Testing the iPhone 4: the new reference
5:12 PM | 
Posted by
Zaoui Mohammed |
King long without rival, the iPhone is now heckled, hounded or even equaled by its competitors. Mostly powered by Android, they catch up model after model Apple's smartphone. No wonder that the Cupertino company has taken a big leap forward with the iPhone 4. A complete overhaul, hardware and software, which marks a turning point and promises of beautiful developments. Will this be enough for it to remain the reference?
reality
Testing the iPhone 4 returns to answer Three Questions: Is It Better Than Predecessor icts, Gold to Be more direct, "should move to the iPhone 4? Is It Better Than Competitors icts, In Other Words, it Takes Them Always a candle? Finally, he meets our expectations reasonable?
Better than before
Evacuate the first question. The answer is simple. Yes, if one puts aside the financial aspect, in all, the iPhone dominates four previous versions. Not only it keeps all the forces, but it beats the S 3G on all the points of comparison: in the comfort grip, thinner design more innovative that once the iPhone is still a peak of engineering and industrial design. The metal strapping the device structure and also serves as antenna for better reception while making the place is certainly the most stunning example. The internal configuration is also a plus, we'll come back. But it is mainly because of its screen, surprisingly, that iPhone 4 deserves adoption.
Giant Screen
Where some competitors offer up to 5 inches diagonal, which is not necessarily practical when one wants to slip into a pocket, the iPhone 4 remains the same (3.5 inches) than before. In contrast, the definition is doubled compared to the 3G screen S (960 x 640 pixels against 480 x 320 pixels, four times more pixels), with an impressive pixel density.The Retina is a superb screen door into the iPhone 4. It is as the first point of confrontation with the competition. Where the Wave Samsung opts for the amazing Super-AMOLED, Apple LCD stays true to the classic. For reasons of cost, brightness outside and fidelity color. In fact, when they are laid side by side, the Wave offers color stronger, more assertive, a little more saturated. But the iPhone 4, even if it pulls very slightly yellow, is more consistent with reality when we watch a short video tour under the same conditions.Beyond this point, the playback quality on the iPhone 4, its contrast and detail in the text display is truly incredible. Read eBooks downloaded iBooks, the platform launched Apple iPad, or surf sites text is very comfortable when we want to occupy the travel time or waiting time.
Sensor tip
We talked about video. In this area, with a 5 megapixel sensor, the iPhone does not win the prize in the number of pixels. However, the backlight sensor technology gives very convincing results in low light, both in video camera. The new Flash / Torch LED giving a welcome hand. HD videos enjoy a dive and a sharpness that could envy some entry-level camcorders.Especially since, in addition to the small integrated editing tool, which cuts a sequence before sending it on YouTube, MMS or e-mail, Apple now sells an iPhone version of iMovie (5 euros) its video editing software. Rather intuitive, even if we know a little video editing software, iMovie that could have (had?) To be supplied by default with the iPhone 4, as it is pleasant and helpful. In addition to this new sensor, Apple added in front, a VGA camera for video conferencing, FaceTime called home.FaceTime, work in progressHere, the opinion is more mixed. On the one hand, binding limits on the other, quality and ease of use undeniable. For the boundaries, is cited in the bulk of duty their calls between different iPhone 4, using the Wi-Fi (802.11n preferably, to avoid small lags), the inability to call a Mac using iChat , to switch a normal call to a call FaceTime and vice versa, or the fact that if you try to attach via an iPhone FaceTime 4 as Wi-Fi is not on, the caller will simply not do you tried to contact him ...To the right side, note the quality of the video in full screen and the sound, ease of use, the ability to switch easily from the camera to the front at the back of the iPhone.In short, we want to love FaceTime and therefore use it, but now, it still lacks some elements. Apple is working. It thus indicates that the limit of Wi-Fi should jump in 2011 and its technology is now an open standard, so that others can implement it in their phones. Soon the FaceTime between an iPhone and an HTC? Why not ...A big heartPower level, the iPhone now includes the four top tier of smartphones, with a 1 GHz processor, the same one found in the iPad, the tablet from Apple. The A4 uses the same basis as the Snapdragon, who became famous with the Nexus One, for example. Power is therefore an appointment, especially as the amount of RAM is also revised upwards with 512 MB of RAM instead of 256 MB of the previous generation. On paper, in terms of configuration, the iPhone has never been stronger. Today, however, he plays on an equal footing with the competition in terms of CPU and RAM.
Brain 4.0
What has always made the difference between the Apple phone and the other is the operating system. And, again, Apple puts the record straight. Available since last Monday, iPhone OS 4.0, now iOS, finally opened the doors to multitasking for third party applications. Once these updated by their developers, it is possible to switch from one application to another instantly. iOS therefore equal playing on this point with Android and crushes it in terms of the richness of the application catalog. The arrival of special reports, to classify applications, is also good news and will put some order in his smartphone.To finish the comparison with Android, iOS still offers ease of use that does not provide even the Google OS. Certainly it has its advantages, but the quality of usability and navigation it is still lacking.Because, through far-reaching integration of software and hardware (and a bigger battery), the iPhone has a beautiful 4 autonomy, another key point of mobility. In slightly more than 7 hours in 3G communication, reaching more than 12 hours surfing Wi-Fi and more than 4 h 30 min surfing 3G iPhone 4 takes the road. These figures come from our own testing and do not come from Apple. Better still, the device provides performance equal to or better than some of its direct competitors. This is particularly the case with the HTC Desire, desirable opponent, which peaks at 5 h 45 min in communication and 3 h 30 min surfing 3G.
The case of micro-SIM
Remains a question at a time when the iPhone 4 prepares to enter the world. What to expect during the transition from the micro-SIM SIM? Since the new iPhone can not accommodate your old SIM card, which contains all your contacts, you will have to find another solution. For operators, it provides ready and finding solutions. There are also fairly simple ways to sync contacts with Outlook, and iPhone. However, if everything should be for the better to believe the three French operators, we can not help to dream again to a service that would allow all iPhone users to easily sync their contacts. A kind of lightened MobileMe. A well-designed service, and free, of course, to all owners of Apple's smartphone.
the verdict
For anyone who has enjoyed the comfort, flexibility, responsiveness and usability of the previous iPhone, iPhone 4 is required as evidence, a logical sequence, the evolution of a quality experience, a good answer to legitimate expectations. For those seduced Android, iPhone 4 has evolved sufficiently high and glued to the specifications of the competition to build a very credible and proven alternative, richer in many ways.Remain irreconcilable opponents of torque iPhone-iTunes, refractory to full integration, that is to say to a closed system and controlled by the manufacturer, allergic to the App Store or Apple. These, whatever they say, depriving themselves of a very nice toy, a beautiful piece of technology, a smartphone that will not overwhelm the competition as he did a few months ago, retains a small head advance ...
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