The ‘Best iPhone Ever’ Is Not iPhone 5
- Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:26pm by
Liz Klimas
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The weekly rumors, countless product design concepts and even stolen prototype drama are all over — and there is no iPhone 5 to show for it. Apple’s much anticipated iPhone event on Tuesday anticlimactically ended months of rumors announcing a sequel to iPhone 4, iOS 5, iCloud and several new apps.
The updates to iPhone 4 — called iPhone 4S — make it what Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, calls “the best iPhone ever.” The iPhone 4S will be getting the same dual-core processor used in iPad 2, faster wireless data speeds, an 8 megapixel camera and full video capabilities in 1080p HD resolution. The iPhone 4S will start at $199 while the traditional iPhone 4 took a price cut to $99. iPhone 3G will be free with a two year contract.
(Photo: Apple)
CEO Tim Cook, in his first full product launch since Steve Jobs resigned, said during the event that Apple only owns 5 percent of the global mobile phone share right now, but more than half of the iPhones sold are the iPhone 4 model. This he says presents a great opportunity for iPhone.
Apple CEO Tim Cook as keynote speaker of Tuesday's event. (Photo via The Daily Telegraph)
To work with iPhone 4S, Apple announced Siri, a program that, according to the release, “helps you get things done just by asking”:
Siri is smart about using the personal information you allow it to access, for example, if you tell Siri “Remind me to call Mom when I get home” it can find “Mom” in your address book, or ask Siri “What’s the traffic like around here?” and it can figure out where “here” is based on your current location.
Watch how Siri works:
Alongside the iPhone 4S announcement was the launch of iOS 5, an operating system that will have more than 200 new features, and iCloud, which is a set of free cloud services that work with iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices. iOS5 and iCloud services will be available starting October 12.
Today, Sprint also announced its foray into the iPhone market. Earlier this week, it was rumored that Sprint could have had an exclusive deal with iPhone 5, which obviously didn’t pan out. The iPhone 4S will be available to AT&T, Verizon and Sprint customers for pre-order October 7.
Mashable entertains the question if Apple failed to meet expectations with its announcement today stating that even to the end of the event, reporters were anticipating a “one more thing” surprise ending, like those traditionally given by former CEO Steve Jobs. If the market represents how the general public felt about Apple’s announcement, it fell as much as 5 percent.
Mashable also asks the million dollar question: “Does this mean we have to endure one more year of iPhone 5 rumors?”
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Comments (61)
judostatic
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 3:33ami must say i am little shocked apple is supposed to be some god like company who innovates with every single release but then again the iPad 2 was kind of a lack luster release so not really shocking more like grasping for air in another few years apple will be back to where it was just another third rate company shame without steve jobs they will fail kind of sad
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:58amThat’s simply your problem, you have expectations of Godly powers from the wrong source.
Seek God, for he is creator of all things.
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:29pmWhat is sad is that you have misplaced your devotion to a company of all things. Personally, I like the innovations at Apple and they are the best of the best, so far. However I do not expect eternal life from them. That feature will not be out until 2099, minimum.
Report Post »Kevin
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:03pm@KMichaels
Report Post »Actually Apple is not all that innovative. A lot of the features that are being touted in the new iOS5 have been available on Android and Windows Phone for a year or more. Much like the Microsoft of old, yes they innovate, but a lot of what they do is to refine existing features and make them better (i.e. cut & paste and multitasking).
kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:18pm@Kevin “Actually Apple is not all that innovative. A lot of the features that are being touted in the new iOS5 have been available on Android and Windows Phone for a year or more.”
In other words, to you, if android or windows phone does any new feature that iPhone does not do yet, then that proves to you that they are more innovative? You seem like a nice person (I’ve read some of your other posts) but your logic is kind of weak on this one. The feature set of any product does not constitute the overal innovation of a company.
And when it comes to feature sets, I would rather have fewer features done professionally and consistently than many features done poorly.
To consider the quality of innovation requires looking at the bigger picture. Who comes out with the first mega successful products in various lines consistently? Apple. Surely not Microsoft. Surely not google’s Android.
Report Post »georgiavietvet
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:28amwhat is the fascination with the fancy cell phones? our phones are several years old, work just fine, never drop calls, serve us quite well. i guess maybe we are to old fashioned, but i just don’t see the need for a phone that does everything, but wash the dishes. it seems like a new phone comes every few months and people are obsessed with anything new and have to have it. makes no sense to me……………………
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:50pmSo, you avoid new things in all categories do you? New cars, new medicines, new gadgets of all kinds?
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:41amWho cares…Android platform phones > icrap phones.
Report Post »SoonerBorn68
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:34amExactly. Ya’ll can have that proprietary POS. I’m quite happy with my rooted android.
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:35pmI have android devices and apple devices. So far android is playing catchup to apple. And their new development path sucks on multiple levels. Android can’t even manage a routine update plan without being off by two fold or four fold. Their “inovations”, so far, have been nothing more than tweaking what Apple has already done years earlier.
Report Post »expertmagician
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:42pmI wonder if the voice recognition works well with background noise in the room ? or street noise in the background ?
We will see ?
Report Post »YUCON
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:19pmMy daughter and wife both have the IPhone G3 S and I just got the new Samsung Galaxy S2, they’re sorry, I’m not. I doubt if the new IPhone 5 will make any big difference. The Nexus Prime looks great to when it comes out, so Apple has some real competition.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 10:28pmApple is revolutionary in communications and information technology. Todays kids with Apple will be much more advanced than a Droid kid.
Report Post »meeester
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:39pmadvanced?
Report Post »lol
where do people, you, get that?
I just watched the head of the iOS5 discuss his supper exciting system.
My Mac Pro equipped wife is considering getting a smartphone after looking over my Android-equipped shoulder. While not the Apple fan-person that you must be she noted that all but two minor things presented were already things that we were doing on my Android phone.
To me, “advanced” means being ahead. This phone seems okay but it’s sort of like a second tier Android phone, with a small screen and a battery you can’t get to. (good thing it has that small screen, and who need Flash anyway?
advanced? silly person.
poverty.sucks
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:10amTo be honest, I don’t know what the Android does, or doesn’t do. I get all the information I need with the use of iPhone. Prior to the iPhone, had Crack Berry, however, I still needed a laptop or PC. When the iPhone was introduced, I was able to access the internet and complete tasks like no other phone could do and phased out the laptop. Apple “IS”, reaching out to Educators, and getting into the hands of our next generation in a scale that is unprecedented. Name any school that has the Android as its tool to the internet and provides education tools while not connected to the internet.
Name 5 things you enjoy with the Android.
Report Post »JBT48
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 9:32pmApple spent too much time with lawyers keeping the Samsung Galaxy S2 out of the US market(until now) to truly innovate their own product. Galaxy S3 due out first quarter of ‘12, or so the rumor is. I am waiting for the Nexus Prime announcement next week. Suppose to hit Verizon first, but follow out to AT&T after that with not so much of the company bloatware.
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:32pmThe lawyer team from any large company rarely if ever interferes with the development team of a company. In case you have not heard of it, companies are now into multitasking.
Report Post »JBT48
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 3:15pmIt is obvious they are not into multi-tasking with this long awaited though less than stellar announcement of the 4S. Samsung & Apple are going to go back & forth in courts for a long time to come over possible infringement(s) on every product that IT WILL STIFLE GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT of new technologies. Sad to watch honestly, but the lawyers will be happy.
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:01pmWhat would a stellar announcement mean in your book? How about if they called it iPhone7 and skip 5 and 6. Would that magically make it better to you? There are substantial stellar improvements on this new phone. If you are incapable of seeing them, then you don’t know what to even look for.
Report Post »bjflick
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 9:16pmMmm, pretty underwhelming! Just a place marker to provide some media fodder until iphone 5 is released.
This puts Android in a strong position, especially considering the Samsung / Google Nexus Prime / Ice Cream Sandwich OS upgrade announcement next week on Oct 11. Prefer the Android OS as way less restricted than iOS. APPL over the past couple of years is playing catch up trying to add features Android & other phones have had for a long time.
Report Post »jedi.kep
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 9:09pmit is a PHONE people! WHO CARES!
Report Post »sean_m.
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:37pmNo kidding!
Report Post »Jubie
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:52pmApple did this because they were threatened by the Galaxy s 2. the new Galaxy phone was just released in the US. it has also been out selling the IPhone outside of the US for a while. the IPhone 5 wasn’t even close to being ready. Apple did this because it was scared it would lose its market share to Samsung/ Android. So sorry to all the Android lovers out there, but you’re going to have to endure hearing how much better the IPhone 5 will be to your Galaxy s 2 when it comes out for quite a while.
Report Post »politicalxen
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 9:23pmGalaxy S2 is old news, the Nexus Prime will be out early next month and blow even the unannounced i*hone 5 out of the water! sorry Apple lovers, i think you guys will soon be old news. Just look at IOS 5, it’s basically copying everything Android…
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:37pmWon’t be an iPhone 5??? Waaaaaaaahaaa
Most users don’t need an iphone anyway but for the privledge of payingg $600 for their new toy, impressing all their groupie friends, they can now enjoy continuously wet pants. WoW !
Report Post »swampbuck
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:28pmmy wife has the iphone both my boys have droids , and with all the cool add on apps droid has it definitely rules
Report Post »dave88
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:18pmI am pretty sure the new iphone 5 will be a soup can with a string.
Report Post »swampbuck
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:17pmoooooooo another shinny toy from apple,,,lol DROID RULES…lol
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:37pmWhy does droid rule? List it’s obvous virtues over iPhone.
Report Post »Tear Em Up
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:55pmThe best iPhone, is a ‘Droid…
http://traffic.libsyn.com/mikeleeandterrymartin/Number_83_Oct._2nd_2011.mp3
Report Post »iSupportiSrael
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:10pmWrong.
Report Post »robinakilt
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:48pmApple you suck! I have been waiting since May to upgrade my phone and what you announced today sucks!
Report Post »iSupportiSrael
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:11pmWell, you are free to go out and create something better. Oh, wait, you can’t! You just like to bitch about things! Lol!
Report Post »Harvickfan29
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:25pmI love the iphone have the 4 right now will probably wait until January to get this so iOS 5 can be out for a while and there is a jailbreak for it. Love the iPhone but the jailbreak makes it so much better.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 9:08pmThe 4S is a world phone. There is expected to be an unlocked version available, if not immediately. As for jailbreaking – I don’t expect that to take over a month.
Report Post »Vapor Trail
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:04pmMeh, I can’t see spending money on a devise that has way more features than Ill ever need or use, and that tracks me even more than my current lo-tec phone does. When SHTF its just gonna get tossed in a ditch anyway.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:02pmGuess this’ll have to do. I was holding out for a new phone for over a year now, waiting for the i5. Oh, well.
Report Post »My old clam-shell style phone is falling apart, and won’t hold a charge.
I guess I could get the HTC (runs android).
The Siri thing should be great. It is artificial intelligence with voice recognition. Instead of trying to run it on the phone, it transmits what you say to an Apple server, which then interprets it, and acts on it, returning the requested information, or, entering items into you calendar, contact list, etc.
The BEST thing is, you can TEXT by TALKING so these idiots don’t try to TYPE while they are driving!
meeester
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:48pmold news, not only have I been talking to my phone for a while but it even harnesses Google translate so quickly that I can just about use it in mid-conversation. One of the many FREE translation apps even re-translates back to English to confirm that the original translation wasn’t twisted (i,e read, read, red). It has 8 voices to choose from that speak the chosen language so you can pick the one you prefer. I started using it a year ago, but I don’t think it was new then.
Report Post »At least your preferred company is catching up, well sort of, to the 2nd string of Android phones anyway.
kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:48pmApple iPhone has had voice to text translation apps for quite some time. Along with the android phones. However, nothing on Android compares to Siri. Siri is more than voice to text. It‘s strength lies in it’s AI logic built into the code. That and the fact that the Siri app has complete access to all the basic capabilities of the iPhone, all of it built in as a standard component.
Report Post »bluesguitar777
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:00pmmmm… git r done
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:46pmNot much of a techie, but my son,dad, mom all like their I-phones. I’m just not into it all.
Report Post »BigSky
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:40pmBiggest achievement is the voice to text recognition, bringing the iPhone closer to AI or artificial intelligence. Now not only will you be able to text using a virtual keyboard or launch apps with the icons on the screen, you will be able to dictate text messages and commands to the iPhone.
Report Post »rpp
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:39pmThat looks pretty cool. If it were not for the fact that the Apple iTunes Store censers Christian, pro-life and Pro-traditional marriage content, I might get one. As it is, I am boycotting Apple as long as they they continue acting on their anti-Christian bigotry.
Report Post »Ming The Merciless
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:55pmI haven’t heard about Apple doing this – tell me more.
Report Post »JesusFreak95
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:06amRPP, they also censor porn, so you have to take the good with the bad. At least the App store is mostly family friendly.
Report Post »kmichaels
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:41pmYou have nothing more than rumours and half-baked claims to back you up. Try again, sticking closer to reality next time.
Report Post »applehill
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:33pmReally I get to be first. Is that because no one else cares?
Report Post »one busy mom
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 6:32pmI’m more excited about IOS 5 than the new iPhone.
Report Post »Larryjr
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 10:33pmThis is where I am too. Can’t wait to play with ios5. To all the iphone slammers – I had em all, droid, blackberry, etc. I love my iphone.
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