We have a lot of “apple fanboys (and girls)” here at GraVoc. We get excited about the product announcements, the operating systems updates and the technology that ultimately effect the way we all communicate, live and do business. It is no surprise that we were tuned in for Apple’s September Live Event on September 9th 2014. There were some obvious highlights including the iPhone 6 and the much anticipated wearable, the Apple Watch but I took note of something a bit different. This was the first event where Apple CEO, Tim Cook, really seemed to shine. Cook has had big shoes to fill with the passing of his predecessor Steve Jobs. A lot of the announcements over the past 3 years have been really upgrades and improvements to products Jobs launched. With the announcement of the Apple Watch, Cook has put his own mark on Apple and it certainly seemed like a proud moment for him.
Unlike many of the previous Apple products using the “i” nomenclature (iPhone, iPad, iPod, iCloud, etc.), Cook has unveiled new products and systems using the Apple brand with Apple Watch and Apple Pay. To me this symbolized the beginning of a new journey for the company as a whole and marked a new vision for Apple with Cook at the helm. Without a doubt the history of the company is in tact with the “Think Different” and “One More Thing” mantras being highlighted in the event but the recent announcements solidified that Apple will continue to push the boundaries of creativity and technology. If you didn’t get a chance to watch the event, here are some of the highlights and a quick video recap to bring you up to speed.
Key Highlights
- Apple unveiled 2 new iPhones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, both with thinner and bigger than the iPhone 5S
- The iPhone 6 plus is Apple’s first foray into the “Phablet” market
- iOS 8 will be available on September 17th
- Apple released a NFC mobile payment platform called Apple Pay in which it already has partners in major financial companies such as Chase, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bank of America & more
- The Apple Watch was announced and will be available in early 2015 in 3 editions: “Standard”, “Sport” and “Edition”
Apple’s Live Event in 90 Seconds
One More Thing
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