Five for Five?

Another year, another Apple presentation designed to drive Apple purists – and the media - into a frenzy. This time around the number on everyone’s mind is 5 – as in the iPhone 5. And there was definitely a flurry of ‘new’ announcements to be had, as Apple uncorked (or in some cases, confirmed) a bounty of new upgrades, enhancements, and hardware for those looking forward to upgrading their current stash of iPhones, iPods, and other fruity lifestyle devices.

And for many Apple didn’t disappoint, as a troupe of new peripherals were made public for the first time (no more leaks, thank you), many of which had been on their “most wanted” list for some time. The new Lightning connector (companion to Thunderbolt?), which replaces the ancient 30 pin connector, gives new devices a sleeker, easier way to connect to computers, charges, and other adapters, while a drastically overhauled iTunes makes both shopping and listening to music easier – and hopefully less cluttered – than ever before. Apple even unveiled the first substantial upgrade to their famous EarBuds in over a decade – rechristened the EarPods – which make better use of individual ear cavities for not only improved comfort but sound output. Let’s just hope they do a better job of staying put than their meme-inspiring predecessors.

The iPhone 5

As expected, the ‘new’ iPhone has been officially christened the iPhone 5 this time around, which was the first of many non-surprises Apple had in store for anxious iOS fans looking to upgrade. Bigger, better, and with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a device new and different enough to earn its own number. Sporting a new ‘unified’ body made of aluminum and glass, the iPhone 5 is both thinner and lighter than the 4S, slimming down to just 8mm (18% thinner), and drops a bit of weight to come in at just 112 grams (20% lighter). This is great news for owners of the (comparatively) bigger, bulkier iPhone 4 and 4S, as this makes the iPhone 5 the new current ‘slim’ champ of the smartphone world.

Most prominent is the iPhone 5’s newer, bigger screen, which is now a taller 4” Retina display that, while keeping the same width as those before it, sports a better resolution of 1136 x 640 resolution at 326ppi. The new screen also gives the phone substantially better color saturation with full sRGB rendering, as well as a whole new set of icons on the desktop to play with. New apps will have to be updated to take full advantage of the added pixels while existing ones can be displayed in a letterbox-style presentation.

For you spec-seekers out there, the iPhone 5 sports Apple’s new A6 chip, which the company promises is at least two-times faster than its predecessor found in the 4S, as well as a more compact design that allows the new phone reach its svelte physique. Data seekers should be thrilled with the addition of LTE to the mix, which finally adds true 4G connectivity for AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint users looking to step onto the supercharged speedway of data access. There’s even an enhanced 802.11 a/b/g/n antenna to help improve and speed up WiFi connections, improved noise-cancelling microphones, better speakers, and even a new crystal coating on the camera for crisper pictures over the long haul.

Those disappointed by the lack of a drastically new rear camera can take solace in the fact that the iSight camera now supports full panorama shots at 40% faster rates, effectively merging for a makeshift 28-megapixel super view at 240 degrees. The front camera, however, has been beefed up considerably and now supports 720p recording and true HD FaceTime chatting if high-definition conferencing is something you’ve been aching for.

The iPod Touch 5

Oddly enough, it wasn’t the much ballyhooed iPhone 5 that gathered the most interest at Apple’s event but another “5” labeled device – the long, long overdue 5th Generation iPod Touch. Amidst a bevy of new iPod iterations, including the re-extended Nano that looks exactly like an iPod Touch Mini, the new iPod Touch comes after taking a year off Apple’s ‘yearly updating’ routine, letting fans make do with their still respectable 4th Generation models. Given the gap between the iPod Touch 4 and 5, the difference was a bit more striking than between the iPhone 4S and 5, adding some much-needed excitement and thrills to an otherwise predictable presentation. Calling the iPod Touch “the world’s most popular music player” and even “the world’s most popular portable game-playing device”, Apple certainly had a lot to live up to in a world of fast-encroaching tablets and a resurgent Nintendo (and their 3DS).

The new iPod Touch 5 packs roughly the same elongated screen as the iPhone 5, meaning a gorgeous 4” widescreen Retina display pushing an 1136 x 640 resolution at 326ppi, and sports a redesigned body that looks flatter and eliminates the scratch-gathering aluminum backing altogether, instead opting for the same anodized aluminum used in the Macbook lineup. It’s also the thinnest iPod ever – a feat unto itself – at just 6.1mm and weighing just 3.1 ounces.

In keeping with Apple’s previous iPod/iPhone generation differences, the new iPod Touch is powered by Apple’s A5 chip, essentially the same one seen in the iPad 2, which should make for a drastic bump from its predecessor (indeed, Apple promises seven times the performance of 4th generation models), as well as improved battery life for intense music listening, movie watching, and game playing action.

A huge upgrade comes by way of a new camera, which replaces the iPod Touch 4’s junky one with a new 5 megapixel monster, helped by a backside-illuminated f/2.4 lens with image stabilization. The difference should be incredible, and with the same panorama implementation as the iPhone 5, as well as a front camera boost to 720p for HD FaceTime chatting, very welcome indeed who only rock an iPod for their daily image snaps and video clip capturing.

A genuine surprise is the new wrist strap made specifically for the iPod Touch 5, which attaches to a new button that protrudes on the rear side, adding another layer of security for those accident prone types who might otherwise drop or have their Touch violently ripped from their hands while in use. The straps come in a variety of colors, effectively making them the iPod’s non-functional accessory equivalent to the iPad’s colorful Smart Cover lineup.

Perhaps the most disappointing announcement regarding the iPod Touch 5 was its pricing and model sizes, which at just available models, 32GB model at $299 and 64GB at $399, more closely resembles the infernal iPod Touch 2G and slightly-better iPod Touch 3G pricing debacle when Apple kept both available at minutely different price points; make no bones about it, the iPod Touch 5 is a monster upgrade, and it’s a shame that a smaller 8GB version won’t be available at the familiar price of $199; to compensate, Apple is keeping the iPod Touch 4 available (reducing the 32GB version to just $249). How or if this might affect the fabled iPad Mini remains to be seen.

Both the iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 5 will include new Lightning adapter, near EarPod headphones, and will ship to stores in time for September 21st. iPhone 5 fans can expect the standard pricing to apply as the 16GB is $199, the 32GB is $299, and the 64GB is $399. Also worth noting is the original iPhone 4 will now be free and the 4S just $99, on contract, for those looking to give cautious users a slightly less-expensive taste of iOS smartphone goodness.

For more info on either iPhone or iPod refreshes check out the official Apple page right HERE!