Apple Inc. unveiled the new iPhone 5 Sept. 12 that included a major redesign with enhancements such as a four-inch screen and faster processor, confirming many suspicions and causing many Apple fanatics to rejoice.
The lighter and slimmer iPhone 5 debuted with the larger screen, faster processor, the Apple A6 and the ability to connect to 4G LTE.
According to Apple’s keynote, the new iPhone is 18 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S. Apple’s website says the resolution of the new iPhone will stay the same, which has some Apple supporters grumbling.
“The iPhone 5 is a step forward, but not the leap Apple is known for,” said Joe Arjona, sophomore mechanical engineering major.
Apple boasted that the new iPhone 5 will have extended battery life, approximately eight hours of continuous 3G talk time, LTE browsing, 10 hours of WiFi browsing, 10 hours of video playback, 40 hours of music playback and 225 hours when the phone is locked but still on.
The comparison with the 4S? With an increase of two hours of 3G browsing, one hour of Wi-Fi browsing, and 25 hours of standby, critics are claiming there is no difference.
“As a non-iPhone owner, the new iPhone 5 does not impress me,” said Jacob De La Cruz, junior accounting major. “Side-by-side, the Samsung Galaxy S III seems like a way better phone with a bigger screen and way more battery life.”
The new iPhone also debuted with a new connector Apple calls Lightning as well as redesigned ear buds that have been requested for several years by Apple fans. The all-digital connector features an “adaptive interface,” of which Apple was not clear on what that means, creating hesitation with critics.
The new adapter is 80 percent smaller and reversible. However, because it is not the industrystandard micro USB, speaker docks and other non-Apple accessories will have a delay in getting iPhone 5 compatible products into the market.
In a surprising turn, the iPhone 5 will not have a glass back. Amid many customer complaints regarding the cracking on the back of previous iPhone editions, Apple redesigned the new iPhone to have a metal back. This gives the iPhone a sleek all-black or white and silver look, as well as the durability many have wanted.
With the new A6 chip, users will see an increase in the all-around speed of the iPhone 5. Web pages are said to load 2.1 times faster, and music applications are claimed to load 1.9 times faster.
Despite the fact that the main camera saw no new improvements, staying at eight megapixels, the front-facing camera received slight improvements. It now boasts a 1.2-megapixel camera and the ability to record 720 high-definition video.
Lastly, the new iPhone also received an audio update: It will boast three microphones, and the speaker will also boast five magnets. According to cnet.com, this is an improvement on the 4S’s two magnets. This will increase audio quality, and it aided in slimming down the body.
Starting at $200 for eight gigabytes worth of memory and a two-year contract, the new iPhone began pre-sale Sept. 14 and will ship Friday.
“I don’t think upgrading to the newer version right away is a good investment,” said Lauren Rither, sophomore civil engineering major. “It’s good for people looking to buy for the first time or who are eligible for upgrading at a discounted price, but for people like me who already have the older model and a two-year contract and can’t afford to spend upwards of $600 just for a bigger screen and faster loading times, it definitely isn’t worth it.”
Along with the debut of the iPhone 5, Apple also unveiled the new iTunes and iPod series.
The new iTunes will feature a better integration between the iTunes store and the user’s personal library, as well as a new edge-to-edge display. It will also feature the ability to drag and drop songs into playlists as well as an “Up Next” feature that will act as a queue.
The iPod lineup also experienced a major redesign. The new iPod Nano features a 2.5-inch touchscreen and is now 38 percent thinner than the previous version. A complete software redesign was constructed on the Nano, allowing it to feature an FM tuner and the ability to sync through Bluetooth.
The new iPod Touch will now also boast a four-inch retina display as well as a five megapixel iSight camera with autofocus, flash and other key features of the new iPhone, such as the panorama shooting on the back camera. It will be available in seven different colors and will have the capability to FaceTime with the front facing camera.
It also boasts a feature called a “touch loop,” which is a strap that attaches to a button that pops up, making the device look more like a point-and-shoot camera.
The iPod lineup and iTunes received more enhancements, making Apple’s product lineup for the fall well-rounded.
