iPhone 4 Revealed
Apple unveiled the super thin iPhone 4 at the WWDC (worldwide developers conference) yesterday. And while I secretly loathe my contract with Rogers – which will have me missing out on all the new hardware fun – I figured that since I can still get in on the iPhone OS 4 features, I might as well suck it up (kind of, I can’t help but be a little bitter) and comment on some of my favourite iPhone 4 hardware upgrades.
1. Bigger Battery
Ok, so this might not be the most exciting revolutionary new feature… but for someone who has an undeniable ‘iPhone addiction’, I’m constantly charging my phone. At SXSW I was making friends left, right, and center, just so I could borrow their USB or portable charger. I can’t help it. But hey, why make all those cool features if you’re not meant to (ab)use them?
The bigger battery provides 40% more talk time than previous iPhones. Though, if you compare iPhone 4 to the iPhone 3GS, you’re only really getting about 2 hours more talk time on 3G, about an extra hour of internet use, and about 10 extra hours of audio playback. Video playback and standby time remain the same on both phones. So no, not quite life changing, but exciting nonetheless.
2. Video Calling
The iPhone 4 has two cameras – a front and a back facing camera. The front facing camera, has less to do with taking cool myspace profile pictures and more with video calling (lets be honest, this is about revolutionizing sexting).
I know, China had this feature on their phones over four years ago. And double streaming video will just kill your data plan (if your network even supports video calling). And if Apple is going to encourage you to do this while you have a WiFi connection (I suppose AT&T can’t support this feature), then why wouldn’t you just use Skype on your laptop (or your gen2 iPad, which I guarantee you, will have a front facing camera)?
Bitterness aside, it’s about time this feature is brought to mainstream North American cell phones (we are so goddamned behind everyone else!) And hey, maybe demand (as well as outrage over crappy/expensive data plans) for this feature will be so great, that wireless companies will actually start offering amazing, reliable and reasonable, voice and data plans with video calling included in the coverage (dare to dream). Bravo, Apple, for leading the way.
3. Camera Upgrade
When OS4 was released, I assumed that the digital zoom software upgrade would mean an improvement to the (back) camera on the iPhone. On the iPhone4, the 3.0 megapixel camera is upgraded to 5.0 megapixels, captures HD video, and best of all – has an LED flash.
As a side note, an iMovie app is also being toted in the iPhone preview video. It will cost 4 bucks off the app store, but I was literally just thinking today how great such an app would be. Always one step ahead of me, Steve.
4. Retina Display
Honestly, as much as I see this feature as a ‘nice to have’, but not a necessary upgrade (I think the iPhone display is pretty rad as it is), the fact that they increased the DPI four times (326 pixels per inch) is fraking awesome. According to Apple, they’ve developed their pixels to be a mere 78 micrometers wide. I like having my mind blown over the little things (pun intended).
5. Glass
Bet you thought I was going to use number 5 to talk about the processor. Nope. This is all about the structure.
The glass used in the actual *build* the phone, is quite possibly the coolest feature. The glass (used on both the front screen and back of the iPhone) is super strong, durable, and recyclable. It’s also the same kind of engineered glass used in helicopters. They’ve also coated it to reduce glare. Screw speed, at the end of the day I want a phone that looks pretty and stands up to all that (ab)use I put it through.
Check out apple.com for more iPhone 4 features. And if you’re like me, stuck with the older 3GS model (which just last year sounded so freaking amazing) until your contract allows you a discounted upgrade – have no fear. With Apple’s business model, you’re pretty much guaranteed that in about 365 days, a new iPhone will be revealed making today’s iPhone 4 totally obsolete. The iPhone 5 will include such features as ‘hover board technology’. ‘quantum teleportation’, and a coffee maker (like I said, dare to dream).
Tags: iphone
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