Apple iPhone 4S price: £499

The Apple iPhone 4S will cost £499 in the UK.

The latest iteration of Apple’s smartphone was unveiled yesterday (October 4) at an event in California, which was hosted by CEO Tim Cook and also saw a new iPod Touch launced. according to Apple’s website, the 16GB version of the device will be available to pre-order from October 7 (this friday), and will be shipped the following week on October 14. 

The pricing is the same as that give to the iPhone on launch last year and reflects the US pricing, which was issued by Apple yesterday during the launch of the iPhone 4S.  In the US the handset will cost $199 for the 16GB version, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB capacity device, also the same as the iPhone on launch.

There’s currently no UK pricing for the iPhone 4S in 32GB and 64GB capacities, although its likely the 32GB model will cost £599, the same cost of the iPhone 4 32GB on launch last year.

  • See iPhone 4S review
  • See iPhone 4s rumour round-up
  • See iOS 5 review

How much mobile networks will be charging for the device on a monthly contract remains to be seen. At present, O2 is the only operator to confirm it will stock the device, although it is likely the other four biggest networks; Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and three, which started offering the iPhone for the first-time last year, are likely to follow suit.

Last year, the major UK networks were offering the Apple iPhone 4 for free on two year contracts with a monthly charge of between £60 and £65 per month. the smartphone was also available on tariffs starting from £30 but Brits were being asked to cough up around £200 (and in some cases more) for the handset. So once again, its likely that the iPhone 4S will be available free on £60 per month tariffs that are tied in for two years.

The iPhone 4S retains the same thin glass and stainless steel design of the iPhone 4, but benefits from a dual-core A5 chip which according to Apple delivers twice the processing power and up to seven times faster graphics than the previous iPhone.

The handset also benefits from a dual-antenna that will intelligently switch between two antennas to send and receive, along with Siri, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. for example if you say will I need an umbrella this weekend, it understand you want a weather report. other new features include an 8Mp camera with a custom lens, grid lines on screen and the ability to capture video in full 1080p HD.

The smartphone will run iOS 5, the latest iteration of Apple’s mobile platform, which benefits from 200 new features including iMessage that allows users to send messages, photos, videos and contact information to other users of the app for free over Wi-Fi and a new Photos app that ensures images can be cropped, rotate and enhanced on the device.

The iPhone 4S also features iCloud, Apple’s new online storage service that automatically syncs music, apps, games and photos taken on the device, in the cloud so they can be accessed from other devices that support the service.

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iPhone 4S: Five missing features

Today’s iPhone 4S announcement has not gone without controversy. many of the expected features we had longed and hoped for have not come to fruition.

While the iPhone 4S has been boosted on the inside with hardware modifications, including a dual-core processor and memory upgrades, it lacks a physical change of any kind on the outside. in effect, as the name would suggest, it is an iPhone 4 with a few added perks.

Nevertheless, while some will be relatively content with the device — preloaded with iOS 5, the next generation mobile operating system — as well as boasting faster, souped up hardware, many will notice that a few things were obviously missing from today’s announcement.

Maybe we will just have to wait for the iPhone 5, after all?

1. NFC-integrated technology

It was feasible but a long shot, in my view. with Google Wallet recently out the door and available for NFC-enabled phones, Apple would have had a tough time integrating the hardware in time, not knowing Google would make the first stab at making the technology work.

The wireless payment technology is still in its relative infancy, and Apple does not make a habit out of adding technologies that are not guaranteed to work, or even take off.

2. Teardrop shape

This one I find most intriguing. Obviously, the iPhone 4S is nothing short of a short-term upgrade until the iPhone 5 comes out. many of the rumours surrounding the updated cases leaked last month show a teardrop shape, setting the technology world into a rumour frenzy.

But as the iPhone 3G transformed into the updated iPhone 3GS, with the next-generation iPhone 4 breaking the mould — only to be followed by a iPhone 4S of the same design — I would bet that the iPhone 5 will in fact have a different design altogether.

Of course, as the rumour mill will continue to trundle along, many of these rumours will roll over in effect to the next iPhone update.

3. 4G compatibility

I was not surprised at all when this was not announced. As discussed earlier, the iPhone would need to be much larger in width — sacrificing its “world’s thinnest smartphone” tag — in order to accommodate a larger battery.

The battery alone would be necessary to maintain the 4G connection for a suitable length of time, for which the user can then recharge the phone.

For now, the technology simply does not exist in a commercial setting to have a thin smartphone, capable of reaching 4G compatibility, whilst not needing to be plugged in every few hours for a power boost.

4. Native Facebook integration

Seeing as the Facebook iPad application has yet to see the light of day, many had hoped that the upcoming social networking application would be released, or at very least announced today. seeing as Twitter will be embedded natively in iOS 5, it would have been grand to see Facebook integration also.

But as earlier reports suggest, the iPad application is still in ‘hiatus’ until it can be then approved by Apple. considering Apple and Facebook are hardly the closest of industry friends, I see no reason why Apple would even do so unless it can see how it can benefit itself somehow.

It would attract more iPad users to the iTunes App Store, for sure. But seeing as the application store is already at the peak of its game, wiping the floor with its competitors, again there is little motivation on Apple’s part to integrate Facebook into the iOS 5 operating system.

5. Thunderbolt connectivity

In March, Apple announced support for high-definition video output for now older iOS powered devices. all iPhone and iPad users needed was a $39 cable to port 720p and 1080i content to widescreen televisions and the like.

Thunderbolt ports are roughly the same height as the standard USB port, making it suitable for other Apple hardware, like the Mac mini and the MacBook Air — but not necessarily for something as small, thin and as light as an iPhone. a micro-HDMI out would have worked, but would have killed off a wide range of accessories and existing cables that Apple and third-party vendors already supply.

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Marbridge Reports

Yu Yingtao, GM of China Unicom’s (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) marketing division, announced recently on his Sina microblog account that the company is now considering lowering the price of iPhone 4 handsets. following the October 6 release of the iPhone 4S, Apple China changed the price listed on its website for the 16GB iPhone 4 from RMB 4,999 to RMB 4,548. at the same time, the price for the 32GB version of the iPhone 4 was lowered from RMB 5,999 down to RMB 4,988, and the price for the 8GB iPhone 3GS from RMB 3,999 down to RMB 2,888.

However, the Siri voice activated control feature introduced with the iPhone 4S does not support Chinese, and is currently available only with English, French and German language support. with the iPhone 4’s lower price over the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 4 model is expected to continue to have a substantial market in China for the foreseeable future.

 

Keywords: Yu Yingtao, China Unicom, iPhone, wireless, Apple, 0762.HK, 600050.SH, CHU, handset, smartphone, pricing, reduction

Apple Fail!? The iPhone 3GS on iOS 5

I still use the oldest phone that Apple currently sells, the iPhone 3GS, but I’ve now upgraded to iOS 5 GM. to my surprise, the golden master runs much faster than previous beta versions of iOS 5.

Of course, speed is a relative thing — it’s possible that the phone is no faster than it was some months ago, and that I’m now just noticing the difference between last month’s beta version and this week’s golden master, but it certainly feels like the fastest 3GS I’ve ever used!

Sure, I won’t be getting Siri and the camera still takes ages to load up, but I’m suddenly finding myself rather content with my 2-year old phone.

One thing that’s been majorly improved is mobile Safari; it seems to run a whole lot faster these days. I’m actually using it again as my primary browser, at least when I’m on wifi.

Additionally, now that wireless syncing, cloud syncing and over-the-air updates are available, the phone has become effortless to manage.

What I’m trying to get at, is that this aging obsolete smartphone has just dramatically increased in value. this is totally unexpected considering the nature of the product and the fact that it is now two produce cycles behind the latest iPhone.

Apple is making me think twice about upgrading!

AT&T May Be Trying To Trick iPhone 4S Upgraders Out Of Their Unlimited Data Plans, Here’s How To Keep Yours [Updated]

This post has been updated since it was first published. please note the updates at the end of the post.

While we had no problem getting an iPhone 4S while keeping our grandfathered data plan, that’s because we ordered direct from Apple. On the other hand, we’ve received at least two reports of readers who are being told by AT&T that they have to give up their unlimited data if they want an iPhone 4S. Uh oh. Luckily, there’s a way to make sure you keep your unlimited plan: don’t give att.com the time of day.

It’s a really shady move on the part of AT&T, who has been boning things up all morning. Here’s the deal.

If you go to Apple.com’s iPhone 4S pre-order page and sign up for a new handset through AT&T, Apple’s site will register that you have an unlimited data plan and everything’s hunky dory.

Whatever you do, though, don’t order an iPhone 4S directly from AT&T. When you try to order one, the AT&T website will tell you:

Your new device requires a different Data Add-on Plan than you currently have. We selected a compatible Data Add-on Plan for you. if you want a different plan, you can change the Data Add-on Plan by selecting Change here or from within myAT&T after you receive and activate your new device.

If you notice and try to change the data plan manually, AT&T won’t give you the unlimited data plan option (unlike if you do it on the Apple website.)

So basically, here’s what it boils down to, at least as far as we can tell. if you order an iPhone 4S from AT&T, they will force you to give up your unlimited data plan. So don’t even bother with att.com. Just head on over to Apple.

Hat tip to Chris and Teng!

Update: Reader Michael explains that what is going on isn’t nearly as devious as it appears, just confusing.

I believe this may be a misunderstanding. I have the grandfathered $30 unlimited iPhone data plan on my current 3GS, and my purchase on the AT&T site looked just like the example here. It preselected the $30 plan for my new 4S and despite the same ominous message, I checked out with the $30 “iPhone data plan”.

I also ordered a new 4S for someone else right afterward. That order required me to pick from one of the new data plans ($25 or $45) with radio buttons before I could proceed. That order summary showed a new ongoing monthly $25 fee for the DataPro 2GB plan. It did not offer anything called a “$30 data plan for iPhone.”

Thus I believe that my order and yours are in fact grandfathering the old, unlimited, $30 plan, and the message is just misleading.

In other words, if you ignore this message, you still get your unlimited data plan. Whew. Here’s the question, though: is AT&T trying to trick people out of their unlimited data plans? sure seems like it.

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Must-have iPhone cases

My baby ate my iPhone. Well not literally. but she certainly tried. Hard. She wasn’t successful in eating it per se, but she was successful in,er, breaking the microphone. As in she’d chewed and sucked on it so much that I could no longer hear anyone who called me.

Oh darn. It was time for a trip to the Apple Store.

While I listened to the Genius bar dude explain that my phone had encountered water (or saliva!) and therefore needed to be replaced, I looked around the store. I noticed some incredible iPhone 4 cases hanging on the wall. mr. Genius bar gave me a new phone and let me off with a warning (thank you!) and I popped over to do some iPhone cover shopping.

I found the most delightful line of cases designed by Kate Spade (love her!).

1. Stripes. three words. So. Much. Fun.

2. Polka Dots. I bought this one (mine has hot pink on the sides) and love it. So easy to find in my purse!

3. how sassy is this print? If it had been at the Apple store, I may have opted for this instead of the dots. maybe.

Click here for many, many, many more options available at Nordstrom. all cases between $35-$40. Have fun!

 

iPhone 5 release date to reveal HSPA+? Sprint, Verizon slower?

The iPhone 5, Apple’s next iOS-based smartphone, may include the faster HSPA+ data speed to compete against Google Android-based smartphones. the information is from the leaked advertisement of China Unicom, reportedly set to promoted the iPhone 5 as “4G.”

According to Apple Insider, the China-based wireless carrier revealed the iPhone 5′s data connectivity feature in a presentation at the Macworld Asia event, where a slide was shown by the wireless carrier. the iPhone 5 is included in the slide, alongside other older iPhones like the iPhone 3GS and the current version of the iPhone, the iPhone 4.

iPhone 5 to include HSPA+? Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel's iPhone 5 slower?

The slide doesn’t include the photo of the iPhone 5, obviously, but it was described by the presentation as an, “HSPA+” device, while the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS are WCDMA with 7.2Mbps speed only. It is worth noting that these are “theoretical speeds” only.

Apparently, Samsung’s global Galaxy S II, the Android smartphone hailed as the most popular Samsung phone to date, features HSPA+ too, including the AT&T version that will arrive on October 2, while the T-Mobile USA’s model features the carrier’s “4G” with 42Mbps data download speed.

Speaking of US HSPA+, AT&T’s iPhone 5 could feature the HSPA+, making the “AT&T iPhone 5″ theoretically faster than Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel’s CDMA iPhone 5, according to MacRumors.

Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 5 on October 4, and reports say the device will debut in United States in mid-October.

This report was originally posted on PopHerald.com, under Gadgets and Mobile Category.

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iPhone price cuts refuel sales momentum says analyst – SlashGear

Apple’s iPhone 4S pre-order sales success isn’t the only reason the company’s cash registers are ringing. Price cuts of the existing iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS have apparently reignited demand for the older handsets, AppleInsider reports, with Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley claiming his checks across US carriers showed buoyant sales of the legacy devices.

That’s even with the promise of the iPhone 4S to tempt them away to the higher-priced model. as well as the new, dual-core phone, Apple announced that the iPhone 4 would be sold at $99 – with a new agreement – for an 8GB version, while an 8GB iPhone 3GS would be offered free.

Walkley didn’t go so far as to share hard figures, so it’s difficult to know exactly how much of a difference the price cut will have made. however, with the promise of iOS 5 later this week for those with the existing devices, it’s entirely possible shoppers on a budget may have decided the updated software and last year’s hardware (or the year before that) was good enough for them.

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Energizer Energi to Go iPhone Charger Case Review

If you have an Smartphone and use it a lot for things like Twitter, posting to Facebook, email, taking pictures or videos you know how fast that battery drains down. if you are just using it for calls and texting the battery will last a lot longer but apps seem to really drain the battery.

I have an iPhone 4 and decided to look for a solution. when I am away from my computer I am always on Twitter or Facebook, taking pictures and sending and receiving emails. I am often at a conference or event that doesn’t give me access to charge my battery. if I was even able to charge my battery then I wouldn’t be able to use my phone becuase I would have to set it somewhere while it charged.

I found the Energizer iPhone “Energi to Go” Charger Case(Model AP1201)  through my friend Robyn, and because she had such success with it I decided to give it a try.  one thing right off that is nice about the Energizer Energi Charger Case is the price. it cost me $29.99 through Amazon.com and shipping was free (the price could vary). a comparable model from Mophie can cost you almost $100. There are other brands like Boost, iCase, and Exolife and they all work about the same. The only one I tested out was the Energizer Model AP1201 Silicone case (see video review below). The case is also available in a hard plastic and costs about the same price.

I tested out the Energizer charger case for 2 weeks and this is my opinion of it.

A charger case is super easy to use. I got the silicone cover version and it was flexible. it easily forms it over the phone once you slip the phone down into the connector. I thought it was going to get dirty because fuzz and dust was sticking to it but over time I found that was not the case. maybe the oils from my fingers gave it a coating over the silicone, I don’t know, but I have not had any problem keeping it clean.

You can charge both the iPhone and charger case at the same time without removing the case by plugging in the supplied cable to the case and then into the computer. when the case is fully charged you will see 4 blue lights on the back. While it is charging those lights will blink until they get solid once fully charged. You won’t see the lights until it is charging or you press the side button because they are embedded into the case.

When you remove the cable your phone will work off of it’s internal battery and when the charger case senses that the battery is draining it will charge it up. You can click the button on the side to see how much is left of the charger case’s charge or hold the button to give you phone a quick charge.

You will see a battery charging icon at the top right when the charger case is charging your phone.

When you press the button and hold it the light will turn red indicating that it giving your phone a quick charge. if you press the button and no lights appear then the charger case batter is dead and needs to be recharged.

The difference in a charger case and an actual battery extender is the fact that the phone gets put inside of the case and the battery is part of the case instead of a unit that you hook to the bottom.

You can get a battery extender to your Smartphone but those hook to the bottom of the phone and look bulky and not too convenient (see below). this is why I purchased a charger case becuase it works just like any protective case you put over your phone but charges the battery at the same time.

Now to the results. did the Energizer Charger Case work and give me extra usage for my iPhone 4? that would be a yes! I got up to 8 hours more with my iPhone because of this battery. now I can go anywhere and not worry that my iPhone Smartphone is going to die on me. just make sure you go out of the house with it fully charged first though.

Editor’s Rating:

Disclosure: this was a personal purchase and these are my opinions.