IPhone 5 new features unveiled, September 21 launch in Australia

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Apple on Wednesday introduced its new iPhone 5, a lighter, thinner and more powerful version of its iconic mobile device.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook called the launch "the biggest thing to happen to iPhone since the iPhone."

At a packed launch event in San Francisco, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said of the new iPhone: "It is an absolute jewel. The software and engineering that went into this product is the most challenging our team has ever taken on."

Apple will start taking orders for the phone Friday and begin shipments September 21 in the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Australia and Japan, and would be available in 100 countries by the end of the year. Pricing for Australian customers $799 for the 16GB model, $899 for the 32GB model and $999 for the 64GB model.

The introduction has been among the most keenly anticipated in the tech world, with rumors and leaks over several months about the new device from the biggest company in the sector.

"It is the thinnest iPhone we have ever made, it's the world's thinnest smartphone and weighs just 112 grams," just under four ounces, Schiller said.

"It is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S."

SNAPSHOT OF FEATURES:

- Made of glass and aluminium
- 18% thinner and 20% lighter
- 4 inch display- screen is now longer, width is the same
- 44% more colour saturation
- Touch screen sensor integrated into new display
- LTE compatability allowing downloads of 100 megabits per second
- higher performing WiFi
- Two times faster processing speed
- Two times faster graphics
- New camera - 8 megapixel sensor, backside illumination, f/24 aperture
- Camera is 25% smaller
- 1080p HD video capability
- New mode for taking photos in low light
- Sapphire crystal lens cover to better protect the lens
- New panorama photo feature
- three microphones instead of two
- 20% smaller speakers
- New iPhone cord connector - called 'Lightning' - more durable
- Siri enhancements
- Available in black,silver and white
- Battery life is 8 hours via LTE or 3G, 10 hours over WiFi
- Redesigned headphones called EarPods

Basically and iPhone 4s in a different cover LOL

Still not even close to the specs of the Galaxy S3 or HTC One X.
All spun on apple BS marketing, i watched the keynote and they lied so much is wasnt funny .

Looks like they are copying Samsung now.

My girlfriend already wants one.