Apple's latest launch event was definitely disappointing for those Apple fans awaiting the elusive beast that is the iPhone 5 - but that doesn't mean that the tech giant's latest announcement, the iPhone 4S, was insignificant, as Mashable explains here.

The recent launch of lower price products, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire, which may prove a serious competitor to the iPad, and Aakash, the US-Indian produced tablet that will be sold to students in India for around $35, has prompted questions about whether Apple can maintain its position as tech-brand supreme. Will the iPhone 4S help in this mission?

Relevant developments for publishers include the fact that the device is more closely integrated with Twitter than ever before and also provides an offline reading mode in its Safari browser- something which may cause annoyance to publishers who rely on online advertising revenues. Newsstand - the cunningly named digital newsstand from Apple - will also be an integral part of the device.

One of the phone's main upgrade from the iPhone 4 is its improved 8 megapixel camera, which rivals the capability of your average dedicated digital camera. One of the most intriguing improvements to the iPhone is Siri, a system that recognises voice commands and answers common questions without the user even touching the screen.

Whether this will prove as popular with users as Apple hopes remains to be seen, but the company's almost cult-like status means that this phone is likely to be in the pockets of many by the end of the year.

Sources: Editors Weblog, Mashable, Reuters,