A new iPhone means new hardware, and with the 4S, the most notable upgrades are to the processor and the camera. You also get some other goodies like Siri, Apple’s voice-enabled personal assistant. But what’s even better is that a new iPhone means new apps that take advantage of those enhancements.
The iPhone 4S has only been available for a little more than a week, but you can already find some apps that have been designed specifically to take advantage of the phone’s new dual-core A5 processor. The same CPU that powers the iPad 2, Apple claims that this pumped-up chip delivers double the power of the A4 and can accelerate graphics speed sevenfold. In fact, the iPhone 4S is the fastest smartphone we've tested. This means even-more-realistic gaming with faster action and more fluid graphics. We found some great games designed just for the iPhone 4S.
Perhaps even more notable are the upgrades to the iPhone’s camera. It's an 8-megapixel shooter (up from 5-MP) with a bigger sensor, five-element lens, larger f/2.4 aperture, and 1080p30 video capture (up from 720p30). And that A5 chip means it’s much faster than before. Now you’ll likely take some of your best photos and video with your iPhone, since it's a great camera that’s always in your pocket. The photo and video apps here let you do even more with the 4S's camera, and with them in your arsenal, you might even be able to ditch your point-and-shoot camera.
Also new and exclusive to the iPhone 4S is Siri, Apple's voice-activated personal assistant who can schedule appointments, find you a good slice of pizza, tell you the local time in China, and more. Far from perfect, Siri is fun to use and shows amazing potential for the future of voice control. A couple of third-party apps are already integrating Siri.
Besides having a quirky but charming robotic woman living inside, did you know that the latest iPhone can use Russian satellites to pinpoint your location or give you directions? The iPhone 4S is one of the first handsets with GLONASS support, which means it has access to 24 Russian location satellites in addition to GPS's standard 31. This should mean better accuracy in urban areas and other places where traditional GPS coverage is sketchy. We've got a few location-based apps to put those additional satellites to the test.
If you're getting an iPhone 4S now, these apps—many of them free—will really show you what your new phone can do.
Galaxy on Fire 2 HD
$9.99
Space adventure, Galaxy on Fire 2 has been completely retooled to take advantage of the iPhone 4S’s dual-core CPU power. A smorgasbord of graphics deliciousness, the HD version of the game requires an iPhone 4S (or iPad 2) with its A5 chip in your arsenal to fight off aggressive aliens, blow up spaceships, and ultimately save the universe. Lag-free gameplay, a rich plot, and breathtaking imagery and details, make GOF2 HD well worth the $10 admission price.
Space adventure, Galaxy on Fire 2 has been completely retooled to take advantage of the iPhone 4S’s dual-core CPU power. A smorgasbord of graphics deliciousness, the HD version of the game requires an iPhone 4S (or iPad 2) with its A5 chip in your arsenal to fight off aggressive aliens, blow up spaceships, and ultimately save the universe. Lag-free gameplay, a rich plot, and breathtaking imagery and details, make GOF2 HD well worth the $10 admission price.
Real Racing 2
$2.99
Fast, fluid, and fun, Real Racing 2 does an excellent job of showcasing the iPhone’s brand-new speedy dual-core A5 processor and improved graphics prowess. Even better, if you have Apple TV, the Party Play feature lets your iPhone 4S (or iPad 2) host three additional iOS devices to create a split-screen, multiplayer race on your HDTV.
Fast, fluid, and fun, Real Racing 2 does an excellent job of showcasing the iPhone’s brand-new speedy dual-core A5 processor and improved graphics prowess. Even better, if you have Apple TV, the Party Play feature lets your iPhone 4S (or iPad 2) host three additional iOS devices to create a split-screen, multiplayer race on your HDTV.
Camera+
99 cents
The greatest thing about a phone with a camera is that you almost always have it with you to capture life as it unfolds. A phone with a good camera is even better. And the iPhone 4S camera, with its higher 8-megapixel resolution, larger sensor, and five-element lens, takes some pretty nice pictures. Images from the 4S are sharper than those from any camera phone we’ve ever tested. And the phone’s faster processor means you won’t be waiting around missing all the photo ops around you.
Camera+ helps your pictures look even better by offering advanced shooting options including Timer and Burst modes, touch focus, touch exposure adjustment, and 6x digital zoom. After you shoot, there are hordes of editing options including a choice of 16 scene effects to improve the look of your photos, the ability to rotate and crop, add borders, captions, and apply Instagram-like effects. When you’re all done, you can share your shots on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr with a button push. Not bad for less than a buck.
The greatest thing about a phone with a camera is that you almost always have it with you to capture life as it unfolds. A phone with a good camera is even better. And the iPhone 4S camera, with its higher 8-megapixel resolution, larger sensor, and five-element lens, takes some pretty nice pictures. Images from the 4S are sharper than those from any camera phone we’ve ever tested. And the phone’s faster processor means you won’t be waiting around missing all the photo ops around you.
Camera+ helps your pictures look even better by offering advanced shooting options including Timer and Burst modes, touch focus, touch exposure adjustment, and 6x digital zoom. After you shoot, there are hordes of editing options including a choice of 16 scene effects to improve the look of your photos, the ability to rotate and crop, add borders, captions, and apply Instagram-like effects. When you’re all done, you can share your shots on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr with a button push. Not bad for less than a buck.
Photosynth
Free
One thing the latest iPhone camera doesn’t have: A wide lens. Microsoft’s free Photosynth app brings a 3D feel to your photos by letting you capture up to 360 degrees around you. One of the easier-to-use panorama apps, just pick a starting point and sweep the camera right, left, up, or down. When you hear a beep, stop, and your image is captured. Keep this up until you’ve framed everything you want in the shot. Once you’re done, Photosynth stitches your images together so you can share them on Facebook, Bing Maps, and elsewhere.
One thing the latest iPhone camera doesn’t have: A wide lens. Microsoft’s free Photosynth app brings a 3D feel to your photos by letting you capture up to 360 degrees around you. One of the easier-to-use panorama apps, just pick a starting point and sweep the camera right, left, up, or down. When you hear a beep, stop, and your image is captured. Keep this up until you’ve framed everything you want in the shot. Once you’re done, Photosynth stitches your images together so you can share them on Facebook, Bing Maps, and elsewhere.
iMovie
$4.99
Along with a souped-up still camera, one of the feature upgrades that comes with the iPhone 4S is the ability to capture video in full 1080p30 HD with stabilization, so your footage doesn’t suffer with shaky hands. Apple’s own video editing software amps up the movies you make with your iPhone by letting you trim footage, move frames around, add themes, effects, still images, and a musical soundtrack. iMovie is dead simple to use, but there’s also a robust built-in manual if you need help. Once you’ve perfected your cinematic masterpiece, you can easily share it via YouTube, Facebook, CNN iReport, and other sites. Or use AirPlay and an Apple TV to stream your movie to the big screen on your HDTV.
Along with a souped-up still camera, one of the feature upgrades that comes with the iPhone 4S is the ability to capture video in full 1080p30 HD with stabilization, so your footage doesn’t suffer with shaky hands. Apple’s own video editing software amps up the movies you make with your iPhone by letting you trim footage, move frames around, add themes, effects, still images, and a musical soundtrack. iMovie is dead simple to use, but there’s also a robust built-in manual if you need help. Once you’ve perfected your cinematic masterpiece, you can easily share it via YouTube, Facebook, CNN iReport, and other sites. Or use AirPlay and an Apple TV to stream your movie to the big screen on your HDTV.
Videolicious
Free
This free app takes a different approach to video creation by first offering up creative ideas for mini video projects. The list of 25 includes options like Real Estate Listing Video, Birthday Party Video, Trip Documentary, and Video Resume. Choose one, and Videolicious will step you through the creation for that type of video. First you choose your images (you can use video clips, still images, or both, but you can’t edit them inside the app), then you record a voiceover, and select music (your own tunes or various themes), and at the end you have a simple video with pictures, words, and music. The app is limited in its abilities, but it’s fun to use, and it’s free.
This free app takes a different approach to video creation by first offering up creative ideas for mini video projects. The list of 25 includes options like Real Estate Listing Video, Birthday Party Video, Trip Documentary, and Video Resume. Choose one, and Videolicious will step you through the creation for that type of video. First you choose your images (you can use video clips, still images, or both, but you can’t edit them inside the app), then you record a voiceover, and select music (your own tunes or various themes), and at the end you have a simple video with pictures, words, and music. The app is limited in its abilities, but it’s fun to use, and it’s free.
Remember the Milk
Free
What’s so exciting about an app that helps you remember mundane tasks like, well, buying milk, you ask? Remember the Milk is one of the few apps that integrates Siri, Apple’s new and improved voice control feature only available on the iPhone 4S. This to-do-list app rounds up your tasks to help you remember what you need to do. Follow a few quick steps to integrate Siri, then simply tell her to remind you to call your mother every Tuesday night, and that reminder shows up in RTM. Since iOS 5 adds a Reminders features, to get the most from this app, you need to spring for the $4 pro version, which syncs your tasks over various devices and sends email or text messages with reminders. The Siri integration here, while not terribly compelling, is indicative of what’s possible when third-party developers design apps with voice control features. Here’s hoping more of that happens soon.
What’s so exciting about an app that helps you remember mundane tasks like, well, buying milk, you ask? Remember the Milk is one of the few apps that integrates Siri, Apple’s new and improved voice control feature only available on the iPhone 4S. This to-do-list app rounds up your tasks to help you remember what you need to do. Follow a few quick steps to integrate Siri, then simply tell her to remind you to call your mother every Tuesday night, and that reminder shows up in RTM. Since iOS 5 adds a Reminders features, to get the most from this app, you need to spring for the $4 pro version, which syncs your tasks over various devices and sends email or text messages with reminders. The Siri integration here, while not terribly compelling, is indicative of what’s possible when third-party developers design apps with voice control features. Here’s hoping more of that happens soon.
MailShot
Free
This free mailing list app lets you create email distribution groups that are added to your address book so you can access them in other apps. Siri can’t create groups for you, but she can send messages to groups you’ve created with MailShot. Again, not the most exciting app you’ll find, but another example of Siri in action in a third-party app. Neat.
This free mailing list app lets you create email distribution groups that are added to your address book so you can access them in other apps. Siri can’t create groups for you, but she can send messages to groups you’ve created with MailShot. Again, not the most exciting app you’ll find, but another example of Siri in action in a third-party app. Neat.
Find My Friends
Free
Apple’s latest app, Find My Friends, is like Foursquare squared. If you want to your admirers to gloat over all the fabulous places you go, this is the app for you. Find My Friends uses GPS and GLONASS to let you share your every move with the people you choose, and vice versa. You need to have iOS 5, an Apple login, and your friends need to opt in, and then you can see them move around on the map on your iPhone 4S—and they can see you on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Thankfully, there are temporary sharing options, and you can turn off location sharing whenever you want to go back to keeping them guessing.
Apple’s latest app, Find My Friends, is like Foursquare squared. If you want to your admirers to gloat over all the fabulous places you go, this is the app for you. Find My Friends uses GPS and GLONASS to let you share your every move with the people you choose, and vice versa. You need to have iOS 5, an Apple login, and your friends need to opt in, and then you can see them move around on the map on your iPhone 4S—and they can see you on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Thankfully, there are temporary sharing options, and you can turn off location sharing whenever you want to go back to keeping them guessing.
Google Earth
Free
The stunningly visual Google Earth is the perfect app to show off the iPhone 4S’s speed, graphics, and GPS/GLONASS prowess. The free location-aware app can whisk you from the heart of New York City to the Great Wall of China in a heartbeat, showing you an aerial view of everything around you. It can also find you a top-notch Chinese restaurant within walking distance. Google Earth is a blast to use, runs very smoothly on the 4S, and screen redraws are quick thanks to that A5 chip.
The stunningly visual Google Earth is the perfect app to show off the iPhone 4S’s speed, graphics, and GPS/GLONASS prowess. The free location-aware app can whisk you from the heart of New York City to the Great Wall of China in a heartbeat, showing you an aerial view of everything around you. It can also find you a top-notch Chinese restaurant within walking distance. Google Earth is a blast to use, runs very smoothly on the 4S, and screen redraws are quick thanks to that A5 chip.
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