It’s time. No other electronic device has stirred up this much talk, rumour and excitement since the release of…well the last iPhone I’d say. Of course, I don’t want to bash on Samsung, their Galaxy SIII flagship phone is also one very impressive piece of technology. But still, the Apple brand and the smartphone revolution brought about by Steve Jobs five years ago with the introduction of the original iPhone is legendary to say the least. Samsung simply does not have the same type of followers. While some people who hate Apple, I got to read what one had to say by the way, are so frustrated by the company’s success, they are going mad – telling people in their article to consider the fact that the iPhone is not a Swiss pocket knife with all sorts of handy gadgets, like a knife for example to cut off some mushrooms in the woods. Now I don’t know what kind of mushrooms that specific journalist is into, but I believe he once thought Apple might be a drug selling company and just got really disappointed when he found out that this is not the case.
While certain saint-like people criticize Apple for not selling drugs, but letting poor Chinese workers build their iPhones under harsh conditions for companies like Foxconn instead, people like me just can’t help but admire the economical success of the company. Let’s now take a look at the Apple shares in the period of 2003 – 2012. Suffice it to say, there is nothing else quite like it:
Since products like the iPhone and the iPad have been introduced, Apple has simply made a fortune. A lot of people outside of the company got rich too. And let’s not forget, the US budget also profits in a time of global shortage of cash. That’s why the verdict on the patent dispute between Apple and Samsung was not a big surprise for many people…
But let’s get back to the topic. Early today, Apple showed a little hint that something big was going to come, since the online Apple store has been down all day. If some people still had their doubts about the new iPhone getting presented today, they should have vanished in the meantime.
Mystery in the online Apple store…
Not much was known on technical specifications of the new iPhone, as usual, but tech-fans assume that performance levels will be contending with the Samsung Galaxy SIII. However, rumours were that it will include worldwide LTE support. Now that is a big call, since LTE networks are somewhat different from country to country. Also of course, iOS 6 will be released and while we all already got to enjoy a little preview, it will be interesting to see what changes Siri and Apple’s new map application will have in store.
The main reason Apple went with the development of their own map/navigation software is obviously due to their competitive relation with Google, as in Android. While Google Maps have made all of us, whether we’re Apple supporters or Android fans (I haven’t forgotten about you Windows guys, but let’s be honest, you’re not in the picture right now), Google’s navigation has made all of us quite happy. My biggest fear is that the app is more limited when it comes to actual maps, compared with Google’s product.
So, what did the keynote say? Well, it’s official, the next iPhone is officially called iPhone 5. It has got a metal backside and the display is larger. According to Phil Schiller, marketing manager at Apple, it is the thinnest iPhone ever and he considers it a “jewel”. Here are all the specs from the keynote so far:
– It is only 7,6 mm at its thinnest point
– With 112 grams, it is also lighter than the iPhone 4S
– The display is 4 inch retina-display, with a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels
– LTE is also included
– It is shipped with a brand new processor, the A6 chip
– Battery life headlines with 8 hours of voice calls or surfing via 3G, as well as 8 hours for surfing via LTE according to Schiller. It can also do 225 hours of standby time before you need to go and find a plug
– The iPhone 5 comes with a new camera, capable of taking photos with a resolution of 8 megapixels (3264 x 2448). It also includes new features, like noise reduction and an infrared filter, getting close to the quality of SLR cameras. It can only also take panorama photos with up to an incredible amount of 28 megapixels!
– It comes with three microphones and a noise-cancelling earpiece, in order to increase audio quality
– A new dock connector is also introduced, which is 80% smaller compared to the previous one
– The iPhone 5 comes in black and white versions
– Prices for the new version of the iPhone will stay the same, i.e. it costs as much as the iPhone 4S did until now
– The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S get cheaper
P.S. iOS 6 will come out on September 19th and it will also run on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone itself will be available as from September 21st.
The Germafrican 