How is future technology?
Sunday 27 May 2012
Tuesday 8 May 2012
Samsung Galaxy Note
The Galaxy Note was announced by Samsung during IFA 2011 in Berlin. It was released to the public starting with Germany in late October 2011, with other countries following shortly after that.[5] By the end of November, it was available in most major markets, including East Asia, Europe and India.
In December 2011, Samsung announced that one million Galaxy Notes were shipped in less than two months, and that a North American variant would be available in February 2012.[6] In January 2012, the US version of the Galaxy Note was featured at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, allowing press to get an early look at the new device.[7] As of the first quarter of 2012 from January to March, 5 million have been sold.[8] The Galaxy Note, with a 135 mm (5.3 in) screen, is sized between smartphones such as the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Tab tablet. PC World Australia opined that Samsung Galaxy Note is too big to be a true mobile phone, citing the difficulty of using it single-handed.[9] Techradar questions Samsung Galaxy Note's marketability as users cannot store it in a small pocket and that users look ungainly when holding it against their faces while conversing.[10] GigaOM hails it as a pioneer in a new market segment, despite the similar but unsuccessful Dell Streak, combining the best features of both device types.[11] Pocket-lint has remarked that Samsung Galaxy Note shows potential as a games console.[12]
Like most recent smartphones and tablets, the device is constructed in the "slate" format (see Slate phone and Slate tablet). The body is built from plastic with a metallised rim.[13] The front panel is Gorilla Glass,[14] a strengthened glass often used for high-end devices such as this.
The front panel houses one physical "home" button (for activating the device and switching to the home screen), two illuminated touch pads ("menu" and "back"), the display, the front-facing camera, and light and proximity sensors. At the back is a thin plastic snap-on panel with an indent for a fingernail to facilitate removal, for access to the 2500mAh battery, SIM card and SD Card. The back panel houses the speaker and main camera and flash. The metallic rim houses several controls: at the top edge is the 4-pole 3.5mm jack socket for connecting the headset (which incorporates in-canal earphones, FM radio aerial, microphone and volume control) and a pinhole microphone; at the bottom is the micro-USB socket for charging and data transfer, another pinhole microphone, and the well for storing the stylus; and the sides house an on-off button and a volume control.
Hardware specifications of the device include:[15]
*a dual-core 1.4Ghz Exynos processor or a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor (AT&T, SK Telecom, KT, LG U+, docomo)
*a 5.3- WXGA (1280 x 800) HD Super AMOLED screen
*an 8-megapixel main camera that can record 1080p video, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera
*802.11 b/g/n support for Wi-Fi
*Quad-band HSPA+ 21Mbit/s 850/900/1900/2100 mobile network support, LTE support for the Korean, Japanese, and North American variants
*Global positioning using both the a-GPS and GLONASS systems.
Stylus
The Galaxy Note includes a stylus which Samsung calls the "S Pen." The stylus tucks into the bottom panel of the phone and can be used in a variety of apps. It can simply replace the use of a finger in situations where precision is needed, but it is also equipped with a "shift" button, which when pressed enables other functions such as grabbing screenshots (which can then be drawn on using the stylus) or for writing sticky notes with drawing/handwriting, text input, and pictures. The stylus uses a Wacom digitiser system which results in accurate pressure-sensitive input.[16]
Samsung released in late November 2011 an SDK (software development kit) for the stylus so developers can write third-party apps that use it for input.[17] Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich", which is expected to be made available for the Galaxy Note in 2012, also includes support for stylus input.[18]
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices in the 1990s used the stylus as a primary input method. Many other touchscreen smartphones in the 2000s also included styluses, although the Galaxy Note is notable in that it has a capacitive touchscreen and a stylus, where as traditionally styluses could only be supported on pressure sensitive resistive touchscreens. The Galaxy Note stylus implementation has been described as high quality.[19]
The Galaxy Note is equipped with Android 2.3 "Gingerbread", but Samsung have said that they will be releasing an upgrade to Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" in the first quarter of 2012.[20] In March 2012, however, Samsung announced that the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich would be delayed until some time in the second quarter of 2012. [21] The standard Android user interface is overlaid with Samsung's TouchWiz 4.0 interface, which includes support for the device's stylus, among other features.
Several application programs are pre-loaded on the device. These include the standard Android applications such as email, web browsing, and media playback, as well as some programs aimed mainly at business users, such as Polaris Office, personal information manager software, a note-taking application, and one game, Crayon Physics Deluxe.
Users can enter text into Samsung Galaxy Note with an on-screen keyboard, with handwriting recognition using the stylus, and with Swype.[22] The device features an 8-megapixel (2448 x 3264 pixels) main camera with flash on the back panel, and a 2-megapixel (1200 x 1600 pixels) camera on the front, primarily for video phone calls. The clear lens cover of the main camera lies flush with the back panel, exposing it to the same scratches that the panel might suffer, which has been a source of criticism.[10] However, the quality of images captured with the main camera has been praised.[10] Video recording through the main camera is 1080p ("Full HD") at 30 frames per second. Photo-editing and video-editing software is supplied with the device.
*The Galaxy Note was initially produced with a black body (dubbed "carbon blue" by Samsung), but a white body was later made available.[23]
*The following performance variants of the Galaxy Note have been made available:
*N7000 - The original version, with a dual-core 1.4 GHz Cortex A9 processor
*N7003 - A lower-powered and cheaper version, with a single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8255T processor with an S-LCD screen initially available in South Africa.[24]
*SHV-E160K, SHV-E160L, SHV-E160S — LTE version with higher-speed communications ability, available exclusively in South Korea.[25][26]
*SGH-I717 — LTE version released exclusively in the United States and Canada.
*Samsung have made available a collection of accessories such as a clip-on screen cover (which replaces the back panel), a docking station, and spare chargers and styluses.[5]
The Samsung Galaxy Note is an Android smartphone/tablet computer hybrid that was introduced in October 2011. It has attracted attention because of its 5.3-inch screen size -between that of conventional smartphones, and larger tablets – and because of its included stylus.[4]
Monday 7 May 2012
Download Android facebook
Download facebook and browse facebook fast
DOWNLOAD facebook android
facebook real story
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook Inc.[1] As of February 2012, Facebook has more than 845 million active users.[5] Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and exchange messages, including automatic notifications when they update their profile. Additionally, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics, and categorize their friends into lists such as "People From Work" or "Close Friends". The name of the service stems from the colloquial name for the book given to students at the start of the academic year by some university administrations in the United States to help students get to know each other. Facebook allows any users who declare themselves to be at least 13 years old to become registered users of the site.[6]
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.[7] The Web site's membership was initially limited by the founders to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support for students at various other universities before opening to high school students, and eventually to anyone aged 13 and over. However, according to a May 2011 Consumer Reports survey, there are 7.5 million children under 13 with accounts and 5 million under 10, violating the site's terms of service.[8]
A January 2009 Compete.com study ranked Facebook as the most used social networking service by worldwide monthly active users.[9] Entertainment Weekly included the site on its end-of-the-decade "best-of" list, saying, "How on earth did we stalk our exes, remember our co-workers' birthdays, bug our friends, and play a rousing game of Scrabulous before Facebook?"[10] Quantcast estimates Facebook has 138.9 million monthly unique U.S. visitors in May 2011.[11] According to Social Media Today, in April 2010 an estimated 41.6% of the U.S. population had a Facebook account.[12] Nevertheless, Facebook's market growth started to stall in some regions, with the site losing 7 million active users in the United States and Canada in May 2011.[13] Facebook filed for an initial public offering on February 1, 2012.[14]
Facebook Real Story
Mark Zuckerberg wrote Facemash, the predecessor to Facebook, on October 28, 2003, while attending Harvard as a sophomore. According to The Harvard Crimson, the site was comparable to Hot or Not, and "used photos compiled from the online facebooks of nine houses, placing two next to each other at a time and asking users to choose the 'hotter' person".[15][16]
To accomplish this, Zuckerberg hacked into the protected areas of Harvard's computer network and copied the houses' private dormitory ID images. Harvard at that time did not have a student "facebook" (a directory with photos and basic information), though individual houses had been issuing their own paper facebooks since the mid-1980s. Facemash attracted 450 visitors and 22,000 photo-views in its first four hours online.[15][17]
The site was quickly forwarded to several campus group list-servers, but was shut down a few days later by the Harvard administration. Zuckerberg was charged by the administration with breach of security, violating copyrights, and violating individual privacy, and faced expulsion. Ultimately, the charges were dropped.[18] Zuckerberg expanded on this initial project that semester by creating a social study tool ahead of an art history final, by uploading 500 Augustan images to a website, with one image per page along with a comment section.[17] He opened the site up to his classmates, and people started sharing their notes
The following semester, Zuckerberg began writing code for a new website in January 2004. He was inspired, he said, by an editorial in The Harvard Crimson about the Facemash incident.[19] On February 4, 2004, Zuckerberg launched "Thefacebook", originally located at thefacebook.com.[20]
Six days after the site launched, three Harvard seniors, Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra, accused Zuckerberg of intentionally misleading them into believing he would help them build a social network called HarvardConnection.com, while he was instead using their ideas to build a competing product.[21] The three complained to the Harvard Crimson, and the newspaper began an investigation. The three later filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg, subsequently settling.[22]
Membership was initially restricted to students of Harvard College, and within the first month, more than half the undergraduate population at Harvard was registered on the service.[23] Eduardo Saverin (business aspects), Dustin Moskovitz (programmer), Andrew McCollum (graphic artist), and Chris Hughes soon joined Zuckerberg to help promote the website. In March 2004, Facebook expanded to Stanford, Columbia, and Yale.[24] It soon opened to the other Ivy League schools, Boston University, New York University, MIT, and gradually most universities in Canada and the United States.[25][26]
Facebook was incorporated in mid-2004, and the entrepreneur Sean Parker, who had been informally advising Zuckerberg, became the company's president.[27] In June 2004, Facebook moved its base of operations to Palo Alto, California.[24] It received its first investment later that month from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.[28] The company dropped The from its name after purchasing the domain name facebook.com in 2005 for $200,000
Facebook FeaturesUsers can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information. Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature. They can also create and join interest groups and "like pages" (called "fan pages" until April 19, 2010), some of which are maintained by organizations as a means of advertising.[54] A 2012 Pew Internet and American Life study identified that between 20-30% of Facebook users are "power users" who frequently link, poke, post and tag themselves and others.[55]
To allay concerns about privacy, Facebook enables users to choose their own privacy settings and choose who can see specific parts of their profile.[56] The Web site is free to users, and generates revenue from advertising, such as banner ads.[57] Facebook requires a user's name and profile picture (if applicable) to be accessible by everyone. Users can control who sees other information they have shared, as well as who can find them in searches, through their privacy settings.[58
The media often compares Facebook to MySpace, but one significant difference between the two Web sites is the level of customization.[59] Another difference is Facebook's requirement that users give their true identity, a demand that MySpace does not make.[60] MySpace allows users to decorate their profiles using HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), while Facebook allows only plain text.[61] Facebook has a number of features with which users may interact. They include the Wall, a space on every user's profile page that allows friends to post messages for the user to see;[62] Pokes, which allows users to send a virtual "poke" to each other (a notification then tells a user that they have been poked);[63] Photos, where users can upload albums and photos;[64] and Status, which allows users to inform their friends of their whereabouts and actions.[65] Depending on privacy settings, anyone who can see a user's profile can also view that user's Wall. In July 2007, Facebook began allowing users to post attachments to the Wall, whereas the Wall was previously limited to textual content only.[62]
On September 6, 2006, a News Feed was announced, which appears on every user's homepage and highlights information including profile changes, upcoming events, and birthdays of the user's friends.[66] This enabled spammers and other users to manipulate these features by creating illegitimate events or posting fake birthdays to attract attention to their profile or cause.[67] Initially, the News Feed caused dissatisfaction among Facebook users; some complained it was too cluttered and full of undesired information, others were concerned that it made it too easy for others to track individual activities (such as relationship status changes, events, and conversations with other users).[68]
In response, Zuckerberg issued an apology for the site's failure to include appropriate customizable privacy features. Since then, users have been able to control what types of information are shared automatically with friends. Users are now able to prevent user-set categories of friends from seeing updates about certain types of activities, including profile changes, Wall posts, and newly added friends.[69]
On February 23, 2010, Facebook was granted a patent[70] on certain aspects of its News Feed. The patent covers News Feeds in which links are provided so that one user can participate in the same activity of another user.[71] The patent may encourage Facebook to pursue action against Web sites that violate its patent, which may potentially include Web sites such as Twitter.[72]
One of the most popular applications on Facebook is the Photos application, where users can upload albums and photos.[73] Facebook allows users to upload an unlimited number of photos, compared with other image hosting services such as Photobucket and Flickr, which apply limits to the number of photos that a user is allowed to upload. During the first years, Facebook users were limited to 60 photos per album. As of May 2009, this limit has been increased to 200 photos per album.[74][75][76][77]
Privacy settings can be set for individual albums, limiting the groups of users that can see an album. For example, the privacy of an album can be set so that only the user's friends can see the album, while the privacy of another album can be set so that all Facebook users can see it. Another feature of the Photos application is the ability to "tag", or label, users in a photo. For instance, if a photo contains a user's friend, then the user can tag the friend in the photo. This sends a notification to the friend that they have been tagged, and provides them a link to see the photo.[78] Facebook Notes was introduced on August 22, 2006, a blogging feature that allowed tags and embeddable images. Users were later able to import blogs from Xanga, LiveJournal, Blogger, and other blogging services.[41] During the week of April 7, 2008, Facebook released a Comet-based[79] instant messaging application called "Chat" to several networks,[80] which allows users to communicate with friends and is similar in functionality to desktop-based instant messengers.
Facebook launched Gifts on February 8, 2007, which allows users to send virtual gifts to their friends that appear on the recipient's profile. Gifts cost $1.00 each to purchase, and a personalized message can be attached to each gift.[81][82] On May 14, 2007, Facebook launched Marketplace, which lets users post free classified ads.[83] Marketplace has been compared to Craigslist by CNET, which points out that the major difference between the two is that listings posted by a user on Marketplace are seen only by users in the same network as that user, whereas listings posted on Craigslist can be seen by anyone.[84]
On July 20, 2008, Facebook introduced "Facebook Beta", a significant redesign of its user interface on selected networks. The Mini-Feed and Wall were consolidated, profiles were separated into tabbed sections, and an effort was made to create a "cleaner" look.[85] After initially giving users a choice to switch, Facebook began migrating all users to the new version starting in September 2008.[86] On December 11, 2008, it was announced that Facebook was testing a simpler signup process.[87]
On June 13, 2009, Facebook introduced a "Usernames" feature, whereby pages can be linked with simpler URLs such as http://www.facebook.com/facebook instead of http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20531316728.[88] Many new smartphones offer access to Facebook services through either their Web browsers or applications. An official Facebook application is available for the operating systems Android, iOS, and webOS. Nokia and Research In Motion both provide Facebook applications for their own mobile devices. More than 425 million active users access Facebook through mobile devices across 200 mobile operators in 60 countries.[89]
On November 15, 2010, Facebook announced a new "Facebook Messages" service. In a media event that day, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "It's true that people will be able to have an @facebook.com email addresses, but it's not email". The launch of such a feature had been anticipated for some time before the announcement, with some calling it a "Gmail killer". The system, to be available to all of the Web site's users, combines text messaging, instant messaging, emails, and regular messages, and will include privacy settings similar to those of other Facebook services. Codenamed "Project Titan", Facebook Messages took 15 months to develop.[90][91]
In February 2011, Facebook began to use the hCalendar microformat to mark up events, and the hCard microformat for the events' venues, enabling the extraction of details to users' own calendar or mapping applications.[92]
Since April 2011 Facebook users have had the ability to make live voice calls via Facebook Chat, allowing users to chat with others from all over the world. This feature, which is provided free through T-Mobile's new Bobsled service, lets the user add voice to the current Facebook Chat as well as leave voice messages on Facebook.[93]
On July 6, 2011, Facebook launched its video calling services using Skype as its technology partner. It allows one to one calling using a Skype Rest API.[94]
On September 14, 2011, Facebook launched a Subscribe button. The feature allows for users to follow public updates, and these are the people most often broadcasting their ideas.[95] There were major modifications that the site released on September 22, 2011.[96]
As reported by TechCrunch on February 15, 2012, Facebook is introducing ‘Verified Account’ concept like that of Twitter & Google+. Though as of 3 March 2012, verified accounts don’t get any badges or denotations, but such accounts will get more priority in ‘Subscription Suggestions’ of Facebook.[97]
on March 6, 2012, Facebook officially launched its Messenger for Windows.[98]
PrivacyAccording to comScore, an internet marketing research company, Facebook collects as much data from its visitors as Google and Microsoft, but considerably less than Yahoo!.[99] In 2010, the security team began expanding its efforts to reduce the risks to users' privacy,[100] but privacy concerns remain. On November 6, 2007, Facebook launched Facebook Beacon, which was an ultimately failed attempt to advertise to friends of users using the knowledge of what purchases friends made. As of March 2012, Facebook's usage of its user data is under close scrutiny.[
FTC settlementOn November 29, 2011, Facebook agreed to settle US Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived consumers by failing to keep privacy promises.[102]
Sunday 6 May 2012
Samsung Galaxy Mini
The Samsung Galaxy Mini, is a smartphone manufactured by Samsung that runs the open source Android operating system. It was announced and released by Samsung in the spring of 2011. On some other markets it is known as Samsung Galaxy Next/Pop. It is currently available in four different colors; steel grey, white, lime and orange.
The Galaxy Mini is a 3.5G smartphone that offers quad-band GSM and was announced with two-band HSDPA (900/2100 MHz) at 7.2 Mbit/s. The display is a 3.14-inch (80 mm) TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen of vertical QVGA (240x320) resolution. There is also a 3-megapixel camera, capable of recording videos at QVGA (320x240) resolution. The Galaxy Mini comes with a 1.2 Ah Li-ion battery.[1] The Samsung Galaxy Mini can also screen capture.
The Galaxy Mini is presented as a entry-level smartphone, and is (as of 13 May 2011) one of the cheapest Android phones around. The Galaxy Mini originally ran on Android 2.2 Froyo, but in May 2011, Samsung announced[2] that the Galaxy Mini (along with other Galaxy models) will get an official upgrade to Android 2.3. An official upgrade to Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) was released via Samsung Kies on December 9, 2011 for some mobile operators.
*Dual-touch (two fingers) *Quad-Band GSM and dual-band 3G support *7.2 Mbit/s HSDPA *3.14 in (80 mm) 256K-color QVGA TFT touchscreen *ARMv6 600 MHz processor, 384 MB RAM (only 279 MB RAM available) *Andreno 200 GPU *Android OS v2.3.4 (Gingerbread) with TouchWiz v3.0 UI, upgrade to v2.3.4 (Gingerbread) available in some places. *160 MB internal storage, hot-swappable MicroSD slot, 2 GB card included *3.15 Mpixel fixed-focus camera with geo-tagging *FM radio with RDS and Radio Text *3.5 mm audio jack *Document editor *Accelerometer and proximity sensor *Swype virtual keyboard *MicroUSB port (charging and data transfer) and stereo Bluetooth 2.1 *SNS (Social networking service) integration *image/video editor DisadvantagesSince the CPU does not support the instruction set ARM v7, Samsung Galaxy Mini cannot run Adobe Flash Player or Mozilla Firefox. The browser itself lacks in Flash support and the Youtube app is designed to compensate but many other video sharing websites remain uncovered. Also the low screen resolution limits the choice of apps. The camera is fixed focus on some models, while others support a 3X zoom, and the phone lacks in a secondary video call camera. The video recording is as poor as QVGA at 15 FPS.
iPad 3
The third generation of iPad (announced as "The new iPad", colloquially sometimes known as "iPad 3")[5][6][7] is a tablet computer designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. The 3rd generation iPad adds a Retina display, the new Apple A5X chip with a quad-core graphics processor, a 5 megapixel camera, full HD 1080p video recording, voice dictation, and 4G (LTE).[8] It shipped with iOS 5.1, which serves primarily as a platform for audio-visual media, including electronic books, periodicals, films, music, computer games, presentations, web content.[4]
In North America (specifically the US and Canada), there are nine different variations of the 3rd generation iPad, whilst in the rest of the world there are six, although some countries just have the Wi-Fi only model for sale. Each variation is available with black or white front glass panels, with options for 16, 32, or 64 GB storage capacities. In North America, connectivity options are Wi-Fi only, Wi-Fi + 4G (LTE) on Verizon, or Wi-Fi + 4G (LTE) on AT&T, Telus, Rogers, or Bell.[1] For the rest of the world, connectivity options are Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + 4G (LTE), with the latter not being sold in some countries, and the LTE connectivity also not actually operational compared to the variations sold in North America.
The tablet was released to ten countries on March 16, 2012.[9] It gained mostly positive reviews, praising its Retina display, faster processor, and 4G (LTE) capabilities.[10][11][12][13][14] However, controversy arose when some users realized that the device would not work on 4G (LTE) networks in their country.[15] Three million units of the 3rd generation iPad were sold in its first three days of release.[1][16]
History
Speculation of the 3rd generation iPad began shortly after the release of the iPad 2, which added a new design, two cameras, and the dual-core Apple A5 processor. The speculation began to increase after a 2048x1536 iPad screen was leaked.[17] During this time, the tablet was called the "iPad 3", a colloquial name that is still used after the release. On February 9, 2012, John Paczkowski of All Things Digital stated that "Apple’s not holding an event in February – strange, unusual or otherwise. But it is holding one in March – to launch its next iPad."[18] Another common rumor at the time was that the tablet would have an Apple A6 processor.[19][20] On February 28, 2012, Apple announced a media event scheduled for March 7, 2012, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The company did not disclose in advance what would be announced at the event, but it was widely expected to be a new version of the iPad.[21][22][23][24] The announcement of the iPad affected the tablet resale market positively.[25] Apple's stock price reached a record closing figure on the same day that the Dow Jones Index reached above 13,000 for the first time since the Global Financial Crisis. However, Apple is not a Dow Jones component.[26] The keynote began at 10 am PST (6 PM UTC) as Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced iOS 5.1, a Japanese version of Siri, and the 3rd generation Apple TV before the 3rd generation iPad.[27] At the media event Cook stated that the 3rd generation iPad will be one of the main contributors to the emerging 'post-PC world', a world where the personal computer is no longer the center of one's digital life.[28] The 3rd generation iPad was released on March 16, 2012 in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[9] It was also released on March 23, 2012 in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.[29] It was released on April 20, 2012, in South Korea, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, Saint Martin, Uruguay and Venezuela and on April 27, 2012, in Colombia, Estonia, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa and Thailand.[30][31] The 3rd generation iPad uses iOS, Apple's mobile operating system.[32] The user interface of iOS is based on the concept of direct manipulation, using multi-touch gestures. Interface control elements consist of sliders, switches, and buttons. The response to user input is immediate and provides a fluid interface. Interaction with the OS includes gestures such as swipe, tap, pinch, and reverse pinch, all of which have specific definitions within the context of the iOS operating system and its multi-touch interface. Internal accelerometers are used by some applications to respond to shaking the device (one common result is the undo command) or rotating it in three dimensions (one common result is switching from portrait to landscape mode). The tablet shipped with iOS 5.1, which was released on March 7, 2012.[33] It can act as a hotspot, sharing its internet connection over WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB,[34] and also accesses the App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS developed and maintained by Apple. The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Xcode and the iOS SDK and were published through Apple. From the App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and the iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) are available for purchase to use on the iPad.[35] The iPad comes with several applications by default, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts.[36] Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be completely PC-free. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, a user can use a wired headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application.[37] The 3rd generation iPad has dictation, using the same voice recognition technology as the iPhone 4S. The user speaks and the iPad types what they say on the screen provided the iPad is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.[34] Researchers demonstrated within hours of the product's release that the 3rd generation iPad can be "jailbroken" to use applications and programs that are not authorized by Apple.[38] Four separate methods of jailbreaking the iPad have been discovered, but none are yet stable enough to release to the public.[39][40] Apple claims that jailbreaking will void the factory warranty on the device.[41][42] One of the main reasons for jailbreaking is to expand the feature set limited by Apple and its App Store. Most jailbreaking tools automatically install Cydia, a native iOS APT client used for finding and installing software for jailbroken iOS devices.[43] Since software programs available through Cydia are not required to adhere to App Store guidelines, many of them are not typical self-contained apps but instead are extensions and customizations for iOS and other apps.[44] Users install these programs for purposes including personalization and customization of the interface,[44] adding desired features and fixing annoyances,[45] and making development work on the device easier by providing access to the filesystem and command-line tools.[46][47 The 3rd generation iPad has an optional iBooks application that can be downloaded from the App Store, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore.[48] Several major book publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have committed to publishing books for the iPad.[49] Despite being a direct competitor to both the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook,[50] both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble have made Kindle & Nook apps available for the iPad.[51][52] Developers can create their own applications on the 3rd generation iPad using the iOS SDK, a software development kit. As of April 2012, the fees to join the respective programs for iOS and OS X were stated at $99.00 per developers license. This $99.00 fee must be paid annually in order for the developer to maintain their license. As of July 20, 2010, Apple released Xcode on its Mac App Store free to download for all OS X Lion users. Users can create and develop iOS Applications using a free copy of Xcode, however they cannot post them to the App store or make profit from their applications without first paying the $99.00 iPhone Developer or Mac Developer Program fee. Since the release of Xcode 3.1, Xcode is the development environment for the iOS SDK. iPhone applications, like iOS and Mac OS X, are written in Objective-C.[53] Developers are able to set any price above a set minimum for their applications to be distributed through the App Store, of which Apple will take 30% of the revenue (the other 70% goes to the developer). Alternately, they may opt to release the application for free and need not pay any costs to release or distribute the application except for the membership fee.[54]
Software
There are four physical switches on the 3rd generation iPad, including a home button near the display that returns the user to the main menu, and three plastic physical switches on the sides: wake/sleep and volume up/down, plus a software-controlled switch whose function has changed with software updates.[4] The display responds to other sensors: an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense iPad orientation and switch between portrait and landscape modes. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch's built-in applications, which work in three orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad's built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic "native" orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.[4]
Models of the tablet are manufactured either with or without the capability to communicate over a cellular network; all models can connect to a wireless LAN. The 3rd generation iPad has three capacity options for storage: 16, 32, or 64 GB of internal flash memory. All data is stored on the internal flash memory, with no option to expand storage. Apple sells a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos.[4]
The 3rd generation iPad has an Apple A5X SoC with dual-core CPU and quad-core graphics processor; a 5-megapixel, rear-facing camera capable of 1080p video recording; and a VGA front-facing videophone camera designed for FaceTime.[55] The display resolution is 2048×1536 (QXGA) with 3.1 million pixels – four times more pixels than the iPad 2 – and is a resolution that eases transition from the original with even scaling.[56][57][58] However, the new iPad is slightly thicker than its older sibling by 0.6 mm and is heavier by 51 grams for the WiFi model (652 grams).[4][59] The 4G (LTE) models (both at 662 grams[4]) are 49 grams heavier for the AT&T model and 55 grams heavier for the Verizon model compared to the respective iPad 2 3G models (AT&T 3G iPad 2 is 613 grams, and Verizon 3G iPad 2 is 607 grams).[60]
The tablet has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 thousand Hz. Without third-party software it can play the following audio formats: HE-AAC, AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible formats (2, 3, 4, AEA, AAX, and AAX+), ALAC, AIFF, and WAV.[4] A preliminary teardown of the 3rd generation iPad by IHS iSuppli showed the likely costs for the 4G (LTE) models of the new 3rd generation iPad, with the 16 GB at $358.30, the 32 GB at $375.10, and the 64 GB at $408.70 respectively.[61]
The 3rd generation iPad uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery. The batteries are made in Taiwan by Simplo Technology (60%) and Dynapack International Technology.[62] The iPad is designed to be charged with a high current of 2 amperes using the included 10 W USB power adapter and USB cord with a USB connector at one end and a 30-pin dock connector at the other end. While it can be charged by a standard USB port from a computer, these are limited to 500 milliamperes (0.5 amps). As a result, if the iPad is running while powered by a normal USB computer port, it may charge very slowly, or not at all. High-power USB ports found in newer Apple computers and accessories provide full charging capabilities.[63]
Apple claims that the battery can provide up to 10 hours of video, 140 hours of audio playback, or one month on standby. Like any rechargeable battery technology, the iPad's battery loses capacity over time, but is not designed to be user-replaceable. In a program similar to the battery-replacement program for the iPod and the original iPhone, Apple will replace an iPad that does not hold an electrical charge with a refurbished iPad for a fee of US$99 plus $6.95 shipping.[64][65] As a different unit is supplied, user data is not preserved. The refurbished unit will have a new case.[66] The warranty on the refurbished unit may vary between jurisdictions
AccessoriesThe Smart Cover, introduced with the iPad 2, is a screen protector that magnetically attaches to the face of the iPad. The cover has three folds which allow it to convert into a stand, which is also held together by magnets.[67] While original iPad owners could purchase a black case that included a similarly folding cover, the Smart Cover is meant to be more minimal, easily detachable, and protects only the screen. Smart Covers have a microfiber bottom that cleans the front of the iPad, and wakes up the iPad when the cover is removed. There are five different colors of both polyurethane and leather, with leather being more expensive than the polyurethane version.[68][6
Apple offers several more accessorie`s for the 3rd generation iPad,[70] most of which are adapters for the proprietary 30-pin dock connector, the iPad's only port besides the headphone jack.[4] A dock holds the iPad upright at an angle, and has a dock connector and audio line out port. The iPad can use Bluetooth keyboards that also work with Macs and PCs.[71] The iPad can be charged by a standalone power adapter ("wall charger") also used for iPods and iPhones, and a 10 W charger is included with the iPad.[4]
ReceptionCritical reception
The 3rd generation iPad has received a number of positive reviews. Many praised its Retina display, camera, processor, and LTE capabilities.[10][11][13] According to Walt Mossberg of All Things Digital, with the introduction of the 3rd generation model, the iPad now "has the most spectacular display...seen in a mobile device" and holds the crown as "the best tablet on the planet."[57] Jonathan Spira, writing in Frequent Business Traveler, claimed that it "seems to make everything sharper and clearer".[12] Tim Stevens of Engadget said that "Apple has chosen to take small steps in many areas, making a logical upgrade on the camera, a modest improvement in graphics performance and the perfectly natural addition of LTE wireless."[
While the 3rd generation iPad generally received positive response on launch, it was soon discovered in overseas markets that the tablet is incapable of LTE frequency other than those used by Verizon and AT&T (700 MHz and 700/2100 MHz, respectively). As the rest of the world was using 800 MHz, 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz, the iPad was not able to connect to LTE networks outside the US.[72][73] Soon after the March 2012 launch, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took Apple to court for breaking four sections of Australian consumer law. They alleged that Apple's promotion of the tablet in Australia as the 'iPad WiFi + 4G' misled customers, as the name indicates that it would work on Australia's then-current 4G network.[74][75] Apple responded to this by offering a full refund to all customers in Australia who purchased the 4G version of the iPad.[76] On April 20, 2012, Apple stated that HSPA+ networks in Australia are 4G, even though the speeds are slower than that of LTE.[7
Many users have reported abnormally high temperatures on the casing of the 3rd generation iPad, especially after running 3D games. If used while plugged in, the rear of the new iPad became as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) hotter than an iPad 2 subjected to the same tests; while the difference unplugged was 13 degrees Fahrenheit (7.5 degrees Celsius). Thermal imaging tests revealed that the iPad can get as hot as 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius). At this temperature it was warm to touch but not uncomfortable when held for a brief period.[78][79][80] In a follow up report, Consumer Reports said that they "don't believe the temperatures we recorded in our tests of the new iPad represent a safety concern".[81] Consumer Reports gave the 3rd generation iPad a top rating and recommendation, claiming that the tablet was "superb", "very good", and "very fast", and said that the 4G network, the Retina display, and overall performance all had positive attributes. They elaborated on the display quality, stating that the 3rd generation iPad was "the best we’ve seen". The iPad's new display was a large enough improvement to prompt Consumer Reports to rate it "excellent," and consequently normalize its scale by downgrading the display of other tablets (including the iPad 2) from "excellent" to "very good."[14][82]
The claimed superiority of the A5X over the Tegra 3 processor was questioned around launch time by manufacturer Nvidia; some benchmarks have since confirmed superiority in graphics performance, although the Tegra 3 has greater processor performance.[83][84]
The claimed superiority of the A5X over the Tegra 3 processor was questioned around launch time by manufacturer Nvidia; some benchmarks have since confirmed superiority in graphics performance, although the Tegra 3 has greater processor performance.[83][84] The closed and proprietary nature of iOS has garnered criticism, particularly by digital rights advocates such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, computer engineer and activist Brewster Kahle, Internet-law specialist Jonathan Zittrain, and the Free Software Foundation who protested the iPad's introductory event and have targeted the iPad with their "Defective by Design" campaign.[85][86][87][88] Competitor Microsoft, via a PR spokesman, has also criticized Apple's control over its platform.[89] At issue are restrictions imposed by the design of iOS, namely DRM intended to lock purchased media to Apple's platform, the development model (requiring a yearly subscription to distribute apps developed for the iOS), the centralized approval process for apps, as well as Apple's general control and lockdown of the platform itself. Particularly at issue is the ability for Apple to remotely disable or delete apps at will. Some in the tech community have expressed concern that the locked-down iOS represents a growing trend in Apple's approach to computing, particularly Apple's shift away from machines that hobbyists can "tinker with" and note the potential for such restrictions to stifle software innovation.[90][91]
Commercial receptionThe demand for pre-orders was so high for the 3rd generation iPad that later orders were quoted shipping times of "two to three weeks" after the order was placed.[92][93] Apple said that "customer response to the new iPad has been off the charts and the quantity available for pre-order has been purchased".[29] Despite the delayed shipping, many users chose to purchase the iPad online instead of waiting in line at the Apple Store.[94] Approximately 750 people waited outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store for the release of the iPad.[95] According to an Apple press release, three million iPads were sold in the first three days following its release.[1][16] The iPad was purchased mainly by a younger, male demographic. Most of the buyers were either "die-hard Apple fans" or had previously purchased an iPad.[96] Brad Ditzell, manager of MacTown, an Apple store in Dayton, Ohio, claimed that the demand for the tablet was "chaotic" and claimed that its launch was "drastically more significant than the iPad 2 launch."[6]
On March 2, 2012, the mobile advertising network InMobi conducted an on-device survey of 689 mobile users. They found that 29 percent of mobile users were planning to purchase the 3rd generation iPad, and 54 percent of those do not yet own a tablet. 65 percent would consider purchasing the first generation iPad or an iPad 2 instead because of the lower cost. 44 percent would only consider the iPad if they were to purchase a tablet. InMobi also asked which features the respondents wanted; 57 percent wanted a faster processor speed, 47 percent wanted better battery life, 46 percent wanted the Retina display, 43 percent wanted 4G (LTE) access, 34 percent wanted the 5 megapixel camera and 1080p video recording, and 31 percent wanted the iPad because of its size and weight.[97][98]
iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S is a touchscreen-based, slate-sized 3G smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is the fifth generation of the iPhone and retains the exterior design of its predecessor, the iPhone 4, but is host to a range of improved hardware specifications and software updates. The phone added a voice recognition system known as Siri and a cloud storage service named iCloud. Some of the device's functions may be voice-controlled through Siri.[6]Cite error: Closing missing for tag; see the help page It is available for 100 cell service carriers in 70 countries, including eight carriers in the United States. In Japan, it is the first iPhone available for au and Okinawa Cellular. For US customers, while pre-orders for purchasers buying contracts started on October 7, 2011, unlocked (contract-free) sales started on November 11, 2011. The Associated Press said that AT&T described early iPhone 4S demand as "extraordinary".
HistorySpeculation about Apple's next generation phone, including various specifications and a predicted name ("iPhone 5"), were widespread in the time preceding its debut.[12] After the iPhone 4S was announced, there was some disappointment about the new phone's name.[12] As early as May 2011, some leaks had a fairly accurate description of the product including the name "iPhone 4S", the A5 chip, HSDPA,[13] new/better camera, and Sprint carrying.[14]
There were no external differences between the iPhone 4 CDMA model and the iPhone 4S;[12] all changes were internal (slight external differences between the iPhone 4 GSM model and the iPhone 4S exist, as said differences existed between the CDMA and GSM models of the iPhone 4).[15][16][17]
The iPhone 4S was unveiled at Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event on October 4, 2011 in Cupertino, California. The keynote was the first in which Tim Cook led since the Verizon keynote earlier in the year. It was also Cook's first product launch without Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, whose health was deteriorating and died the day after the announcement of iPhone 4S. Tim Carmody of Wired praised Cook for focusing on company achievements, calling him a "global business thinker" and a "taskmaster".[18]
At the "Let's Talk iPhone" event held by Apple on October 4, 2011, Mike Capps demonstrated Epic Games' Infinity Blade II, the sequel to Infinity Blade, on an iPhone 4S. Capps boasted that the game uses Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 and features the same graphic techniques used in the Xbox 360 game Gears of War 3.[19]
The iPhone 4S was released on October 14, 2011, in United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan. It was then released on October 28, 2011, in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, on November 11, 2011, in Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and South Korea, on November 25, 2011, in Colombia, Moldova, and India, on December 16, 2011, in Brazil, Chile, Israel, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and on January 13, 2012, in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Botswana, the British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, the Cayman Islands, the Central African Republic, China, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guam, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uganda, and Jordan.[20][21]
Features
The iPhone 4S has a stainless steel, dual-antenna design. Apple redesigned the antenna in the iPhone 4S so that the cellular radio in the phone can alternate between two antennas, depending on which is sending/receiving the best signal. These two antennas form part of the stainless steel band that covers the sides of the iPhone 4 and 4S.[22] The bands on the iPhone 4S are divided into four antennas, cellular, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi.[13]
In both the iPhone 4 and 4S, the cellular (GSM) antenna is divided into two. Therefore, if the iPhone 4S is gripped in such a way as to attenuate one piece of the cellular antenna, the radio will switch to the other piece that isn't being gripped.[22] The iPhone 4S can support a maximum output theoretically of up to 14.4 Mbps with HSDPA as a result of an upgraded radio chip inside the phone, in addition to being a world phone, so both CDMA and GSM customers can roam internationally on GSM networks.[23] It also supports Bluetooth 4.0.[6]
The camera on the iPhone 4S, also known as an iSight camera, can take 8 MP photos (3264 by 2448 pixels) and record 1080p videos at up to 30 frames per second with upgraded quality[24] (30% better clarity, 26% better white balance, color accuracy) due to an additional lens, IR filter, a wider f/2.4 aperture, and Image signal processor (built-in A5).[23][25]
The camera can now be accessed directly from the lock screen, and the volume up button doubles as a shutter trigger. The built-in gyroscope is able to stabilize the camera while recording video. Other features of the camera are macro (for close up pictures) and faster capture including being able to take its first picture in 1.1 seconds and the next half a second later.[15][23]
Like the iPhone 4, the 3.5 inch 960 by 640 pixel Retina display supports multitouch, a technology that allows multiple simultaneous touch inputs. Siri, a voice control feature exclusive to the iPhone 4S, interprets voice commands and can give visual and auditory feedback.[26] The iPhone 4S has two volume buttons and a ring/silent switch on the left side.[13] On the top left there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microphone that is used for both noise cancellation during calls and when in speakerphone/Facetime mode. The lock/power button is situated on the top right edge of the device.[13] The right side of the device is devoid of inputs except for a SIM card slot. The bottom of the device features a speaker output on the right and a microphone input on the left with Apple's proprietary 30-pin dock connector in the center.[13] The top left on the back of the device houses an 8 megapixel f/2.4 aperture camera with an LED flash. The iPhone 4S supports video out via AirPlay and various Apple A/V cables.[23] Supported video formats include such as H.264 (1080p 30 fps max.), MPEG-4 video, and motion JPEG (M-JPEG).[23]
In addition to user inputs, the device also has several sensors that give the phone information about its orientation and external conditions. These include a 3-axis gyro, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.[6] The iPhone 4S is stated to have 200 hours standby time (iPhone 4 300 hours), 8 hours talk time on 3G (iPhone 4–7 hours), 14 hours talk time on 2G, 6 hours 3G browsing, and 9 hours Wi-Fi browsing.[6][23][27] Additionally, it can sustain up to 10 hours of video playback or 40 hours of audio playback.[28]
The iPhone 4S has a dual-core Apple A5 processor,[23][29] compared to the one-core Apple A4 processor used in the iPhone 4. It has 512 MB of RAM, the same as its predecessor.[4] Maximum available storage size increased to 64 GB whilst the 32 GB and 16 GB model options were retained. The screen is the same as the prior generation iPhones; 3.5 inch, 640×960 resolution (Apple's "retina" design).[23] The improvement in interactive multimedia applications was obvious compared to its predecessor.[15]
Hardware
The iPhone 4S uses the Apple A5 system-on-a-chip that uses an Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX graphics processing unit, which features pixel, vertex, and geometry shader hardware, supporting OpenGL ES 2.0. The SGX543 is an improved version of the GPU used in the iPhone 4S' predecessor, the iPhone 4. However, the iPhone 4S uses a dual-core model, the SGX543, that is integrated with the Apple A5 SoC in the same way as the iPad 2.[30] Apple claims that the iPhone 4S can process graphics up to "seven times faster" than the iPhone 4 was corroborated by Epic Games president Mike Capps.[31]
The iPhone 4S introduced a new automated voice control system called "Siri", unique to the 4S,[15] that allows the user to give the iPhone commands, which it can execute and respond to. For example, iPhone commands such as "What is the weather going to be like?" will generate a response such as "The weather is to be cloudy and rainy and drop to 54 degrees today". These commands can vary greatly and control almost every section of the phone. The commands given do not have to be specific and can be used with natural language. Siri can be accessed by holding down the home button for an extra amount of time (compared to using the regular function). An impact of Siri, as pointed out by Apple video messages, is that it is much easier and/or possible for people to use device functions while driving, exercising, or when they have their hands full.[12] It also means people with trouble reading, seeing, or typing can access the phone more easily.[12] Siri is supported by the A5 chip and is currently a feature only available on the iPhone 4S.[15] Siri also needs Internet access to function.[6] When used for the first time, Siri does not require setup but does adapt to a user's voice over time, and can also be taught certain things directly.[32] A number of aspects of the software can be configured, such as language and its voice feedback ability (its ability to talk back).[32]
At launch Apple said Siri is still in beta, and it has a certain set of abilities with restrictions, such as being able to dictate texts but not emails, and only controlling certain apps.[33] Nevertheless one area it may be useful is driving and exercise activities.[15] It is integrated with Apple's Find My Friends program (which debuted at the same time as the 4S), so Siri can potentially answer questions like "Where is my wife?"[32] When it is enabled, Apple's Find My Friends lets a social group know where each other are and Siri can use this information to answer questions.[32] Siri can be taught information, so it knows who a person is referring to when they use generic terminology on that device.[32]
On the iPhone 4S, texting can be aided by the voice assistant, which allows speech-to-text.[12] In addition to regular texting, messaging on the iPhone 4S is supported by iMessage, a specialized instant messaging program and service that allows unlimited texting to other Apple iOS 5 products. This supports the inclusion of media in text messages, integration with the device's voice controlled software assistant, and read receipts for sent messages. iMessages are in blue, and regular texts in green in the screen bubbles. Input to the computer comes from a keyboard displayed on the multi-touch screen or by voice-to text by speaking into the microphone. Entered text is supported by predictive and suggestion software as well as a spell checker, that includes many regional dialects like Swiss spoken French.[6] Since Siri can send text messages, a person can text and drive without taking their eyes off the road, as shown in Apple's video ad.[12] Another example, is that a person can ask Siri for information while they are cooking and their hands are messy.[12] It also makes it much easier for people with physical disabilities such as blindness to compose and send text messages.[12]
At announcement plans were in place for the iPhone 4S to support many languages from around the world. Different features have different language requirements, such as keyboards compared to the word predictor and spell-checker, which needs a large dictionary of words. Language support is related to the iOS 5 operating system that the device launched with, although not always. The Siri digital assistant supported French, English, and German at launch.[32] Since it uses a software based keyboard supported by the multi-touch display, it can support many different keyboard layouts without having to change physically. The iPhone 4S can display different languages and scripts at the same time.[23] The device is a world phone and can work on both GSM & CDMA networks.[23] On a 2G (on GSM) network it supports up to 14 hours of talk time.[23] It can download at maximum rate of 14.4 Mbps on a HSPA+ network such as AT&T Mobility's. However, on CDMA networks, such as Verizon Wireless, it is limited to 3.1 Mbit/s.[23]
iPhone 4S was announced with Apple's iOS 5 operating system, which Apple claims as having over 200 new features compared to the prior version. On the 4S, the Apple A5 processor and iOS 5 work together to support many subsystems of the device, such as data processing for the camera. Some major tasks performed include browsing the internet with Safari, voice assistance with Siri, cellular communications, media playback, and applications. It supports PC and Mac freedom, where updates can be downloaded by over-the-air to the device.[34] Another feature is the ability to have Apple send a real card in the mail with the Apple Cards application.[34]
ReceptionCritical reception
Reaction to the iPhone 4S announcement was generally favorable. Reviewers noted Siri, the new camera, and processing speeds as significant advantages over the prior model.[35] Tim Stevens of Engadget said that the "iPhone 4S does everything better than the iPhone 4, but it simply doesn't do anything substantially different."[35] Joshua Topolsky of The Verge stated that "if this were to be a car, it would be a Mercedes" and that Siri is "probably one of the most novel applications Apple has ever produced."[36]
Retrevo surveyed more than 1,300 U.S. consumers and reported that 71 Retrevo surveyed more than 1,300 U.S. consumers and reported that 71 percent of all smartphone owners were not disappointed by the new iPhone 4S but 47 percent or almost a half of current iPhone 4 owners were; 12 percent were hoping for a bigger display, 21 percent wanted a refreshed design, and 29 percent desired 4G.[37] Echoing technology pundits, Reuters suggested that the lack of a more radical departure from the iPhone 4 could open new market opportunities for rivals.[38] Analyst C. K. Lu of Gartner believed that Apple no longer had the leading edge and that the 4S would only sell due to brand loyalty, as fans had been expecting an iPhone 5 with a thinner profile, edge-to-edge screen, and stronger features.[38] These same fans had also wanted a cheaper, stripped-down iPhone 4.[15] The German phone company Deutsche Telekom said they were "satisfied" with consumer interest.[39] Gaming on the iPhone 4S has been likened to the PlayStation Vita,[40] that features the same SGX GPU only in a quad-core configuration, and the Nintendo 3DS handheld game consoles. Further, the iPhone 4S' ability to process 30 million polygons per second has been compared to the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 home video game consoles that can process 275 million and 500 million polygons per second respectively.[30] CVG's deputy editor Andy Robinson told TechRadar that the "[iPhone 4S] is certainly laying down some serious credibility for the iPhone as a core gaming device. Not only is it now pushing out games that simply eclipse the [Nintendo 3DS] visually, but features like cloud saving and TV streaming support are really exciting for gamers."[30] The senior gaming analyst at Jon Peddie Research, Ted Pollak, believes the biggest improvement to gaming on the iPhone 4S is the voice control features, noting that "one of the features that Nintendogs players loved was the ability to talk to it. There's no reason why a game like that couldn't be done on the iPhone 4S, and much more sophisticated given the voice control shown."[41] Unlike prior iPhone models, the number of sales of the iPhone 4 had not yet climaxed before the introduction of the 4S. Previous iPhone models were released during or after declining sales figures.[42] In addition, iPhone 4 users had high marks for being satisfied with their phone.[42] Nevertheless, they wanted more from Apple, forgetting that from Apple's perspective the iPhone 4 was still a hit and that new users may not be bothered by the unchanged look and feel as they did not formerly own an iPhone 4.[42] Upon the announcement of the iPhone 4S, shares of Samsung Electronics, HTC and Nokia gained on Wednesday after the 4S was announced, while Apple stock fell. However, later in the day Apple shares rebounded ending with a 1% gain.[38][43] With the launch of the pre-order, AT&T said that the demand for the iPhone 4S was "extraordinary".[44] Over 200,000 pre-orders were placed within 12 hours of release through AT&T. In addition, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint sold-out pre-order stock by October 8, 2011 and by October 9 there was a 1-2 week estimate on new pre-orders to be filled. On October 20, 2011 AT&T surpassed 1 million iPhone 4S activations.[45] On October 10, Apple announced that over one million iPhone 4Ss had been pre-ordered within the first 24 hours of it being on sale, beating the 600,000 device record set by the iPhone 4.[46][47] The 16-month wait between the iPhone 4 and 4S may have contributed to overwhelming sales as well.[48][49] On October 17, 2011, Apple had announced that four million units of the iPhone 4S were sold in the first three days of release, and 25 million iOS users had upgraded to the then latest version of iOS, iOS 5, which was released upon the introduction of the phone. Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, stated that the "iPhone 4S is off to a great start with more than four million sold in its first weekend—the most ever for a phone and more than double the iPhone 4 launch during its first three days."[2] The used phone market saw unprecedented rates of trade-ins in the weeks leading up to the 4S announcement, and after it there was a drop in prices offered.[50] There are many third-party buyers of old phones, and Apple also buys back old phones under a special program.[50]
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