Tributes for Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs who has died aged 56.
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All Images: Press Association
If you avoided any mention of Apple/iPhones/events last night and just want the basics as apposed to another post about the fact we haven't got an iPhone 5 (we've all made peace with it now), then here's a round-up of the key facts:
The Guardian writes a misleading title about the iPhone 5
Before everything kicked off, The Guardian wrote a post announcing the iPhone 5 which seemed a bit misleading after everyone realised only a 4S arrived later in the night.
Apple officially announced its new operating system, iOS 5. Now we'd already heard a LOT about iOS 5 earlier in the year, but last night everything was set in stone, like iMessage, synced up reminders, more camera features and an updated Game Center.
The basics about the iPhone 4S
Apple then went on to announce the iPhone 4S instead of the iPhone 5 everyone was secretly expecting. We questioned whether the iPhone 4S is really a 4G mobile and whether Apple will lose some of its cool by only announcing an upgraded version of the iPhone 4 rather than something brand new.
Hands-on photos with the iPhone 4S
Apple launched Siri, a new voice recognition app
As soon as Apple announced Siri, we were reminded of Vlingo and all kinds of other developments we saw years ago.
Revamped iPod Nano and iPod Touch
Both of Apple's popular Nano and Touch iPod devices have had a shiny new revamp. The Nano gets multi-touch gestures and the Touch gets iOS5 and HD video playback.
Changes made to iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS prices
A few new price changes have been made to the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4, so there are now even more options for you to get an iPhone handset for free (as long as you sign up for a long contract).
Most networks in the UK will soon offer the new device
Most of the top mobile phone networks in the UK will be providing the iPhone 4S, and although there isn't any word on specs and price yet, many of them have set up registration pages so interested users can find out the details ASAP.
There's a really interesting article over about the new iPhone over at The Guardian, nope not that one, which takes the views of a series of analysts about the new handset. There are some very significant points, but the one that stood out for me was this one from Ming-chi Kuo, analyst at Concord Securities in Taipei
He says...
"The iPhone 4S targets users who are expiring on their two-year 3GS contract."
I am one of the many people who bought the 3GS the moment it landed on my network (Vodafone) and am now ready for an upgrade. All summer long I have been wittering about how I will see what the new iPhone looks like and if it doesn't cut it for me I'll buy an Android handset, probably one of the new Samsungs.
In some ways the iPhone 3GS was the phone that tipped me into the Apple camp. It had 3G, a very usable camera, and unlike its predecessor the 3G it also had a video camera. For me this was a big deal not just because I spent lots of time videoing my children, but also because it meant I could access all those new Augmented Reality apps.
There was no way I was going to upgarde to the iPhone 4. Sure it looked great, but I would never ever buy a phone that needed to have a nasty bumper around it.
So now then shouId upgarde to the 4S?
Yes
1It's best to stay with what you know - I know the iPhone interface very well, have loads of apps and I also like the fact that I own a similar phone to many of my colleagues so we can share apps and features etc.
2 The camera looks pretty special - From a specification point of view the overwhelming reason to upgrade is the new iPhone's camera. Eight mega pixels and HD video of 1080p. Its a world away from the low res VGA video of the 3GS. As for the enhanced camera - that's good to have, but as some wag commented on Twitter yesterday these days most of my photos look like they were shot on a toy camera in the 1970s (thanks Instagram)
3 There would be some apps that I would lose if I left the iOS camp - These include Instagram and some neat games. I think this might be less of an issue as time goes by though as Android continues its surge to be the world's number one smartphone platform.
No
1 The difference between what I have and the 4S simply isn't that great - As I said, the camera would be nice and the faster processor and enhanced screen are useful - but they are not compelling reasons to go for the 4S.
2 There are some very promising Android phones out there - I think that the Samsung Galaxy Note looks like a lot of fun, not sure how much I would use the stylus but the bigger screen size is a must (the 3.8inch screen of the iPhone looks tiny now in a world of tabets) and it has a faster processor too. It'll be interesting to see what HTC has up its sleeve and I am not going to write off Nokia yet.
3 By going Android I can still use all my iPhone apps - The old iPhone becomes a 'touch' so if I want to access my old apps or download new ones it is a very simple process.
Ultimately my decision will be determined by what Vodafone has to offer and how much it ends up charging. Also if I need a bumper to make the 4S work Apple will have have lost this customer for good.
But for now the iPhone 4 looks like a contender rather than a shoe-in.
What do you think?
The iPhone 3GS AND the iPhone 4 will now cost you NOTHING if you sign up to certain contracts with some of the UK's top networks.
The iPhone 3GS
The lowest monthly contracts are currently offered by Orange and Three, who both offer you an iPhone 3GS handset for only £20 a month. Obviously it might make sense to not go straight for the cheap as chips option as you don't get much data or many unlimited texts and calls, you'll also probably have to sign up for a 24 month contract too. However, it is pretty cool that you can now get your hands on an iPhone device for just £20 a month.
Click one of these links to view details from your provider: O2, Orange, Vodafone, Three and T-Mobile.
The iPhone 4
The iPhone 3GS isn't the only device which you can now get for free, all of the same networks are also offering the iPhone 4 free, depending on which contract you sign up for. It seems most require you to commit to an 18 month or 24 month contract and pay over £40 a month to get an iPhone 4 for nothing.
Click one of these links to view details from your provider: O2, Orange, Vodafone, Three and T-Mobile.
We know what it looks like (VERY similar to the iPhone 4), we know most networks here in the UK will be offering it, and we know it's going to be running the rather exciting new iOS 5. But how much will it cost?
iPhone 4S prices will begin at £499 without a contract for the 16GB model.
There's been no official word about how much the rest of the range will set you back, but we'd guess the 32GB would be around £579 and the 64GB would be around £659, but don't hold us to those guesses!
Oh and all prices are the same whether you opt for the black or white versions too.
Whether you're happy with Apple's iPhone 4S announcement or still a little disappointed the morning after, the important thing now is deciding whether it's worth upgrading to the new device and which networks will be offering it.
According to Digital Spy, so far it seems all of the UK's major networks have hinted at providing the handset apart from Virgin Mobile, but exact details and pricing are yet to be confirmed by anyone.
Orange has launched a page which asks customers to express their interest in the device so they can receive availability news ASAP.
T-Mobile, Orange's partner, seems to have a similar page but when you click on it the link is broken. We'll keep checking that and let you know when it's up and running.
Vodafone is pretty much the same story, with a quick off the mark registration page.
O2 has a dedicated iPhone 4S area too, with details from Apple's website about the new device. There's nothing about when it'll be available or a pre-registration section though, just an elusive "coming soon".
Three has a new page explaining it'll be stocking the device, but again no news of dates and no area to register for updates.
The biggest news yesterday at Apple's iPhone announcement has arguably been the iPhone 4S and the distinct lack of an iPhone 5, but what about changes to the iPod range?
Well, it looks like none of the models are being axed quite yet (as was rumoured last week) as Phil Schiller said last night, "I'm really pleased to talk to you about the iPod. We love music, and we're still making great iPods". In fact, there's even going to be new versions of the iPod Nano AND the iPod Touch.
The new iPod Nano range (pictured above) features a lot of shiny, colourful devices that aren't just about the music, there's Nike+ integration, multi-touch gestures just like Apple's other devices, FM radio and a range of different clock faces making your watch redundant.
Now although the device hasn't been completely overhauled, I do really like the way it looks and the new roles it's trying to fullfil.
Release Date: Right now.
Colours: Silver, Grey, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Red.
Price: £115 for 8GB, £129 for 16GB.
A new iPod Touch device will launch that'll be available in both black and white. It'll run iOS5, which means you'll have access to all of the new goodies, like Twitter integration, Safari's new Reader feature and most importantly iMessage.
Like the Nano it'll have built-in Nike+ support, as well as HD video playback, FaceTime and a much slimmer, sleeker design.
Release date: 12th October.
Colours: Black and White.
The iPhone 4S may look a bit too much like the iPhone 4, and it definitely has a boring name, but there are some great features packed into the new handset.
We've all been speculating about whether Apple will be announcing one, two or even three handsets at the big "let's talk iPhone" event this evening. We were scared the night may end with just one 4S handset (how right we were), but a news post on The Guardian website claiming an iPhone 5 would be on sale in a few weeks followed by the lines "networks poised to announce pricing of two new models on Thursday, with first phones available just over a week later" calmed our worried nerves.
So, imagine our surprise when after the dust had settled tonight we were left with a disappointing iPhone 4S and no other handset in sight. Yes people get carried away in the heat of the moment (I did for a few minutes tonight), but we couldn't help but feel angry that The Guardian had promised us a non-existent iPhone 5.
It's certainly not the first time a big British newspaper has jumped the gun with a highly anticipated news story this week. Yesterday the tabloid everyone loves to hate, the Daily Mail, published an article claiming that Amanda Knox was found guilty, when we all know now that really she wasn't.
We understand the importance of being the first publication to publish an important news story, but when we're talking about media giants like the Daily Mail and The Guardian and we're dealing with such instant online publishing, it's much easier to make a mistake but even harder to bury it away for no one to see.
Update: Gawker compiled a list of even more examples, which it called The iPhone 5 Failboard.
[Image via captsolo]
Today Apple has unveiled Siri, a new feature which lets you do things just by talking to your iPhone. Well, it's not like Apple unveiled Siri, it existed in its own right and Apple acquired it, but that's beside the point right now.
Basically it's Apple's new and highly anticipated new voice command system. You can use it to control the iPhone to find out what the weather, find out things from Wikipedia and most importantly of all, use it to create text messages and emails.
Now if you're thinking that sounds GREAT, why hasn't anyone else come up with this in the past?! Then you'd be right. Because they have and it's called Vlingo.
Vlingo is a voice recognition app and virtual assistant all rolled into one which aims to get things done and make you more productive and your life more streamlined. So, yep, pretty much exactly the same as Siri but available right now on most operating systems.
Visit the Vlingo website to download the application.
It's confirmed! Apple will be releasing an updated iPhone 4 in the shape of the iPhone 4S.
Almost identical on the outside to the iPhone 4, inside it's all business, and all updated tech.
With an Apple-designed A5 chip inside (the same as the one in the iPad 2) it's up to 2x faster than the original iPhone 4, with dual-core graphics capabilities that allow it be up to 7x faster for in-game graphic processing.
The iPhone 4S also has industry-leading battery life, managing 8 constant talk-time hours over 3G, 14 hours of 2G talk time and 6 hours of 3G browsing.
The wireless system has been overhauled to side-step anymore embarissing death-grip situations like those that plagued the iPhone 4, now featuring two antennas to transmit and receive. This should improve call quality, as well as speed up download rates by as much as 2x. In other words, 14.4Mbps download speeds are now capable, making it comparable to 4G speeds. Both GSM and CDMA are onboard, making it ready to take calls around the globe too.
An 8MP camera sensor, capable of 3264x2448 shots is onboard, managing to push out 60% more pixels than the iPhone 4's camera sensor. The new sensor also allows for 73% more light per pixel, as well as 33% faster capture speeds. A Hybrid IR filter means your shots should have far more colour uniformity and accuracy too. 1080p video recording will also feature.
Will have a detailed look at the iPhone 4S shortly, so stay sharp!
[Image via arstechnica]
So the jury is out on the Apple iPhone 4S. Those who were expecting a radical redesign are obviously disappointed, but it is clear that this is a sensible evolution from what has (in spite of its antenna problems) been a very well received mobile. That eight mega pixel camera, HD 1080p video recording and smoother processor at least mean that the new iPhone keeps pace with its Android rivals
One of the key enhancements is the speed at which the phone can access data. According to Apple 'data can now download up to 2x as fast. The theoretical max performance of the iPhone used to be 5.8Mbps up and 7.2Mbps down -- it has now been doubled to almost 14.4Mbps down.'
This was illustrated by a slide that highlighted the maximum data speeds of the iPhone and rivals like the Motorola Atrix and HTC Inspire 4G.
So does that mean that the new iPhones run on 4G networks? Well much depends on your definition of 4G.
All sorts of networks and handsets are currently available which purport to offer 4G services. Though none of them really offer 4G as we will understand it in say five years time.
And Apple's new handset runs on an enhanced 3G format called HSPA+. This is called 4G by AT&T (one of the US networks that has the iPhone) but not by anyone else. Also HSPA+ 14.4 phones typically really only run on real world speeds 1.5 to 2 Mbps. Contrast this with the service offered by Verizon which uses an early form of LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G technology. It can deliver data speeds five times faster than HSPA+ and sometimes even faster.
The iPhone 4S that will run on Verizon and Sprint won't even be able to access HSPA+ and will have mobile data speeds akin to standard 3G phones.
So what about the UK? Well Three is committed to rolling out a HSPA+ 14.4 network and hopes to have it across most of the UK by the end of the year. Vodafone has HSPA+ in most of its key urban areas as has 02. So the iPhone 4S should in theory run at improved data speeds on those networks. The other networks are running a little behind but planning to catch up shortly.
So to sum up then in the US the iPhone 4S will be able to compete with handsets like the the Motorola Atrix and HTC Inspire 4G on AT&T's HSPA+ network, and in theory will be quicker on Three, Vodafone and O2 in the UK. But if you want to see some real smoking 4G action you need to see the Motorola Droid Bionic on Verizon's 4G LTE network.
Underneath is a quick primer on 4G from earlier this summer.
What is 4G?
You may have been able to figure this bit out from the name alone; 4G represents the fourth generation of cellular communications standards, following on from 3G, and 2G before even that. In theory, 4G should allow for drastically faster cellular data speeds, perhaps as much as 10x as fast, which would allow for far faster download and upload speeds from mobile devices.
4G will deliver speeds of 100 Mbps for mobile applications and 1 Gigabit per second for fixed networks, making regular home broadband look snail-paced in comparison. In an age where downloading films, music and applications on mobiles is becoming increasingly prevalent, with higher-quality file types resulting in ever-growing file sizes, 4G will let streaming and downloading whilst on the go become a smooth, stress-free experience.
Are there different forms of 4G?
Yes there are. Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTEA) and WiMAX Release 2 are the 4G services which the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have classified as true 4G. In a format war similar to Betamax and VHS, it's hard to say which of the two 4G forms will be dominant, though LTEA seems to edging ahead at this early stage.
For instance, Verizon and AT&T both agree that; "LTE provides a more natural upgrade for [their] GSM/UMTS/HSPA/CDMA-based networks and subscribers - and GSM is the dominant mobile standard worldwide, with more the 3 billion global customers as of February 2010."
Can I get a 4G connection yet?
In the UK no, and that's unlikely to change until 2014/15 at the earliest. OFCOM are still divvying up the 4G spectrum in Blighty.
In the United States, the answer is yes via Verizon's LTE network. This isn't fully flavoured 4G as we will come to know it, but it does deliver very quick data download speeds. Even on slow days phones like the Motorola Droid Bionic work at a minimum of 10Mbps that's at least 10 times faster than 3G handsets.
T-Mobile and Sprint both claim to offer 4G connections in the USA, the truth of the matter is that these are more like 3.5G connections, as they are built upon HSPA+ (not LTEA or WiMAX Release 2) technology. They'll be upgradeable to true 4G once the network technology becomes available though.
When will the "true 4G" networks be available?
4G is a significant investment for the networks, with a complex array of antennas, towers and other such infrastructure to put in place before we will see the true 4G download speeds of 100 Mbps that the ITU categorise as real 4G. To that end, you're probably looking at 3 to 4 years, with some less-well-funded networks possibly never offering 4G connectivity.
Is it worth me buying a 4G phone then?
Not if you are in the UK. By the time the true 4G networks arrive, this first wave of 4G-enabled handsets may look quite aged.
Apple has just announced its new operating system iOS 5 will go live on the 12th of October and apparently contains a huge 200 new features. Wow.
Now admittedly some of these (OK all of these) features were expected and we're not going to bore you with every one, but here are some that we're excited about.
Notifications and the introduction of iMessage
Yep, we were definitely expecting this one. iMessage is the new iOS-based messaging service, allowing you to send messages between fellow iOS users, regardless of device. Text messages, photos, videos and contacts can be shared, and group messaging is also supported. Being cross-device compatible, all messages on an iPhone or iPod are mirrored on your iPad, and vice-versa.
Deep integration with Twitter
We were expecting the word "integration" to be wheeled out a few hundred times this evening and we haven't been disappointed.
Scott Forstall said at the announcement earlier, "we've integrated Twitter into many of our built-in apps. Tweet photos, web sites, videos, locations from maps." And then he gave a little shout out to Twitter's CEO Dick Costolo. How sweet.
A single sign-in menu will configure Twitter with all compatible apps, saving your credentials so you don't have to re-enter them every time. Twitter will also be integrated into apps such as Camera and Photos, allowing you to quickly send snaps to all your Twitter contacts, as well as send Safari pages and Maps data.
Synced, slick reminders
This new feature lets you create simple lists of things you need to get done, assign them to dates in the calendar, and even add a location too, geo-fencing your to-do list. It will sync across all your iOS devices, pulling the info into your Calendar app if you so chose.
A few new camera features and photo editing
There'll be a camera button on the lock screen making it much easier to quickly snap a photo and there are several new photo editing tools too, allowing you to crop, rotate and remove red-eye.
Safari with Reader feature
It looks like Apple is taking on the likes of Instapaper and Readability with Reader, which aims to "take the story on the page, we format it perfectly on the device, it's all loaded so you can just scroll through and read it."
Game Center gets an update
It's mostly a social update, displaying scores of your friends' friends, and also offering friend recommendations and game recommendations. Game downloads can now be made directly from Game Center, with turn-based games playing directly from the OS.
A PC free feature gets added
You no longer need to tether iPads, iPhones or iPods with a machine the very first time you use them, with a "welcome" screen running you through all the necessary set-up functions. Software updates are now available over-the-air, and as these are delta updates, only adjusting the specific changes made, you shouldn't be left with massive downloads.
Several years ago, when the iPhone was a mere twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye, Motorola launched an iconic new handset called the Razr. It was startlingly thin for a mobile, looked absolutely incredible and was soon the number one handset for any self-respecting gadget lover, celeb or fashionista.
But within a couple of years the Razr had become the uncoolest phone on the planet. Motorola had made so many of them and offered it in so many different guises that gadget-lovers, fashionistas, celebs and quite possibly your grandmother had moved on.
So why am I mentioning the Razr now? Well it is clear that Apple has a very aggressive strategy for its handsets and that means it is offering the 4S (which to be honest doesn't look like much of leap forward), along with reducing the price of its older handsets, in a bid to expand its reach. I just wonder if the iPhone, like the Razr before it, might just become a little too ubiquitous.
In some ways this is a strategy that Apple has to adopt. It is starting to feel the pinch from low cost, but better specified than the iPhone, Android models and will soon be contending with Nokia Windows handsets that may turn out to be a lot cooler than most of us are expecting. But I do think that when everyone on your bus has an iPhone, and I mean if you live in Northampton rather than North London, the phone itself might start to feel a little uncool.
Of course Apple has been here before with the iPod. Over its existence it went from the preserve of Apple fanboys to a music player that almost everyone in the UK seemed to have. Did it ever become uncool? Well kind of. The difference between the iPod and the iPhone is that the iPod never really had any serious competition (except maybe in its early days from Sony). If the iPhone ever becomes the handset of choice of your grandma then you have lots of other places to go. This has already happenned a little in the UK with the rise of the Blackberry among young urban kids. There are many reasons why kids lust after Blackberrys rather than iPhones, but the fact that the iPhone has become so ubiquitous among their peer group has clearly helped sell a few devices for RIM.
The reason why Apple execs probably aren't too worried is that the iPhone app market is still so far ahead of its rivals. Also I think this might be the last time we see a minor tweak to the iPhone. You can bet on some serious surgery next time (like the move from the iPod classic to the touch) or else that device will start to look a little passe.
Pic from Gdgt
So we now have the iPhone 4S with some significant enhancements. But I have a feeling that the thing that might get people in the stores to buy it is actually Siri. In case you missed it Siri is Apple's voice command system. You can use it to control the iPhone to find out what the weather, find out things from Wikipedia and most importantly of all use it to create text messages and emails.
Sounds great. But the odd thing is this is yet another example of innovating years after everyone else and then perfecting an application and repackaging it.
Pretty much all Siri's features have been available on the iPhone using apps like Vlingo. Siri itself had been available for well over a year before Apple bought the company in 2010, all they are doing now is incoporating it into the OS as a key feature. I remember writing this as far back as February 2010.
Similar systems are not just available for the iPhone, but on other handsets too and have been so since 2008. Even before that companies like the sadly missed Spinvox were experimenting with email and blog post via voice.
In the same way that Apple offered us Facetime - basically video calling which has been available and hardly used in the UK since 2003 - we are getting old features recycled.
Of course Apple's genius is that 1, it will work and work well and 2, millions of fanboys will think it is something new and innovative.
The potential fly in the ointment for Siri is that voice command systems are notoriously picky about accents. Siri never crossed the pond and it may still only be a US-product. UPDATE Looks like it will be UK after all.
Interestingly Vlingo has proved a lot more popular in the UK than it did in the US. So maybe Americans are quite as keen on voice control systems as Apple thinks. Also there are some pretty negative reviews of Siri on the iTunes site. Let's hope that the new version is much improved.
Finally
Thanks to some clever digging around by 9to5mac images of Apple's new iPhone 4S are already on Apple's main website.
As you can see it looks VERY similar to the iPhone 4 model, but the Newsstand app icon on the homescreen tells us it's running iOS5 instead of iOS4, just in case you were convinced we were just showing you a photo of two iPhone 4 handsets to keep you entertained!
Great spot by the team at 9to5Mac who noted the early arrival of the iPhone 4S on Apple's Japanese website.
The interesting part is that the phone will retail for 10,800 yen, which is apparently 30% cheaper than the iPhone 4. So maybe those rumours about an cheaper iPhone to take on the Android handsets is bang on.
The phone will be available in both black and white.
Story here
We know you're excited about the new iPhone 5 announcement, reading about it, looking at photos of it and being the first of your friends to tweet about it. BUT HOLD YOUR HORSES.
A number of evil little scammers are piggybacking on our obsession with Apple by tricking people into installing malware onto their computers, according to Macworld.
The scammers have mocked up a fake (and stupid) photo of what they think the new device will look like, which they've named the iPhone 5GS and have included it in an email alongside two lines of text which read "Available Friday. In store or delivered to your door." Urgh, hello, ALARM BELLS.
If you're thinking the handset looks a little familiar, then check out the Sony Ericsson Pureness which we featured in our fashion phone list a few weeks ago.
The web is awash with iPhone rumours but we are going to take this one seriously. The Guardian has just posted that there are two new iPhones on their way - the iPhone 5 and an upgraded 4 - and they will be on sale in the UK on October 14th.
A 'source' told the paper.
"All we know is, there will be two devices, we will put our pricing in to Apple as soon as Tim Cook goes on stage, and we hope to get agreement to announce prices on Thursday," said a source at one UK operator, who also confirmed the 14 October shipping date.
According to The Guar the other big news is that all five UK networks will have access to the new phones on day one. Carphone Warehouse is understood to have done a deal directly with Apple for the first time, which means it will be able to sell phones "unlocked" - free from contracts with particular networks.
Well as rumours go this sounds pretty on the money. We'll find out soon enough
A new study compiled by Professor Michael Waterson, an economy analyst at the University of Warwick, suggests that the UK is full of tech snobbery and obsessive early adopters.
Waterson has predicted that Apple fans here in the UK will actually be willing to part with their pennies and pay three times the RRP for the new iPhone 5 device set to be announced later today, just so they can get their hands on it earlier than anyone else.
The predictions come after Waterson analysed eBay transactions following the launch of the iPhone 4.
"For the 16GB version of the phone, 98% of sales completed at a value in excess of the listed retail price of £499. The average price was £640.35 and the maximum achieved was £1,180. For the 32GB version of the phone, 97% of the sales completed above the listed retail price of £599. The average price was £778.73 and the maximum price achieved was £1,551."
One of the main reasons for such inflated prices on eBay was due to the stock shortages of the last device, so it'll be interesting to see how the iPhone 5 will fare and whether some crazy people with money to burn will really spend over a grand on it. Come on guys, it's only a phone after all.
[Via Tech Digest]
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