Hello Siri: iPhone BFF Knocks But Where's iPhone 5?
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As disappointment about the missing iPhone 5 rings, fear not. iPhone 4S has brought along Siri, the ” intelligent assistant that helps you get things done”… just by asking.


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Siri is an understanding friend to iPhoners and gets “context allowing you to speak naturally when you ask it questions,” Apple declared today.

Siri will also listen to your problems. For example, if you ask “Will I need an umbrella this weekend?” the clever PA understands you are looking for a weather forecast.

But Siri is also discreet and smart about using your personal information you give her access to, insist her makers.

And what’s more, the assistant will be available in beta on iPhone 4S in English  and localised for US, UK and Australia. (Does that mean she will say G’Day?). 

But, take note, the onhand assistant also knows your location and every move, but will help you find nice restaurant, movie house or nearby events.

Cupertino acquired Siri last year for $200m, which Steve Jobs described as “artifical intelligence.”

“Siri helps you make calls, send text messages or email, schedule meetings and reminders, make notes, search the Internet, find local businesses, get directions and more. You can also get answers, find facts and even perform complex calculations just by asking.”

“There’s so much you can ask. Compose and dictate emails, ask questions about the weather, stocks, set timers. It’s not perfect, but there’s a huge amount it can do,” declared Scott Forstall,, Apple head of iOS at the US launch yesterday.

Ok, enough about Siri. Where’s iPhone 5? Nowhere to be seen, to the disappointment of millions.

Read OZ Consumers & Analysts Not Impressed By New iPhone 4S Here

But wait.

 

The new iPhone 4S is “entirely new on the inside,” Cupertino insist at what was classed as a “dud” event in California.

Suri and the new iCloud were seen as mere distractions to the clear absense of a spanking new hero handset.

Industry watchers and Apple fans alike were hotly anticipating the release of a span new 5th generation Apple handset to wow them into 2012.

Read Apple Launch Upgraded iPhone 4 No iPhone 5 Here

So, what’s so new about this iPhone 4S? 8 megapixel camera sensor, which is 33% faster at taking photos, full 1080p HD video, new antenna system, faster download and upload speeds  to 14.4Mbps and 5.8Mbps, respectively, thanks to dual core A5 chip, and is now a ‘world’ phone, able to handle both GSM and CDMA networks, giving Apple a massive foothold in the Chinese market.

Other extras include iMessage, service that lets you send texts messages, photo and video messages and iCloud storage.

4S is also running iOS 5, which has 200 new features and will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS holders.

 

iPhone 4S comes in either black or white and will be sold here from October 14 for AUD$799 for the 16GB model, $899 for the 32GB and $999 for the new 64GB handset, in what is being called one of the fastest rollout’s ever.

iPhone 4 price is also being trimmed, available for “just” AU$679, while iPhone 3GS will now sell for $449.