Today in San Francisco, CA, Apple announced the release date of its anticipated Apple Watch for April 24th and a surprise bonus with the unveiling of a new MacBook. The electronics giant also announced a partnership with HBO NOW, MacBook Pro 13″ and Air getting retina display, updates to Carplay, Apple Pay, iOS 8.2, and revealed an all new health research platform dubbed ResearchKit.
CEO Tim Cook kicked off the press conference with the announcement of Apple’s exclusive partnership with HBO to implement the premium cable’s new online streaming service into Apple TV. Get ready for Veep, Silicon Valley, Game of Thrones and more on HBO from your Apple TV. If you don’t have one, Apple TV has been reduced to $69.00, and if you sign up for HBO NOW in April ($14.99/month) the first month will be free. Did Tywin Lannister meet his fate at the end of season 4 of Game of Thrones?
ResearchKit is an open-source software framework designed for medical and health research, helping doctors and scientists gather data more frequently and accurately from participants using iPhone apps. The new platform allows the iPhone to serve as a diagnostic tool.
ResearchKit can be used for data collection for diseases like Parkinson’s, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer. Apple partnered with top medical intuitions and the platform is available today with five stand alone mobile applications.
ResearchKit is an opt-in platform and Apple ensures that your private information will be completely protected and will not be seen by Apple.
Related: Thinner, faster, and plenty of pixels – Apple reveals new iPads and iMac Retina 5K
Apple brings back the original MacBook. The new super-thin MacBook, weighs only 2 pounds, is 24 percent thinner at 13.1mm and touts an all-metal enclosure. With an all new redesigned keyboard that is 40 percent thinner than previous MacBook keyboards. Apple also redesigned the Trackpad with Force Touch technology and better key-to-key mechanisms. The first fanless Macbook consumes 30 percent less energy and has better battery life with 9-hour web and 10-hour video capabilities.
Another new feature within the refreshed MacBook is the USB-C which supports USB, DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA. One port to rule them all.
To construct the thinnest MacBook ever, Apple had to rethink its battery design. The new MacBook has a completely revamped “terraced” battery that fits in to the contours of the MacBook body.
The new MacBook will be available in space gray, gold, and silver on April 10 with prices starting at $1,299.
Related: Tim Cook unveils iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch
The Apple team then gave the audience an update on the forthcoming launch of its first-ever timepiece. Apple Watch will be available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm, and in three collections—Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition.
Apple Watch Sport features a lightweight anodized aluminum case in silver and space gray with a Retina display protected by strengthened Ion-X glass and matching high-performance fluoroelastomer Sport bands that come in five colors. Apple Watch Sport is available starting from $349 for the 38mm and $399 for the 42mm.
The Apple Watch Collection features highly polished stainless steel and space black stainless steel cases with a Retina display protected by sapphire crystal. The Apple Watch Collection comes with a choice of three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet and Milanese loop, and a black or white Sport Band. Apple Watch Collection prices begin from $549 and $1,049.
The Apple Watch Edition features cases specially crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys developed to be twice as hard as standard gold, a Retina display protected by polished sapphire crystal and a choice of uniquely designed straps and bands with 18-karat gold clasps, buckles or pins. The limited edition Apple Watch Edition starts at $10,000.
Preorders for the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Edition start on April 10th.
Tim Cook and his expert team didn’t stop there! Along with the announcement of the Apple Watch release date, CarPlay will be integrated into 40 new cars in 2015, Apple Pay has now more than 2,500 supporting banks and 700,000 retail locations, and an iOS 8.2 software update is available today.
Starting on April 10th you can go into an Apple retail store and play with the various models of the Apple Watch.
So, are you going to match your gold iPhone with a new gold MacBook and Apple Watch Edition? If you have $10,000+ go for it!
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Photos courtesy of Apple.com and Apple Live Event
