Apple Introduces New 'Apple Watch' and iPhones

By Alfred Branch, Patch Editor

No one does big like Apple.

During a massive live event today near its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., the company unveiled its latest – and much larger – iPhones, the 6 and 6 Plus, and also showed off its highly anticipated Apple Watch.

The new watch places the venerable technology company into a new consumer category, wearable devices. The product has elements of a smartphone but with new a new user interface and components unique to Apple Watch.

“We’re now at a compelling beginning — designing technology to be worn, to be truly personal,” said Apple Senior Vice President Jony Ive in a video presentation.

Whether consumers will buy it is another question, because such wearable devices have yet to completely click with the public. But Apple created a beautiful-looking watch with various bands, clasps and faces. The watches are highly customizable and are chock full of personal data and health and fitness information.

Apple Watch will start at $349 and will be available in early 2015.

The new iPhones feature a host of improvements and a sophisticated mobile payment system, in addition to better internal processors and screen resolution.

Called Apple Pay, the new payment system is billed as secure and easy, with one-touch purchasing that could make carrying a wallet a thing of the past.

The new iPhones will start at $199 for the 16GB iPhone 6 and $299 for the 6 Plus.

These are the best iPhones we’ve ever made,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook during the event, which also featured a closing performance by U2. Apple and the band also gave away a free copy of the band’s latest album, “Songs of Innocence,” on iTunes.

Photo: Apple Watch. Photo credit: Apple

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