FRIDAY July 30: That’s when Apple's iPhone 4 will hit the shelves here.
All three telcos here will be selling it, although only SingTel and StarHub will sell it on July 30. M1 has not confirmed when it will carry the iPhone 4 in its inventory.
It has been one year and 20 days ago on July 10 2009 when SingTel started selling the iPhone 3GS. Eager consumers queued up as early as 9 am on July 9 so that they could say they were the first to own it.
This year, queues are likely to form too. But will it be as long and will the demand be as good with news currently circulating that the iPhone 4's reception is poor? It looks like we will only know when July 29 comes around.
With two telcos selling on the same day, queues maybe less evident at SingTel too.
Bumpers, the thin sliver of rubber that covers the sides of the iPhone 4, are expected to be sold with the phone. This, or cases, will improve reception, said Apple. A little bird also told me that the white iPhone which hasn’t made its debut anywhere will be offered here.
I’ve had a 10-minute hands-on session with the iPhone 4 during its launch in early June in San Francisco. It is thinner and lighter than previous iterations. I like it because of folders which neatly tucks away apps of the same genre in one folder and the multi-tasking feature which lets you use several apps at the same time without have to exit ing them.
They are the two key features in iOS4, the new operating system that powers the iPhone 4. iOS4 is also available on the iPhone 3GS when Apple released the software for upgrading.
The folders are great because instead of swiping through 11 screens of 16 icon spaces each, now users can have folders in each space. With 12 apps in one folder, it means you can have a potentially huge app collection of 2,116 (including the four apps in the main dock).
Apple's hallmark is to make complex technology features simple. The videocall feature called FaceTime makes such calls only three clicks away.
This Christmas, I’m expecting many families to buy two iPhones as a gift: one for grandma and grandpa and the other for the grandkids who are studying or working overseas.
Are you looking forward to the iPhone 4 launch? Tell us why!