During its annual fall conference, Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) unveiled a blitz of new products ranging from larger-screen iPhones, to a new operating system and the much-anticipated Apple Watch.
In a rare instance of following user trends rather than creating them, the new iPhone 6 will have a larger screen. Users have two options: the 4.7-inch screen starting at $199 or the even larger 5.5-inch screen starting at $299. In comparison, the current iPhone 5 has a 4-inch screen and the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch screen.
It also unveiled Apple Watch, its first new product line in more than four years. Starting at $349, it will be available in early 2015.
So what do you need to know about the new Apple Watch?
The Vox breaks it down:
- It's sleek, one reason Apple invited so many fashion bloggers to the event. It has a touch-screen and comes in three styles: Watch, Watch Edition and Watch Sport.
- You need an iPhone to use it, specifically an iPhone 5 or newer.
- It's a new way to communicate. Have you ever wanted to send your heartbeat to someone? Well, you can now. And that's just one of the new features.
- It wants to make you healthier. Apple is billing its watch as a "comprehensive health and fitness device." Not only will it count your steps and track your heartbeat, it counts your calories burned, how much activity you've done all day, even whether you've stood up recently. Over time, the watch also will learn your patterns and keep your fitness goals on track.
- You can pay with it. It works with the also unveiled Apple Pay, the same as a phone.
- It runs outside apps, such as Facebook.
- It will communicate directions through vibration. Rather than listen to Siri or stare at the screen, the watch will use its own version of Morse Code to signal directional turns.
- You can talk to it because Watch is Siri-enabled.
- Best of all, it tells time.
The Wall Street Journal reports the company also unveiled a new digital-payments service that will allow consumers to make purchases using just their phones or watches, marking the company's first big push into brick-and-mortar payments.
The new Apple Pay system will be able to store credit cards from Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and American Express Co., and WSJ reports it will also work with stores such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's, McDonald's and Whole Foods, among others. The company said it hopes to replace physical wallets.
Apple's newest operating system – iOS 8 – is set to launch Sept. 17. WSJ reports the next software version for iPhones and iPads would be compatible with the iPhone 4S, 5, 5s, 5c and the iPad 2, iPad 3rd and 4th generation, iPad Air, and all iPad Mini models.
Read more from
the Wall Street Journal.
