Apple launched the iPhone 5s at the company’s Cupertino headquarters on Tuesday. The iPhone 5s features a A7 chip, making it the world’s first smartphone with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. Other upgrades include a fingerprint scanner, and the new 8 megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash.
Philip Schiller (Senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing, Apple): Phone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand. iPhone 5s sets a new standard for smartphones.
Here are the things you want to know about the new phone:
Finger print scanner
You can unlock the phone or authenticate app store and iTunes purchases by scanning your finger. IPhone 5s introduces Touch ID, built into the home button. Touch ID uses a laser cut sapphire crystal, together with a capacitive touch sensor.
Fingerprint information is encrypted and stored in a secure enclave inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5s (not on Apple servers, and is not backed up to iCloud).
Desktop-class architecture
The A7 chip in iPhone 5s brings 64-bit desktop-class architecture to a smartphone for the first time. The A7 chip’s 64-bit architecture and support for OpenGL ES version 3.0. iPhone 5s delivers rich and complex visual effects, previously only possible on Macs, PCs and gaming consoles, according to the company.
Metallic Colors
The iPhone 5s features an anodized aluminum body with diamond cut chamfered edges, a 4-inch Retina display and glass inlays. The phone is available in metallic finishes including gold, silver and space gray.
Best mobile gaming device
With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, the iPhone 5s, according to Apple is ‘the best mobile gaming device.
New camera
IPhone 5s introduces the new True Tone flash—the world’s first for any camera—that variably adjusts color and intensity for over 1,000 combinations, so photos taken with a flash appear more natural.
The 8 megapixel iSight camera features a larger f/2.2 aperture and a new, larger sensor with 1.5μ pixels for better sensitivity and low-light performance. This combined with the Apple-designed image signal processor in the A7 chip and the new Camera app in iOS 7, provide up to two-times faster auto-focus, faster photo capture, automatic image and video stabilization, and better dynamic range, according to the company.
IPhone 5s also includes a new Burst Mode, Slo-Mo video with 120 fps, a new FaceTime HD camera for better low-light performance and audio-only FaceTime calls with iOS 7.
Better motion sensors
Every iPhone 5s includes the new M7 motion coprocessor that gathers data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to offload work from the A7. The M7 motion coprocessor continuously measures motion data, even when the device is asleep, and saves battery life for pedometer or other fitness apps that use the accelerometer all day.
IOS 7
IOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone, says Apple. The mobile operating system has been engineered for 64-bit technology, and features ‘hundreds of great new features’, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop, and iTunes Radio.
Battery and talk time
Phone 5s delivers 10 hours of talk time on 3G networks, up to 10 hours of Web browsing on Wi-Fi and LTE networks, and up to 8 hours on 3G networks, and up to 10 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback.
Branded cases too!
Apple has designed leather cases in six colors—beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and red—with soft, color-matched microfiber lining.
IPhone 5s supports up to 13 LTE wireless bands, more than any other smartphone in the world, and includes dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi support for up to 150 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.0. i
Pricing and availability
IPhone 5s will be available in the US for $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model and $399 or the 64GB model. Carriers offering the phone include AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.
iPhone 5s cases will be available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED) for $39.
International Launch
IPhone 5s will be available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 20.
[Image courtesy: Apple]
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