Apple also wowed the market with the launch of two new iPhones with sharper and larger displays, confirming longstanding speculation it will move into a market segment dominated by arch-rival Samsung Electronics.
The smartwatch, dubbed simply "Watch", is the first new product to be developed and introduced under Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook's reign, the next chapter in Apple's history.
Announcing the hotly-anticipated move into wearable computing, Cook said the Watch is the "most personal device we have ever created".
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iPhone 6 Plus $100 more than iPhone 6
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20:51
U2 was one of Apple's first music partners, back when the iPod was first released. #applelive pic.twitter.com/wpVtfo3hqv— Vulcan Post (@VulcanPost) September 9, 2014
20:50
The health aspects of Apple Watch aim to keep you motivated: http://t.co/5qqbQVj4So #applelive pic.twitter.com/V2yBMm5sT6— Engadget (@engadget) September 9, 2014
20:50
Apple shares have moved sharply higher, moving on heavy volume as the company unveiled a new smart watch. Full story20:48
U2 takes to the stage to perform.20:47
Sam Smith will be performing for the event from London.20:46
Apple Watch has NFC, Cook says you will probably charge it at night.20:45
#AppleLive: #AppleWatch's Watch Kit allows devs to create rich, custom notifications. More: http://t.co/xvQ1nFgMII pic.twitter.com/wAIIJtpwZA— Gigaom (@gigaom) September 9, 2014
20:44
Fitness app on the Apple Watch. #AppleLive #Apple Watch pic.twitter.com/YMFtKlOwZK— OWC (@macsales) September 9, 2014
20:42
Price of the Apple smart watch will start at $349. Hold your breath for the South African price.20:42
Apple Watch requires the iPhone - says Cook.20:39
Watch Apple's move into the next chapter. Click here for the full story20:37
Cook: Apple Watch gives the ability for people to be more mobile - even for a very serious athlete.Two new apps on the watch - work out app eg lets you set goals for different workouts.
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Check out the audience focused on the iPhone launch.20:33
Standing ovation for #apple #iWatch and #timcook #applelive #voguechina http://t.co/KzwarvzFG9— Angelica Cheung (@angelica_cheung) September 9, 2014
20:30
#applelive All about the Apple Watch: Read http://t.co/wt5SrZ1fhr pic.twitter.com/nO8hxuFd86— Fin24 (@Fin24) September 9, 2014
20:29
The Apple Watch analyzes your texts and offers suggestions on quick replies. You can also replay with animated emoji #AppleEvent— Emily Price (@Emily) September 9, 2014
20:28
You can choose what information comes to you on the Apple Watch.You can enable quick replies; Animated emodgies.
20:25
#AppleLive: #AppleWatch lots of options for personalization. 6 bands, 2 sizes, 3 editions: http://t.co/xvQ1nFgMII pic.twitter.com/I5jNOjMx7z— Gigaom (@gigaom) September 9, 2014
20:24
@donald As nice as the Apple Watch seems, this might be a fad that blows overLet's see after year one if people really still care about this.
20:22
@AshleyEsqueda Apple Watch will probably be the product opening the gate for consumers to accept people to getting smart wearables.20:21
Infrared and visible-light LEDs, along with photosensors, detect your pulse rate.Working with other technologies in Apple Watch, these help provide a comprehensive picture of your daily activity.
20:21
“It’s driven Apple from the beginning. This compulsion to take incredibly powerful technology, and make it accessible, relevant, and ultimately, personal.”– Jony Ive
20:19
Debate:@AshleyEsqueda Apple Watch also in second smaller model.
@AshleyEsqueda That looks like a watch to go play bingo in.
@donald I don't see anything here that Samsung cannot go and knock-off in a month.
20:17
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20:15
One More Thing. Having the time of my life. It's a privilege to work with everyone at Apple.— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 9, 2014
20:15
The sensors on the back of the watch - four sensorsLooks like it has no camera on the watch...
One of the sensors seem to be for GPS tracking and tracking your movement
Magnetic charges - requires no alignment.
Apple Watch - worked with experts around the world to understand the cultural aspects of time - Live wallpapers on the watch.
20:13
#applelive Apple shares up: Read http://t.co/wt5SrZ1fhr pic.twitter.com/ElowMVvVDk— Fin24 (@Fin24) September 9, 2014
20:12
The screen on the Apple watch is sapphire.Sapphire is the second hardest surface behind diamond. Display is flexible.
A heart rate monitor in the watch that appears to be real time.
20:10
@AshleyEsqueda: Apple Watch looks a lot cooler than the Samsung watches - this is a very polished new interface.20:09
Look at the size of his clock! #AppleLive pic.twitter.com/9HK0v3iDFE— RANsquawk (@RANsquawk) September 9, 2014
20:08
How you control the Apple Watch. #applelive pic.twitter.com/5xuke05Ydf— Austin Evans (@austinnotduncan) September 9, 2014
20:08
We have designed a range of products so personal you do not put it in your pocket or on your desk - you wear them on your wrist - Apple.20:06
Apple Unveils the Apple Watch http://t.co/dZW4bm77LD #AppleLive pic.twitter.com/FGZe0DYVHO— IGN (@IGN) September 9, 2014
20:04
iPhone 6 Plus $100 more than iPhone 6; Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller says the new iPhone devices will be available in at least 115 countries by the end of the year. Full story20:03
#applelive announces Apple Watch: Read http://t.co/wt5SrZ1fhr pic.twitter.com/srfB123NP8— Fin24 (@Fin24) September 9, 201
20:03
Cook: We set out to make the best watch in the world; Apple's watch is the most personal watch we have created with intimate ways to connect directly from your wrist.20:02
Tim Cook raises his arms in celebration and is wearing the Apple Watch.20:01
Promises "One more thing..."19:57
Tim Cook on stage to introduce the iPhone 6 range.19:56
You can use system at 220 000 merchant locations that already work with these payments - Macdonalds even adding Apple Pay to its drive through.Daily US e-commerce users 5 million Apple Pay - a one touch check out -
Working with retailers like Target.
19:55
Apple Pay is fast, secure, private Apple says.Release of Apple Pay on 17 September and six of the biggest banks in the US - 83% of all banks are on board with Apple Pay, however, Diners Club not on board with Apple Pay.
19:52
Elements of Apple Pay: Secure element, touch ID, new chip, add card from iTunes account.NFC, Touch ID, Secure element, Passbook, Credit cards will be integrated via Passbook. Now with just a touch, you pay.
19:51
Check out video of the new Apple iPhones19:49
Apple has created a new payment process called "Apple Pay." Works by tapping your phone on a register #AppleEvent— Emily Price (@Emily) September 9, 2014
19:49
What Apple is saying is “we can no longer make the iPhone experience irresistible on a conveniently small screen size” #AppleLive— Geoffrey (@geoffrey) September 9, 2014
19:47
iPhone 6will be available in gold, silver and space gray - $199 for 16GB, $299 64GB, $399 128GB (yay 128GB!!!) Available September 19th.— Emily Price (@Emily) September 9, 2014
19:46
Tim Cook - our vision is to replace this (the old crammed wallet) and we will start by focussing on payments; 200 million US transactions daily goes through a fairly antequated payment process.19:45
Tim Cook talks up the new iPhone series: "Great product is not just great features but it is about how it makes you feel.To make this point clear we have enlisted the help of some of our friends to do fun new apps."
19:42
Apple has unveiled two new iPhones with sharper and larger displays, confirming longstanding speculation it will move into a market segment dominated by arch-rival Samsung Electronics. Click here19:41
New iPhones on the shelves by 19 September; pre-orders on 12 September; iOS 8 available on 17 September19:39
The iPhone 6 can judge distance and elevation, so you can get credit for flights of stairs in all those fitness apps #AppleLive— Emily Price (@Emily) September 9, 2014
19:38
It has a better camera and it can take more stable videos. Number one reason I will upgrade a phone is for a better camera @AshleyEsqueda19:37
#iPhone6 announcement at #applelive: Read http://t.co/wt5SrZ1fhr 8MP iSight camera, 1.5µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture. pic.twitter.com/HaCM93GqFX
— Fin24 (@Fin24) September 9, 2014
19:36
“We are so thrilled about the performance of iPhone 6 and Metal.”– Stephan Sherman
19:35
#iPhone6 announcement at #applelive: Read http://t.co/wt5SrZ1fhr pic.twitter.com/xjyW9I4b05— Fin24 (@Fin24) September 9, 2014
19:30
iPhone has two tone flash 8MP iSight camera
19:29
Fin24 user C Dlamini reacts to new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Wooow19:28
New iPhones have voice over LTE - boom, what a win19:27
#AppleLive: #iPhone6 battery life stats. More on our live blog: http://t.co/xvQ1nFgMII pic.twitter.com/Tdc4g80bmS
— Gigaom (@gigaom) September 9, 2014
19:25
#iPhone6 graphics are 84x faster than the original iPhone. #applelive pic.twitter.com/mao4nuUmLB
— [a]listdaily (@alistdaily) September 9, 2014
19:25
iPhone 6 will have a new, optimized landscape view #AppleLive pic.twitter.com/JWBBwiWXZr
— Brian Mbunde ™ (@Brianmbunde) September 9, 2014
19:24
4.7" and 5.5” screens w/a slight curve, 1,080p res in 6 Plus. Both thinner, (6.9mm & 7.1mm). Cool new landscape viewing #applelive
— Christine Persaud (@christineTechCA) September 9, 2014
19:23
New A8 processor. 64-bit, 20nm process, 2bn transistors. 25% faster CPU, 50% faster graphics, 50% more efficient #AppleLive
— NDTV Gadgets (@NDTVGadgets) September 9, 2014
19:22
Wow, the #applelive stream is a disaster.
— Tejas Lagvankar (@advantej) September 9, 2014
19:20
Brad Molen from Endgadget is live tweeting - live streaming is moody, but stay updated here at Fin24.19:19
Apple CEO Cook: We're launching the biggest advancement in the iPhone's history (Reuters)19:17
Brand new iPhone feature - reachability19:16
Three iPhones #applelive. http://t.co/wt5SrZ1fhr pic.twitter.com/FIVVeZdrKq— Fin24 (@Fin24) September 9, 2014
19:14
iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch display. iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch display. What a beauty, says Apple. Do you agree? Let us know19:14
iPhone 6 over 1 million pixels; iPhone Plus over 2 million pixels.19:12
New devices thinner than previous generation; better readability in sunlight - called iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.19:12
Glass front that curves around the side and has an aluminum back it seems - the body seems aluminum.19:10
Apple shows off two iPhones, one significantly bigger than the other.19:10
How do you know somebody has an iPhone? They tell you! - Fin24 user Gary Wilson, Pretoria.19:09
Cook: iPhone is the top selling smartphone in the world.19:07
Apple CEO Tim Cook hinting at legacy: Making the announcement from the same stage where Steve Jobs introduced the Mac and iMac.19:06
Wow. Such testcard. Much crash. Come back live stream! Our live blog still works: http://t.co/KHlCQxOUne #AppleLive pic.twitter.com/Ee7UnT3YcB— Guardian Tech (@guardiantech) September 9, 2014
19:03
So keep seeing things differently - Apple from inside the packed event19:03
You value the first thing that actually matters while others are distracted by the new - Apple18:59
Lame iPhone joke: Do not touch MY iPhone. It's not an usPhone, it's not a wePhone, it's not an ourPhone, it's an iPhone. Submit your own if you dare.18:53
People are filing into the venue!18:52
First Apple slogan: Byte into an Apple.18:51
So how well do you know Apple? Did you know the company had three founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.18:45
Just 15 minutes to go. Maybe the mystery cube is the smart home of the future? Showing how you can connect your house?18:40
Gwen Stefani and Dr Dre on their way to the Apple event.
18:25
It’s not just another day in Cupertino. #AppleLive http://t.co/aOmpXGduNd pic.twitter.com/ujn4Nj7amT
— #Apple News (@applenws) September 9, 2014
18:22
Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to take the stage in under 40 minutes. Pressure to wow the crowd.18:16
Rumour is that Apple will be using a token type system so your bank data is safe and it is sort of tough ID and your info is not transmitted, you just use a one time token.18:15
Apple already have over 800 million iTunes credit cards globally18:10
Apple has incorporated Twitter into their countdown page this morning. #AppleLive http://t.co/cqwvFAV0Eb pic.twitter.com/GVa9MjxxVj
— David Perell (@david_perell) September 9, 2014
18:09
Fin24 user Pieter Van Heerden says he is not too happy about the supposed size increase. "If I wanted a tablet I would just use my iPad. Phablets are stupid."18:08
@Tim_Stevens wants to see what Apple can do in the mobile payment area - eg make payments with your watch18:06
Handful of protestors outside registration #AppleLive pic.twitter.com/DFasejlSx9
— Sally Shin (@sallyshin) September 9, 2014
18:05
Apple has invited the fashion media to the event - an unprecedented move.18:03
As Apple prepares to launch a new device, C|NET asks questions about price. "We are at the point of smartphones where you can get a really really good phone without having to spend a lot of money."17:58
C|NET: Regardless of what they announce today, it will be good for the tech world17:57
You know it's Apple iPhone day when the App Store goes down. http://t.co/TUbnj7iXiT pic.twitter.com/cO3OL6CV3b— Mashable (@mashable) September 9, 2014
17:55
Apple may release an "iWatch". If it is a big flop, it will be ridiculous... says C|NET
17:54
Apple has taken it back to where it all began...
17:47
Apple set to make billions off new gadgets
17:40
This was Apple's first iWatch: http://t.co/ZkrjZHE7n8 #AppleEvent $AAPL pic.twitter.com/RwbPmJtZXr— Businessweek (@BW) September 9, 2014
17:39
The mysterious white building at the #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/qt8w5mMRp9— Guardian Tech (@guardiantech) September 9, 2014
17:36
The Apple employee line at the #iPhone6 event is HUGE. Flint Center can hold over 2K ppl pic.twitter.com/zK407xCraH
— Shara Tibken (@sharatibken) September 9, 2014
17:35
Cowen & Co analysts said many of Apple's 300 million-plus iPhone users would want a larger screen, and estimated that Apple could sell 15 million to 20 million iWatches in 2015. - Reuters
17:32
Two different sized iPhones, a wearable that we know very little about, new iPad models, iOS 8. My head is spinning.
— Steve Jobs (@LegendSteveJobs) September 9, 2014
17:30
Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimated that, if Apple were to sell 30 million iWatches at $250 each, it would add about $7.5bn to the company's revenue. - Reuters
17:29
Looking forward to a great day in Cupertino! Join us at 10am Pacific. #AppleLive
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 9, 2014
17:24
RT @umanoapp: It's TODAY! Apple's Sept. 9 Event: What To Expect http://t.co/UX6rCaXcRg #apple #iPhone6 http://t.co/IUdwSUrlED
— nathan morgan (@NshBizMorgan) September 9, 2014
17:24
Apple's share price rose more than 1% to $99.44 in heavy trading.
17:22
Apple will show again how computing platforms are won or lost on the one-two punch of eager consumers and hungry ecosystem partners, says Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey amid expectations for new big-screen iPhones and possibly an "iWatch" which could shake up the world of wearable computing.
17:20
Fin24 user Karischa Kriel wrote: "Went and looked at a few articles, just hope that the apple logo lights up, it comes with sapphire glass and not too bulky. So far the dummy phones were all the same size, little bigger than 5s but smaller than S5. And hopefully it is in SA fast, upgrade time is near, and if the reviews are good, I'll have a new phone that is tougher than a bakkie!"
17:17
So today is iDay when we see the new iPhones & probably also another iGadget, likely the iWatch which would eventually be seen as an iFlop
— tomiahonen (@tomiahonen) September 9, 2014
16:55
US market anxious ahead of big Apple event
16:42
Check out all the tweets on the expected iPhone
Tweets about iPhone6