iPhone 4 – world’s thinnest smartphone launched
“Like a beautiful old Leica camera.” That’s how Steve Jobs trumpeted the arrival of the iPhone’s most radical redesign to date – iPhone 4. And despite the numerous spy shots we’ve seen over the past few months, it’s even more beautiful in stunning pictures. We’ll have a gallery up soon, but first, the details...
New Design
iPhone 4 has glass on the front and the back. The flat aluminium sides carry machined buttons. And it’s the MacBook Air of smartphones – the world’s thinnest, at 24 per cent thinner than the 3GS, a mere slither at 9.3mm. The base has a mic, while the top-mounted headphone jack is joined by a noise-cancelling mic. The entire siding is an antenna system. Nice.
Retina Display
Apple has maxed the display quality to 326dpi – that’s magazine print quality. They’re calling it Retina Display. Despite rumours of a smaller screen, iPhone 4’s screen is also 3.5in with a 960x640 resolution and 800:1 contrast ration. Like the iPad, it’s gone for an IPS LCD which has a better viewing angle and sharper colour definition than TFT. Steve Jobs says, “nothing else will come close.” Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?
Innards
Until the iPad, A4 was a paper size. Then it became the iPad’s 1GHz engine. Now, fairly predictably, it’s landed in the iPhone. To get the most out of the space, Apple has also gone for a micro-SIM and used the extra space for more battery – 300 hours of standby! Apple’s also claiming seven hours of 3G talk, six hours of 3G browsing (now over wireless N), ten hours of Wi-Fi browsing, ten hours of video and 40 hours of music. Crumbs.
Gyroscope
Did someone say ‘portable gaming’. We are now, because the iPhone 4 has added a three-axis gyroscope. By combining that with the accelerometer and compass, Apple’s made it effectively a six-axis game controller. There are going to be some cool apps made with this. Hopefully we’ll think of the best one and become millionaires.
Cameras
And about time, too. Finally, the iPhone joins the legions of other smarties packing 5MP shooters. It’s got an LED flash and the sensor is backside illuminated, plus Jobs has promised pixels as big as in previous iPhones. The proof will be in the pudding on this, as with all cams. But that’s not all, iPhone 4 shoots HD video (720p) at 30fps. Plus, iMovie from the iLife suite is joining the iPhone (US$5) for improved in-phone editing with transitions and titles. Videos look fantastic on that new hi-res screen. Oh, yeah, and there’s a front-facing camera. Yawn...
iOS 4
Who? Yep – iPhone OS 4 is now iOS 4. Mail, as was announced previously, supports conversation threading and unified inbox. And there’s news for search, too – Bing is now on the iPhone.
Comments
hillrhys
1 year ago
My summary of the WWDC event: http://technokratos.blogspot.com/2010/06/summary-of-wwdc-2010.html
RandomJunk
1 year ago
Nice hardware (hopefully the actual phone part has had an upgrade!), some nice software features in iOS4 - but iMovie on a phone? Does anyone want that? I'm trying to get excited about having numerous iAds stuck in my face in every app as a 'feature' as well... Not to mention that Steve seems to think they've just invented video calling. I tried it once on my Nokia 6280 many years ago, and it worked ok back then - I could just never find any reason to need it. (Like most other people...) Maybe they'll find room to shove in a kitchen sink in iOS5.
MrSimpson
1 year ago
The specs definitely describe a continuation of Apples domination of the market but I'm still not convinced that I want one instead of a HTC EVO 4G.
An annoying little niggle is the lack of a physical camera button, the touch screen control gets really inconvenient.
kacey68
1 year ago
brilliant... but i guess to get it free on a contract it will cost £75 a month?? Or £35 plus £299 for the phone. Seems very good. Better build quality to any of the latest HTC's
ColonelC81
1 year ago
How dare they promote Iads as a positive? You pay through the nose for there products then your supposed to applaud them finding a useless way to fleece you? I hope that back fires.
djianm
1 year ago
Looks like a good product but others have got much closer(Namely HTC). Lets hope Apple price them to take account of this
Drunken Max
1 year ago
My worry is that the better resolution will mean that developers will stop developing ipad apps but just provide the apps for the iphone4 with the better resolution.
Drunken Max
1 year ago
It shows that the original iPhone was such a game changer because of how underwelming this is. They're amongst every other phone retailer now chasing the pack.
Apple website
"This changes everything, again"
They are so full of BS. Whens MSN coming to the ipad?
Drunken Max
1 year ago
Just watched the iphone Facetime video, they have some wierd ideas about where public wifi is available (hospital maternity units where you can't even have you phone on near a machine?)
SMG_UK
1 year ago
Samsung Galaxy S kills this phone in pretty much every area.
Especially the screen 3.5" IPS pffft 4" Super Amoled is far superior.
burlton
1 year ago
Looks to hit every spot for me, other than a slightly small screen and Apples lack of openeness (which won't change anytime soon). I will be getting one!
martin27scott
1 year ago
I can't stand Apple's marketing. They prey on those who don't know any better... So video calling is new and is called Facetime and a high resolution screen is new and called Retina Display is it? Pathetic.
As for the software side of things, I doubt I would prefer it to Froyo Android. It doesn't look like the software has advanced much to me.
I won't even be considering this as a purchase.
SMG_UK
1 year ago
Agree 100% Martin they make out like they invent everything and alot of people actually believe them pfft they even claimed they came up with the A4 processor when infact thats made by Samsung.
As for Retina Display they are just bitter they could'nt get Super Amoled.