iPhone 4S

Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Slogan(s)	"It's the most amazing iPhone yet."[1]
Form factor	Slate smartphone
Release date	October 14, 2011 United States (contract only) Canada Australia United Kingdom France Germany Japan October 28, 2011 Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands Norway Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland November 11, 2011 Albania Armenia Bulgaria El Salvador Greece Guatemala Hong Kong Malta Montenegro New Zealand Panama Poland Portugal Romania South Korea United States (non-contract) November 25, 2011 Colombia Moldova India December 16, 2011 Brazil Chile Israel Malaysia Philippines Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa Taiwan Thailand Turkey United Arab Emirates Kuwait Bahrain January 13, 2012 Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bolivia Botswana British Virgin Islands Cameroon Cayman Islands Central African Republic China Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Grenada Guam Guinea Conakry Ivory Coast Jamaica Kenya Madagascar Mali Mauritius Niger Senegal St. Vincent and The Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Uganda Jordan
Units sold	Four million in first three days of initial sales (October 14–17)[2]
Operating system	iOS 5.1.1 Released May 7, 2012; 51 days ago  (2012-05-07)
Power	3.7V, 5.3Wh (1430mAh)
SoC	Apple A5
CPU	800 MHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9[3]
GPU	PowerVR SGX543MP2
Storage capacity	16, 32, or 64 GB
Memory	512 MB[4]
Display	3.5 inches (89 mm) diagonal 1.5:1 aspect ratio widescreen LED backlit IPS TFT LCD 640×960 resolution at 326 ppi (0.61 MP) 800:1 contrast ratio (typical) 500 cd/m2 max. brightness (typical) Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back glass
Audio	Single loudspeaker 3.5 inches (89 mm) TRRS Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Input	4 buttons switch microphones, touch-screen, acceleration, orientation
Rear camera	8 MP back-side illuminated sensor HD video (1080p) at 24/30 frame/s IR filter Aperture f/2.4 5 element lens Image signal processor (built-in A5) Facial recognition (stills only) image stabilization
Front camera	0.3 MP VGA 30 FPS (480p)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) (2.4 GHz only) Bluetooth 4.0 Combined GSM/CDMA antenna: quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (800 850 900 1800 1900 MHz) Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (800 850 900 1900 2100 MHz) (800 MHz unannounced) Dual-band CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A (800 1900 MHz) GLONASS, GPS
Online services	iCloud, App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore
Dimensions	115.2 mm (4.54 in) H 58.66 mm (2.309 in) W 9.3 mm (0.37 in) D
Weight	140 g (4.9 oz)
Predecessor	iPhone 4
Related articles	iPhone, iPad (3rd generation), iPod Touch
Website	apple.com/iphone

The iPhone 4S is a touchscreen-based, slate-sized smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is the fifth generation of the iPhone^[5] and retains the exterior design of its predecessor, the iPhone 4, but is host to a range of improved hardware specifications and software updates.^[6] The phone added a voice recognition system known as Siri, for which the S in the products name stands,^[7] and a cloud storage service named iCloud. Some of the device's functions may be voice-controlled through Siri.

On October 4, 2011, in Cupertino, California, Apple announced the iPhone 4S. On October 7, 2011, it became available for preorder in seven initial countries (United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan) with the first delivery date set for October 14, 2011 and available on that same day for direct in-store sales in those countries. It was released in 22 more countries, including Ireland, Mexico, and Singapore on October 28.^[8]

It is available for 100 cell service carriers in 70 countries, including eight carriers in the United States.^[9][10] For US customers, unlocked (contract-free) sales started on November 11, 2011.^[11][12] The Associated Press said that AT&T described early iPhone 4S demand as "extraordinary".^[13] Reception to the iPhone 4S was generally favorable. Reviewers noted Siri, the new camera, and processing speeds as significant advantages over the prior model.^[14][15][16] Four million units of the iPhone 4S were sold in the first three days of release.

History[link]

The "Let's Talk iPhone" event was held on the Apple Campus, instead of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where most non-WWDC events are held.

Speculation about Apple's next generation phone, including various specifications and a predicted name ("iPhone 5"), were widespread in the time preceding its debut.^[17] After the iPhone 4S was announced, there was some disappointment about the new phone's name.^[17] As early as May 2011, some leaks had a fairly accurate description of the product including the name "iPhone 4S", the A5 chip, HSDPA+,^[18] new camera, and Sprint carrying.^[19]

There were no external differences between the iPhone 4 CDMA model and the iPhone 4S;^[17] all changes were internal (slight external differences between the iPhone 4 GSM model and the iPhone 4S exist, as said differences existed between the CDMA and GSM models of the iPhone 4).^[20][21]

The iPhone 4S was unveiled at Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event on October 4, 2011, on the Apple Campus in Cupertino, California.^[22] The keynote was the first in which Tim Cook led since the Verizon keynote earlier in the year. It was also Cook's first product launch without Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, whose health was deteriorating and died the day after the announcement of iPhone 4S. Tim Carmody of Wired praised Cook for focusing on company achievements, calling him a "global business thinker" and a "taskmaster".^[23]

At the "Let's Talk iPhone" event held by Apple on October 4, 2011, Mike Capps demonstrated Epic Games' Infinity Blade II, the sequel to Infinity Blade, on an iPhone 4S. Capps boasted that the game uses Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 and features the same graphic techniques used in the Xbox 360 game Gears of War 3.^[24]

Features[link]

Software[link]

Shown is the iPhone 4S's setup screen. The iPhone 4S is the first iPhone that does not need to connect to iTunes in order to be activated, due to iOS 5.

The iPhone 4S uses iOS, Apple's mobile operating system.^[29] The user interface of iOS is based on the concept of direct manipulation, using multi-touch gestures. Interface control elements consist of sliders, switches, and buttons. The response to user input is immediate and provides a fluid interface.^[30] Interaction with the OS includes gestures such as swipe, tap, pinch, and reverse pinch, all of which have specific definitions within the context of the iOS operating system and its multi-touch interface. Internal accelerometers are used by some applications to respond to shaking the device (one common result is the undo command) or rotating it in three dimensions (one common result is switching from portrait to landscape mode).^[30]

The 4S uses iOS 5.1.1, which was released on May 7, 2012.^[31][32] It can act as a hotspot, sharing its internet connection over WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB,^[33] and also accesses the App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS developed and maintained by Apple. The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Xcode and the iOS SDK and were published through Apple. From the App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and the iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) are available for purchase to use on the iPhone.^[34]

The 4S comes with several applications by default, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts.^[35] Like all iOS devices, the 4S can sync with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be completely PC-free. In addition to making phone calls over a cellular network, a user can use a wired headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application.^[36]

The 4S access play music, movies, television shows, ebooks, audiobooks, and podcasts and can sort its media library by songs, artists, albums, videos, playlists, genres, composers, podcasts, audiobooks, and compilations. Options are always presented alphabetically, except in playlists, which retain their order from iTunes^[37]. The iPhone uses a large font that allows users plenty of room to touch their selection. Users can rotate their device horizontally to landscape mode to access Cover Flow. Like on iTunes, this feature shows the different album covers in a scroll-through photo library. Scrolling is achieved by swiping a finger across the screen. Alternatively, headset controls can be used to pause, play, skip, and repeat tracks. On the 4S, the volume can be changed with the included Apple Earphones, and the Voice Control feature can be used to identify a track, play songs in a playlist or by a specific artist, or create a Genius playlist.^[37]

The iPhone 4S introduced a new automated voice control system called "Siri", unique to the 4S,^[20] that allows the user to give the iPhone commands, which it can execute and respond to. For example, iPhone commands such as "What is the weather going to be like?" will generate a response such as "The weather is to be cloudy and rainy and drop to 54 degrees today". These commands can vary greatly and control almost every application of the phone. The commands given do not have to be specific and can be used with natural language. Siri can be accessed by holding down the home button for an extra amount of time (compared to using the regular function). An impact of Siri, as shown by Apple video messages, is that it is much easier for people to use device functions while driving, exercising, or when they have their hands full.^[17] It also means people with trouble reading, seeing, or typing can access the phone more easily.^[17]

On the iPhone 4S, texting can be aided by the voice assistant, which allows speech-to-text.^[17] In addition to regular texting, messaging on the iPhone 4S is supported by iMessage, a specialized instant messaging program and service that allows unlimited texting to other Apple iOS 5 products. This supports the inclusion of media in text messages, integration with the device's voice controlled software assistant, and read receipts for sent messages. Input to the computer comes from a keyboard displayed on the multi-touch screen or by voice-to text by speaking into the microphone. Entered text is supported by predictive and suggestion software as well as a spell-checker, that includes many regional dialects like Swiss spoken French.^[6]

At announcement, plans were in place for the iPhone 4S to support many languages. Different features have different language requirements, such as keyboards compared to the word predictor and spell-checker, which needs a large dictionary of words. Language support is related to the iOS 5 operating system that the device launched with, although not always. The Siri digital assistant supported French, English, and German at launch.^[14] Since it uses a software based keyboard supported by the multi-touch display, it can support many different keyboard layouts without having to change physically. The iPhone 4S can display different languages and scripts at the same time.^[38]

Hardware[link]

The iPhone 4S features an 8 megapixel camera and 1080p video recording.

The 4S uses the Apple A5 system-on-a-chip that uses an Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX graphics processing unit, which features pixel, vertex, and geometry shader hardware, supporting OpenGL ES 2.0. The SGX543 is an improved version of the GPU used in the iPhone 4S' predecessor, the iPhone 4. However, the iPhone 4S uses a dual-core model, the SGX543, that is integrated with the Apple A5 SoC in the same way as the iPad 2.^[39] Apple claims that the iPhone 4S can process graphics up to "seven times faster" than the iPhone 4 was corroborated by Epic Games president Mike Capps.^[40]

It has 512 MB of DDR2 (Double Data Rate) RAM (random-access memory).^[4] Maximum available storage size increased to 64 GB whilst the 32 GB and 16 GB model options were retained. The screen is the same as the prior generation iPhones; 3.5 inches (89 mm), 640×960 resolution (Apple's "retina" design).^[38] There was an improvement in interactive multimedia applications compared to its predecessor.^[20]

In both the iPhone 4 and 4S, the cellular (GSM) antenna is divided into two. Therefore, if the iPhone 4S is gripped in such a way as to attenuate one piece of the cellular antenna, the radio will switch to the other piece that isn't being gripped.^[41] The iPhone 4S can support a maximum output theoretically of up to 14.4 Mbps with HSDPA+ (AT&T Only) as a result of an upgraded radio chip inside the phone, in addition to being a world phone, so both CDMA and GSM customers can roam internationally on GSM networks.^[38] It also supports Bluetooth 4.0.^[6]

The camera on the iPhone 4S, also known as an iSight camera, can take 8 megapixel photos (3264 by 2448 pixels) and record 1080p videos at up to 30 frames per second with upgraded quality^[42] (30% better clarity, 26% better white balance, color accuracy) due to an additional lens, IR filter, a wider f/2.4 aperture, and Image signal processor (built-in A5).^[38][43]

In iOS 5.1, the camera can be accessed directly from the lock screen, and the volume up button doubles as a shutter trigger. The built-in gyroscope is able to stabilize the camera while recording video. Other features of the camera are macro (for close up pictures) and faster capture including being able to take its first picture in 1.1 seconds and the next half a second later.^[20][38]

Like the iPhone 4, the 3.5 inches (89 mm) 960 by 640 pixel Retina display supports multitouch, a technology that allows multiple simultaneous touch inputs. The iPhone 4S has two volume buttons and a ring/silent switch on the left side.^[18] On the top left there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microphone that is used for both noise cancellation during calls and when in speakerphone/FaceTime (video calling) mode. The lock/power button is situated on the top right edge of the device.^[18] The right side of the device has a SIM card slot. The bottom of the device features a speaker output on the right and a microphone input on the left with Apple's proprietary 30-pin dock connector in the center.^[18] The iPhone 4S supports video out via AirPlay and various Apple A/V cables.^[38] Supported video formats include such as H.264 (1080p 30 fps max.), MPEG-4 video, and motion JPEG (M-JPEG).^[38]

In addition to user inputs, the device also has several sensors that give the phone information about its orientation and external conditions. These include a 3-axis gyrometer, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.^[6] The iPhone 4S is stated to have 200 hours standby time (iPhone 4 300 hours), 8 hours talk time on 3G (iPhone 4–7 hours), 14 hours talk time on 2G, 6 hours 3G browsing, and 9 hours Wi-Fi browsing.^[6][38][44] Additionally, it can sustain up to 10 hours of video playback or 40 hours of audio playback.^[45]

Design[link]

Comparison between the GSM iPhone 4 hardware (top) and iPhone 4S hardware (bottom). Notice the repositioned stainless steel antennae which form the perimeter around the phone.

The iPhone 4S has a stainless steel, dual-antenna design. Apple redesigned the antenna in the iPhone 4S so that the cellular radio in the phone can alternate between two antennas, depending on which is sending/receiving the best signal. These two antennas form part of the stainless steel band that covers the sides of the iPhone 4 and 4S.^[41] The bands on the iPhone 4S are divided into four antennas: cellular, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi.^[18]

On the CDMA version of the 4S, there are four slits in the metal band; two at the top (on the left and right) and two at the bottom.^[16] This divides the metal band into four different segments, which like the GSM version of the phone, serves as different antennas for connectivity. The top portion of the band (divided by the top left and right slits) is for connecting to the CDMA network. The left portion of the metal band is for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS just like the GSM version.^[14] The right side is not an antenna, but serves to cosmetically mirror the left side and also to create a similar look to the GSM version of the phone.

The 4S features the same design as the iPhone 4, which was designed by Jonathan Ive. Most notably, the bulges of the back panel as well as the band between the front and back are gone and have been replaced with flattened surfaces. The redesign reflects the utilitarianism and uniformity of existing Apple products, such as the iPad and the iMac. The overall dimensions of the iPhone 4S are lower than that of the 3GS.^[46]

It is 4.53 inches (115 mm) high, 2.31 inches (59 mm) wide, and 0.37 inches (9.4 mm) deep, compared to the iPhone 3GS, which is 4.55 inches (116 mm) high, 2.44 inches (62 mm) wide, and 0.48 inches (12 mm) deep; making the iPhone 4.24% thinner than the 3GS. The internal components are situated between two panels of aluminosilicate glass, described by Apple as being "chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic," theoretically allowing it to be more scratch resistant and durable than the prior models.^[47][48]

Reception[link]

Reviewers praised the 4S's Siri as one of the most innovative new features.

Consumers using the iPhone 4S in an Apple Store.

Critical reception[link]

Reception to the iPhone 4S was generally favorable. Reviewers noted Siri, the new camera, and processing speeds as significant advantages over the prior model.^[14][15][16] Tim Stevens of Engadget said that the "iPhone 4S does everything better than the iPhone 4, but it simply doesn't do anything substantially different."^[16] Joshua Topolsky of The Verge stated that "if this were to be a car, it would be a Mercedes" and that Siri is "probably one of the most novel applications Apple has ever produced."^[14] Most reviewers thought that Siri was the most important feature on the iPhone 4S. Brian Chen of Wired said that "the fifth-generation iPhone's superb camera and speedy dual-core processor are classy additions. But Siri is the reason people should buy this phone."^[15]

Retrevo surveyed more than 1,300 U.S. consumers and reported that 71 percent of all smartphone owners were not disappointed by the new iPhone 4S but 47 percent or almost a half of current iPhone 4 owners were; 12 percent were hoping for a bigger display, 21 percent wanted a refreshed design, and 29 percent desired 4G.^[49] Echoing technology pundits, Reuters suggested that the lack of a more radical departure from the iPhone 4 could open new market opportunities for rivals.^[50] Analyst C. K. Lu of Gartner believed that Apple no longer had the leading edge and that the 4S would only sell due to brand loyalty, as fans had been expecting an iPhone 5 with a thinner profile, edge-to-edge screen, and stronger features.^[50] These same fans had also wanted a cheaper, stripped-down iPhone 4.^[20]

Gaming on the iPhone 4S has been likened to the PlayStation Vita,^[51][52] that features the same SGX GPU only in a quad-core configuration, and the Nintendo 3DS handheld game consoles. Further, the iPhone 4S' ability to process 30 million polygons per second has been compared to the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 home video game consoles that can process 275 million and 500 million polygons per second respectively.^[39]

CVG's deputy editor Andy Robinson told TechRadar that the "iPhone 4S is certainly laying down some serious credibility for the iPhone as a core gaming device. Not only is it now pushing out games that simply eclipse the Nintendo 3DS visually, but features like cloud saving and TV streaming support are really exciting for gamers."^[39] The senior gaming analyst at Jon Peddie Research, Ted Pollak, believes the biggest improvement to gaming on the iPhone 4S is the voice control features, noting that "one of the features that Nintendogs players loved was the ability to talk to it. There's no reason why a game like that couldn't be done on the iPhone 4S, and much more sophisticated given the voice control shown."^[53]

Commercial reception[link]

Unlike prior iPhone models, the number of sales of the iPhone 4 had not yet climaxed before the introduction of the 4S. Previous iPhone models were released during or after declining sales figures.^[14][15][16] In addition, iPhone 4 users had high marks for being satisfied with their phone.^[14][15][16] Nevertheless, they wanted more from Apple, forgetting that from Apple's perspective the iPhone 4 was still a hit and that new users may not be bothered by the unchanged look and feel as they did not formerly own an iPhone 4.^[14][15][16] Upon the announcement of the iPhone 4S, shares of Samsung Electronics, HTC and Nokia gained on Wednesday after the 4S was announced, while Apple stock fell. However, later in the day Apple shares rebounded ending with a 1% gain.^[50][54]

With the launch of the pre-order, AT&T said that the demand for the iPhone 4S was "extraordinary".^[13][55] Over 200,000 pre-orders were placed within 12 hours of release through AT&T. The German phone company Deutsche Telekom said they were "satisfied" with consumer interest.^[56] In addition, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint sold-out pre-order stock by October 8, 2011 and by October 9 there was a 1-2 week estimate on new pre-orders to be filled. On October 20, 2011 AT&T surpassed 1 million iPhone 4S activations.^[57] On October 10, Apple announced that over one million iPhone 4Ss had been pre-ordered within the first 24 hours of it being on sale, beating the 600,000 device record set by the iPhone 4.^[58][59] The 16-month wait between the iPhone 4 and 4S may have contributed to overwhelming sales as well.^[60][61]

On October 17, 2011, Apple had announced that four million units of the iPhone 4S were sold in the first three days of release, and 25 million iOS users had upgraded to the then latest version of iOS, iOS 5, which was released upon the introduction of the phone. Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, stated that the "iPhone 4S is off to a great start with more than four million sold in its first weekend—the most ever for a phone and more than double the iPhone 4 launch during its first three days."^[2] The used phone market saw unprecedented rates of trade-ins in the weeks leading up to the 4S announcement, and after it there was a drop in prices offered.^[62] Previous generation iPhones are recirculated through the markets through various methods and third-party buyers may purchase older generation iPhones. Apple also buys back previous generation iPhones under a special program.^[62] On April 24, 2012, AT&T announced that 7.6 million iPhone units were activated in Q4 2011, and 4.3 million in Q1 2012. In total, AT&T sold 5.5 million smartphones in the first quarter of 2012, out of which 78% were iPhones.^[63]

See also[link]

Apple Inc. portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: iPhone 4S

• List of iOS devices
• Comparison of smartphones

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Introducing Siri, YouTube video by Apple

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