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Apple introduced its latest iPhone on Wednesday, unveiling major redesign changes at an event that has become an annual spectacle for tech geeks and early adopters of the newest, coolest personal tech devices.
The latest and the sixth version of the phone -- to be called iPhone 5 -- is taller, thinner, faster and brighter, with new features installed seemingly as a response to stepped-up competitive pressures from Samsung, HTC and Nokia.
Shares of Apple rose $9.13 to $669.72.
With consumers increasingly turning to smartphones for photography and viewing videos, Apple's most significant upgrade is the new 4-inch screen that will make the device about half an inch taller than the previous models. As a result, the phone's height grows to 4.87 inches from 4.5 inches. A faster processor will speed up app functions and multi-tasking.
GRAPHIC:A leaner, more powerful iPhone
The battery will last eight hours for phone calls in 3G networks and up to 40 hours for music playback. "It is an absolute jewel. It is made entirely of glass and aluminum," says Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, who introduced the phone on stage at the event in San Francisco.
The phones, available for pre-order on Sept. 14, will be shipped on Sept. 21. The 16-gigabyte model costs $199 with a carrier contract, while the 32-GB and 64-GB models are priced at $299 and $399, respectively.
Speculating about Apple's annual updates to its devices in weeks and days leading up to the event has become something of a global sport on tech blogs and Twitter. Photos of the new iPhone model that are believed leaked from China have circulated on the Internet, and several details -- some accurate, others not -- have trickled out in recent weeks. "The iPhone has become indispensable for many Americans," says Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics. "Apple has managed to turn each new product introduction into a must-see event. It's like the Super Bowl of the tech industry."
Details of the new phone:
-- Taller screen: Perhaps the least surprising of the new features given all the leaks, Apple is seeking to catch up with Samsung and Nokia by introducing a 4-inch screen, a move that again affirms consumers' move toward larger phones. The 4-inch screen, compared with the 3.5-inch screen of the previous models, has a 16:9 aspect ratio. The "retina display" also will render clearer pictures and videos. The width remains unchanged. The larger screen also allows developers to create "better applications," Schiller says. "It should be easy. ... More apps on every screen."
In comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S3, its high-end model for the Android market, features a 4.8-inch screen, while Nokia Lumia 920's screen is 4.3 inches tall.
-- Thinner panel: To score style points and make up for the added weight brought on by the larger screen, Apple has made iPhone 5 thinner -- 0.3 inches, vs. 0.37 inches. The back of the phone is also now made of aluminum, which should make it more durable.
-- Faster processor: Typical of new models, iPhone 5 has a faster processor. The new "A6" chip is 22% smaller and about twice as fast, the company says.
-- Adapting to faster wireless networks: iPhone 5 is finally ready for U.S. wireless carriers' fastest "4G" data networks called Long-Term Evolution. It made little sense last year for Apple to release iPhone 4S with LTE connectivity, since the carriers' LTE networks were still limited. But the carriers have since made great strides in expanding their networks, and are phasing out non-LTE phones. Apple's latest iPad also includes 4G LTE connectivity.
-- New peripherals: Called "Lightning," a new connector replaces the current model that has not been updated since 2003. New earphones, available today for sale, provide greater low-frequency sound, Apple says.
-- Improved camera: The 1080p high-definition video has an improved stabilization feature. It can also take still photos while recording video, and comes with a face-detection feature. The faster chip in the phone also allows the camera to capture images more quickly and perform better in low-light conditions, he says.
-- iPod changes: The fifth-generation iPod touch also features the 4-inch retina display but is the lightest model created by Apple. The A5 chip, currently in iPhone 4S, is installed in the new iPod touch. Its camera gets a significant upgrade with a 5-megapixel camera that comes with auto-focus and flash. Siri, the voice command feature on iPhone 4S, is featured on the new iPod.
The new iPod Nano, a media player, is larger and has a touch-screen feature, allowing users to pinch and zoom images. Its battery life is extended up to 30 hours.
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