Apple Iphone 4: Hit And Miss

By Author: Jerry Smith
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One of the most - if not THE most - anticipated gadget to come out in the market today is the latest version of what can probably be called the world's most popular mobile phone - the iPhone 4 from the folks at Apple.

There's been a load of speculations and rumors about the iPhone 4 before it was even launched, culminating in an exclusive peek by technology website Gizmodo, who managed to get their hands on a lost iPhone 4 a hapless Apple engineer left at a bar one night/Before iPhone 4 was launched, there is been a load of speculations and rumors about it, culminating in an exclusive peek by technology website Gizmodo, who managed to get their hands on a lost iPhone 4 a hapless Apple engineer left at a bar one night. The specs and the technology looked promising - the metal case doubled as an antenna (which on paper was brilliant but went bust when applied; more on that later), a much higher resolution, and a lot more added features that just made you want to have one for yourself.

When pre-sales began, the servers ...
... at Apple and the official carrier for the US, AT&T, crashed due to the sheer number of people who wanted to put in an advance order. Of course, as with previous release dates of Apples flagship mobile phone (its only one, really), dozens of people lined up (and some even camped) at store fronts just to be one of the first to get a taste of Apple's latest offering.

Better Than Its Predecessor

The Apple iPhone 4 boasts a number of distinct differences from the previous instalment, the iPhone 3G. For one, the outer appearance has changed, with a more (literally) edgy design and less thickness. It also less rounded and much flatter the old 3G and 3GS models. The result is a more sophisticated and classier-looking phone, which is definitely very in-line with the Apple look and feel. The phone also weighs just about the same at 4.8 ounces, making it more compact and space efficient/The Apple iPhone 4 has a number of distinct differences from the previous instalment, the iPhone 3G. For one, the outer appearance of iPhone 4 is finished with a more edgy design and less thickness, and less rounded and much flatter the old 3G and 3GS models. For another, the iPhone 4 is a more sophisticated and classier-looking phone, which is definitely very in-line with the Apple look and feel. The phone also weighs just about the same at 4.8 ounces, making it more compact and space efficient.

It also now supports HD video recording, and has a camera for video conferencing and calling at the front - while the back supports a 5 megapixel built in camera/It features HD video recording, and has a camera for video conferencing and calling at the front as well as a a 5 megapixel built in camera at the back. The processor and the operating system also got a boost/perform excellently/gained reputation with the iPhone OS 4 and a custom A4 CPU chip based on the one used on the iPad. Response times are much quicker than the older version, and with the improved gyroscope, it's really a joy to use.

One of the main issues with the iPhone 4's predecessors was the relatively short battery life, and the latest instalment seeks to address that problem with a larger lithium-ion battery for added juice/Considering the relatively short battery life of the iPhone 4's predecessors, the latest release seeks to address that problem with a larger lithium-ion battery for added juice.

To improve call quality, there are also several other microphones installed to pick up ambient sounds and white noise, making calls much clearer and crisper. Connectivity is also excellent, with several options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth a given.

On the Downside

However, the Apple iPhone 4 fails on a number of respects, chief of which is the antenna issue. As previously mentioned, Apple designed the new iPhone's metal back to be the all in one antenna for the device, but many quickly discovered that holding the phone improperly, as Apple puts it, significantly reduces reception or wipes it out completely. Apple released an app and an accessory to address this, but the root issue has remained, with the tech giant nonchalantly dismissing complaints and telling customers to simply hold the phone the right way.

There are also several lemons out there, with screens that develop fairly large yellow spots on the screen. As of now, the cause is not clear and many are forced to make do with it.

The Verdict

All in all, the appeal of this latest gadget from Apple might just be enough to entice you to buy it despite its faults - which is what many have been doing. But given the competition its getting from other brands and manufacturers, it's best if you keep an open mind and explore other options.
Jerry Smith, the editor of http://www.mobilephoneonly.co.uk. An expert on mobile phone and an observer of UK telecommunication market. He writes reviews on latest mobile phones, and also suggests promotional deals and special offers from mobile phone retailers in UK.