To much fanfare, Apple released their newest iPhone, and it wasn’t the iPhone 5. The new smartphone is an upgraded version of their 15-month old iPhone 4, dubbed the iPhone 4S. The reviews are mixed, ranging from overjoyed fans to skeptical naysayers with a dash of confused fence-sitters who were waiting for the next big thing from Apple. While it wasn’t everything that many were expecting, it is currently enjoying record sales.
A-5 Dual Core Processor
The biggest difference in the newest iPhone is the processor. The iPhone 4s sports a dual-core A5 processor, which promises double the performance and 7x faster graphics than the iPhone 4. However, even Macworld noted that doubling the number of cores doesn’t mean double the speed.
Upgraded Camera
The camera has also gotten an upgrade. The device comes with an 8 megapixel camera with a larger f/2.4 aperature lens to let in more light on every shot. The wider lens and 2448×3264 pixel resolution of the main camera also gives the 4s the ability to record video in 1080p HD, as opposed to the 720p by its predecessor. However, the front-facing camera is still the 640×480 standard VGA camera as in previous models.
iOS 5 the iCloud
The biggest biggest feature Apple is touting is the release of their new mobile operating system – iOS 5 – which brings online storage for your mobile device and an app called Siri. iOS 5 brings over 200 updates, including a new notification area, over-the-air updating, a new on-screen keyboard and tabbed browsing to name a few.
The iCloud is a backup service integrated into iOS 5. It allows you to wirelessly back up your devices data (apps, photos, music, books, contacts, etc.) to an online backup service. The largest benefit is that for the first time, all of your Apple devices (if you’re fortunate enough to have more than one) can always be in sync without plugging into a computer using iTunes.
Siri
Dubbed a “personal assistant” app, Siri is a voice-activated app that you speak commands to and your phone does it. You can tell it to remind you to pick up items, or send an email or find a restaurant. Simply put, it is a voice interface to many of the functions your phone can already do for you. you can even schedule tasks for certain times (“in a half hour…”) or based on location (“when I get to work…”).
The Other Side
Naysayers always have to have their say. Many are disappointed with the latest in Apple’s offerings. Fans and critics alike claim the upgraded camera and processor are nice, but it’s not the innovative miracle for which Apple has been known over the past several years. The 4s also lacks the ability to utilize 4G network speeds. Many iPhone 4 users say the new processor and camera are not enough to warrant upgrading immediately, if at all.
Analysts have also speculated that many of the iOS 5 updates are features many iPhone users have been clamoring for over the past few years. Some features, like the notification bar, voice commands, and online backup are features borrowed or adapted from those long found on Android-based devices.
Further, Apple made iOS 5 available to every existing Apple mobile device two days before the iPhone 4s went on sale. Within the first 4 hours of its availability, many users complained of having to perform a restore – or multiple restores – because Apple’s servers couldn’t handle the load and caused devices to stop working and be factory reset. So how can Apple claim a iOS 5 as a feature of the new phone?
All things said, the iPhone 4s is still a great phone. If you are new to smartphones and don’t care about 4G speeds, this could be your device. If you’re a current iPhone 4 owner, however, you may want to think twice before dropping $199-$399 on it. If you’ve been holding out on joining the smartphone revolution, remember that the iPhone 4 8GB models – which offers the same features, minus the camera and processor – are now half the price. Be a smart consumer.
