Apple launched its new iPhone 4S in San Francisco but stopped short of releasing an improved iPhone 5. Apple also confirmed the new iOS 5 software will be available from October 13 in Australia.
The iPhone 4S is powered by the new A5 chip, the same in the iPad 2, which allows the iPhone to run twice as fast and process graphics seven times faster than the iPhone 4. It has an eight-megapixel camera, longer battery life and a new antenna that automatically changes between transmit and receive to maintain a consistent signal.
Apple brags the device now has eight hours of 3G talk time, 14 hours of 2G talk time, six hours of 3G browsing, nine hours of Wi-Fi browsing and 10 hours of video.
The device also has both CDMA and GSM, which will allow users to roam on overseas networks using the same phone. Apple calls it a “world phone”.
It is great to see that the camera has been given a significant upgrade, with better white balance, the ability to record video at 1080p HD, and new face-recognition technology. Colour sensors have also been given an upgrade, with sharpness up by 30%, while double-tapping the home button now opens the camera.
AirPlay Mirroring will now also be included which although not exactly new for tablets , it does mean that iPhone 4S customers can play games on their iPhone while streaming through an Apple TV to a television set.
The 4S will debut on October 14. Australia has now joined the elite group who access the iPhone 4S early. Other countries include the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Japan.
In terms of pricing the iPhone 4S will cost $799 for 16GB, $899 for 32GB and $999 for 64GB outright.
