Apple’s New Products

I spent most of my time yesterday afternoon listening and watching Apple CEO Tim Cook and his associates announce, display, and demonstrate the supposedly magical, almost miraculous, mind-boggling and mysterious features of their new products: the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, the Apple Pay and the Apple Watch.

I prefer to give a full review of the products after I get to test them hands on at the Apple store when they become available. I cannot wait!

As I watched our Apple stocks go up while Cook and company was demonstrating, I could not help but examine the features.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Apple's new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus   APPLE

Currently, I have the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 6 is supposed to be larger and thinner. It features an aluminum body and glass front that curves around the sides.  The screen size is 4.7 inches and has over 1 million pixels. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5 inch-screen and has over 2 million pixels.

A very important feature that was highlighted during the announcement was the iPhone’s enhanced camera, which according to Apple includes image-stabilization functionality.

Pre-orders begin September 12 and the new phones will be available on September 19. I will definitely upgrade but still unsure whether to get the Phone 6 or the iPhone Plus. The fact that the iPhone 6 Plus is the “phablet” equivalent is seemingly more attractive to me at this point.

I understand that “the company seeks to entice customers with an expanded lineup of products and services designed to keep them within its technological ecosystem.”

Apple Pay

Apple introduced the company’s new mobile payments tool called Apple Pay. Reports say that it aims to let users make payment purchases from their iPhone or Apple Watch. They introduced this new tool based on the factual data gathered “that Americans make roughly 200 million purchases per day for goods without sharing credit card, address and other personal information with a merchant.” 

According to Tim Cook, “Apple Pay uses short-distance wireless technology called near-field communication, or NFC, to enable users to make purchases -- a system already built in to many Android phones. Apple has teamed with financial industry heavyweights including American Express (AXP), Mastercard (MA) and Visa (V) and says Apple Pay will work at more than 220,000 retailers nationwide. Apple has been working with companies like McDonald's, Disney, Target, Subway, and Whole Foods to integrate its service as well.”

Apple Watch

Apple CEO Tim Cook announces the Apple Watch during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California.  JUSTIN SULLIVAN, GETTY IMAGES

Apple also presented its new wearable device. It is called Apple Watch. Tim Cook described it as the “next chapter” in the company’s history and “breakthrough".

"Apple Watch is the most personal device we've ever created," Cook said. "It will redefine what people expect from a watch."

According to Ian Fogg, senior director for research firm IHS, "This Apple Watch is a first-generation device, and whether it is successful or not Apple will aim to iterate and make it a must-have companion for every iPhone owner."

Users navigate by tapping and swiping the face, as well as through a crown on the right side of the watch that brings up apps. Apple Watch, which works with the iPhone 5, 5c and 5s, as well as the iPhone 6, will be available early 2015.

On Twitter, I got this tweet together with other followers:

Tim Cook ‏@tim_cook  

I'm backstage and this is my first tweet from my iPhone 6. It's amazing. You're going to love it.