Apple iPhone upgraded even before release

You have to hand it to Steve Jobs and the team – they sure know how to build awareness. Yesterday Apple announced the iPhone will deliver significantly longer battery life when it ships on June 29 than was originally estimated when it was unveiled in January - 8 hours of talk time, 6 hours of Internet use and a whopping 250 hours of standby time, which represents more than 10 days without a recharge (provided you don’t do anything else in the meantime of course). On top of that, it’ll run seven hours of video or 24 hours of audio playback. In addition, the entire top surface, including its 3.5-inch display, has been upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity.

“With 8 hours of talk time, and 24 hours of audio playback, iPhone’s battery life is longer than any other ‘Smartphone’ and even longer than most MP3 players,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve also upgraded iPhone’s entire top surface from plastic to optical-quality glass for superior scratch resistance and clarity. There has never been a phone like iPhone, and we can't wait to get this truly magical product into the hands of customers starting just 11 days from today.”

iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a revolutionary multi-touch display and pioneering new software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers. iPhone combines three products into one small and lightweight handheld device—a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and the Internet in your pocket with best-ever applications on a mobile phone for email, web browsing and maps. iPhone ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones.

iPhone will be available in the US on June 29, 2007 in a 4GB model for US$499 and an 8GB model for US$599, and will work with either a PC or Mac. iPhone will be sold in the US through Apple’s retail and online stores, and through AT&T’s select retail stores.