By Grace Chng
Senior Correspondent
chngkeg@sph.com.sg

 

There is no iPhone5. Instead you get the same look of the iPhone 4. An iPhone 4S instead was announced by Apple early Wednesday morning (Singapore time).

However, do not be deceived. In the old body is a set of new tech innards.

What Singapore consumers will get when they get their hands on the iPhone 4S on Oct 28 is a phone which can, among other things, take much sharper images at faster speed, play more graphic-intensive games, download data faster, and take high-definition video.

There are two reasons why you should buy the iPhone4S.

First, you would not need to get a digital camera or camcorder to take your kids’ birthday photos or graduation ceremonies.

There is a new faster microprocessor called A5 and a new graphics chip. There is a now an 8 megapixel camera and a new lens arrangement that offers more accurate and sharper images as well as high-def video.

The second reason is also the most significant tech feature.

Siri, the intelligent assistant, is cool. It is sophisticated voice technology.

Ask the phone to find out the latest weather report, search for the closest Italian restaurant and shopping centre, convert Singapore dollars to Turkish Lira or find the equatorial circumference of Mars.

The answers appear almost instantly. There is no waiting time.

Critics may say that Apple is playing catch-up because voice technology is already available in Android smartphones.

However, Apple has integrated it with the iOS5 software, such that using Siri is simple and easy.

While I am weighing the cost of buying the iPhone 4S - I have to consider whether my telco provider will penalise me for an early conversion to a new phone - I would also now seriously consider the iPod Nano.

I have avoided it so far because I already have two iPods and did not see a reason to buy another one. But the new Pedometer feature is compelling.

Since I do walk and jog every day, the Pedometer tracks these activities, storing my timings so that I can monitor my performance.

With iOS5 now in the Nano, the display can be enlarged which means I do not have to squint at the small device.

Plus the multi-touch interface means I can swipe from one icon to another. The pricing from US$129 (S$169), makes it a serious purchase consideration.

The iPhone 4S, the iPod Nano and a white iPod touch were the new devices that were launched at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California, and also streamed live to its London store in Covent Garden.

The new iPod Nano is available in the stores. The new iPod touch is due on Oct 12.