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Review: Apple iPhone 4S for AT&T

Form Basics Extras Wrap-up Comments 30

Media Camera Photos/Video Browse/Customize Extras

Camera

The camera software barely changed between the first iPhone and the iPhone 4. With iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S, there are some welcome new features.

First, the camera can be opened from the lock screen. Double tap the home button when the iPhone is asleep, and the lock screen will let you jump straight to the camera — bypassing even your security code (when you're done, the phone locks back up). The app can also be opened from the home screen application. It pops to life instantly.

As far as shooting tools go, they are still very limited. The "up" volume button now doubles as a physical shutter button, but it is a single stage button (you can still use the on-screen button if you wish). The iPhone 4S offers touch-to-focus so you can make sure your subject is sharp. Using software tools, you can set the flash to auto, on, or off; the HDR to on or off; and turn grid lines on/off. There are separate buttons to switch to the user-facing camera for self portraits, and the video camera. iOS5 now offers pinch-to-zoom for zooming in and out.

The iPhone 4S focuses and captures pictures faster than most other phones I've tested. It's almost instant. Thank goodness.

Gallery

For the first time, the iPhone offers some on-device photo editing tools. They are limited (very limited) to rotate, crop, red-eye reduction, and a generic "enhance" setting. Still, this is better than nothing. Photos can be shared via email, SMS, and Tweet, as well as sent to a printer, assigned to contacts, or set as wallpaper.

In iOS 5, you can organize photos into galleries, and arrange the galleries to your liking. The galleries show photos in grids. Opening individual photos is a snap, and you can zoom through large galleries with no hiccups, no delays, by swiping. As noted earlier, photos can be shared with other iOS devices and the Apple TV via Wi-FI.

Next page: Photos/Video

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Apple iPhone 4S

3.5" display 640 x 960 pixels
Apple A5 processor
Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

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