A little more than a week into being acquainted with it, I have started adjusting my eyes to the gaudy, almost too pretty appearance of iOS 7. Well, I still think the whole thing makes my iPhone look like a children’s interactive book on acid, but I’m not stunned by the flashy colors, flat rotundities and revised swiping gestures of it anymore. I’ve also been spending some time with the newly introduced photographic tools and I definitely agree with those stating this was not a life-changing (as far as my way of using the iPhone is concerned) implement at all. Some of the said tools, like photo filters and Moments, are kind of cute but perhaps a little anachronistic given the quantity of apps that have been created to do more or less the same over the years. In general, it looks like the ideal audience for the iOS 7 is that of the iNewbies, and honestly this doesn’t upset or fill me with resentment. I can live with these trinkets as I was living without them before the release. And I don’t plan to upgrade and buy a new iPhone in the near future just because it’s more up-to-date and I can have the built-in flash do most of the thinking for me. I just don’t feel a need for it and if this turns me into a bad customer, so be it. I do have some complaints of my own, for instance the fact that running iOS 7 seems to drain battery faster and that I regret having to get rid of apps I heavily relied on for image editing because they’re not compatible anymore. With a few exceptions, apps in general feel a bit sloppier than before. However, I hope most developers will be able to catch up sooner or later.
In the course of today’s media event that took place at the auditorium of the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, Apple announced the release of two new iPhone models and confirmed the release of iOS 7 to the public for September 18.
We won’t cover the event in full, as you will find plenty of sources for this purpose, but we want to share the exciting news that will directly concern iPhone photographers—pros, amateurs and casual shooters with no distinctions. Continue reading “iPhone 5s and 5c Officially Announced”
The new iPhone 4S announced today by Apple will include an upgraded camera, as we had previously speculated. As a matter of fact, the camera was one of the main points during Apple’s keynote, showing the importance of photography on smartphones also from a marketing point of view.
The new iPhone 4S announced today by Apple will include an upgraded camera, as we had previously speculated. As a matter of fact, the camera was one of the main points during Apple’s keynote, showing the importance of photography on smartphones also from a marketing point of view.
In one of the most awaited keynotes in the history of the iOS platform, Apple unveiled today their next iPhone, the iPhone 4S. The keynote was held in Apple’s Town Hall room, where the first iPod was launched 10 years ago. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple after Steve Jobs resigned this August, led the show passionately.
In one of the most awaited keynotes in the history of the iOS platform, Apple unveiled today their next iPhone, the iPhone 4S. The keynote was held in Apple’s Town Hall room, where the first iPod was launched 10 years ago. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple after Steve Jobs resigned this August, led the show passionately, and was joined on stage by other Apple representatives. Phil Schiller, Apple’s marketing director, had the task to announce the iPhone 4S.
Tim Cook leading the show
While a lot of fans that were eagerly waiting for an iPhone 5 announcement are already voicing their dissatisfaction though social networks and on technology blogs, the iPhone 4S includes the hardware enhancements that most were expecting. And the best news for iPhone photographers is that improvements to the camera made up a consistent part of the iPhone 4S announcement.
On the outside, the iPhone 4S looks exactly like its predecessor; anyhow, all the interior components had a consistent upgrade. The main features of the new iPhone include:
– New A5 processor: same chip currently used in the iPad 2. The new iPhone should be 7 times faster than the iPhone 4 at rendering graphics, according to Apple and representatives of Epic Games, on stage to show the demo of their new game, Infinity Blade 2.
– 8MP Camera with improved optics: 5 lenses instead of 4, improved light sensitivity, ability to shoot 1080p videos, faster sensor, which coupled with the new processor should make photography and video processing apps considerably faster. We will have a separate article today with more discussion on the camera improvements.
– Siri: voice based assistant, which will allow users to interact with their iPhone only using their voice. While this might seem a software only feature, it will be available only to iPhone 4S.
– New dual antenna system: the new antenna system will improve reception and allows Apple to manufacture a universal version of their iPhone able to connect to both CDMA- and GSM-based networks.
– iOS 5 and iCloud service: both available on October 12. iOS 5 will include a new camera app version and new software from Apple.
iPhone 4S: Price and Availability
The iPhone 4S will first launch in the U.S. and in 7 more countries (Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan) on October 14th. Apple will start accepting preorders on October 7th.
The price of the iPhone 4s in the U.S. will be $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model, and $399 for the 64GB model. We could not find a list of prices for all models outside the U.S., but so far we know that prices for the phone without subscription will be £499.00 for the base model in the U.K., and 629€ in Germany and France (and I suppose in most of Europe, even though the price is not showing up in other stores yet).
Phil Schiller introducing the iPhone 4S
On October 22nd, the iPhone 4S will become available in 22 more countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland).
By the end of the year, the iPhone 4S will be available in over 70 countries.
iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS Prices
Both models will be available and will support the new iOS 5 features (with the exception of the Siri system). In the U.S. the iPhone 4 8GB will cost $99 with a phone subscription; the iPhone 3GS will be free with an AT&T subscription.
Stay tuned for a couple more articles: one highlighting the new camera features, the other discussing iOS 5.