Apple iPhone 4S packs dual A5 processor, offers 2x faster performance

The much anticipated handset was unveiled yesterday by newly appointed ceo Tim Cook, at an event in Cupertino, California. With the introduction of the new phone also came the launch of iOS 5, an advanced mobile operating system with more than 200 new features; and iCloud, a set of free cloud services that automatically and wirelessly store your content and push it to all your devices. While some Apple fans expecting the launch of the iPhone 5 were somewhat disappointed by the fact that the iPhone 4S looks for all the world like an iPhone 4, Cook maintained that the new handset had 'all new features inside'. Most notably, perhaps, is the phone's A5 processor, the same found in the iPad 2, which is said to deliver up to twice the processing power and up to seven times faster graphics than the iPhone 4, all while maintaining long battery life. Another new feature also worth mentioning is Siri, an intelligent, voice controlled assistant that lets you get things done just by asking. According to Apple, the new technology lets users send messages, set reminders or search for information and understands not only what users say, but also what they mean, so that they can speak naturally. It can even use information from a user's iPhone - such as their location, contacts and contact relationships - to provide intelligent, personal assistance. "iPhone 4S plus iOS 5 plus iCloud is a breakthrough combination that makes the iPhone 4S the best iPhone ever," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "While our competitors try to imitate iPhone with a checklist of features, only iPhone can deliver these breakthrough innovations that work seamlessly together." Schiller was keen to point out that the iPhone 4S has a different antenna system than its predecessor, claiming that it is the first phone to intelligently switch between two antennas to send and receive. The new model also supports twice the download speed with HSDPA of up to 14.4Mb/s, and is a world phone, meaning that both CDMA and GSM customers can now roam internationally on GSM networks. The handset is expected to be available to UK customers on October 14.