iPhone 5 – Season’s Hottest Buy

After a long, hot summer of ever-evolving rumors and leaked parts and prototypes, Apple released the newest generation of iPhone last week to much fanfare and – what will inevitably follow – the happy ka-ching of cash registers worldwide.

So what does the newest model of the hot selling mobile device bring? Let’s break down ‘What Apple Did (W.A.D)’ and ‘So What? (S.W)’…

1.) New Screen, thinner body.

WHAT APPLE DID:

The new iPhone 5 boasts a Retina-graphic resolution screen that is now 4 inches tall and has more pixels per inch than the human eye is capable of distinguishing. Some suspect the move to stretch the screen is Apple’s counter to ‘Entire devices is a screen’ Android competitor models. To accentuate the narrower height/width ratio, Apple also designed the new iPhone to be thinner than the 4 and 4S.

SO WHAT:

The new iPhone is going to feel different in your hands (Better, if you believe Apple) and will change how users interact with content and the keyboard. If you’re an app developer, the new screen means you need to release a new version of your application to take advantage of the extra pixels the new 4″ screen affords.

2.) LTE Connectivity.

WHAT APPLE DID:

The new iPhone will be able to take advantage of cutting-edge wireless radio technology (known as LTE) – the international standard for 4G connectivity.

SO WHAT:

Your new iPhone will be running on the best and fastest consumer mobile phone technology available. This means that not only will you faster, but more users will be able to be on the network at once!

3.) New Processor.

W.A.D: A new ‘A6′ Processor will run faster and more efficiently than all previous iPhone processors.

S.W: Your games and multimedia apps will run smoother, you will be able to run more apps at once, and battery life will be extended.

4.) New earbuds, plugs

W.A.D: Newly redesigned and freshly branded ‘EarPods’ were designed to fit better in anyone’s ear and have been optimized to deliver a higher quality of sound. Additionally, the classic 30-pin plug at the bottom of the phone has been replaced with Apple’s new ‘Lightening’ adapter, which promises to be faster, more flexible, and (bonus points) reversible – there will be no wrong way to plug it in.

S.W: Everything – from music to games to conversations – should sound better coming through a more comfortable, form-fitted earbud. And if you have fancy peripherals that used the classic iPhone plug, be prepared to buy some expensive adapters…

5.) Camera Upgrade

W.A.D: The newly upgraded iSight camera will not only boast an impressive hardware upgrade (up to 8 Megapixels now), but a gamechanging software upgrade as well – the ability to seamlessly capture panoramic shots. Simply start the Panorama function, point, and smoothly pan the camera and the phone’s built-in gyroscopes and software stitch together your shot as you capture it.

S.W: Get ready for wide-angle Instagram filtered cupcake shots.

6.) iOS 6

W.A.D: Apple’s newest mobile operating system (iOS 6) will contain several innovative new features (including a native app to store your discount and club cards from your wallet and a revamped replacement to Google Maps) and many improvements on some of our favorites. Expect deeper Twitter integration, a smarter Siri, and improved functionality in all the standard built-in apps.

S.W: Imagine paying for your next Starbucks and handing them your phone instead of wallet! The new ‘Passbook’ app built-in to the phone will streamline purchases worldwide and – many predict – may be Apple’s tell for their future entry into the mobile payment space.

RA’s Verdict: BUY

The iPhone 5 will be this Fall (and Holiday season’s) hot buy. While most of the new features are upgrades on existing technology, their combined effect will mean a richer user experience and more enjoyable use. Personally, I’m mosted excited about the new iOS upgrades.

What are you excited about in the new iPhone 5?