Apple event: 5 takeaways (Watch, iPhones, U2 -- oh, my)
The highly anticipated Apple event Tuesday proved fruitful with two new iPhones, the company's take on wearable tech, focus on fitness and moves into the mobile payment space.
Oh, and U2 was there to drop a free album. Here are five takeaways:
1. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Apple went BIG to match display sizes found on competitor phones, including Android and Windows.
The iPhone 6 has more than 1 million pixels in a device that measures 4.7 inches. The iPhone 6 Plus is a 5.5-inch screen with more than 2 million pixels. And they are the thinnest iPhones yet. They have a glass front that curves around the side.
The back is anodized aluminum. The Retina HD displays are virtually indestructible, according to Apple. The phones are also thinner than before. Wi-Fi has also been improved, Apple says. And Apple says there are 1.3 million apps for the iPhone to date.
More specifics: iPhone 6 starts at $199 for 16 gigabytes or $299 for 64GB with a standard two-year cellular contract. Another hundred dollars buys you 128GB. The iPhone 6 Plus goes for $299, $399 and $499. Apple is keeping the 5c in the lineup; it's now free. The 5s also sticks around, for $99. The phones arrive Sept. 19.
2. The Apple Watch
Could it have been sexier? Sure. But the sex appeal of the Apple Watch may have been enhanced slightly by Jony Ive's voice in the Apple overview video. The design and potential is stellar, regardless of accent, and the price points aren't bad, either.
The squarish display on the watch is flexible, and Apple Watch has a digital crown that doubles as a home button. Apple will make different band and band sizes available to the consumer, along with a variety of watch cases.
The watch requires an iPhone (dating back to the iPhone 5 model) and can take advantage of the "Handoff" iOS 8 feature that would let you start composing an e-mail, say on the watch, and finish it on your phone, iPad or Mac (or vice versa).
The watch will come in three editions when it hits in early 2015, starting at $349.
3. Apple Pay
Every time another tech company enters the mobile payments space, a Millennial rejoices.
It's new territory for Apple and other tech firms and financial institutions are already in the game. But according to USA TODAY Tech Columnist Ed Baig, that doesn't mean it is a huge handicap for Apple. As Baig points out, it wasn't the first to go big into portable music players but was the first to own it with the iPod and iTunes.
4. U2 drops an album for free on iTunes
Rock band U2 jammed with a live song at the end of Apple's event Tuesday. After playing new single The Miracle (of Joey Ramone), Bono and the band joined Apple CEO Tim Cook onstage and said their new album, Songs of Innocence, was completed.
And the 11-track album is available now and for free for all iTunes customers through Oct. 13.
5. Fitness, fitness, fitness
Apple's wearable is designed with fitness in mind. To keep the Sport collection models as light as possible, Apple says it used an alumina-silicate glass. It's supposed to be tough — scratch-resistant with bands "engineered" for an active lifestyle. Basically, Apple is saying, get your game up. And use our 10 models to do so. Time will tell if consumers follow suit.
Follow @JessicaDurando on Twitter