Apple announces a refresh of the iPhone 4, complete with a robotic virtual assistant
Despite a year's worth of speculation surrounding the inevitable?iPhone 5, Apple spent today's press event talking about a brand new version of the popular iPhone 4. It doesn't have a bigger screen, or sleek new form factor, but it does give iPhone fans a new reason to be excited. The handset is called the iPhone 4S, and even if you already own the current Apple smartphone, there's a good chance you'll want to hop on board.
iPhone 4S: The S is for speed
The iPhone 4 was a big step up from the previous iPhone 3GS in terms of power, and the 4S continues that trend. Sporting the same dual-core A5 processor that graces the iPad 2, the 4S packs considerably more graphical prowess than its predecessor. This means more speed in nearly every function of the device, including playing the massive library of iOS games.?The new processor is roughly twice as fast as the previous chip, and can produce high-definition graphics at 7 times the speed. That's a big deal, especially as mobile games begin to approach console-like levels of complexity and scope.
The iPhone 4S sports a smart new camera
But it's not just the guts of the phone that have received an upgrade, Apple has given the camera some attention too. The camera's new sensor is a supersized 8 megapixels, up from the 5-megapixel resolution of the iPhone 4. The 4S camera is also designed to take pictures in low light, which has traditionally been a huge problem for cameras built into phones. The camera is capable of 1080p video recording, which will make all those candid clips even clearer, especially when viewed on large screens, and it comes equipped with image stabilization to avoid the shaky cam look of many videos shot with smartphones.
Talk to me
Touchscreens are already a big step up from mobile keyboards, but the new iPhone will let you find out information without have to actually touch the device. Using a newly-integrated virtual assistant called Siri, users can ask their iPhones for things like the weather forecast or good places to eat.
It even speaks back to the user. In the demo shown off at Apple's press event today, Scott Forstall, Senior Vice President of iOS software, was able to hold a brief conversation with Siri where the application found Greek restaurants and even let him know how many shopping days are left until Christmas. Siri can also convert your voice to text for messaging and calendar entries. You can reply to text messages with your voice and then tell Siri to send it off, never having to touch the screen.
Sprint joins the party
It's no surprise that Apple is widening its scope to include Sprint as a new provider for the iPhone. In addition to the bounty of rumors that have hinted at Sprint becoming a new Apple carrier, the iPhone maker is undoubtedly looking to make the iconic handset available to as many customers as possible. With Android handsets popping up left and right, there's no point in playing favorites any longer, and Apple clearly knows that.
For its part, Sprint is doing everything it can to make its iPhone plans the most appealing on the market. As the last major carrier with a still-intact unlimited data plan, Sprint's network is ideal for smartphone users. The company has been steadily ramping up its advertising campaign to highlight that its unlimited data plan is the only one left, and it will undoubtedly push to lure Apple fans to its ranks with the promise of capless network usage.
iPhone 4S, 4, and 3GS pricing
The iPhone 4S will be available in 3 sizes, and for three different prices ? 16GB for $199, 32GB for $299, and first-ever 64GB version for $399. All of those prices are dependent on a new two-year contract with whichever service provider you choose.
To sweeten the deal for would-be buyers who are yet to jump into the iPhone pool ? or who are still using a 3G or 3GS model ? older iPhone models will see steep discounts. The iPhone 3GS will now be available for free with a new wireless contract and the current iPhone 4 will be available for as low as $99.
Apple ? and, presumably other retail outlets ? will begin taking preorders for the new smartphone on October 7, and the device will officially launch a week later on October 14.
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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