Apple Does it Again

Despite, Steve Jobs's death, Apple has been keeping its pace in advancing technology. In case you didn't hear, the iPhone 4S is out. Some fans were hyped up for a laser keyboard or 3D viewing, but Apple met only some of the expectations and may be saving these "inventions" for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S makes use of iOS 5, bringing over 200 new features. One dominant addition is the notification center, where Apple uses the same idea as Android's notification toolbar. The iPhone 4S's body looks are similar to those of the iPhone 4, although antennae technology is improved. Several new features have been added, revolutionizing the invention of the smartphone again.

Siri
Still in its beta stage, Siri is Apple's answer to smart voice-text conversion. Apple designed this application to intake "regular" commands, just as if you were talking to your friend. When on the run, users just speak to their phone, which then Siri converts the speech into an application prompt or text message. For example, if I were to say "Where's the closest ATM?" Siri would translate this into a map search for nearby ATM locations and provide you with a handy list. Text messaging is also one of the dominant services, through which Siri sends a text message to a designated contact by a voice command. The application is also programmed to accept natural human errors, including "hmm and ahh." Siri is designed to open specific programs on the phone, including calendar, SMS, weather, maps, email, contacts, alarm, stocks, and asking about Siri itself. The only problem with too many commands is that it can lead to confusion of both the user and application, becoming useless in handling tasks. Siri completely sets the iPhone 4 and 4S apart, being one of the major differences.

Dual-Core A5 Chip
As with Apple's past phones, the graphics, performance, and battery used by the chip is greatly increased in terms of efficiency. Short battery life, famous after the iOS 4 update, has been increased; a single charge delivers up to 8 hours of talk time through 3G and 6 hours of surfing the internet. The display quality has also been increased, and surfing the web can reach up to 2 times faster.

Camera
HD camera or iPhone? Or both? The iPhone 4S's camera is made up of 8 megapixels, accomplishing high-definition picture and video taking. The iPhone 4S has 60% more megapixels than its predecessor. The aperture has been increased to f/2.4, allowing more light to come through. Light is balanced throughout the photo, and a fifth lens has been added for even clearer views. Autofocus on the phone is enhanced to recognize faces more easily. Feedback after clicking the picture-taking button is faster than before, enabling less blurry photos. The camera button is accessible through the lock screen, allowing easy access when taking a one-chance photo.

The Cloud
Along with iCloud, AirPlay and AirPrint both make use of cloud technology, allowing users to connect to devices without the need of wires. You can now set up your iPhone without the need of connecting to a PC or Mac. The iPhone 4S is now a worldwide phone, broadcasting over 3G and GSM networks. Battery drain is less over GSM, as quality and other connection factors pitch in.

Comment on what you think about Apple's new device and what you'd like to see in the future iPhone.