[Techtaffy Newsdesk]
Apple has unveiled the iPhone 5, the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, with a 4-inch Retina display to boot. The phone also comes with the next generation of Apple-designed A6 chip, and a new connector. The iPhone 5 runs on iOS 6, a step up from the previous generation mobile operating system iOS5 with over 200 new features including a new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography and turn-by-turn navigation; Facebook integration; Passbook organization; and even more Siri features and languages.
Philip Schiller (Senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing, Apple): IPhone 5 is the most beautiful consumer device that we’ve ever created.
The iPhone 5 is the thinnest smartphone in the world, with a 7.6 mm anodized aluminum body that is 18 percent thinner and 20 percent lighter than iPhone 4S.
To support LTE technology, Apple is using a single-radio LTE solution. The iPhone 5 also features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for a wireless experience up to 150 Mbps.
Then there is the camera. The 8 megapixel iSight camera has been redesigned for the iPhone 5. and is 25 percent smaller than its predecessors. The camera in also features a sapphire crystal lens cover that is thinner and more durable than standard glass. The camera comes with the option of taking panorama images, with a feature that lets you capture panorama images of up to 28 megapixels by moving the camera across a scene. Video features include improved stabilization, video face detection for up to 10 faces and the ability to take still photos as you record. The new FaceTime HD front facing camera can also be used for self portraits and recording 720p HD video.
You my have heard that Apple is changings its connectors this time around, and you have heard right. The iPhone 5 features the new Lightning connector that is smaller, smarter and more durable than previous connectors, and is also all-digital. The Lightning connector features an adaptive interface that uses only the signals that each accessory requires, and it’s reversible. There is a Lightning-to-30-pin Adapter available to connect iPhone 5 to legacy 30-pin accessories.
The iPhone 5 introduces new audio features including a new beam-forming, directional microphone system for higher quality sound, and noise canceling technology. The phone now includes support for cellular wideband audio. Wideband audio will be supported by over 20 carriers worldwide at launch. The iPhone 5 also comes with Apple EarPods, or new earphones from the Apple stable.
iPhone 5 comes in either white and silver or black and slate combinations. It will retail for $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model.
iPhone 5 will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 21, and customers can pre-order their iPhone 5 beginning Friday, September 14.
The iPhone 4S will now be available for just $99 and iPhone 4 will be available for free with a two-year contract.
IOS 6 software will be available on Wednesday, September 19 as a free software update.
iPhone 5 will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries on September 28, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
You can find a complete list of tech specs for the iPhone 5 here.
[Images courtesy: Apple]
Upload: 09-17-12