting that they were there because they were "die hard Apple fans".
- Nearly half of the crowd was upgrading from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S, while 35% were lining up to purchase their first iPhone.
- The new 8-megapixel camera was cited most frequently (37%) as the "standout feature" of the iPhone 4S, with Siri (34%) registering in a strong second place. But 33% of the crowd viewed Siri as a gimmick rather than a truly useful feature.
As we noted on our iPhone launch article, international iPhone 4S users are noticing that Siri won't provide them with Map or local business search information. Those features were demoed by Apple during the keynote but are limited to the U.S. market only.
Apple's Siri FAQ (via @dujkan) reveals that international support for those features won't be available until 2012:
Maps and local search support will be available in additional countries in 2012.
UnitediPhoneRepair posted a clip of a iPhone 4S "drop test". Of course, the iPhone 4S shares the same external design as the iPhone 4, and yes, it still breaks when dropped on its glass screen.
Developments continue in the wide-ranging patent dispute between Apple and Samsung, with judges in both the United States and the Netherlands making statements in favor of Apple although questions still remain.
Reuters reports that U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh yesterday ruled that Samsung's Galaxy Tab devices do infringe upon Apple's iPad patents, but noted that Apple must still show that its patents are valid in order for any action to be taken against Samsung. Koh repeatedly cited the distinct similarities between the iPad and the Galaxy Tab, even challenging Samsung's lawyers to differentiate between the two products.
Koh frequently remarked on the similarity between each company's tablets. At one point during the hearing, she held one black glass tablet in each hand above her head, and asked Sullivan if she could identify which company produced which.
"Not at this distance your honor," said Sullivan, who stood at a podium roughly ten feet away.
"Can any of Samsung's lawyers tell me which one is Samsung and which one is Apple?" Koh asked. A moment later, one of the lawyers supplied the right answer.
Meanwhile, Reuters also reports that a Dutch judge has denied Samsung's request for an injunction barring sales of Apple's iOS devices utilizing 3G technology. Counterclaims by Apple were also denied, with each party ordered to pay the other's court costs.
According to NU.nl, the judge indicated that the 3G patents cited by Samsung cover essential technologies that must be licensed under FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms, but the terms Samsung had reportedly proposed to Apple were seen as high enough that they were not compliant with FRAND requirements.
Businessweek takes a look into the world of iPhone case manufacturers, a few of which had made gambles on what the "iPhone 5" was going to look like.
Since Apple doesn't share case designs until the final product is released, case makers rely on rumors and factory leaks to plan for their new cases. According to the CEO of Coveroo, "If you have a good sense that you have the right measurements and plans, then you can ramp up production." That said, he also warns that guessing wrong could risk losing millions in worthless inventory.
The article also interviews Tim Hickman of Hard Candy Cases, the same case manufacturer that we reported seemed confident in a tapered iPhone 5 design immediately before the iPhone 4S announcement. That company bet $50,000 that the new case designs would be dramatically different.
After three separate manufacturing partners in China sent him detailed 3D models of an iPhone with a widened, pill-shaped “home” button and a slightly tapered back, Hickman decided to roll the dice. He paid $50,000 to make steel moldings to mass-produce cases for the new design and, on the morning of Apple’s announcement, began taking orders on his website.
Factories in China provide the leaked specs to these case makers in an effort to get their business. According to Hickman using these leaks "pisses Apple off". But guessing correctly can be rewarded with an early ramp up in cases with availability soon after a new product launch. It's this possible financial reward that has tied the case industry so closely with Apple rumors.
Weng Chin points out something he describes as a security flaw in the iPhone 4S with Siri. In this video, Chin demonstrates that a user can make phone calls from the iPhone 4S even while it is protected by the iPhone:
At 1 minute and 5 seconds in the video, Chin shows using Siri to make a phone call despite the iPhone 4S being locked. This seems to be by design, however.
Having Siri enabled while your phone is locked allows for you to continue to have hands free usage of your phone, even when in a locked state. Apple does offer you the ability to turn Siri off on the Lock Screen, if you prefer more security over convenience. In previous iPhones without Siri, users could similarly dial arbitrary numbers using Voice Dial even when the iPhone was locked. Apple similarly offered an option for Voice Dial to be turned off on the Lock Screen only.
Stores along the east coast of the U.S. have now started selling the iPhone 4S with the rest of the country to follow over the next few hours. The worldwide launch has seen large crowds at several locations, though some readers are finding it specific stores or areas with few crowds.
New York City's 5th Avenue Apple Store did draw a large crowd but according to AppleInsider the line was shorter at that location than the iPhone 4 launch.
The new iPhone 4S comes with a faster processor, improved camera and new voice technology called Siri.
One person has already posted a side-by-side video comparing the video recording of the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S:
Siri, of course, is the new feature that many are anxious to try out. Apple has done a great job including many humorous responses in Siri. ThisisMyNext highlighted many of these:
Some early users are finding that Siri is having trouble with specific accents. Map integration also seems limited to the U.S. We expect to see many more reviews and evaluations of the device as it more people start receiving the device. Many early adopters are posting in our iPhone forum with questions and impressions of their new devices.
Apple saw more 1 million in pre-orders for the iPhone 4S with analyst predictions for opening weekend ranging from 2 to 4 million.
U.S. Apple Stores are pulling overnight shifts to put up new displays and promo materials for the iPhone 4S launch. @ifostore is standing in line and shot the above photo where the staff is exchanging old iPhone 4 models with the new iPhone 4S.
Meanwhile, other parts of the world have already seen the iPhone 4S launch, and to massive crowds. Smh.com.au has a running update of the launch in Australia. Even 4 hours after the launch, the line to the Sydney store was described as "appalling" going half way down King Street.
The Japanese launch was hampered by registration slowdowns from Softbank, according to the Wall Street Journal:
The launch of the iPhone 4S in Japan was interrupted when Softbank – the main service provider for Apple products in the country—suffered a server glitch that temporarily suspended sales nationwide. A company spokesman said the servers were unable to process registration information.
Analysts are predicting weekend sales to top that of the iPhone 4 which sold 1.7 million units its opening weekend. Estimates range from 2 million to as high as 4 million.
In the U.S., Apple Stores will be opening at 8 a.m. local time to launch the iPhone 4S. Additionally, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint stores will also be stocking the new device, but those retailers tend to get fewer units per store than Apple's stores. Gizmodo also notes that Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target and Sam's Club may have units, but your mileage may vary.
MacRumors forum members have been organizing meetups for the iPhone 4S launch in our dedicated forum.
Game studios 
