With details about the iPhone finally released, Apple fans and gadget lovers everywhere have been taking a look at the new features on the device to see if the next generation of the world's most popular smart phone is moving in the right direction.
With details about the iPhone finally released,
Apple fans and gadget lovers everywhere have been taking a look at the new features on the device to see if the next generation of the world's most popular smart phone is moving in the right direction.
The new iPhone will be available by the end of June 2010 in America, France, US, Germany and the UK. This will follow a month later with releases around the world. But exactly what new features and fixes does the iPhone 4 have over the already refined and feature filled 3G S phone?
Display
Glancing at the phone itself you might not first register the changes in the display. However, while the iPhone 4 doesn't make the display any bigger, it certainly makes it much sharper and vibrant to the point where it's the highest resolution phone available in the world. Currently running at 960 by 640, what this means in practical terms is that the screen can handle more content while being the same size.
Apple have been making a noise about what they have termed a "retina" display. The 326 pixel per inch screen actually has more pixels than our eyes can process. The end result? The iPhone 4 is one of – if not the best – phone display available to date, which makes it perfect both for all uses, from basic websites to watching full movies.
As high as the resolution might get and as sharp as the screen might become however, 3.5 inches is still a fairly small screen compared to the iPad or a netbook, so its application is still limited by that. However, for people regularly using the iPhone to read long messages, browse web sites or even read books and lengthy pdf files, it will make a huge difference.
New Features
The most obvious new feature with the iPhone 4 is that it's being released with iOS4, the latest version of the iPhone's operating system which has been one of the biggest draws of the phone ever since the original model was released. There are some significant changes here, which include the ability to multitask, something long missing from the iPhone. There's also the ability to group applications into folders, which might not sound ground breaking but will be a big help to App Store fans with a massive amount of installed apps.
There are over 100 small changes and features in the operating system. In the past every step up the scale for iOS has resulted in an even more user friendly and enjoyable experience and it looks like this is remaining true in the latest version.
Battery and Camera
The battery life of the iPhone has never been great, but with the new A4 chip – the same one that's used in the Apple iPad – users can expect a faster experience coupled with a more efficient battery. Having the same CPU as the iPad won't make it as fast as the iPad though, as clock speeds can vary on the same CPU.
The iPhone now has a front facing camera, and while it's a tiny 0.3 megapixels providing pictures of 640 x 480 resolution, it's been designed to be perfect for the new video chat system which Apple have dubbed FaceTime. You can use the camera to talk to anyone else with the same system from anywhere you can get a Wi-Fi connection and you can switch between front and back cameras at will while on a call. Unfortunately this service is only available from Wi-Fi hotspots however, and not on 3G.
Finally the main camera has been updated and now support 5 megapixel shot with a 5 times digital zoom and built in LED flash, as well as supporting HD video recording. It might not be the best phone camera in the world, but it's certainly a step up from the older models and is much more in line with what you might find on other smartphones in a similar price range.
