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There was disappointment in store for users hoping to see Apple announce an iPhone 5, but there's still plenty to get excited about with the upcoming release of the iPhone 4S.
The new phone was unveiled during Apple's Let's Talk iPhone media event in Cupertino, California, yesterday (Oct 4).
The new device features A5 chip technology, which enables it to run seven times faster than the iPhone 4.
It also includes a dual core CPU, dual core graphics, and an eight mega pixel camera.
Marketing executive Phil Schiller said at the event: "CMOS backside illuminated sensor gets 73% more light than the iPhone 4 sensor, and one-third faster. On top of that, we place a high-end IR filter for greater accuracy and uniformity."
The HD video will record at 1080p, as opposed to the iPhone 4's 720p, and will come with real-time video image stabilisation and real-time temporal noise reduction.
The new phone will also feature a voice control system called Siri, which, Schiller explained: "For decades technologists have teased us with this dream that we can talk to our technology. But it's never come true. It's such a let-down. What we really want to do is just talk to our device."
Siri enables users to gain access to a range of information by saying verbal quotations into their phones.
Siri will also read messages aloud when prompted, and allow users to compose them via dictation.
Battery power has also been boosted, enabling up to eight hours of talk time via 3G, fourteen hours of 2G, six hours of 3G browsing and nine hours of WiFi browsing.
Data downloads will now be twice as fast thanks to an improved antenna system.
Available in both black and white, prices will range from $199 for the 16GB model to $299 for a 32GB one.
It will also be the first iPhone to be made available with a 64GB hard drive, costing $399.
As a result, the iPhone 4 will now be reduced to $99, with an 8GB iPhone 3GS available for free on contract.
Pre orders for the iPhone 4S start on October 7, with the model launching on October 14.
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