Apple unveils 4G-enabled iPhone 5

Apple has unveiled a taller, 4G-enabled iPhone at an event in San Francisco. The device's new size allows it to display an extra row of app icons on its home screen. The firm said it was 18% thinner and 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S. The screen measures 4in (10.2cm) which is still smaller than rival devices from Samsung, Nokia, Motorola and HTC. It said it would work on Everything Everywhere's (EE) 4G LTE network in the UK. The news is likely to give the network operator - which runs e local Orange and T-Mobile services - an advantage against its rivals which will not launch the higher-speed data service until 2013. "I think it's obviously what the other networks feared would happen," said Matthew Howett, a telecoms analyst at Ovum. "The question will be how many non-EE customers make the switch." Apple said the handset would ship on 21 September. Faster speeds The new screen offers a 16:9 ratio, matching that of widescreen televisions. Phil Schiller - Apple's vice president of worldwide marketing, who unveiled the device - said existing apps would be shown with black borders until developers updated their products. Continue reading the main story Analysis Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent, BBC News For Apple, the latest version of the phone which supplies the lion's share of its enormous profits was always going to be crucial to its financial future. For the rest of the mobile phone industry, today's launch was something to worry about - how would it change this fast-shifting landscape? With so many leaks there were few surprises about this bigger, thinner iPhone. A better camera, more uses for the voice activation feature Siri, and its own mapping system with turn-by-turn navigation all add up to an impressive device. But Android users, and in particular fans of Samsung's best-selling Galaxy S3 will say Apple is just playing catch-up. Features like the ability to shoot a panorama have been on their phones for years. That won't stop the new phone being a big hit - with millions of existing users now likely to be nearing the end of their contracts. Those who've got used to the iOS system will be keen to stay with it - while for newcomers to the smartphone, the iPhone will be the shiny new thing. The impact that Apple's latest model has on the UK mobile phone market is particularly intriguing. When Apple announced that its 4G iPhone 5 would work on EE's new 4G network, you could hear the cheers from the headquarters of that company. But Vodafone and O2 - still furious that their rival has been allowed a head-start on 4G, will be even crosser now. Read more from Rory The handset also features a new Apple-designed chip, called the A6. Mr Schiller suggested this made it twice as powerful as the earlier model. The camera is an eight megapixel model - the same as in the iPhone 4S, and a lower specification than LG and Sony's most recent devices. However, Mr Schiller said the equipment and associated software meant the iPhone would create better photographs in low light than before. The handset also uses a new, smaller, socket for its charger. This means owners will need to use an adapter to plug the device into existing speakers and other equipment. It does not offer wireless charging like Nokia's Lumia 920. In addition it does not include NFC (near field communication) technology meaning the device will not be able to make touchless payments. It will be sold with either 16 gigabytes, 32GB or 64GB of storage, with prices ranging from $199 to $399 (£123 to £248) in the US with a two-year contract. In addition to launching the new model, Apple will continue to ship versions of the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4, but is phasing out 2009's iPhone 3GS. Reworked iTunes Despite the fact that the iPhone 5 lacks several features found on its rivals, one analyst at the presentation thought it would prove popular. "There are unprecedented levels of pent-up consumer demand that will ensure it eclipses all previous iPhone launches," said Ben Wood from CCS Insight. "Newly rebranded UK network EE will be delighted by the fact the iPhone 5 supports the right flavour of 4G LTE technology. This will offer it a unique competitive advantage over other UK networks." However, another industry watcher thought that the firm might have made a mistake by rejecting new tech in order to make the model thinner. "The decision to omit NFC in the iPhone 5 could cost Apple," said Fred Huet, managing director at Greenwich Consulting. "It is just a matter of time before the smartphone replaces the plastic card, and by skipping this technology, Apple may have missed a valuable opportunity to take the lead in this market. "With over 400 million active credit card accounts on file, Apple had a prime opportunity to convert its customers using a sleek mobile payment system tied to the iPhone." iPhones were not the Apple product to be refreshed. The iPhone's new system is the first to feature Apple-designed maps The firm's iTunes media player and store for Macs and PCs has been redesigned, and there were also new iPods. Big earner The latest iPhone's performance will prove critical to Apple's fortunes. According to the firm's most recent earnings report the iPhone and related services and accessories accounted for 52% of $120bn (£74bn) total net sales over the nine months running up to July - 98 million handsets were sold in that time. That has helped boost its share price to new heights. At the end of last week the firm was worth $637.85bn based on its share price. That was the highest such valuation to date if you do not adjust Microsoft's 1998 figure for inflation. However, competition is intensifying. While Apple's margins may be wider, Samsung's handset sales are growing at a faster pace. According to data from IDC the South Korean firm accounted for 43.6% of the Western European smartphone market between April and June compared to Apple's 19%. The figures will have been skewed by the fact that Samsung offers more models and the Galaxy S3 was a newer device than the equivalent iPhone, but one industry watcher said the rivalry could intensify over coming months. "Samsung has been very efficient pushing and promoting their devices offering the biggest commissions to sales people," Francisco Jeronimo, research manager at IDC, told the BBC. "The momentum they are gaining with consumers is very high and people see it as a very innovative brand - and customers are clearly looking for innovation rather than just refinements. Samsung will also be likely to make further gains by making price cuts before Christmas." Flagship handsets compared Device Vital information What the experts say Samsung Galaxy S3 • Released: May 2012 • Screen size: 4.8" • Operating system: Android • Camera: 8MP • Cost: £450 for 16GB edition on pay-and-go via O2 • Full specification "While neither the display nor the construction materials on the Galaxy S3 are the best possible, both represent acceptable compromises that help Samsung balance out the rest of its class-leading spec sheet." The Verge HTC One X • Released: April 2012 • Screen size: 4.7" • Camera: 8MP • Operating system: Android • Cost: £420 for 16GB edition on pay-as-you-go via Vodafone • Full specification "This handset looks and feels stunning...[but] battery life is by far our biggest concern... Buying a One X is a lot like getting a unicorn - it's wild, fast, white, beautiful, expensive and fickle." Engadget Motorola Droid RazrMaxx HD (not available in UK) • Release: "Before the [winter] holidays" • Screen size: 4.7" • Camera: 8MP • Operating system: Android • Cost: To be confirmed • Full specification "Talk time is outlandishly long at 32 hours... If you want a phone that's deadly serious about staying charged all day, this is a great contender." Mobiledia Nokia Lumia 920 • Release: To be confirmed • Screen size: 4.5" • Camera: 8.7MP • Operating system: Windows Phone 8 • Cost: To be confirmed • Full specification "The Nokia Lumia 920 is a good phone from the outset, although it didn't really give us much to feel wowed by... we can't help but feel that this may not be enough of an evolution to really take Windows Phone to the next level." Techradar LG Optimus G • Release: September 2012 in S Korea • Screen size: 4.7" • Camera: 13MP • Operating system: Android • Cost: To be confirmed • Full specification "Judging by its specs and LG's recent devices, it has plenty of superphone potential... [but] it won't be able to fit in front or back jean pockets, nor will it be easy to use with one hand." Cnet Sony Xperia T • Release: "Coming soon" • Screen size: 4.6" • Camera: 13MP • Operating system: Android • Cost: To be confirmed • Full specification "The 13-megapixel camera... is as close to a compact as a smartphone has come. Couple this with a responsive enough performance and you have a phone that can take on the likes of the One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3." Pocket-lint Blackberry Bold 9900 • Release: August 2011 • Screen size: 2.8" • Camera: 5MP • Operating system: Blackberry 7 • Cost: £380 pay-as-you-go on Orange • Full specification "The Bold 9900 is a great phone IF your live gravitates around communication, but there's better choices out there for gaming and entertainment." Ubergizmo

Apple unveils 4G-enabled iPhone 5 2012-09-12T11:58:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Undercover 999