Top 5 iPhone 4 Features

The wait is almost over for the iPhone 4, sending Apple fans into a bit of a frenzy as of late. But what do you actually get on board your new fangled gadget if you so choose to go ahead and purchase yourself a 4?

We take a look at the key features of the iPhone 4 so you can compare mobile phones and decide if it's really worth your while to upgrade from your previously awesome 3G S.

5. Retina Display
The first new feature to kick-off our countdown may be viewed as a bit of a gimmick to some, but the coolest thing since flat-screen TVs to others.

Apple's new "Retina Display" apparently has boosted pixels so high that your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.

If nothing else, this is undoubtedly the sharpest, most high-res screen specs of any phone on the market today at 960 x 640 resolution on its sizey 3.5 inch screen.

The iPhone 4's Retina display also features LED backlighting and an ambient light sensor which will adjust screen brightness for optimal viewing and to preserve battery life.

4. Screen
We've established that the technology under the screen's bonnet is somewhat impressive, but that doesn't mean very much if the screen itself is going to scuff easily.

Apple has thought of that as well, making the screen glass out of the same material used in helicopters and high speed trains, though apple didn't specify which part of the bullet train its new screen is modeled on.

The glass on the iPhone 4 has been strengthened chemically to make it stronger, more durable and the most scratch resistant phone ever. It will only be a matter of weeks before the first smash-an-iPhone-4 will hit YouTube, so we won't have long to wait before this claim is tested out.

Similarly to the iPhone 3G S, the screen features an oil-resistant coating so that you can eat a Big Mac and answer messages with the one hand and not mark-up your phone.

3. Enhanced Video Calling
The iPhone 4 includes a new features dubbed FaceTime, which is basically a video calling function. Why is this so special you may wonder? Well it's more the usability of this feature that is pretty outstanding.

Apple has made video calling as user-friendly as possible, working straight out of the box without the need for you to set up a separate account on a third party app.

Video calling is now a one-button process. You just need to choose a contact from your address book and tap the FaceTime button. You can also hit this button while you're in the middle of a call with someone to switch over to a video call.

FaceTime will work on both the front-facing camera and the rear camera on the iPhone 4. It will also accommodate for portrait and landscape shote.

2. Multiple Apps
Apps has made the iPhone as popular as it is today, so it makes sense for Apple to vamp up the app experience on its new device, and that exactly what has happened.

A new multitasking interface allows you to quickly and easily switch between apps you've recently had open.

To reveal your recently used apps, just double-click the Home button for a list of apps on the bottom of the screen. This removes the wait-time for an app to reload, and old apps will open right where you last left off.

You can also now keep GPS apps running in the background while you're updating your Facebook Status, or playing a time consuming arcade game. This means you can hear turn-by-turn navigation directions while you're fiddling around on another app.

1. HD Video Recording
Now this is really exciting for Apple fans world-wide. No more being the laughing stock of mobile phone specs with this upgrade- HD video recording.

Apple has incorporated a sensor to produce quality images in both bright and low-light settings, and an LED light will act as a flash for those really dark nooks and crannies.

You can also edit video as you go within the Camera app, by simply tapping and dragging to select start and finish points on the filmstrip.

If you're doing something else with your phone like say texting someone and something newsworthy happens right in front of you, instead of fiddling around between apps, Apple has included a camera icon within the messaging function so you can record on the go. You can then send your vid to your mate over MMS.

To gain kudos for your other Spielberg creations, you can send your movie out directly via email.

The still camera has also been upgraded to 5-megapixels, more in keeping with phones on the market today.

Convinced on the virtues of the iPhone 4? Leave us a comment and let us know.