Here it is, Pinoy Techies. The long-rumored, prematurely revealed, next-generation iPhone finally revealed. Simply known as the iPhone 4, the newest fruit was launched in typical Apple fashion: with much aplomb and with much hype – and rightfully so, given that it's being touted as "the biggest leap since the original iPhone."
The first and the most noticeable change is with the exterior. It looks exactly like the leaked iPhone that Gizmodo exposed a couple of months ago. Everything's there from the volume buttons to the front-facing camera (more on that in a bit), but the big surprise is that the stainless steel band that lines the edge is actually an antenna and will supposedly do wonders for signal reception.
The 3.5-inch screen, which now boasts a stunning 960 x 640-pixel resolution is encased in scratch-resistant glass. Steve calls the 326ppi [pixels per inch] display a "retina display" because it supposedly pushes the limit of screen technology to match the capabilities of the human eye. Jobs said that the regular human retina can read at a maximum of 300ppi when an object is held 10-12 inches away from the eye, and as such, the iPhone's screen goes way beyond that limit.
He also took a shot at OLED display technology, which is used primarily by one of its competitors, Samsung, saying that it [OLED] is just not capable of such resolutions just now. Which could mean that he's considering using it for the iPhone in the near or distant future.
Powering the new phone is the A4 processor, the same powerhouse CPU in the iPad. Not only does it allow the iPhone 4 to pump out amazing visuals, it also lets it edit 720p HD videos on board with the new $4.99 (about P250) iMovie for iPhone. And speaking of HD, yes, the iPhone 4 can take 720p videos and 5-megapixel stills, thanks to a new and improved camera system that looks beyond megapixels to take better-than-average images. Oh, and as a bonus, Apple finally put in an LED flash.
Another interesting feature is the built-in gyroscope, which detects motion and gravity. This, coupled with the accelerometer, gives the iPhone 4 6-axis motion-sensing capabilities, which it could use for a variety of new apps and games.
On the software side of things, the iPhone OS 4 is now renamed the iOS4 on account of the operating system running in "i" devices such as the iPad and the iPod touch. It comes packed with 100 new features including multitasking. A new application called FaceTime is also available that lets iPhone users make video calls, although only via Wi-Fi. Bummer, but we totally understand since video calling via 3G just opens a whole world of potential problems especially for a device that puts a premium on speed, quality, and efficiency.
With the added bells and whistles, battery life is a potential concern but Jobs assures the public that with the new power-saving A4 chip and with the capacious battery, the iPhone 4 will have 40% more talk time than the 3GS. In all, the battery can provide 7 hours of talk, 6 hours of 3G browsing, 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, 10 hours of video, 40 hours of music, and 300 hours of standby time.
The new iPhone drops this June 24 for $199 (about P10,000) for the 16GB model and $299 (about P15,000) for the 32GB model. They come locked with 2-year contracts with AT&T. It's scheduled to ship to more than 88 countries come September, so we'll keep bugging Globe Telecom until then.
One more question remains: What happens now to the iPhone 3GS? Well, for starters, it gets a price drop. The 8GB model is now available in the States for a mere $99 (about P5,000). Existing owners, on the other hand, can look forward to the iOS4 update which is scheduled to come out on June 21. iPhone 3G and iPod Touch owners are also eligible for the upgrade, although not all features are supported.
Big day for the tech world, and it's all thanks to el jefe Steve Jobs. Now we play the waiting game yet again. Stay tuned as the next chapter of the iPhone unfolds.