Apple didn’t reveal its hotly-anticipated iPhone 5 overnight as widely expected, instead launching an updated, faster version of the iPhone 4.
The iPhone 4S was unveiled at Apple headquarters in Cupertino by new CEO Tim Cook overnight, who took over from an ailing Steve Jobs earlier this year. It features the same A5 dual core ship found in the iPad 2, and will be up to two times faster than its predecessors.
The iPhone 4S also features an updated eight megapixel camera, capable of displaying HD video and taking photos around 33 percent faster.
The phone will come pre-loaded with the new iOS 5 operating system, as well as a personal assistant application named Siri, which is similar to speech-recognition apps found on other devices and can respond to questions and commands such as “Remind me to call Mum when I get home.”
Apple has also addressed complaints about the iPhone 4’s reception, building a new antenna in the iPhone 4S that’s capable of switching between two antennas to improve call quality and download speeds.
The iPhone 4S is expected to go on sale locally on 15 October, with pre-orders to begin on 7 October. It will cost $799 for the 16GB version, $899 for 32GB or $999 for the 64GB version.
Apple also announced the new iOS 5 operating system will be available for download in 12 October, for the iPhone 4 and 3GS and both iPad versions. Its iCloud service will also launch on this date.
