Image credit: Anonymous uploader Maybe we were expecting too much from Apple this time around. Maybe we’re just used to big Job-era Apple announcements with whizzy new product and significant upgrades. The iPhone 4S announcement is no iPhone 5. Despite more than a year since the last Apple iPhone iteration, it’s time. Maybe it’s a parts shortage. Maybe Tim Cook is conservatively holding it back for marketing or accounting reasons as yet unclear. But the 4S — with few major improvements excepting the dual-core processor and vastly improved camera tech — is only halfway what iPhone customers want from Apple now. Overall, I felt robbed. Apple, rather than announce a thinner, improved-screen iPhone 5 that is a major step beyond what’s available now, chose instead to do a halfway iteration with the iPhone 4s it announced yesterday. It might bridge the gap — adding some speed via its new dual-core processor, improved antenna for CDMA/GSM, support for the upcoming iCloud and iOS 5 releases, plus a greatly improved camera — but it left me wanting. The 4S, available for $199 up for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, will be available Oct. 14 with iOS 5 and Apple’s flagship iOS 5 apps Siri (a voice-recognition system) and Newstand front and center. Here are the 5 big changes in the iPhone 4S and a side-by-side comparison of it and its predecessor, the iPhone 4. For me, the bottom line is this: Paying $199 (plus a 2-year contract renewal) for some speed and a whizzy camera just doesn’t do it. Maybe customers with old iPhones and contracts will be interested, but I’m waiting for a big leap in screen improvement, form factor and other improvements — in the iPhone 5 or whatever Apple decides to call it. It’s true 4S buyers will gain early access to Apples new voice-command app “Siri,” but even that functionality isn’t groundbreaking. Android-based phones have had more or less the same functionality for months now. Here is the full list of improvements and features in the new iPhone 4S, according to Apple docs. Apple lists the following spec list for the 4S on its website. For your convenience, find it below.
Mac computer with USB 2.0 portOS X v10.5.8 or lateriTunes 10.5 or laterApple ID (required for some features)Internet access
PC with USB 2.0 portWindows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or lateriTunes 10.5 or later (free download from Apple ID (required for some features)Internet access
Data: Apple Inc. Thinner? Really? Do you want a good camera and battery life? You have to have x amount of space for the optics and x amount of volume for battery. Wouldn’t you rather see battery life creep up at this point than shaving .1 mm off the phone? Bigger screen not yet technically a good idea. Thinner? Talk about diminishing returns people! What you do get in this upgrade is Not just a speed bump running the classic linpack test the 4 clocked in at over 36 MFlops the Ipad2 which uses the same A5 as the 4s does did almost 4 times as well. The improved graphics should also be amazing. Then you have the new camera. The old was great but this one looks to be the best available on a cell phone today. Siri is the big question mark. Will it be as good as the demo? If so I think people will be very excited by it. Really I think that it is popular to be down on Apple now so press is just reflecting that. So far no one has shown a good reason why they are disappointed. Screen size? What is it an ego trip or do you have trouble using the screen? I have an EVO which has a bigger screen but the iphone screen is very clear and easy to read. Thinner? What you don’t have room in your pockets for it? Good grief folks. I agree with you, if Siri is as good as it appeared to be, this could be an entire new game changer for Apple. Unfortunately I’ve never had any luck with voice recognition so I’m a bit skeptical. For now, my upgrade plan is as follows: Upgrade my wife to the new 4S (today she has a 3G). That will keep her happy for 2 years at least. My iPhone 4 will keep me happy for another year or 2. After that, iPhone 6 all the way! Hopefully by then it’s just a small piece of tape behind my left ear. Right ear is fine also. -S Comment
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