Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about the iPhone 4S during an announcement at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (Associated Press)
And the moment you’ve all been waiting for…allow me to introduce the iPhone 4S.
After suspense built for 30 minutes, Apple’s newly appointed CEO, Tim Cook, announced the newest member of the iPhone family: the iPhone 4S. The new iPhone will be available starting Oct. 12.
The iPhone 4S may not look new physically, but it’s received a highly improved system makeover. It will run on software called iOS 5, which is also compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 1 and 2 and the third and fourth generation of the iPod Touch.
Noteworthy features on the new iPhone 4S include a variety of new applications, an upgraded camera along with a faster and improved Safari browser.
The Cards application allows users to create their own greeting card personalized to his or her liking. The card will be printed and delivered via the United States Postal Service. Not only does it allow the user to send the card via USPS, it only costs $2.99 for U.S. delivery and $4.99 for international delivery. What’s more is that the application allows you to track the status of your card from the moment it’s been picked up until it has been delivered.
Another application is iMessages. This new app allows iOS 5 users to send messages to one another. It’s essentially another means for users to communicate with one another without relying on text messaging.
The Reminders application allows users to make a reminder within the phone just as before, but there’s a twist. iOS 5 can now locate your phone and sync to your reminders. For instance if you made a grocery list on your phone, it would remind you of your list if you were passing a grocery store nearby.
However, there might be a downside for students who hope to elude their parents. The new system allows for another new application called Find My Friends. The application is intended to share your location with other users, but parents can also use this to locate their children. The trick to this application is that you have to authorize sharing your location.
The new camera that is built into the iPhone 4S can now be accessed from the lock screen position.
And that’s not all. The new camera includes other tools that allow for the user to crop, reduce red eyes, rotate the photo and more.
The most captivating new feature of the iPhone 4S that is exclusive to the phone is the Siri Voice Interface. Users activate the interface by holding the home button and speaking to the phone. From the examples used in the conference, Siri Voice Interface seems to be able to handle most all questions asked to it and even allows users to request reminders that will be redirected to the new Reminders application.
