Apple unveils iPhone 4 update

Apple unveils iPhone 4 update : CUPERTINO, Calif. - Apple Inc. unveiled afresh iPhone on Tuesday i.e. faster and more powerful but stops short of a more radical upgrade. It said Sprint customers now will be able to use one. The new iPhone 4S has an improved camera with a higher-resolution sensor. The processor is faster, which helps run smoother, more realistic action games. It's also a “global phone,” which means that Verizon iPhones will be available overseas, just as AT&T iPhones already are. There had been speculation that Apple would reveal a more radical revision of the telephone, an “iPhone five.” The no-show leaves room for speculation that Apple will reveal a new model in less than a year, maybe one equipped to take advantage of Verizon's and AT&T's new high-speed data networks. There had also been speculation that Apple would admit a chip that could talk to payment terminals at retail stores, turning the iPhone into a “mobile wallet.” Competitors are beginning to include this capability in their phones, though the payment systems are still immature. Apple made no mention of such a feature in the iPhone 4S. ‘Personal assistant' Apple is admitting a “personal assistant” application called Siri in the iPhone 4S. It responds to spoken questions and commands such as “Do I need an umbrella today?” It's an advanced version of speech-recognition apps found on other phones. The new iPhone also comes with new mobile software that admits such features as the ability to sync content wirelessly, without having to plug the device to a Mac or Windows machine. The iPhone announcement came during Apple's 1st major product event in years without Steve Jobs presiding. New CEO Tim Cook led the show later Jobs, who has been battling health problems, resigned from the post in August. Cook, wearing a navy blue button-down shirt and jeans, opened by calling his nearly 14-year tenure at Apple “the privilege of a lifetime Those in the audience clapped as he entered, but the reaction seemed more muted than what Jobs had lately received. Cook said the latest iPhone, which came out in June 2010, sold a lot of rapidly than previous models, but the iPhone still has just five percent of the global handset market. Apple is hoping to grow that with the new model. Apple's new mobile software, iOS 5, will also be available on October. 12 for existing devices the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both iPad models and later versions of the iPod Touch. Apple said October. 12 also will mark the launch of its new iCloud service, which will store content such as music, documents, apps and photos on Apple's servers and let people access them wirelessly on numerous devices. Apple said the new telephone will come in black or white. It will cost $199 for a sixteen gigabyte-version, $299 for 32 GB and $399 for 64 GB all with a two-year service contract requirement. It now will be available through Sprint Nextel Corp., besides the existing carriers, AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless. Pre-orders will begin Friday with availability October. 14. The previous version, iPhone 4, now will cost $99 for eight GB. The 2009 model, the iPhone 3GS, will be given away for free with 8 GB. Both also require a two-year service contract. Apple also touted the popularity of its products and unveiled a new line of iPods, admitting a Nano model with a multi-touch display that promises to be easier to navigate. Apple made no mention of its Classic model, which a lot of people had speculated the company might discontinue. The iPhone has gained millions of fans, thanks to its slick looks, high-resolution screen and intuitive software. There were 39 million iPhones sold in the 1st 6 months of this year. Apple's stock fell $2.10 to $372.50 in trading Tuesday. It had been down as much as about $17 in earlier trading.