COMPUTER AND electronics maker Apple introduced a range of new hardware and software products at a conference in San Francisco yesterday, including a version of the top selling iPhone which it claims will run twice as fast as the current version.
The iPhone 3GS – with longer battery life, an improved three megapixel camera that can record video and support for multimedia messaging – will go on sale in Ireland on June 26th.
In a statement last night, Apple said pricing would be revealed “at launch” but in the US the handheld phone, computer and media player will cost $199 (€143) with 16Gbytes of storage – or $299 with 32Gbytes.
The iPhone 3GS will run an updated version of the iPhone operating system which includes enhancements such as support for cut, copy and pasting between applications, improved search, parental controls and a “Find My iPhone” function which will show the location of the device if it is lost or stolen.
Existing iPhone owners will be able to download the new software free of charge from June 17th.
The Find My iPhone function requires a subscription to Apple’s MobileMe service which costs €79 a year. “Customers are going to be blown away with all that it does,” said Apple senior vice-president Phil Schiller, who presented the phone at the conference.
Mr Schiller filled in for chief executive Steve Jobs as master of ceremonies. Mr Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January, is scheduled to return at the end the month, but had been rumoured to be making an appearance at yesterday’s event which kicked off a conference for Apple software developers.
Apple shares fell 73 cents to $143.94 in mid-afternoon trading in New York, rebounding from an earlier drop of as much as 3.6 per cent. Apple said it had sold more than 40 million iPhones and iPod Touch media players.
There are now more than 50,000 software applications available for the devices.
The company also introduced new MacBook Pro laptops at the event, offering faster chips, lower prices and longer battery life.
A new 15-inch MacBook Pro will start at $1,699, while a 17-inch model will cost $2,499. The machines have batteries that last up to seven hours.
Apple also introduced a 13-inch MacBook Pro that starts at $1,199. Apple cut the price of its ultra-thin MacBook Air to $1,499.
The company also is challenging Microsoft’s new Windows 7 with an updated Mac operating system. The software, called Snow Leopard, will debut in September, the month before Windows 7 comes out. – (Additional reporting: Bloomberg)
