Of course, whether it truly lives up to expectations won't matter to millions of people with older iPhones (and other smartphones) who've been waiting to upgrade to the next iPhone no matter what. But for those who have an iPhone 4 or 4S and are on the fence about upgrading, here's a look at some key features Apple left out of this model that may find their way into the next iPhone (let's call it the iPhone 5S for now).
During the Apple event today, the company announced the latest version of the operating system that powers its popular mobile devices. Scott Forstall, Apple's SVP of iOS, promises that iOS 6 will bring 200 new features, including tighter Facebook integration, an empowered Siri voice assistant, and the capability to conduct FaceTime calls over a cellular network.
Yet, it's Apple's new Maps app that was easily the star of the show. Created by the company, the app finally adds turn-by-turn directions along with info cards for businesses, a "flyover mode" when searching for an address, and a full 3D satellite view that displays buildings, terrain, and landmarks. There will be much more, of course, but even at this early point it's clear that Apple has filled a few gaping holes on our iOS wish list.
iOS 6 will become available on September 19 to the iPhone 3GS and later models and tosecond- and third-generation iPads. Note, however, that not all of the new features will be available for all iOS 6-compatible devices (more on that below). And, now, here's a breakdown of the features talked about today.
Now that the feverish iPhone 5 anticipation is simmering down into the reality of the announcement, it's time to see what the initial reactions are to the news.
Here's the big summary. The glass and aluminum iPhone 5 sports 4G LTE, a 4-inch Retina display, an upgraded camera, iOS 6, and a fast new A6 chip. It's also 7.6mm thick and weighs 20 percent less than the iPhone 4S. One of the biggest changes is the new, much-smaller Lightning connector. An adapter will make it work with older connectors, but it's quite a departure for both consumers and accessory makers.
