The Best Of Apple's iPhone 5 Announcement

What to expect when you're expecting more than an iPhone 5 live blog.

Shortcuts: iPhone 5, iOS 6 and iTunes 11.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is on stage for today's event, and as is customary begins the presentation with a look at Apple's stellar numbers--everything from sales to app downloads. "The iPad accounts for 91% of the web traffic of all tablets. Now, I don't know what these other tablets are doing," says Cook. "They must be in warehouses and store shelves or maybe in some people's bottom drawers." Apple has just announced the iPhone 5. Fast Company will be distilling the news here. This is not a liveblog (there is more than enough of that going on elsewhere). We're going to compile the best analysis, punditry, and insights on the announcements from across the digital world as the event unfolds. If you'd like to be part of the story, add your comments here, tweet @fastcompany, email or fax 212-389-5496 us if that's your thing.

iPhone 5

It's 18% thinner and 20% lighter than the 4S model. It's the same width as the existing iPhone, but taller--"It's because of your hand," says Phil Schiller. "It should fit there. That's how we designed the iPhone 5."

"New iPhone is thinner and lighter, yet it'll still peek out the top of your Mom jeans pocket, so you'll have to untuck your shirt."

— David Lidsky (@davidlidsky) September 12, 2012

The display is now 4-inches wide (up from 3.5 inches in the current model). As predicted, the screen has been improved to 326 ppi with 1136 x 640 resolution. Yes, it will include LTE for superfast wireless connectivity (if you can find it reliably working in your city). Apple is working with In the US, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T for LTE. In Canada, Rogers, Telus, Bell, among others. You'll also get improved Wi-Fi: New Wi-Fi, 2.4ghz and 5ghz on 802.11n. And a new A6 chip that will make the phone run twice as fast and make Temple Run twice as rad. Unfortunately, that app and many others will be shown with black bars on either side until the app is upgraded to the new screen resolution and width.

I pray Apple doesn't now talk about the intricacies of wireless technology like probable ham-radio operator Jeff Bezos

— Austin Carr (@AustinCarr) September 12, 2012

First great feature: Game Center now has a time shifting mode that lets you race today and have your friend race against you tomorrow (this has been available on consoles, but it's the first time I've seen it on a mobile device).

The "console-quality" graphics thing is cool, but keep in mind the consoles he's taking about about came out in *2005*

— John Herrman (@jwherrman) September 12, 2012

Battery Life is now up to 225 hours in standby, and Schiller is promising 8 hours of LTE browsing and 3G talk time. The iSight Camera has been updated to not only be smaller, but faster. It's got an 8 megapixel sensor, backside illumination, five-element lens, f/2.4 aperture. There's a dynamic low light mode, and the lens uses some kind of sapphire crystal that Schiller is raving about. There's also a built-in panorama mode -- Schiller shows one of the entire Golden Gate Bridge that is 28 megapixels. This is something Phil Schiller actually just said: "The ocean looks bluer on the iPhone 5. Kids look happier. And the world is just a more incredible place." iPhoto has been updated with shared photo streams. The audio on the phone has been upgraded with improved speaker design and three microphones (front, bottom, and back).

A LOT of spec talk here. Much more than other Apple presentations I remember. That means, it doesn't do much that's new. It's just new

— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) September 12, 2012

There is a new Lightning connector -- a whole generation of iPhone docks and devices just became retro. But it's so small -- 80% smaller, and reversible -- oh, you'll want it. And they're already working on an adapter for your old 30-pin docking gizmos.

that new iphone 5 connector is beautiful--and probs one of the few things Ive's team gets to do anymore, by the looks of things

— Cliff Kuang (@cliffkuang) September 12, 2012

iOS 6

So far everything announced about the new OS was already introduced at Apple's WWDC event in June. The new maps features, passbook for your ID cards, VIP email, sports scores... There are a few exceptions, course.

Pricing

Pre-orders start on September 14. And the iPhone 5 will be available starting September 21. With a two-year contract, the iPhone 5 will cost $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB. The 3GS model is gone, but 4S will still be available.

iTunes 11

Eddy Cue is on stage to announce some changes to iPod and iTunes.
Source : fastcompany[dot]com