For months PC users and Apple-holics alike have been buzzing about Apple’s big conference this fall, predicting it would announce the release of an iPhone 5. To the dismay of many, Apple only announced a new iPod Nano with features targeted at fitness gurus and an updated version of the iPhone 4–the iPhone 4S.
Letdowns
- iPhone 4S camera features are only up to par with competitor Android models. Eight megapixels is all you can do, Apple? The 1080P video is impressive, yet this is not the first smartphone to offer such high-quality video shooting.
- The “Find My Friends” app is like a creepier version of Foursquare and blatantly copies many other location-based smartphone applications.
- A5 processor speeds brings no major update and it really doesn’t set it above any of its major Android competitors
Highlights
One feature of the 4S actually worth talking about is Siri, the “Personal Assistant.” Siri is the closest thing to Artifical Intelligence that cellphones have ever seen. Tim Cook demonstrated Siri’s features during the 4S unveiling by asking, “Do I need a raincoat?” to which Siri replied, “It sure looks like rain today.” Siri can be treated like…well, almost like a person. Siri understands a wide variety of inquiries, which allows users to set reminders, send texts and search for something on Google all through voice commands. The voice recognition app is still in beta, so more languages will be added soon. (And also means there are probably plenty of bugs!)
Odds & Ends
- “free” iPhone 3GS with 2 year plan subscription, which actually doesn’t end up being free when the data plan prices are taken into consideration
- iPhone 4 coming to Sprint
- iOS5 updates
Although the iPhone 4S remains the same on the outside, its new features may be enough to send sales skyrocketing. The main selling point will undoubtedly be Siri.
What do you think about the new iPhone? Will the Siri personal assistant be useful for you? Leave a comment and let me know.
Nicole Scilingo 