Apple gets no love from Wall Street for new iPhone 4S
The most closely kept secret about the iPhone 5? There isn't one - yet. The new iPhone is faster, has a better camera and allows you to sync content without needing a computer. It includes a futuristic, voice-activated service that responds to spoken commands and questions such as "Do I need an umbrella today?"
But there's a catch. Apple named it 4S when most people were expecting the iPhone 5. Immediately, tech bloggers and Apple fans alike began to wonder if this new iPhone was not as cool as they had hoped. Investors were disappointed, too. Apple's stock fell more than 5 percent before getting a late bump.
(...) The new iPhone has an improved camera with a higher-resolution sensor. The processor is faster - the same A5 chip found in the iPad 2 - so the phone will be able to run smoother, more realistic action games.
(...) The iPhone 4S will come with new mobile software that includes such features as the ability to sync content wirelessly, without having to plug the device to a Mac or Windows machine. The phone includes Siri, which lets people speak questions and commands and represents an advanced version of speech-recognition software found on other phones.
Apple also unveiled software that can send greeting cards through the postal system for $2.99 each.
(...) Apple's new mobile software, iOS 5, will also be available on Oct. 12 for existing devices - the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both iPad models and later versions of the iPod Touch.
Apple said Oct. 12 will also mark the launch of its new iCloud service, which will store content such as music, documents and photos on Apple's servers and let people access them wirelessly on numerous devices. One component is a $25-per-year service, called iTunes Match, that will allow people to play their personal jukeboxes on any device with iTunes software instead of keeping them tethered to a personal computer that must be synced with other devices.
The new phone will come in black or white. It will cost $199 for a 16 gigabyte-version, $299 for 32 GB and $399 for 64 GB - all with a two-year service contract requirement. Pre-orders will begin Friday with availability on Oct. 14.
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