If you’ve been away from the Internet for the past few weeks, you may have not known anything about Apple’s next iPhone going into today’s news conference in Cupertino.
But if you’re like me, then you already knew everything that was being revealed.
Surprising a grand total of no people today, Apple unveiled the next version of its flagship cell phone — the iPhone 5S — and a low-end model marketed toward smaller markets and those on a budget, dubbed the iPhone 5C.
iPhone 5S
Like the 4S and 3GS that preceded it, the new iPhone is almost exactly the same in appearance as last year’s model, save a few internal hardware and software tweaks.
The biggest change from the iPhone 5 is the addition of a fingerprint scanner where the home button used to be.
The sensor is covered by a sapphire crystal lens, which is supposedly one of the most durable substances in the world. The metal ring you see in the photo is actually what tells the sensor to start scanning your print.
Users can register as many fingerprints as he or she desires, and they can be used to unlock the iPhone or in lieu of entering your Apple password when purchasing apps or music.
Now the fingerprints aren’t saved anywhere besides the phone for security purposes (they aren’t backed up to iCloud) and they aren’t accessible by any third-party apps or stored remotely on Apple’s servers.
There’s also a new 8-megapixel, f/2.2 iSight camera on the rear of the device, coupled with a dual-LED flash. The 5S image sensor has slightly larger pixels than previous iPhone cameras, which should improve image quality and low-light usability.
The 5S processes photos a little differently than past phones. It actually takes several images at once, then chooses the sharpest image as the one that is saved.
Additionally, the 5S can record 720p video at 120 fps for some nifty slow-motion video.
The front-facing camera also received a sensor upgrade, so it can perform better in low light.
Inside the phone is Apple’s A7 processor, which is reportedly twice as fast as the processor in the iPhone 5. Plus, it’s a 64-bit processor, which is “desktop-class,” according to Apple.
There’s also a new processor inside the iPhone 5S, the M7, which measures movement from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass.
Though that doesn’t sound very interesting, it can actually be useful when navigating. The processor will be able to tell when you’re on foot or in a car and will react accordingly. It can also tell when you’re asleep (since the phone hasn’t moved) and lower network activity to save battery.
The iPhone 5S comes in three flavors — gold, silver and space grey, which replaced the black iPhone 5.
Storage capacities remain unchanged with 16, 32 and 64GB variations at the normal price points ($199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB and $399 for 64GB).
iPhone 5C
Apple also announced a “new” iPhone that comes in a variety of bright colors: white, red, yellow, blue and green. But, don’t let Tim Cook fool you — it’s the exact same as the iPhone 5, but with a colorful polycarbonate shell. Same 8-megapixel camera, same 4-inch screen, same processor, same everything.
Oh, but the front-facing camera got the 5S’ new sensor.
That’s the only difference other than the price. The 16GB version is $99 and the 32GB version is $199.
Both the iPhone 5S and 5C will be available September 20, and preorders start September 13.
iOS 7
The new phones require a new OS, and that’s what we’re getting with iOS 7. I’ve detailed the upgrade previously, but the final version will be released to the public Wednesday, September 18, for the low, low price of free.
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That’s really all the news that came out of today’s presser.
Apple’s uploaded the video from the press conference here, which you can watch for your amusement. Jony Ive’s always fun to listen to, right?
Seriously, that guy could sell me just about anything.
Check back Thursday morning for any other tech news and a likely opinion on the iPhone 5S and 5C.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks on stage during the introduction of the new iPhone 5s in Cupertino, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
