The following bullet points are highlights of today's Apple product announcement:
-- This is the largest album release in history. Over 2 billion people own the album, right now.
-- U2's new album, "Songs of Innocence," is free for iTunes Store customers today, as part of a partnership with U2 and Apple.
-- U2 performing, continuing a decade-long partnership with Apple.
-- Apple Pay will work with Apple Watch.
-- Apple Watch starts at $349, available early next year.
-- Apple Watch will work with iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, in addition to 6, 6 Plus.
-- Apple Watch can be used to control Apple TV, as a walkie talkie.
-- Apple Watch designed to "get to know you," deliver intelligent reminders to keep wearers on track with fitness.
-- Fitness app monitors activity, movement throughout day. Workout app allows you to set specific goals for activities like cycling, running.
-- Unlock W Hotel room doors by waving watch in front of the door: Coming Spring 2015, worldwide.
-- Watchkit enables developers to create rich notifications, apps that appear on homescreen for Apple Watch.
-- Digital touch enables wearers to "send" heartbeat, recipient can feel pulse via TapTic.
-- Tap friends with TapTic, draw pictures to communicate.
-- TapTic feedback tells you which way to turn when following Map directions.
-- All photos "favorited" on Mac or iPhone show up on Apple Watch.
-- Siri also on Apple Watch.
-- Customizable emojis, options for message response available on Apple Watch.
-- Watch subtly "taps" wearer with TapTic technology to notify of incoming information (calendar invites, etc.)
-- Can control music on iPhone, computer, watch from Apple Watch.
-- Astronomy watch face display shows where you are on Earth, will "fly" you to moon, advance time. Can view planet locations at given time.
-- The iPhone is required with Apple Watch.
-- Apple Watch Edition made twice as hard as standard 18-carat gold.
--3 collections: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Edition.
-- Sports band, leather loop, leather modern buckle, simple leather classic buckle, stainless steel link, Milanese loop are strap options.
-- Personalization includes 6 different straps, easily interchangeable, as well as customizable interfaces.
-- Keeps time to plus or minus 50 milliseconds.
-- Gyroscope, accelerometer provides picture of daily activity- it can establish and suggest health goals for the wearer.
-- Watch recognizes different between a tap and a press.
-- Watch senses that you're wearing it, which starts display.
-- Zoom, scroll capability with Apple Watch dial. Press the dial, return to home screen.
-- Extra functionality in watch standby: The crown.
-- Apple Watch: incredibly customizable.
-- Cook says product will redefine expectations for its category.
-- Apple Pay will be a free update available next month for iOS 8.
-- Open Table: Can pay check with Apple Pay at restaurants.
-- Can order from Panera, order a car from Uber with Apple Pay.
-- Target, Groupon integrating Apple Pay within their app.
-- Online spending with Apple Pay: One touch checkout.
-- Companies working to integrate Apple Pay: Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Walgreens, Duane Reed, Subway, McDonald's, Whole Foods, Disney, Apple retail stores. Available at Disney, Disney stores before Christmas.
-- Security integrated throughout the hardware and software.
-- Amex, Mastercard, Visa will support.
-- Can add card from iTunes store account to Apple Pay on iPhone 6.
-- An entirely new payment process: Apple Pay.
-- Tim Cook says Apple's vision is to replace the wallet, starting with a focus on payments.
-- iOS 8 will be available September 17.
-- Can order iPhone, iPhone 6 starting September 12, and phones will ship starting September 19 to 8 different countries. Plan is to reach 115 countries by the end of the year.
-- Apple has made new silicon and leather cases, part of a partnership with Product Red.
-- Cinematic video stabilization, like having a steady cam for your phone.
-- Single shot HDR, including HDR video from the Facetime camera.
--The iPhone 6 also includes advances in video, such as a new Apple-designed video encoder.
-- 8MB iSight camera announced for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, with a new generation iSight sensor. Focus pixels are one feature, a technology utilized by high-res DSLRs.
-- Up to 3 times faster wireless capabilities on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
-- Advanced wireless capabilities due to carrier aggregations, now 20 LTE bands, compared to 13 in prior.
-- The iPhone 6 will feature equal or better battery life than the iPhone 5s.
-- Vain Glory will launch in the app store this fall.
-- The iPhone 6 Plus will play games in higher resolution than next-generation gaming consoles.
-- Stephan Sherman, CCO of Super Evil Megacorp, has taken the stage to talk about the game "Vain Glory" and touch controls.
-- iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are powered by an A8 chip, developed by Apple. The A8 chip has up to 25% faster processing power and up to 50% faster graphics.
-- Xcode is at the heart of app creation with advanced auto layout tools to help developers work with iPhone 6.
-- Now there are more than 1.3 million apps available for iPhone.
-- Two new iPhone models, the iPhone6 and iPhone 6 Plus, were announced, and they look just like the leaks.
The new phone comes in two different sizes, they both feature curved backs and a protruding camera. These are the thinnest iPhones ever made.
Apple’s hotly anticipated product announcement just started with a bang.
The event started at 10 a.m. PST, 1 p.m. EDT, with Tim Cook taking the stage after an intro featuring words such as "different" and "welcome" floating across the screen, backed by a soundtrack of violin and piano music.
For those streaming live from home, the announcement got off to a rocky start. Due to overwhelming demand, the livestream was not functioning for about 10 minutes.
After making the point that the iPhone was recognized as the best phone in the world, Cook announced that the company has pushed further.
Click here to watch live.
Musician and fashion icon Gwen Stefani Instagrammed a photo of herself and Dr. Dre on the way to the Apple announcement, though whether the trip's purpose is to watch or participate remains to be seen.
