I have been using the iPhone 4S for a few hours and my first impression is this phone is a significant step up from the iPhone4.
Pros:
- The iPhone4S is noticeably faster than the iPhone 4. Every interaction with the phone feels quicker, from web browsing to moving around in apps.
- The Siri voice recognition system is not only amazing technology, it is a very practical tool for daily use. Using Siri to send text messages is actually easier than I thought it would be.
- The Siri system has personality it is very funny and sarcastic! I find myself asking it “off the wall” questions just to see how it responds.
- The new reminders app is a great productivity tool when it is combined with Siri and GPS.
- The camera takes better pictures indoors, but I haven’t had a chance to give it a real test outdoors.
Cons:
- Apple should have added an external button that users can to push to engage Siri.
- Siri does not know how to send a “tweet”
- To use Siri you need to have a data connection to the Internet.
- It seems like the battery life is not as good as the IPhone 4. I think we will see a software update addressing battery performance in a few weeks after launch like Apple has done in the past with the iPhone 3 and iPhone 4. My battery performance issues could be because my iPhone was backing up my settings to iCloud while I was using it.
- While the phone does look almost exactly the same, my iPhone4 clear case from Belkin does not fit on the iPhone4S. It appears that Apple moved the mute button down a few millimeters to accommodate the second antenna at the top of the phone.
In conclusion:
This is a really great phone. Apple continues to raise the bar of what a smartphone can do. Siri is a significant upgrade in mobile phone interaction that must have the Android team in a panic.
It makes me wonder what amazing things the iPhone 5 will be able to do, if Apple didn’t think this phone deserved the honor of being the 5?
I’m surprised you can’t modify the triple click home function in settings. Sounds like we need to put out a new app!!
Re: Apple should have added an external button that users can to push to engage Siri.