VOA标准英语2011--Apple Unveils iPhone 4S to Tough Competi

Apple Unveils iPhone 4S to Tough Competition

The high-tech¹ company Apple has announced a new version of its popular iPhone, called the iPhone 4S. The new device offers some innovative² features, but faces growing competition in a crowded market.
Apple's new iPhone, unveiled by chief executive Tim Cook, offers a much faster processor and a better camera, as Apple's Phil Schiller explains:
"Of course it starts with the retina display, of course its glass front and back, and has an incredible stainless³ steel band around it making it the thinnest smart phone," said Schiller.
The phone also has a virtual personal assistant. The function lets users ask a question, for example, about a nearby restaurant. The iPhone searches the web and gets the answer. It can schedule appointments and transcribe⁴ dictation. The voice system will be available at first in English, French and German.
For Apple fans, any product announcement is big news.
At the University of Southern California, young people rely on their mobile devices, and doctoral student Daylen Riggs is a fan of Apple.
"I would say they are very cutting edge," said Riggs. "Whatever they come up with is new and original. And it is the best. As far as the software, it is the most stable, it is the most innovative."
Miami, Florida, resident Christopher Todd thinks the new device is an improvement.
"The thing that has my interest piqued⁵ the most is the new voice recognition improvements allowing you to send text and email by speaking various commands and copy, I think that is going to be exciting," said Todd.
But Apple may be a victim of its own success, says telecommunications analyst⁶ Elizabeth Fife of USC's Marshall School of Business.
"Because the competitive landscape has changed considerably⁷ for the iPhone, where in 2007 they were the path-breaker, said Fife. "There was no one else. Today, they have lots of competitors, mainly Android."
The Android system, developed by the Internet-giant Google and its industry partners, is a growing alternative to Apple's.
A slight drop in Apple's stock price Tuesday suggests Wall Street wanted more, and some Apple fans complain that the new iPhone looks just like the last one.
But this Apple fan is excited.
"Because, I do not know why, but every time they release a new thing it is like I have to have it," said the Apple fan. "I guess because they add more things every time and I want the one that has everything that it could possibly have."
Apple says the iPhone is the world's best-selling phone, and the company is hoping the new model will keep it that way.
The iPhone 4S will be available October 14 in the United States and several other major markets.

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

3 stainless   

adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的

参考例句：

• I have a set of stainless knives and forks.我有一套不锈钢刀叉。
• Before the recent political scandal,her reputation had been stainless.在最近的政治丑闻之前，她的名声是无懈可击的。

4 transcribe   

v.抄写，誉写；改编(乐曲)；复制，转录

参考例句：

• We need volunteers to transcribe this manuscript.我们需要自愿者来抄写这个文稿。
• I am able to take dictation in English and transcribe them rapidly into Chinese.我会英文记录，还能立即将其改写成中文。

5 piqued   

v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心）

参考例句：

• Their curiosity piqued, they stopped writing. 他们的好奇心被挑起，停下了手中的笔。 来自辞典例句
• This phenomenon piqued Dr Morris' interest. 这一现象激起了莫里斯医生的兴趣。 来自辞典例句

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。