Apple Announces iPhone 5 1052
Today Phil Schiller took to the stage at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, where he announced the long-expected iPhone 5. The casing is made entirely of glass and aluminum, and it's 7.6mm thick, which is 18% thinner than the iPhone 4S. It weighs in at 112 grams, which is 20% lighter than the 4S. Schiller confirmed that the iPhone 5 has a 4" display, with a resolution of 1136x640. It's a 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen is the same width as a 4S, but it's taller. To accommodate older apps, they either center the app or add black bars to make it look right. The new device also has LTE support. Tim Cook spoke earlier about the iPad, making some interesting claims: "Yes, we are in a post-PC world." He also claimed 68% tablet market share for the iPad, and says iPads account for 91% of tablet-based web traffic. The event is continuing, and we'll update this post as further announcements appear. A real-time liveblog is being quickly updated at Ars Technica. Update: 09/12 18:16 GMT by S : Further details below.
Further details: for the iPhone 5, Apple also added support for HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA. The dynamic antenna is an improvement over the 4S, and can switch connections. In the U.S. LTE partners are AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. On to processing: the iPhone 5 runs an A6 chip that's twice as fast as the A5, in addition to being 22% smaller. Rob Murray from EA got up on stage to show a racing game, claiming that the graphics "have been built to full console quality." Battery life for the phone will be roughly 8 hours for either 3G talk-time or browsing. Engadget has a feature-by-feature comparison to the 4S.The new phone's camera has an 8-Megapixel sensor, with a resolution of 3264x2448. It includes a hybrid IR filter, an f/2.4 aperture, and a five element lens. And a sapphire crystal lens cover, for whatever that's worth. There's a new feature for taking panorama shots (claimed 'breakthrough software,' though similar software already appears on actual cameras), and new software for automatically sharing pictures.
Apple also detailed the new connector, dubbed 'Lightning.' It's entirely digital, and 80% smaller than the old connector. It can be plugged in in either direction. Apple has created a bunch of adapters to let old cables and hardware work with Lightning. They then spoke at length about iOS 6, which will run on the iPhone 5, and demonstrated their new Maps app, which includes turn-by-turn directions (also in 3D using a 'cinematic camera'). "Apple is betting heavily on Passbook and other features to give it a leg up in the competition over Google Android and the upcoming Windows Phone 8." Pre-orders for the iPhone 5 start on Friday, and the device will start shipping on September 21. iOS 6 will roll out on September 19.
Apple's Eddie Cue went on stage to discuss changes to iTunes and the iPod. iTunes has been redesigned to work better on the iPad, and, more importantly, iCloud integration has been built in. They've also made a 'mini-player,' which takes up much less screen real estate. The new iTunes will be available in late October. Changes are coming for iPods as well. The new iPod nano looks like a mini iPod Touch. It's 38% thinner than the previous model, but has a bigger, 2.5" multitouch display. It contains an FM tuner with DVR functionality, it has a Home button, and it uses the Lightning connector. The iPod Touch is now 6.1 mm thick and weighs 88 grams. It has a Lightning connector port too, in addition to the headphone jack. The screen is bigger; it's a 4" display, the same as the iPhone 5. It runs on a dual-core A5 processor that's twice as fast as the previous model. Graphics are claimed to be seven times faster. The battery allows for 40 hours of audio playback or 8 hours of video playback. The camera has been upgraded to a 5MP sensor. The iPod Touch comes in colors now. But not grape. Apple also took the wraps off what they call "EarPods." They're like earbuds, but they don't form a seal within the ear. They let air flow continue, and a tiny speaker directs the sound into the ear. The EarPods will come standard with the iPhone 5 and with the new revisions of the iPod Nano, and iPod Touch.
Re:Still not HD? (Score:1, Informative)
For a company that wants to be seen as being on the leading edge they could have at least tried competing with the GS3.
Samsung must be laughing their asses off.
Galaxy s3 all the way baby, the iPhone 5 is a lemon.
Re:meh (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Still not HD? (Score:5, Informative)
To be fair, the GS3 was released only 3 months ago. I don't know if it would be possible for them to adjust their design in the time between the specs for GS3 being released and their production needing to start. Now not competing with the display on the Galaxy Nexus (also a full 720p display and released 9 months ago)... that's a bit harder to understand.
Re:meh (Score:5, Informative)
If you are waiting for something for 2 years, and the competitors are already offering it, it's not impressive, but just about caching up with competition.
Re:Remember CmdrTaco's story for the first iPhone? (Score:5, Informative)
No, I don't remember that. Because it was CmdrTaco's story for the first iPod.
Same 640 pixel width (Score:5, Informative)
1136x640? What kind of crack-smoking resolution is that? It's not any kind of standard and it isn't an integer multiple of the existing iPhone resolutions.
It's an exact 1x the 640 pixel width of the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPod touch 4. As I understand the summary, retina apps will look the same, just with borders on the top and bottom.
Re:Apple can't use LTE (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Oh yeah?? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:demographic? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Meh (Score:3, Informative)
Nevermind that Samsung also sued Apple. Nevermind that the iPhone was banned for two years in Korea.
Fanboy tautologies that would be mocked if they were coming from Apple users.
Why people can't just be happy that there is innovation and competition in the smartphone market....
Re:Remember CmdrTaco's story for the first iPhone? (Score:5, Informative)
Seriously, go check this out. They're going to print money with this thing.
And that they did...
Re:Obligatory TheOatmeal Reference (Score:2, Informative)
Accidently modded overrated instead of underrated. Commenting to undo moderation :(
Re:meh (Score:3, Informative)
Here he is [youtube.com]
Re:Post-PC world? (Score:4, Informative)
They don't realize that they hold a PC in their hand which just so happens to have a phone app.
They don't want a PC in their hand. It's scary complicated.
Re:Meh (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.crn.com/news/networking/220100939/south-korea-lifts-apple-iphone-ban.htm [crn.com]
Google is your friend.
Re:Meh (Score:4, Informative)
There is still no serious Android competitor to the new iPad, with its unparalleled 2048x1536 display.
Did you hear about the 1920x1200 Amazon Fire HD for $299? It's 8.9" rather than 10", but it is still a very serious iPad competitor.
Re:meh (Score:4, Informative)
3G worldphone, LTE, and decent battery life. This is actually impressive, though we've been waiting 2 years for it.
If it let you out of the Apple sandbox if you wanted, then it would be the best smartphone by far. But that sandbox is a major detractor.
Note just the 3G is worldphone. There will be separate iPhone 5 models for international LTE. From http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html [apple.com] there are 3 models:
* GSM model A1428*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)
* CDMA model A1429*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)
* GSM model A1429*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)
Re:iOS had pano before (Score:5, Informative)
Samsung's panorama feature has been around since at least the Omnia. And it was a function in the Phone app, not a separate app.
No, not letterboxing. Apps already deal with this (Score:5, Informative)
Wow, letterboxing? Really? Really? Did Apple just never learn how to make an API for UI elements that doesn't suck?
Yes, in fact they did it from the release of the SDK.
An app has ALWAYS had to take into account the screen might shrink somewhat for an incoming call; it increases the header size.
The same auto-layout logic (again present since the release of the SDK) would also handle simply expanding an app to fill the screen. Some apps might look a little funny until they get updated, but not too bad.
If Apple had increased the WIDTH, then there would have been major issues as many fewer app developers plan for that varying.
The question is if Apple is going to let apps auto-resize, or if they will present bars until you re-compile and re-submit the app. But the point is that apps already are handling variable heights to some degree so this is not a tricky thing.
Lines will be short (Score:4, Informative)
Samsung was waiting for the presentation to have an official confirmation that iPhone 5 will have LTE...
Now, they'll ask for a ban of the device and people who will preorder will take the risk of waiting for ages before having their brand new phone...
So the lines may be quite short after all... Because people want their breand new toy NOW and not in a uncertain future...
Re:Durability (Score:5, Informative)
Re:remember when slashdot was good?! (Score:0, Informative)
“Apple’s iOS is well-developed, but it is actually now the oldest mobile operating system, older than Android, webOS, Windows Phone, while BlackBerry 10 is now the newest mobile platform.”
Thorsten Heins, CEO, Research In Motion, 7 Feb 2012
Me, I prefer 'Real Artists Ship'
Re:Same 640 pixel width (Score:5, Informative)
Wow, letterboxing? Really? Really? Did Apple just never learn how to make an API for UI elements that doesn't suck? No, that's not right, Cocoa was fine; they must have just reinvented the wheel for iOS, poorly.
There is an API. There are two actually, springs and struts and (as of iOS 6) autolayout. Exact same APIs that were on the Mac side.
The problem is developers, unless they supported the iPad as well, tended to ignore these APIs meaning if Apple just starts resizing apps they'll probably break a lot of bad code. Or things like games that only planned on targeting the original resolution.
So Apple played it safe and stuck apps compiled for iOS 5 into a legacy mode.
Re:Fragmentation (Score:5, Informative)
Well they can't. The API doesn't give developers that capability. Other programming environments (ie, Android, Java, Windows... pretty much all of them) work with a layout system that doesn't guarantee exact positioning very well, but does work on different aspect ratios and densities automatically. iOS uses absolute positioning, so developers have to code specifically to each new screen (save for some special cases where they can get away with it, ie doubling of linear density).
iOS has supported dynamic positioning since iOS 2. Bad developers use absolute positioning, not iOS.
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/UIKit/Reference/UIView_Class/UIView/UIView.html%23//apple_ref/occ/instp/UIView/autoresizingMask [apple.com]
There have always been at least two screen sizes in iOS. Portrait and landscape. iPad adds two more.
The "iOS doesn't support dynamic layout" thing is something I see thrown out by Android developers/supporters all the time, and it's just not true at all.
Re:Why do you need them? (Score:4, Informative)
How is it hypocritical to hope Samsung gives Apple a taste of their own medicine?
Note: Samsung's upset about a patented technology they actually own and invented. Apple sued over mostly design patents that many places in the world mock because they simply shouldn't be patentable. Also it seems quite likely that Apple's own patents will be overturned on appeal since prior art was ignored by the jury.
Re:remember when slashdot was good?! (Score:5, Informative)
Ok, dumb-dumb, you're mixing up NFC with RFID.
No he's not. Disabling the NFC chip, if possible, is the second thing I'd do if I was forced to own a phone that had such functionality -first, I'd not buy one. RFID was a precursor to NFC. It's main benefit is two-way communications, not just one-way.
NFC standards cover communications protocols and data exchange formats, and are based on existing radio-frequency identification (RFID) standards including ISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa.[3] The standards include ISO/IEC 18092[4] and those defined by the NFC Forum, which was founded in 2004 by Nokia, Philips and Sony, and now has more than 160 members. The Forum also promotes NFC and certifies device compliance.[5]
NFC builds upon RFID systems by allowing two-way communication between endpoints, where earlier systems such as contactless smart cards were one-way only.[6] Since unpowered NFC "tags" can also be read by NFC devices,[2] it is also capable of replacing earlier one-way applications. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_field_communication [wikipedia.org]
Besides, as we use these little computers (with cellphone functionality, attached), we can expect our information on them to be compromised through many vectors. If I were Apple, I'd have made sure that all personally identifying info (contacts list, notes, browser history, etc) on the iPhone was encrypted out of the box. No app could take data from any other app if they were secured with powerful encryption. I'm not a Luddite, but I'm at the point where I'm giving up my iPhone for a cheap Motorola clamshell. I just don't need all those 'bells and whistles', nor the headaches from losing my entire checking account to someone with a sniffer in a crowd... nor the poor service from AT&T, inconsistent billing, and their iPhone tax.
Re:Meh (Score:5, Informative)
You mean, other than the Asus screen being brighter and having better viewing angles?
Re:No contract plans? (Score:5, Informative)
I'd like to buy one outright and go w/ a no-contract plan. Anyone know how that works?
Yes Apple User I can help you here, it works well and is pretty easy.
When they are available, you go to the store and tell the salesperson that you would like to buy an iPhone 5. The salesperson says 'ok' and grabs one and then tells you what the price is for an iPhone 5 with no contract. You then use your payment method of choice and pay the correct amount of money. Once the transaction is completed, the salesperson hands you your new iPhone 5. You then walk out of the store.
Congratulations, if you have made it this far, you have done what we in the industry call a "purchase". You have now "bought" an iPhone 5 and in most cases you now "own" it.
Please reply if you have trouble understanding these instructions, and Ill do my best to explain how this "purchasing" process works.
Re:This pisses me off for so many reasons... (Score:5, Informative)
The biggest difference between Google Maps and Apple's maps is not immediately obvious. Apple get their mapping data from other companies, for example with TomTom supplying street data. That is what Google was doing about five years ago when they decided to start their own data gathering project, of which Street View was just a part.
Google analyses Street View images for things like speed limit and junction signs, the names of businesses, numbers on the front of houses, street signs, road markings and so forth. This gives them a lot of metadata about the world. They also gather data from their users, and allow corrections to be made very quickly (TomTom only releases data sets a couple of times a year, and often things like removed speed cameras take years to disappear).
Google doesn't just map the world, it understands it. Maybe in a few years we will see Apple cars driving around photographing our streets but from the point they are at now they have a long, long way to go to catch up with Google.
Re:remember when slashdot was good?! (Score:5, Informative)
Little bit paranoid I think. Remotely transacting with NFC isn't practical. If you have a big enough signal to activate it you will everything in range and bugger up all kinds of other radios. When the response comes back it will be incredibly low power so you will need an amazing and very bulky receiver to catch it from more than a few centimetres away. Under ideal conditions.
Maybe someone could brush past you and transact with the phone in your pocket. They would have to linger a moment for it to happen though. Even then the payment systems don't actually allow phone to phone or card to card transfers, only phone/card to merchant. So they need a merchant account, which means it will be traceable. And with your phone the charge appears on your phone bill and is paid at the end of the month, so you can contest it.
People have been using NFC for all kinds of payments for years now in Japan and I'm sure elsewhere. Oyster in the UK is NFC, and I know Germany and France both use NFC for transport too. I don't recall a single instance of anyone ever being robbed by NFC scanner. It would be simpler to just steal the card/phone.