iPhone 5
The
iPhone 5 is real and nearly ready to ship and we got a bit of hands-on
time with it today. The new phone is just a bit longer than the current iPhone
4S and far speedier. Maps and photos flew by and the various apps popped up in
a few seconds.
It's
not as earth-shatteringly different than the iPhone 4S, to be sure. While the
real benchmarks and games aren't quite available yet, folks who haven't used
the 4S will notice a bump.
The
screen is the real draw here and I'm really interested to see how it improves
the experience in real-world conditions. Obviously you're getting just a bit
more real estate and the Lightning connector allows for far more room for
battery and processor. Again, it's far too early to tell right now, but if
you're looking for something in the sweet spot between monsters like the Samsung Galaxy S III and the arguably bordering-on-too-small
(at this point) iPhone 4, this may be a good compromise.
Build
quality is quite nice and the solid aluminum is quite unique and quite solid.
Hopefully this will reduce some damage if it falls on a hard surface.
The
iPhone 5 will be available in both black and white at the same price points as
the previous generation: $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB version and
$399 for the 64GB variant.
We'll
know far more about these phones when we get to really use them later this
month but until then I can report that this is a solid and interesting
improvement to a solid and interesting phone. Is it a blockbuster launch?
Probably not, but it is an interstitial launch that allows Apple to update the
screen size and dock connector while still hiding some tricks up its sleeve.
iPod Touch
Apple's
long-neglected iPod Touch just got a considerable upgrade with a new design,
improved camera, and 4-inch Retina display. Not unlike the iPhone 5, the new
model also supports iOS 6 and has a 5-megapixel camera
and A5 Dual-Core chip.
The
Touch is a considerable improvement over the old model but takes more design
cues from the original Touches and iPhone 3G instead of the new iPhone 5. The
back panel is curved, not chamfered, but the bottom is almost identical to the
iPhone 5.
Games
and apps were far snappier (and better-looking) on this new model and at $299
it could be a go-to device for folks not looking to spend big bucks on an upgrade
this iteration. While the iPhone 5 is, at best, a minor upgrade, the Touch has
been given plenty of oomph and is now far more compelling as a general purpose
information manager and media player.
The
iPod Touch costs $299 for the 32GB version and $399 for the 64GB version. They
will be available in October and up for pre-order on September 14.
iPod Nano
Meet
the new Nano: It's definitely not the same as the old Nano. This upgraded model
is more akin to the original Nano design with a longer screen and physical home
button. The device is far smaller than you’d expect, and it’s mostly glass and
aluminum with a bit of plastic to hold it together.
The
UI is very similar to the old Nano's stripped-down iOS except that
functionality appears in little icons arrayed on the screen. The standard
functions are still there – music player, FM radio, sports apps – but this one
also plays back video and photos.
The
Nano is, to be clear, the runt of the iPod/iPhone litter. It's quite
inexpensive, and the screen is far less interesting than anything else in the
line. It's great for casual use, and parents may consider it now as a good
option for kids. While I still like the previous Nano for its size, this
upgrade adds a bit more of the media features we’ve come to expect from iPods.
The
Nano will be available in October for $149. It has a 16GB capacity.
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