Cupertino (California): Apple Inc unveiled a new watch, two larger iPhones and a mobile payments service on Tuesday as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook seeks to revive the company's reputation as a wellspring of innovation.
The first new product to be developed and introduced under Cook's reign is a wearable device tethered to the iPhone that will combine health and fitness tracking with communications.
Rival watch and wearable device makers are keeping a wary eye on Apple, which up-ended the music industry and drove once-dominant phone makers like Blackberry to the brink of extinction, and whose iPad helped shrink personal computer sales for a time before they recently recovered.
It has an enviable track record when it comes to mobile hardware, though it tends not to be the first to introduce a new-fangled product category. Rival electronics giants such as Sony Corp, Samsung, LG Electronics Inc and Qualcomm Inc have already launched smartwatches, albeit without much success.
The "Apple Watch" will come in three distinct collections, including a sport edition and an upscale line coated in 18-karat gold.
"Compared to what's out there, it feels like it's very slender. I like the level of elegance and the three different lines, which include sport and luxury," said Angela Tafoya, at fashion blog Refinery29.
Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimated on Tuesday that if Apple were to sell 30 million watches at $250 each, it would add about $7.5 billion to its revenue.
The pressure was on for the world's largest tech company to wow at its "special event" in Cupertino. The prospect of the new watch attracted a broader swathe of attendees than usual, with celebrities, fashion industry editors and even healthcare executives rounding out the mostly tech-industry crowd.
On Tuesday, the company also took the wraps off a larger, 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. They will support more than 200 telecoms carriers worldwide, including all three in China - a key growth market for the company.
It also introduced a new mobile payments service dubbed "Apple Pay." Each phone will come equipped with its new payments service, which launches in the United States next month and allows users to pay for items in stores with their phones instead of physically presenting their credit or debit cards.
The move gives Apple access to a trove of data on how consumers shop in brick and mortar stores, where more than 90 percent of U.S. retail sales are still conducted.
Barclays Capital said in a Sept. 5 note that the mobile payments feature would give Apple "one of the largest sets of consumer transaction data in the U.S."
Each new iPhone will come with a "secure element" chip and a near-field communications, or NFC, antenna.
In a rare move for the company, Apple had planned on livecasting its event online, with a simultaneous translation in Chinese. But the livestream went down for many users about a half-hour in, prompting many to take to Twitter to express their frustrations.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, holding an IPhone 6 Plus, discusses the new Apple Watch and iPhone 6s
Introducing the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 6 Plus
“Today, we are pleased to announce the biggest advancement in iPhone. ” Tim Cook
* iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch display. iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch display.
* iPhone 6 has a barometer that senses air pressure to measure relative elevation.
* The barometer is great for fitness apps. iPhone can now tell if you’re going up molehills, mountains, and everything in between.
* Measures physical activities, like the flights of stairs you climb. Third-party apps will be able to tap into these features.
* iPhone 6 has faster LTE than iPhone 5s. It also has more LTE bands than any other smartphone for better roaming.
* iPhone 6 supports over 200 LTE carriers around the world. Including all three in China.
* VoLTE for iPhone 6 is supported by some of the world’s top carriers. And will continue grow.
* With 802.11ac, iPhone 6 Wi-Fi speeds are up to three times faster than iPhone 5s.
* Wi-Fi calling is a new feature for making high-quality calls when cell conditions are poor.
* Focus Pixels are a technology previously found only in professional DSLR cameras.
* Faster autofocus, next-generation local tone mapping, and advanced noise reduction. It’s a mouthful that gives you a real eyeful.
* Capture slow-motion video at 120 fps or 240 fps.
* The FaceTime HD camera has an all-new sensor and larger ƒ/2.2 aperture that lets in over 80% more light.
* All-new design. Retina HD display. A8 processor. New barometer. Advanced wireless. Improved iSight camera. Amazing HD video. And iOS 8.
* They fit iPhone 6 perfectly. Available in six colors, including (PRODUCT)RED
Introducing the Apple Watch
“Apple Watch is the most personal device we’ve ever created.” - Tim Cook.
* It’s a versatile tool that answers the fundamental challenge of how to magnify content on a small display.
* Magnify content, scroll through lists and messages, and make selections. All without obstructing the screen.
* It's laminated to a single crystal of sapphire, the hardest transparent material after diamond.
* Working with other technologies in Apple Watch, these help provide a comprehensive picture of your daily activity.
* There are a range of watch faces and millions of ways to personalize them.
* Apple Watch is built from custom alloys of stainless steel, aluminum, and 18-karat gold. With bands as thoughtfully designed as the watch itself.
* The Home screen looks familiar, but it’s a new experience designed for the Apple Watch display.
* You can change colors, choose design elements, and add functionality.
* Apple Watch has Siri. Press and hold the Digital Crown to activate.
* Dictate a message, check your calendar, find the nearest coffee shop, and more. Siri is at your service.
* Send preset phrases, smart responses based on your conversation, audio messages, your location — even interactive emojis.
* Any photos you Favorite on your iPhone or Mac will automatically appear on your Apple Watch.
* Maps doesn’t just show you the way, it guides you to go right or left with a tap.
* From Friends, you can make a call, send a message, or connect with new Digital Touch features.
* If your friend has an Apple Watch, you can give them a gentle tap on the wrist, even if they’re thousands of miles away.
* WatchKit lets developers make apps that appear right on the Home screen of Apple Watch.
* Apps built with WatchKit take advantage of the larger battery and processing power in your iPhone. While displaying the app on Apple Watch.
* The Activity app monitors movement throughout the day. The Workout app tracks dedicated workouts.
* Some of the world’s most respected health and fitness experts helped develop Apple Watch.
* Apple Watch is an all-day fitness tracker and a highly advanced sports watch in a single device.
* It has an accelerometer to measure body movement.
* A custom sensor measures intensity by tracking your heart rate.
* Apple Watch uses the GPS and Wi-Fi in your iPhone to help track your distance.
* The Activity app shows three rings: one for Move, one for Exercise, and one for Stand.
* The Move ring gives you an overview of how active you are.
* The Exercise ring measures brisk activity.
* The Stand ring shows how often you’ve stood up to take a break from sitting.
* Set goals, chart your progress, and earn awards as you track specific workouts, such as running, walking, and cycling.
* It stores all your activity data, and lets you see your workout history whenever you want.
* Apple Watch will start at $349. And will be available early next year.
