Apple Upgrades iPhone Battery Life and Screen

As expected, Apple has started releasing additional information about the iPhone and, considering the way the company plays these announcements, it is not surprising that it's good news. The latest figures from Apple show a significant increase in battery life over what was initially announced, as well as a new screen.

iPhone will feature up to 8 hours of talk time, 6 hours of Internet use, 7 hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback. In addition, iPhone will feature up to 250 hours - more than 10 days - of standby time. Apple also announced that the entire top surface of the iPhone, including its stunning 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, in the press release. "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."

It looks like Jobs and Apple are still playing the under-promise and over-deliver game, and well they should. Considering the enthusiasm surrounding the device, the press is all too quick to jump on anything negative, and the Cupertino Company is not giving them anything to grab on. So far, the reaction to the announcement can only be described as very positive, with Apple's stock taking a rather big leap following the news. The iPhone now thrashes other similar devices in terms of battery life, in some cases the battery lasting twice as long.