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.
2:02 pm by Joanna Stern
I'm not so impressed by these fitness and health features. How
is this any different than the Fitbits that many people have gotten
sick of because they just tell you you haven't walked around
today?
2:01 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
New workout app lets you choose what kind of workout you're
doing, and get live feedback.
2:00 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook is talking about the Watch's use as a fitness device: track
your activity, and even alert you if you sit too long. It sends you
a weekly report, and suggest a new move target for the week ahead.
"It's like having a coach on your wrist," says Cook.
2:00 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
While we heard about this in September, these "digital touches"
are still interesting new ways to communicate with friends: draw,
tap or share your heartbeat.
1:58 pm by Joanna Stern
I asked a few months ago what the future of the laptop looks
like and this seems to be Apple's answer. The big thing that sticks
out to me is that the interaction is still very much around a
trackpad and a keyboard. While those seem to be very much improved,
there is still no touchscreen.
1:58 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook is rehearsing what you can do: take calls, respond to texts
and read emails - but no mention of replying to emails, the real
bane of my digital life.
1:57 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook is describing "glances" - a quick way to see time, as well
as your calendar or a quick look at your heart rate.
1:55 pm by Joanna SternAdd a Comment
Let me recap some of the MacBook stuff here. The new MacBook,
which starts at $1,300, sits between the MacBook Air, which starts
at $899 and the Retina MacBooks.
1:54 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
He's laying out three benefits: A new way to tell time, a new
way to connect, and a new way to measure fitness and health.
1:54 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook back on stage for the main event: Apple Watch. The sales
pitch: This is truly personal tech.
1:53 pm by Brian Fitzgerald
Good call, Joanna. This sits right in the middle. So, this means
no Retina display for the Air. No new trackpad for the Air either.
Just a new chip for the Air.
1:51 pm by Brian Fitzgerald
We're nearly an hour into this gathering, and nothing yet on the
Watch. A reminder that this is supposed to be a Watch event.
1:51 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
I'm really curious about what this USB-C is like to use in
person. Does it mean I have to carry around a lot more adapters and
dongles?
1:50 pmby Joanna Stern
This would be an addition to the MacBook family. You have Airs
on the lower end, the Retina MacBooks on the higher. And then this
somewhere in the middle.
1:49 pm by Joanna Stern
We should be learning more soon on the pricing, but my guess is
that this new "MacBook" does not replace the lower-end Airs.
1:48 pm by Wilson Rothman
Quick thought: While this USB-C thing is interesting, lower
battery life and a single port for monitors AND power troubles me.
How do I work?
1:48 pm by Joanna Stern
We will have to really test the battery life to see the
comparisons.
1:46 pm by Joanna Stern
But remember this doesn't replace the Air. This is the new
MacBook. We will hear the pricing soon, but yes, you will likely
pay more for less battery life and performance than the Air.
1:43 pm by Geoffrey Fowler
Now talking about battery life: "All day battery life" says
Schiller. 9 hours wireless Web - but that's actually less than the
old MacBook Air in my tests.
1:42 by Geoffrey Fowler
Nerdery ahead:
The new MacBook has an Intel Core M chip inside. That is more
energy efficient, but less powerful than other 5th Gen Intel
chips.
1:40 pm | by Joanna Stern
"Force Touch" and "Force Click" sound... odd.
1:40 pm
New MacBook's trackpad has a "Taptic" feedback, like on the
Apple Watch, plus pressure sensitivity for "force clicks"
pic.twitter.com/Bh7VN0KVck
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:39 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
The trackpad on this laptop has something called "force click,"
which is a new kind of gesture. Great to give us more control, but
we'll have to see in person whether this is helpful or
confusing.
1:39 pm
Is it me or are they not calling this a Macbook Air? Seems like
they are going out of their way not to say Air.
--- Daisuke Wakabayashi (@daiwaka) March 9, 2015
1:38 pm | by Joanna Stern
No official word on the ports yet, but no full size USBs to be
seen, looks like two Type C USB ports.
1:37 pm
Boom. 12-inch Retina display, with edge to edge cover class.
pic.twitter.com/BA7Vhud8LQ
--- Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) March 9, 2015
1:36 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
12-inch Retina display on the new MacBook. This is what MacBook
Air owners have been waiting for.
1:36 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
There is weeds and there is weeds. Schiller talking about the
"butterfly" mechanism for the keyboard for accuracy.
1:35 pm
Apple's new MacBook: - weighs 2 lbs - 13.1 mm thin - comes in
gold and silver http://t.co/abY1lgSWQz
$AAPL
pic.twitter.com/UUVKBSgSH6
--- Elana Zak (@elanazak) March 9, 2015
1:35 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Honestly, I'd rather have a bigger battery.
1:34 pm
Phil Schiller with new MacBook -- see that USB C port? 2 pounds
in weight, 13.1mm thin at the thickest point.
pic.twitter.com/iSTPjLv9Um
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:34 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
It weighs 2 pounds -- and is 13.1 mm thick -- 24% thinner than
before. But wait: Why do I need an even-thinner laptop?
1:33 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Phil Schiller is on stage to go through the details. "It's the
most extreme and efficient notebook we have ever created," he
says.
1:33 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
It floats!
1:32 pm
Meet Apple's new MacBook pic.twitter.com/RcmgXXTKD7
--- Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) March 9, 2015
1:32 pm
Oh my gosh. A bubble. pic.twitter.com/C0xcvCtcXz
--- Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) March 9, 2015
1:32 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook says Apple has reinvented the notebook. And it looks like
... a bubble. (So far.)
1:31 pm | by Joanna Stern
"We decided to do something incredibly ambitious and bold," Cook
says. "We challenged ourselves to reinvent the notebook."
1:31 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
"The definition of portability has changed" says Cook.
1:30 pm | by Joanna Stern
I am very excited for this portion. VERY excited.
1:30 pm
Cook back on stage talking about Macs... Live blog:
http://t.co/yCdGtYdUtY
pic.twitter.com/oCKspmk0nz
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
1:30 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Cook is back on stage talking about the Mac.
1:29 pm
pic.twitter.com/wLNZonbex6
--- Johana Bhuiyan (@JMBooyah) March 9, 2015
1:29 pm | by Joanna Stern
Huge applause. "Open source" is not a term you hear often (or
ever) at an Apple event.
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.
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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
The toughest part for Apple is trying to fulfill so many
expectations of what functionality people want from a device
attached to their wrists. Is it a phone? A fitness device? A
messenger? A ... watch? No surprisingly, the first two comments
from readers take aim at battery life and the ability of the watch
to act as a standalone phone.
12:24 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
Notably, Apple didn't have the need for a second event to
explain the iPad. But the September event left so many unanswered
questions about the Apple Watch.
12:22 pm | What to Watch | by Geoffrey Fowler
So what's today about?
It's about answering this question: Why would you need an Apple
Watch?
12:22 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
No, no attention at all on this product announcement.
The new Apple Watch allows wearers to start and stop the flow of
time http://t.co/D71vf1Xais
pic.twitter.com/pIyFfTX4Dr
--- The Onion (@TheOnion) March 9, 2015
12:16 pm | by Brian Fitzgerald
Humblebraggart.
Got some extra rest for today's event. Slept in 'til 4:30.
--- Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 9, 2015
12:14 pm
Watch-ready hoodie spotted on @JohnPaczkowski -- good thinkin'!
pic.twitter.com/THVN6aPhx4
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
12:11 pm
My nose is running and I can't see my favs on my iPhone. GBP
reasonsweneedanapplewatch
--- Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) March 9, 2015
12:02 pm | by Geoffrey Fowler
I remember there were also people pitching apps at the iPad
launch. The early bird gets the worm!
12:01 pm | There Are Products for the Products | by Joanna
Stern
This company is standing outside the event promoting its Apple
Watch charging station. Aggressive!
11:57 am | by Brian Fitzgerald
Apple Watch gets a lot of attention, but it is hardly entering
an empty field. Here are the contenders side-by-side.
pic.twitter.com/r8sMyY153G
--- Brian Fitzgerald (@BryFitz) March 9, 2015
11:46 am | by Joanna Stern
We are standing in line! Lots of excitement about the event and
getting pricing details about the watch. Personally, I am most
excited to hear about a new MacBook Air today. It could be the
first time in many years we see a completely redesigned
MacBook.
11:32 am | You Can Watch Too | by Brian Fitzgerald
Depending on your PC setup, you can watch the on-stage event too
at http://www.apple.com/live/. It's always easier if you are
swimming in the Apple ecosystem. A live stream requires some recent
versions of Safari browser on OSX, mobile devices running at least
iOS 6, or some later version of Apple TV. (The disclaimers are all
on the site.) Yes, there are workarounds for Android and Windows if
you are desperate enough.
11:28 am
Apple Watch event happening soon. Here's what's going on now...
pic.twitter.com/X2f5suhU9O
--- Wilson Rothman (@wjrothman) March 9, 2015
11:25 am | Follow us | by Brian Fitzgerald
Our crack team will keep this live blog full of exclusive
thoughts today. But we're sharing plenty on Twitter, too. So follow
along:
@JoannaStern
@geoffreyfowler
@wjrothman
@daiwaka
@nateog
@bryfitz
11:20 am
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
The new MacBook Air is a footnote at the bottom of most Apple
event preview articles. I expect it to be much more than that!
--- Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) March 8, 2015
11:17 am
Interesting GBP AppleWatch stat: @forrester found 40% of folks
are tired of pulling phones from pockets; 50% of mobile
interactions glanceable
--- Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) March 9, 2015
10:54 am | Tech or Fashion? | by Brian Fitzgerald
The smartwatch is theculmination of Apple's move into high-end
luxury fashion. The watch isthe first device from Appledesigned
explicitly to be displayedrather than tucked away in a pocket, the
Journal'sDaisuke Wakabayashiwrote in today's Journal. Give it a
read ahead of today's announcement.
10:49 am | Thanks for stopping by! | by Brian Fitzgerald
Welcome from New York. Our news and personal technology teams
are headed to Apple's announcement today to see what is in store
for the Apple Watch. The event starts around 1 p.m. ET, but we will
get going in the hour beforehand.
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires