Is the new iPhone 4S worth the upgrade?

Today I became the proud owner of a shiny, new black iPhone 4S with 32 Gb of memory. It does everything they say it will with really great 8 megapixel pictures and auto flash, high definition videos and many new apps. It also includes Siri voice control which is a much enhanced version of previous voice control functions in the iPhone, and that actually works, at least most of the time. I wait eagerly for the day when voice control is as good as it is on Star Trek, but that's a while off yet. 


To think that less than ten years ago, my primary desktop computer had much less memory and power than this small and magic mobile device is amazing. I like Apple devices, and I always have - they have made one or two mistakes along the way, but this new iPhone is terrific, and it is a beautiful piece of engineering! It has all the functions that a business person would want. It also has the creative ability that allows you to make beautiful pictures, videos and sounds, and it has the reliability of the Apple OS and the App Store, which means it you don't tinker with it, you can enjoy a safe and secure mobile environment with little to no fear of viruses and malware.


The dual core processor, which is the much the same as in the iPad2 make for a much faster experience than previous models, so you may wonder, who should upgrade?


If you were like me and had come off contract with an iPhone 3GS after two years, it's a no brainer. My new contract with handset actually costs me $15 less per month, and I could and may sell my 3GS handset if I wished. If you are still on contract with an iPhone 4, and are getting good results, then wait out out your contract unless money is not a issue for you. Some iPhone 4 users have had reception and dropout problems due to the antennae positioning and contact with your fingers. This can mostly be solved by using a case or a bumper, but has also been an issue which the carriers have addressed with new and better towers, and continue to work on.


The iPhone 4S addresses this particular issue with two separate antennae at different ends of the phone, and the signal switches to the best one automatically. I still recommend a case or bumper, as even the new ones still are manufactured with a toughened glass composite back as well as a glass screen, so you really don't want to drop it on a hard surface without protection. There's some great looking cases available either at the Apple Store and or online. I use an Australian supplier in Adelaide who deals in very affordable iPhone accessories, and have found him quite reliable over a long period. Their website is www.tdu.highwire.com and is worth checking out. Postage within Australia is usually free as well.


There were rumours that this year we would have seen the release of the iPhone 5. It now seems very likely that an iPhone 5 will not be released until after mid 2012 and the specs aren't even known as yet, so you all can be sure that this is a significant upgrade, especially for those with a 3GS, and if you want great quality photos and good speed, then I'd recommend it highly!