iPhone News Updated

The iPhone 4S, simply hard not to love

The iPhone 4S, simply hard not to love

There seems to be a pattern forming with each iPhone launch. First there is a degree of mass hysteria as people flock to be the first to own the device which has become Apple’s new symbol of hip. After that come the complains and fault-finding.

If the iPhone 4S were a child, it would probably be suffering the ‘middle child syndrome’ - always compared and criticised, somehow not as much loved and constantly having to prove something.

At its launch many were upset that the baby was not the iPhone 5 but just an improved iPhone 4, with some choosing to wait it out till the iPhone 5 makes it appearance, whenever that will be.

However, it could be like trying to spot the Loch Ness monster and totally missing the beauty of the Scottish lake in its surrounds.

Of course that is not to say that the iPhone 5 is just a myth.

There are reports aplenty of a new device on the Mac inventory possibly with greater capacity, maybe 4G connectivity or connectivity without a SIM card, even excited prototype spotting of a device resembling the iPhone but is slimmer and with a larger screen. Some even say the iPhone 5 could even made flexible enough to take the twists of gaming.

Sounds pretty close to reports of the Loch Ness monster.

Since the nice folks at Apple hardly ever deal in rumours with only the occasional bar-hopping staffer who will reveal iPhone secrets by carelessly losing the item, it’s best to be happy with what is at hand - something many forget to remember, unless they live in Bhutan.

So what we have from Apple now is the iPhone 4S and really, it is close to amazing.

In terms of looks, the 4S is the later twin of the iPhone 4 which most have already declared as pretty good looking. But as twins go, the 4S definitely has more brains and is much nicer on the inside.

For starters, the iPhone 4S has more “umph” being powered by the same chip that drives the iPad 2.

That means the phone can take what the larger device is capable of, and believe me, when it comes to games and videos on the go, the iPhone 4S will not leave you wanting.

In benchmark tests against other devices as well as the iPhone 4 and 3GS, the iPhone 4S delivered on graphics and was also responsive in terms of web delivery.

Sure, it probably taxes the battery as do some of the new features, but the latest iOS 5.0.1 software update has taken care of the problem.

The vocal critics who question bug fixes and lapses are most likely new converts as Apple aficionados know that there always is “one more thing”.

In the case of the iPhone 4S battery issue, it also help if users don’t leave too many applications running in the background - something quite a few are guilty of. More so now that the device comes with quite a few fun but useful applications, such as Siri.

If you’re an avid texter, guilty of even typing out messages while driving, get the iPhone 4S and use Siri to end the dangerous driving habit that could save you a traffic ticket and maybe even save your life.

Without having to take your hands off the steering wheel or your eyes off the road, users can dictate a message and send it off - something the iPhone 3S and iPhone 4 have both been unable to do.

That’s not all Siri is capable of. It can also search the web and respond to various other voice commands.

Unfortunately, Siri the “intelligent personal assistant that helps you get things done” is a linguistics snob.

It only understands French, German and English - US, UK and Australian.

What about English in other accents such as Malaysian and Singaporean?

Well, Siri did not try to call or message Yam Ah Mee when asked to contact “Mummy”, but it did waffle through a request to contact the YouTube sensation and similarly named “Ah Mei”.

Although Siri may suffer a limited verbal cache at the moment,it may surprise you some day soon with its knowledge since every word uttered is recorded and sent back to Apple which says “is used to help Siri understand you better and recognise what you say”.

Some speculate that Siri will be back bigger and better with the next iPhone incarnation, but between then and now there’s nothing an update can’t fix, after all the latest iOS update did take care of issues with Australian English which our Down Under mates will admit, a dinky-di (genuine) chin-wag (conversation) in Oz (Australia) can be pretty hard to get your head around (understand).

Another great feature is the 8 megapixel camera which includes a stabilizer so pictures stay clear and more importantly, videos remain watchable.

Armed with the iPhone 4S, I took a series of random videos and found it was able to automatically switch to offer macro shots, even on the video, capturing little details such tiny fish lurking in a water feature outside a home.

Spending a morning with “the neighbours” I found that the iPhone 4S compensated well for the shakes even when holding the device upwards at an angle for a length of time, and when zooming in - which is when video images appear more shaky.

The only time the video function of the iPhone 4S didn’t perform as well, was when it was used for tracking shots or when the user ‘walks’ the camera.

There was also a photo shoot-out between the 4S, my trusty iPhone 3GS, an iPhone 4 and a Canon DSLR, with all devices taking the same subject at ‘magic hour’ where the changing light between day and dusk can sometimes prove to be a challenge.

The 4S did reasonably well, and even at nightfall, the f 2.4 apperture on the custom built lens didn’t lose out on details and best of all, didn’t offer grainy pictures.

With face detection and programmed colour balancing, shots are sharp and true even when linked to a large HD TV screen.

What’s great too is the ability to send your photos to iCloud which is Apple’s 5GB of cloud storage that allows users to access their photos no matter where they are and no matter what device, including a PC.

Much of what makes the iPhone 4S tick does draw upon from the new iOS, which if you haven’t made the move to install on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch,you should.

As it’s now possible to update and install the latest iOS over WiFi, it’s speedy and quite painless. But make sure you first back up your device (right-click or control-click your device when connected to iTunes) which is always a good habit.

With the latest iOS there are a host of new features, including personal favourite - Reminders which will also send a pop up on your Windows PC.

On the iPhone 4S, if you have Locations Services turned on, you could even get a reminder popping up when you reach or leave a destination.

There is no doubt that you could hold on the good ol’ iPhone 3GS with iOS update, or wait for the elusive iPhone 5, but the iPhone 4S is nifty while offering a host of features, with Siri and the camera alone making it worth packing along everyday.

- CNA/sf

[Thanks: http://www.channelnewsasia.com]

Comments are closed.