New iPhone 4S camera sharp

The camera features of Apple's new iPhone 4S are one of the two standouts that differentiate the new model, along with the voice-activated personal assistant, Siri.

But are the pictures and videos so much better that they'd make you want to upgrade?

They are substantially better, especially the video. Whether that's worth investing in the iPhone 4S and a new service contract is up to you. It's certainly a big improvement over what was already a pretty nice point-and-shoot camera in the iPhone 4.

Here's a closer look:

•The iPhone 4S has an 8-megapixel image sensor, up from the 5-megapixel camera of the iPhone 4. The extra resolution means you can make larger blow-ups for your prints and crop more liberally.

•The lens has a wider 2.4 F-stop opening to let in more light. That will produce much better photos in low light and indoor situations.

•Also, the image processor for the iPhone 4S is the same chip that's used for the iPad 2. Apple says that means the camera operations will run faster.

•You now have the ability to move the camera in more for close-up macro shots.

•Snapping photos can now also be done on the volume-up button, which allows for steadier shots.

•Video resolution has improved to 1080p high-definition, up from 720p.

Eight megapixels is a step up, but the average point-and-shoot camera now has 14 megapixels, says Chris Chute, an analyst at researcher IDC.

Two more features you'll miss if you opt for an iPhone 4S instead of a point-and-shoot: There's no optical zoom, which is a flaw that needs to be addressed in future models, and the flash is greatly inferior to what you'll find on a stand-alone camera.

The reality about camera phones is that most have produced lousy images over the years. People still use them because they always have their phone.

So this souped-up camera in the iPhone is most welcome.

•The added oomph from the wider lens opening produces better color and a brighter image. This is more noticeable for inside photos rather than outside ones in lots of light.

•Despite Apple claims to the contrary, there is still shutter lag. How could a point-and-shoot not have it? If you're hoping to take pictures of your kids running through the backyard, making an important baseball pitch, jumping off a diving board — odds are you could miss the perfect shot.

Bottom line: The iPhone 4S is not the first phone to offer an 8-megapixel sensor. The Motorola Droid Bionic and Samsung Galaxy S II both already have it. Nor is it the first to have 1080p HD video such as that available from the Samsung Galaxy S. But then again, neither of those devices is the beloved iPhone, the most popular and coveted smartphone in the world.

That said, the images on the new iPhone are substantially better, but I wouldn't want to leave my point-and-shoot or DSLR camera at home for an important occasion, such as a vacation.

Overall, the biggest improvement is in the video. The footage it captures looks crisper and sharper, thanks to the wider lens opening, improvements in the lens itself and image stabilization. If you watch the video, which I shot in Hermosa Beach on roller blades, you'll see that it looks almost as though it was made on a steadicam. I'm impressed. This is the best video quality I've seen on a point-and-shoot.

iPhone 4S pre-orders sell out

Pre-orders for the iPhone 4S sold out in the first day of availability, according to shipping estimates on Apple's Web site.

The iPhone 4S went on pre-order in the predawn hours on Friday. Carrier AT&T called it its most successful iPhone launch ever, with more than 200,000 orders in the first 12 hours.

Users looking to pre-order the iPhone 4S now are seeing shipping estimates of one to two weeks.

Customers can still get an iPhone 4S this coming Friday, though, if they wait in line at an Apple Store or at other retail partners.

Those who were able to pre-order the phone Friday will get it delivered to them this coming Friday.

The ordering process was marred with some of the hiccups that have become typical for an iPhone launch. Customers struggled to connect to Apple.com, especially when the site tried to connect to the carriers' servers to access the buyer's account.

Apple used a new triage system that offered a confirmation to customers that an iPhone had been reserved for them but said that they'd have to come back to finish their order when the account could be accessed.

Verizon customers reported an easier time ordering through the carrier's Web site on Friday morning.

The iPhone 4S features a better camera, faster processor and Siri, a new digital personal assistant. It is available to customers on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

Apple's next mobile operating system, iOS 5, will be released Wednesday as a free download.

Apple Introduces a New iPhone, With a Personal Assistant

Philip W. Schiller, the senior vice president of product marketing of Apple, introduced the new iPhone 4S in Cupertino, Calif., on Tuesday.

For its next act, Apple is turning the iPhone into a personal assistant.

The company on Tuesday unveiled an eagerly awaited new version of the device, the iPhone 4S, that comes with a “virtual assistant,” Siri, that recognizes voice commands by users to schedule appointments, dictate text messages and conduct Web searches.

Although the new phone is virtually indistinguishable on the outside from its predecessor, the iPhone 4, the company says it is packed with better technical innards, including a more advanced camera. The phone also includes a more powerful chip known as the A5, the same microprocessor that acts as the brains inside the iPad.

The company also said the new phone would run on two kinds of cellphone networks, GSM and CDMA, allowing its operation worldwide.

“When you think about it, only Apple could make such amazing software, hardware and services and bring them together into such a powerful, yet integrated experience,” said Timothy D. Cook, Apple’s chief executive officer, who introduced the new phone at an event here at the company’s headquarters.

Despite the new features and the improved technology, Apple fans expressed disappointment on Twitter about the lack of a design change. Investors reacted as well, sending the stock down 5 percent.

Preorders for the iPhone 4S start on Friday; the phone goes on sale on Oct. 14. Prices start at $199 for a model with 16 gigabytes of storage.

Apple will continue to sell its older iPhone 4 through its wireless carrier partners, which will drop the price to $99 from $199 when customers commit to a two-year contract. An even older model of the device, the iPhone 3GS, will be free, instead of $99, with a two-year contract.

The new phone will be available on the AT&T, Verizon and Sprint networks.

Mr. Cook’s appearance was his first at an event introducing a new Apple product since he took over as chief executive from Steven P. Jobs in August. Mr. Jobs was a master pitchman for Apple’s new products, captivating audiences with introductions that seemed off the cuff but were always meticulously rehearsed.

Mr. Jobs, founder of the company, left the top job for health reasons, and became chairman of Apple’s board.

Since the first iPhone was unveiled in 2007, Apple has come out with a new version each year, usually with an eye-catching new design, speedier technical performance and a fresh operating system packed with new features. While Apple generally has released the new versions in June, this one is coming out much closer to the crucial holiday selling season.

With every new iPhone, Apple faces the challenge of how to entice its legions of fans to upgrade to the new device and to convert the much larger pool of people who don’t yet own one. The second task is the more difficult one, as mobile phones running the Android operating system by rival Google have flooded the market, with wider distribution from wireless carriers, more hardware choices and often cheaper price tags.

When the previous iPhone update was released, in June 2010, Apple and Google each accounted for about the same share of new smartphone sales. Since then the market has shifted dramatically in Google’s favor. During the second quarter of this year, Android devices accounted for 43.4 percent of new smartphone sales to Apple’s 18.2 percent, according to the research firm Gartner.

Both companies’ mobile businesses are growing swiftly as they steal share from rivals like the maker of the BlackBerry, Research in Motion, that have fallen behind their technical innovations.

The iPhone is the most critical product in Apple’s line-up and the largest source of its revenue, accounting for more than $13.3 billion — almost half of total company sales — in the most recent quarter.