Apple ‘iWatch’ and iPhone 6 launch: what to expect

U2 are rumoured to play at the end of the Apple announcement. Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

What do we expect from the Apple announcements today?

Certain

• two new iPhones: one with a screen (measured diagonally) of 4.7in, the other with a 5.5in screen

• buttons on the side of the new, larger phones

• the 5.5in phone will cost more than the 4.7in device; it’s designed to appeal to consumers in Asia, especially China

• via John Gruber, expect that the 4.7in phone will have a resolution of 326 pixels per inch (ppi), and the 5.5in phone of 461ppi (the “Retina” display, defined by Apple as where you can’t see the individual pixels when using the phone at a standard distance, has a resolution of over 300ppi).

• the phones will have NFC capability, via NXP chips - the first time Apple has added NFC to its devices (and four years after Google began with Android)

• the physical contours of the phones will be more rounded, like a flattened version of the iPhone 3GS, and without the angular edges of the iPhone 4-5S

• a wearable device of some sort, with NFC for payments capability

• deals with American Express, Visa and Mastercard for NFC-based payments

• deals with some large American retailers - CVS and Walgreens have been mentioned

Less certain, but pretty sure

• the wearable device won’t go on sale before next year

• if there is a smartwatch function, that will be the least functionality of it; payments and fitness data will be core to its capability

• the iPhone 5S and 5C will remain on sale, taking the place of the “older” 4S and 4 from before as the “low-end” (or “cheap”) phones

It could be true - you decide

• the wearable will have TouchID (Apple’s fingerprint unlock function) for validation of NFC payments - it will connect to your phone, but to avoid accidental payments you’ll touch a finger to it to confirm a payment

• there will be more than one wearable: a “watch” and a “band”. Both will be able to act as the NFC intermediary for payments, but the “watch” will also show notifications from your phone. The band will show less data but have a longer life.

Wild cards

• a new version of the Apple TV set-top box able to take games and also function as a coordinator for HomeKit (Apple’s system for integrating connected home devices). This could be achieved through software in the forthcoming iOS 8 update at the end of September

• iTunes Radio (the ad-supported streaming services for the iPhone and iPad) coming to the UK and other territories

• Beats headphones become standard issue with iPhones

Only Apple...

The final wild card is around the musical artist who will play at the end of the presentation. Last year it was Elvis Costello; this year your choices are U2 (tipped) or Adele - you never know, she might turn up and sing a song and simultaneously release her new album. Best guess is that it’s Bono and gang, however, with their own new album due imminently...

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