Apple's "spring forward" announcement is on. The gathering in
San Francisco is aimed at shedding more light on the Apple Watch,
including details about pricing for the higher-end versions. There
could be other announcements, too, with some expectations swirling
around a new MacBook Air.
The Journal's Geoffrey Fowler, Joanna Stern and Wilson Rothman
are live blogging the event with news, photos and analysis.Apple is
streaming videoof the presentation,too.
1:29 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Biggest applause of the morning so far goes to ResearchKit,
which Apple is making open source.
1:28 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
A phone can be a pretty incredible research tool: You can survey
patients, and have them complete mini tests, like how fast they can
tap.
1:27 pm | by Joanna Stern
Have to expect that the Apple Watch will play a huge role in
Research Kit, with sensors that record heart rate, steps,
temperature, etc. Still, the video playing right now only shows the
iPhone.
1:24 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
That's very smart of Apple to say that up front. It's great to
see tech companies competing on privacy.
1:23 pm | by Joanna Stern
Of course, there is a ton of privacy concerns with this. "Apple
will not see your data."
1:23 pm
The ability to use iPhone as a diagnostic tool for medical
research will be huge for researchers expand data sets. Research
Kit.
--- Daisuke Wakabayashi (@daiwaka) March 9, 2015
1:22 pm
Use case for doing research on Parkinson's: The phone can
measure hand shake and activity. pic.twitter.com/O8gWhM6nz0
--- Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) March 9, 2015
1:21 pm | by Joanna Stern
This could be amazingly powerful. It turns the iPhone into a
diagnostic tool. It can help with measuring balance, tremors,
etc.
1:20 pm
This is interesting: Apple developed Research Kit help
researchers gather and organize data via iPhones.
pic.twitter.com/tKXII9MDo1
--- Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) March 9, 2015
1:20 pm | by Joanna Stern
Basically this is a piece of software for medical researchers.
It taps into Health Kit to help provide data.
1:19 pm | by Joanna Stern
Another Kit! Research Kit."A software framework made for medical
research," says Apple.
1:18 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
*ugh*
1:18 pm | by Joanna Stern
Time will tell, Geoff. Time will tell.
1:18 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
I'll be WATCHing out for it, Joanna!
1:18 pm | by Joanna Stern
The missing link with the Health app has obviously been the
Watch. Assume we will hear much more later in the morning about
that.
1:17 pm
It's had an impact on medical research, he says.
1:17 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook is now talking up that Health app that most iPhone users
opened once and never have again.
1:16 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
"Homekit is changing the way we control our devices at home,"
says Cook.
Really? All I've seen it do so far is change how smarthome
gadget makers market themselves. Still waiting for it show up in
practice.
1:16 pm | by Joanna Stern
CarPlay coming to tons of cars before the end of the year.
Big question: How many will have Android Auto built into the
same system.
1:16 pm
Apple Car news -- (every automaker has committed to Car Play)
What did you expect?
--- Daisuke Wakabayashi (@daiwaka) March 9, 2015
1:15 pm
Apple Pay coming to many Coke machines, says Cook. Crinkly
dollar bills be gone! pic.twitter.com/AvT42cQ5r2
--- Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) March 9, 2015
1:15 pm | by Joanna Stern
Cook is talking about how Apple Pay is popular at vending
machines. It is true, I buy cookies and Diet Coke using Apple Pay
at the office at least once a week!
1:14 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook is talking about Apple Pay. Says there are now 700,000
locations that take it in the U.S.
1:14 pm
Big number tweet... pic.twitter.com/7RXiHE3kUM
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:14 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
Moving on to iPhone ...
1:13 pm | by Joanna Stern
Yeah, great point Geoff. Also no way to really organize the
apps. You can move them around but my home screen is cluttered with
tons of services I don't watch.
1:13 pm
Apple TV now $69, down from $99. pic.twitter.com/qMHW769L5e
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:12 pm | by Joanna Stern
And Cook is now moving on from the Apple TV. No hardware or
interface update. Just the price drop, which is big news in the
space.
1:12 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
For example, no search function or app store on Apple TV.
1:12 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
What I'm really waiting for is a refresh of the Apple TV. Its
capabilities are starting to lag behind when compared with Roku and
others.
1:11 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Some 25 million Apple TVs have sold so far, Cook says. Apple is
lowering the price to $69.
1:11 pm | by Joanna Stern
Very exciting news for HBO lovers and Apple TV owners. Have to
wonder when Apple is going to update the Apple TV hardware and
software. Maybe that is coming next...
1:10 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
(All tweeting and live blogging halts for a Game of Thrones
trailer.)
1:09 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Apple will be cable-free HBO Now's exclusive partner at launch.
Coming in April for $15 a month. That's pricier than Netflix, but
still cheap enough to drive interest.
1:08 pm
Cook + Khaleesi pic.twitter.com/U5WmM5MXVu
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:07 pm | by Joanna Stern
The CEO of HBO, Richard Plepler, is out on stage."HBO Now" is
HBO's standalone streaming service. Apple is the exclusive
partner.
1:06 pm
Tim Cook talking about adding HBO to Apple TV...
pic.twitter.com/q1TKMXE16O
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:06 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
This is the news cable cutters have been waiting for.
1:06 pm | by Joanna Stern
Cook seems very relaxed up there, especially in his new sweater
look. "We love HBO," Cook says as he moves to talking about the
momentum of the Apple TV.
1:05 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Apple has 453 stores now, he says -- and saw 120 million
customers. Not too shabby.
1:04 pm | by Joanna Stern
The video is about the iPhone going on sale in China. A very
interesting way to open the event. There are the usual shots: Apple
store interior shots, footage of people cheering about the iPhone
going on sale.
1:04 pm
Tim Cook takes the stage after an opening video about how busy
Apple's latest store in China is doing.
pic.twitter.com/F3KOcu2zCc
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:03 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Apple CEO Tim Cook is on stage. First up, he's talking up
Apple's latest retail location in China.
1:03 pm
Apple better have a solution for ad viewabilty on this watch
thing or it's a total non starter
--- Mike Shields (@digitalshields) March 9, 2015
1:02 pm
If I am being honest, I really want to see an Apple TV that has
CEC tech so my TV changes to that source when I turn it on.
--- Brian Fitzgerald (@BryFitz) March 9, 2015
1:02 pm | by Joanna Stern
And the lights are down! Apple marketing video is already
rolling.
1:00 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
If I am going to be sold on a Watch, I need to see how favorite
apps will work. I need a real product demonstration. Show me how I
will tweet differently.
12:58 pm | by Joanna Stern
I've seen two people taking photos with iPads. What we don't
expect to hear today: How the watch will replace your camera!
12:58 pm | by Joanna Stern
As usual, Apple is playing some Top 40 hits (right now Sam
Smith). Lots of excitement in the room and lots of people from the
Apple exec team settling down and taking their front row seats.
12:56 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
The Apple live stream camera is rolling over the audience,
catching poor unsuspecting people in its lens. Don't scratch your
nose. If you are planning to watch at http://apple.com/live, you
can hit play now.
12:53 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
Not U2. This puts a wedge between us.
Getting psyched backstage listening to I Lived by
@OneRepublic.
--- Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 9, 2015
12:48 pm
And we're inside. With @algore! pic.twitter.com/kR6OtEa7Do
--- Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) March 9, 2015
12:46 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Going into the event, here's the question I want answered:
Will the Apple Watch help me get time back? Will it reduce the
gadget distractions in my life? If it does, I'm sold.
12:42 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
The real prize for journalists at one of these Apple events is a
seat with a power strip.
12:41 pm | by Joanna Stern
You don't want to trip me. I have a selfie stick.
12:41 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
Stay safe out there.
12:41 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
The running of the journalists is about to begin.
12:41 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
Good point, Geoff. Kill the battery, and kill my interest. I'd
hate to turn off all notifications. Wonder if we'll see a special
"smartwatch only" class of notifications. But that puts the ball in
the court of the developers.
12:39 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
I'm very interested in seeing how Apple reins in some of these
services like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat that have thrived on
the iPhone by getting us addicted to alerts. Too many alerts could
kill a smartwatch.
12:37 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
A big part of answering the "why" question is going to be apps.
I expect to see a parade of Apple Watch app developers on stage
today. News! Games! Payments!
12:34 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
All of this attention on the watch. But I'd bet a week's salary
there are as many people waiting for news of a redesigned MacBook.
Yes, it's the geekier underbelly of the Apple fan community, but
it's core.
12:28 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
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