Today at the WWDC keynote in San Francisco, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the newest iPhone — the iPhone 4. Jobs didn’t dance around the fact that the device has been seen before. While he didn’t mention Gizmodo specifically, he did note that, “now, some of you have already seen this.” But he quipped, “believe me, you ain’t seen it.”
Jobs unveiled the new device called the iPhone 4. The first feature he highlighted is that the new device is 24% thinner than the iPhone 3GS. It’s all glass and stainless steel, Jobs noted comparing it to a “beautiful old Leica camera.” It’s the thinnest smartphone on the planet, Jobs said.
The second feature he noted was what Apple is calling the “Retina Display.” This is a new IPS technology-based screen Apple is using in the new device. Why are they calling it that? Because at 326 pixels per inch, it’s more pixels than the human retina can see (when the device is held 10 to 12 inches from your face).
“Once you see a retina display, you can’t go back,” Jobs said.
The iPhone 4 screen is 960×640, giving it four times as many pixel as the iPhone 3GS. The 800:1 contrast ratio is also four times better than the iPhone 3GS. In fact, the iPhone 4 gives you 78% of the pixels on the iPad, right in the palm of your hand, according to Jobs.
The third feature Jobs showed off is the inside of the hardware. As expected, the iPhone 4 will use Apple’s A4 chip. The device also has a bigger battery than ever before. The combination of these two things allows for 40% better battery life in some situations (like talk time), Jobs said.
Jobs also pointed out that the new steel rim around the iPhone 4 doubles as an antenna. (That’s why there are the seems you may have seen in the leaked iPhone photos.)
The fourth feature Jobs highlighted was a gyroscope. In addition to the compass, this will allow for new kinds of apps (and especially games). Jobs showed off a Jenga-style game that uses this.
The fifth feature highlighted was the new camera. The back camera on the iPhone (there is also a front-facing one) is now 5 megapixels (up from 3 in the iPhone 3GS). Jobs notes that megapixels aren’t everything (a subtle nod to some other devices which have higher megapixel cameras), and says that instead, Apple focused on the quality of the pictures the iPhone 4 can take.
Notably, the iPhone 4 can also take 720p HD video at a full 30 frames per second. To edit these new videos, Apple has made a new app: iMovie (yes, just like the software bundled with iLife). This will be available in the App Store for $4.99.
The sixth feature Jobs highlighted is the new iPhone OS 4 — which they’re renaming the iOS 4. This makes sense given that the OS is moving beyond just the iPhone now. Jobs showed off a few of the new features of the OS and confirmed that Apple is adding Bing as a new search option (but Google will remain the default).
The gold master build of iOS 4 will be available to developers today.
The seventh feature Jobs highlighted is iBooks for the iPhone, to go along with the version for the iPad. And just like the new iPad version this will feature PDF-reading.
The eighth feature Jobs talked about were iAds. He rattled off some of the big brands that have already signed up: Nissan, Citi, Unilever, AT&T, Channel, GE, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Geico, Campbell’s, Sears, JCPenny, Target, Best Buy, TBS, and Disney were some of the ones he named.
These brands have signed up for the second half of the year, and they’ll start being turned on starting July 1.
But that’s not all.
Jobs had “one more thing…” up his sleeve. The ninth feature of iPhone 4 is FaceTime, a new video chat feature that will work on the iPhone 4. Jobs demoed it on stage making a call to Apple SVP Jonny Ive.
In 2010, this feature will only work over WiFi, Jobs noted saying that they’re working with the cellular providers to bring it to those networks eventually.
The iPhone 4 will go on sale June 24 — preorders start a week from tomorrow. On June 24 it will launch in 5 counties – in July they’ll add 18 more countries. By the end of September they will be shipping in 88 countries, Jobs noted.
iOS 4 will launch three days earlier on June 21. It will work completely (aside from FaceTime) on the iPhone 3GS, and will mostly work on the iPhone 3G and new iPod touch. For the first time, the upgrade will be available for free across the board.
The iPhone 4 will be available in black and white. The 16GB version will be $199, the 32GB version will be $299.
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