In his first major media event as Apple's new CEO, Tim Cook and other Apple executives today introduced a pair of new iPhone apps and--after over a year of waiting--the iPhone 4S.
iPhone 4S
- The new iPhone model--the 4S--is powered by the A5 processor used in the iPad 2 and has new dual-core graphics capability for much faster graphics performance. Other features of the 4S include:
- Siri - Software that understands when you speak to it and can answer. For instance, ask it what the weather will be like today and it supplies the forecast for your location. It can even understand variations, such as asking whether you'd need a raincoat. It can also set alarms, reply to text messages, check your calendar, and give directions. It works with the built-in Apple apps only right now.
- One particularly impressive demo was asking Siri to remind you to call your wife when you leave work, which not only creates a reminder, but also means that it knows who your wife is and can tell by GPS when you're leaving work. This is a pretty amazing feature if it works as well as in the real world the demo makes it seem.
- Initial language support for English, French, and German.
- Voice recognition also allows dictation into text entry sections of some apps. Processing of this is done online, so you need to be connected for it to work. It learns your voice over time and improves accuracy that way
- AirPlay Mirroring, so you can play a game on your iPhone, but display it on any AirPlay compatible device, including an HDTV, via cables or Wi-Fi
- Two antennas to improve call quality
- Double the maximum data speed of the iPhone 4, up to 14.4 Mbps
- Both GSM and CDMA network compatibility in a single phone (i.e., now Verizon and AT&T iPhone models are the same, not different)
- 8 megapixel camera, with a maximum resolution of 3264 x 2448, improved color fidelity and sharpness, a new light sensor, faster speed in taking photos, and facial recognition
- 1080p video recording, with image stabilization
The iPhone 4S will be available on AT&T, Verizon, and--for the first time--Sprint.
Three models of the iPhone 4S will go on sale on Oct. 12: 16 GB for $199, 32 GB for $299, and 64 GB for $399 (in both black and white). They will go on sale in the U.S. on Friday, Oct. 14. Pre-orders begin Oct. 7.
Low-Cost & Free iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4
The iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 will continue to be sold. The iPhone 3GS in an 8 GB version will be free with a two-year contract. The iPhone 4 in 8 GB will be $99 with two-year contract.
iPod touch
Though some expected a new iPod touch, it wasn't announced. Instead, Apple unveiled a white iPod touch, and reduced pricing of $199 for the 8 GB model. The other models' prices stay the same at $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for 64 GB. It will be available Oct. 12.
iPod nano
Like the touch, no new nano was announced. Instead, Apple introduced revised iPod nano software and new pricing. The iPod nano now costs US$129 for the 8 GB model, $149 for the 16 GB. Software updates include:
- Ability to view 1 large app at a time instead of group of 4
- New Nike+ app that removes need for shoe sensors
- 16 new clock styles
iOS 5
iOS 5, with the features previewed at the Worldwide Developers Conference in the spring, arrives on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Learn more about some of the most eagerly anticipated features of iOS 5. It will be a free upgrade for compatible devices.
iCloud
Along with iOS 5, iCloud will go live to the public on Oct. 12. iTunes Match, however, will be available at the end of October and in the U.S. only.
Find My Friends
This new iOS app will allow you to locate your friends who opt in to the tool using GPS, see if they're at specific locations (Disneyland and school were shown in the demo), and see how far they are from you. Location data can be share for a limited time and parental controls can be used to restrict the app.
Other Notes from the Event:
- A new Apple-developed iOS app, Cards, will allow you to create your own greeting cards, which Apple will print and mail for you, with a push notification letting you know approximately when it will be delivered. Cards will cost US$2.99 to send in the U.S., $4.99 to send worldwide. The app goes live Oct. 12.
- 250 million iOS devices have been sold all time.
- Almost half of the 45 million iPods sold from July 2010-June 2011 went to people buying their first ever iPod, Cook said. Kind of hard to believe given the iPod's ubiquity, but I guess that shows that maybe they're not as widespread as they seem (or, perhaps, there's a lot of room to grow internationally).
- 16 billion songs have been downloaded all-time from the iTunes Store, along with 18 billion apps.
- Cook took over as Apple CEO in late August, after Steve Jobs resigned due to health concerns.
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