Wed, Oct 05, 2011 | 09:40 BST
Dual core iPhone 4S hitting October 14 in US and UK
Apple has announced iPhone 4S at a press conference in the US today, with Epic’s Mike Capps confirming Infinity Blade II for release on December 1. The phone itself hits October 14.
iPhone 4S
Stage picture courtesy of Engadget.
The new phone will run on Apple’s A5 dual core processor, delivering double the CPU speed of the current iPhone 4 and “up to seven times faster graphics.”
You can watch a promo video of it here, which includes Infinity Blade II footage.
Mike Capps came out onto the stage immediately after the announcement to confirm Infinity Blade II will only run on the phone “because it’s awesome.” Shots of Infinity Blade II are below.
Battery life was addressed in the presentation: Apple said the device would deliver 40 hours of music playback and 10 hours of video. Nothing was mentioned of gaming endurance, however.
Reception quality for the new phone is to be “even better” than the standard iPhone 4. It will come with an 8 megapixel camera capable of f2.4 and an intelligent assistant called Siri was announced for it as well, which runs off voice recognition. What to know what the weather is like? Just ask Siri and it will give you a forecast using natural language.
Want to know how many Greek restaurants are in Palo Alto? Ask Siri and it will responds with “I’ve found five Greek restaurants, and I’ve sorted them by rating.” The virtual assistant will tell you when you have meetings, can respond to messages, and even tell you whether your are attractive or not (okay we made that last bit up). But it seems like everyone at the event is amazed by this feature, so it may be something you will want to play with on more than one occasion as it can also do dictation (like many a Mad Men secretary). Therefore, if you use an app where you’d type on a keyboard, you can now dictate it by voice instead.
Siri will work out of the box, but will “get better” as it learns your voice, English (US, UK, and Australia) plus French and German will be available to in the beta to start, with more languages and services coming soon.
All in all, iPhone 4S works on 3G and Wi-Fi, has an A5 processor, AirPlay Mirroring, a new antenna system, better optics, HD video, and the lovely Siri.
It comes in the following black or white models: 16GB: $199, 32GB for $299, 64GB for $399 for a two-year contract. Pre-orders start Friday, and it will arrive in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan October 14. In the US Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint will be the carriers, and on October 28, 22 more countries will get the phone, with 70 more countries getting it by the end of the year on over 100 carriers.
Full specs can be found over on Gamersyde.
iPhone, iPad, iPod
Earlier in the presentation, CEO Tim Cook noted that year-over-year iPhone sales are up 125 percent compared to 74 percent last year with iPhone 4 making up half of the overall iPhone market, with the smartphone taking up five percent of the overall mobile market.
“We have passed the quarter of a billion sales mark” for iOS devices he said, which broken down means that 250 million iPhones, iPods, and iPads have been sold.
Cook switched to talking about iPad, calling it the “undisputed” number one tablet in the world, and that three quarters of all tablets sold are iPads. Full-tabbed browsing is coming to the tablet with the release of iOS 5.
Scott Forstall, senior vice president of iOS Software at Apple, then took the stage to say that iOS is now the number one mobile operating system, and stands at 43 percent compared to Android’s 33 percent as of the July.
Over 500,000 apps are in the App Store, with 140,000 available specifically for iPad.
“That gives anyone who owns an iPad a better experience,” he said. “All of this together makes the App Store the number one store for mobile apps.”
So far, customers have download 18 billion apps, which is over a billion a month with Apple paying out $3 billion to developers as a result of the sales.
Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, announced the new iPod nano which will come in seven colors and will run you $149 for 16GB and $129 for 8GB. It’s available today.
iOS 5
Forstall mentioned the top 10 features of iOS 5, after noting that Hallmark is heading to the OS. One of these is swipe down notifications, like on Android, foregoing the use of annoying pop ups.
Other new features are Reminders, iMessage, Newsstand, and updated camera app, and a new Game Center which now boasts 67 million user accounts. The service will now allow sharing, uploading of pictures, achievements points and recommendations.
Safari updates were mentioned, a PC Free feature which allows you to activate your device without plugging it in allowing for wireless iOS updates.
Forstall stopped chatting and Eddy Cue, senior vice president of Internet Software and Services at Apple, took his place on the stage to talk about iCloud – which is free, apparently, as was continuously emphasized.
iOS 5 will be available October 12, with iCloud launching the same day along with a Find My Friends feature.
Lion and Shanghai
Cook said six million copies of OS X Lion have been downloaded so far, which is 80 percent more than Snow Leopard. It was also revealed that the Mac platform has grown by 23 percent since 2010, compared with 4 percent for PC, providing Mac with an install base of 60 million users worldwide.
“There are still 77 percent of people who are buying something else,” said Cook in the keynote. “What does that mean? We have an incredibly high ceiling here. We have a long way to go.”
Moving on to music, Cook said over 300 million iPods have been sold, and comparing to Sony Walkman casette players, which took 30 years to sell 220,000 units. 16 billion songs downloaded have been downloaded on iTunes.
It was also revealed that Apple’s new Shanghai store had 100,000 visitors its opening weekend, where as when the first L.A. store opened, it took a month to accrue that many visitors. Cook said there are now 357 Apple stores in 11 countries, and many more are coming to “raise the bar at retail.”
Namco game announced for iOS 5
Apple’s press event hadn’t even started when Namco’s Rise of Glory was announced as one of the first iOS 5 games to hit alongside the new iPhone. Joystiq got hands on time with the game today, and it’s a “WWI-based dogfighter,” according to the site. Originally set for a September release, it will now hit when the new iPhone does. A video is posted below.
35 comments
#1
Razor
04/10/11, 6:25 pm
Zzzzzzzzzz
#2
A4-F8
04/10/11, 7:29 pm
nothing new at all
well mwahh my galaxy s2
#3
Lahanas
04/10/11, 7:32 pm
Die Apple. Just die.
And Epic stop making games for non-gaming crap devices. Real gaming is on consoles and PC.
#4
Christopher Jack
04/10/11, 7:40 pm
I find it disappointing that so many people are willing to pay a huge premium for an overrated device like a Mac or any iDevice, when it’s competition offer just as much, or even more power for a much lower price, not to mention the added functionality.
I think that it’s mainly down to ignorance, people buying into the hype without even checking out the competition. Not saying that Apple’s products are bad, they’re actually quite slick, but I just personally don’t see how they’re worth it when they bring in the largest profit margins & forces a brass ring around your balls.
#5
AHA-Lambda
04/10/11, 7:43 pm
SWEET! I’m due to upgrade my phone from the 13th!! =D
#6
Cort
04/10/11, 7:50 pm
Don’t you love the way the world’s media hyped up an iterative release of a 15-month old phone?
And won’t you laugh as the world’s media and the armies of iSheep insist that this is another giant leap for mankind.
In fairness, at least the iPhone has (mostly) caught up with the Galaxy S2.
#7
JackTheLittle
04/10/11, 8:07 pm
apple is a shit!
i can surely tell now when i read this article.and its no wonder if people buy hyped apple products in america,thats what they’re doing whit samsung too!
its really pathetic though how their lives is bound to such medias…
p.s:that’s same with vg247?! why putting news about such crap on a gaming site!its no wonder though..
#8
Patrick Garratt
04/10/11, 8:09 pm
http://www.apple.com/iphone/#video-4s
Promo video. I added the link into the article as well. There’s Infinity Blade II footage in it.
#9
Suikoden Fan
04/10/11, 8:32 pm
might as well wait for the iphone 5
#10
IL DUCE
04/10/11, 8:34 pm
Only reason it will even be worth a damn is cuz of Infinity Blade II…which the first one was awesome on my iPod Touch…damn iPhone is just an ipod that makes phone calls anyway
i just got a new blackberry though, so this aint for me…
#11
DaMan
04/10/11, 8:37 pm
People were willing to buy an overhyped, overpriced Pos3 when it launched when they could get a 360 with a proper online network being there for ages, a decent library of titles and better looking multiplats for years. Now that’s true lunacy.
At least Macs are that much better than PCs.
Besides, Apple were the first with releasing the root, they were late with many of it’s extensions like multitasking but their implementations were flawless, hence it was worth the wait.
#12
Stephany Nunneley
04/10/11, 8:39 pm
Infinity Blade II shots and teaser trailer are in there now.
#13
Gekidami
04/10/11, 8:42 pm
@11
lol The toys are well and truly out of the pram now, arent they.
#14
Erthazus
04/10/11, 8:54 pm
“At least Macs are that much better than PCs.”
“a decent library of titles and better looking multiplats for years. Now that’s true lunacy.”
Said a Halo and Apple fanboy. Oh yeah man. Keep up the good work. I hope after few years you will finally learn how to send email from your PC.
“like multitasking but their implementations were flawless, hence it was worth the wait.”
you are so sad.
I hope they are going to implement flash support soon for you. I mean, it’s going to be worth the wait.
#15
Dannybuoy
04/10/11, 8:58 pm
Weeeheee. Fanboyzzzz! Emphasis on Zzzzzz.
#16
DaMan
04/10/11, 8:58 pm
#13 I know, it’s teh power of cell. You can do so much with it. That and a few years down the line you also got yourself a sub-par Live clone. Now, take iPhone: they were late to the party with multitasking yet it’s the most intuitive and easy to use implementation, perhaps bar Palm Pre.
Difference here is that people ‘re buying Apple’s electronics to use them.
If you’re going to get yourself a quality, quiet PC it’s going to be pricy either. Rest of the money you pay for the OS.
Erthazus, the fact that you spent years on this website waiting to get yourself a fuzzy feeling by commenting on controversial topics, yet failed to master the basics of grammEr is telling. Your logic is second to noone: anyone who argued your fabricated bullshit is a fanboy and a sub HD casual. Believe.
#17
Ireland Michael
04/10/11, 8:58 pm
Good job Apple. The feature set of your phone is only about a year behind my Galaxy S now, instead of two years.
Am I still stuck with your slow browser? Your dull music player? And your feature-lacking gallery through which I *still* can’t share my pictures directly to other apps or social network?
Yes? Okay, I’ll come back in five years then.
#18
LOLshock94
04/10/11, 9:04 pm
ive been waiting all year for iphone 5 and they just re release iphone 4 cheap cunts!
#19
OrbitMonkey
04/10/11, 9:14 pm
Lol, VG247 <3's iPhone. Seriously only 5% of that article was about gaming, 95% product placement.
#20
Stephany Nunneley
04/10/11, 9:25 pm
@19 You are so right! And the funny thing is I don’t own a Mac or an iPhone. Glad you called me out for the fangirl I am :p
#21
OrbitMonkey
04/10/11, 9:33 pm
^ Lol, you still do the bidding of your iphone loving overlords!! Your a fangirl through collaboration
#22
Stephany Nunneley
04/10/11, 9:43 pm
Right LOL!!!
I will remember that next time I cover an event of any kind 
#23
NinjaMidget
04/10/11, 10:20 pm
Bloody hell guys, bit too much hate I be hearing!
The thing is, the iPhone for many is a gaming platform and with 500,000 apps (a substantial amount of those potentially being games), it’s no wonder we get a big news bulletin about a dual core iphone.
Probably because this is potentially good news for gamers everwhere with more possibilities for a better games on a device that does everything else. No shocks that we are all hardcore gamers here but the mobile phone gaming market is huge now and should be treated with respect, as you never know what could happen with the consoles and pc gaming!
Well done VG247 for the good work!
#24
Crab of Thunder
04/10/11, 10:34 pm
Meh, sort of want.
#25
sg1974
04/10/11, 10:53 pm
This is hilarious. My FB feed over the last few days was filled with people wetting their knickers about the 5th coming. And now they are desperately trying to find a way to put a positive spin on the 4S.
Ill stick with my Galaxy S II, thanks. Best phone in the world today.
#26
sg1974
04/10/11, 11:09 pm
Woohoo. Nearly caught up with Samsung’s flagship.
http://media.gizmodo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/iphone-stacks-up-640×360.jpg
#27
fearmonkey
04/10/11, 11:37 pm
I’m probably going to end up getting one of these Iphone 4GS models unless they release something else around spring. The new phone looks pretty sweet except not being a 4G phone, which I expect they will sooner than later.
I have always been a PC guy, but i love my iphone and IPad2. Simply great devices, and the app support blows away android, especially if you use it for music creation like i do. I hardly play games on mine, touchscreen gaming is ok, not great.
#28
manamana
05/10/11, 7:19 am
They should’ve named Siri GLaDOS. With its voice output. I would buy it then.
#29
Christopher Jack
05/10/11, 8:30 am
Seems like Google+Samsung are going to blow this out of the water with the Nexus Prime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oM9RO-GAKjE
I hope that Ice cream Sandwich is more than just an ordinary update.
#30
damo110011
05/10/11, 10:41 am
fuck you apple pitifull upgrade get money out off all the apple suckers who think there stuff is best release iphone 5 in feb make them buy again but they wont moan because the apple followers have ‘MUGS’ written on their heads.
android is going to win
#31
Sadismek
05/10/11, 3:56 pm
I don’t know what to choose: iPhone 4S or Samsung Galaxy S I9000? I would like a true answer, not only “Galaxy”‘s better or “iPhone”‘s better. Cheers
#32
Fin
05/10/11, 4:10 pm
@31
I’d prefer a Galaxy S II myself – Android’s more open and you can do more fun things with it (getting apps that have system-level access), the screen on the S II is massive and the phone itself is a flyer. The iPhone has a much better (retina) screen, a bigger variety of apps, and iOS 5 means it finally has useful notifications, but I don’t think the extra cost really justifies it.
If it’s a choice between a Galaxy S (no II) and a 4S, go for the 4S – the Galaxy is getting kinda old at this stage.
#33
Christopher Jack
05/10/11, 4:23 pm
@31, Depends on what you want more.
The iPhone has better developer support, high pixel resolution, a simplified UI & software tends to be optimized for it.
The Galaxy SII has an open OS that will allow you to anything you can think of, you can play all kinds of media without the iTunes hurdle, you can customize your UI as much as you want with absolutely no limitations, & you’re not restricted to the Android market place for your apps, it also has a larger & more beautiful screen (there’s just no comparison between S-AMOLED & LCD) & it’s also cheaper.
You do know that the Samsung Galaxy S I9000 is the original which competes with the iPhone 4 right?
Also, Engadget has a chart comparing hardware http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/iphone-4s-vs-the-smartphone-elite-galaxy-s-ii-bionic-and-tita/
#34
DaMan
05/10/11, 5:39 pm
Tbh, you can do a comparison between those screens, and quite easily at that..
http://www.phonearena.com/news/NOVA-Display-vs-Super-AMOLED-Plus-vs-Retina-Display-vs-IPS-LCD_id18644
#35
Sadismek
05/10/11, 6:28 pm
@32, 33, 34 Thanks a lot, guys! When we’re talking about phones, I’m quite a noob
. Well, iPhone 4 has a very nice design, and that Retina screen looks amazing, but Samsung has Android, which is better than iOS because most of the apps are free. Also, Galaxy S II is cheaper than iPhone 4/4S. Correct me if I’m wrong, lol. So I guess I’ll get a Samsung Galaxy S II afterall.