SAN FRANCISCO — As I played around with the iPhone 5, I wondered what the late Steve Jobs would have thought about the latest twist on Apple's best-selling device.
It didn't take long to conclude that Jobs would have been delighted with the iPhone 5's blend of beauty, utility and versatility.
Add in the more advanced technology and new features that went into this iPhone, and it's clear that Apple has come up with another product that will compel hordes of people to line up outside its stores before its release next Friday.
After going on sale in the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France and four other countries, the mad dash will be repeated again on Sept. 28 in 22 other countries. All iPhone 5 models will sell for the same prices as their predecessors, starting at $199 with a two-year data and calling plan.
An important caveat about these impressions: I was allotted only about 15 minutes with the iPhone 5 at Wednesday's launch event, not enough time to discover if it might have some technological bugs. I am sure that in the coming days, other reviewers will have the opportunity to give the phone a more thorough vetting.
The new iPhone also is easy on the eyes, thanks to a larger screen and its "Retina Display," the high-definition technology that Apple introduced in previous models..
At 4 inches diagonally, the iPhone 5's screen is a half-inch larger than previous generations. That's still smaller than the one on Samsung's flagship Galaxy S II, but the iPhone 5 is lighter.
Apple made sure to take advantage of the larger display. The extra space means you can now see five rows of apps on the home screen instead of the previous four. Open the calendar and you can see five days of events on the screen in horizontal mode, instead of just three.
The device is also speedier because it has a more powerful processing chip and upgraded wireless technology that accelerates Web surfing.
The new iOS can be downloaded for free beginning next Wednesday on a wide range of older Apple devices, including the three previous versions of the iPhone and the past two versions of the iPad. Those eligible will get a notification and will have to initiate the upgrade if they want it.
The new operating system also stands out for what's missing.
The pre-installed YouTube app that had been part of the iPhone since it came out in 2007 is gone. You'd need to download a new application made by YouTube owner Google Inc. in Apple's iTunes store.
Even more noticeable is the absence of Google Maps. Apple has cast aside one of Google's most popular services for its own mapping system. From what I saw, it looks like it's going to keep users happy. It offers aerial views, three-dimensional renderings of many major cities and, best of all, turn-by-turn directions narrated by the iPhone's virtual assistant, Siri.
Siri is also supposed to be smarter and even more helpful in the iPhone 5, although I didn't get a chance to challenge her in Apple's noisy testing room.
Too bad, as I would have liked to ask Siri what Steve Jobs might have thought of the iPhone 5. But, I am pretty sure I know the answer.
It didn't take long to conclude that Jobs would have been delighted with the iPhone 5's blend of beauty, utility and versatility.
Add in the more advanced technology and new features that went into this iPhone, and it's clear that Apple has come up with another product that will compel hordes of people to line up outside its stores before its release next Friday.
After going on sale in the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France and four other countries, the mad dash will be repeated again on Sept. 28 in 22 other countries. All iPhone 5 models will sell for the same prices as their predecessors, starting at $199 with a two-year data and calling plan.
An important caveat about these impressions: I was allotted only about 15 minutes with the iPhone 5 at Wednesday's launch event, not enough time to discover if it might have some technological bugs. I am sure that in the coming days, other reviewers will have the opportunity to give the phone a more thorough vetting.
The new iPhone also is easy on the eyes, thanks to a larger screen and its "Retina Display," the high-definition technology that Apple introduced in previous models..
At 4 inches diagonally, the iPhone 5's screen is a half-inch larger than previous generations. That's still smaller than the one on Samsung's flagship Galaxy S II, but the iPhone 5 is lighter.
Apple made sure to take advantage of the larger display. The extra space means you can now see five rows of apps on the home screen instead of the previous four. Open the calendar and you can see five days of events on the screen in horizontal mode, instead of just three.
The device is also speedier because it has a more powerful processing chip and upgraded wireless technology that accelerates Web surfing.
The new iOS can be downloaded for free beginning next Wednesday on a wide range of older Apple devices, including the three previous versions of the iPhone and the past two versions of the iPad. Those eligible will get a notification and will have to initiate the upgrade if they want it.
The new operating system also stands out for what's missing.
The pre-installed YouTube app that had been part of the iPhone since it came out in 2007 is gone. You'd need to download a new application made by YouTube owner Google Inc. in Apple's iTunes store.
Even more noticeable is the absence of Google Maps. Apple has cast aside one of Google's most popular services for its own mapping system. From what I saw, it looks like it's going to keep users happy. It offers aerial views, three-dimensional renderings of many major cities and, best of all, turn-by-turn directions narrated by the iPhone's virtual assistant, Siri.
Siri is also supposed to be smarter and even more helpful in the iPhone 5, although I didn't get a chance to challenge her in Apple's noisy testing room.
Too bad, as I would have liked to ask Siri what Steve Jobs might have thought of the iPhone 5. But, I am pretty sure I know the answer.