We’re just hours away from the unveiling of the iPhone 6, and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has taken the Apple Store down ahead of the event. The company is preparing to add the new product(s) to the online store as soon as they’re unveiled.
Apple Store preps for iPhone 6 launch
The Apple Store went offline at around 2 a.m. Eastern this morning. Today’s event is scheduled for the Flint Performing Arts Center in Cupertino, Calif. It’s expected that Apple will show off the iPhone 6 and possibly its first wearable—the so-called “iWatch.”
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The pop band U2 may even perform at today’s event, if the renewed rumors are true. A spokesperson for the band denied previous rumors that they would be performing at Apple’s event. However, at least two media outlets are reporting that U2 will indeed perform after all.
Consumers and investors have been expecting a lot this year, and management raised their hopes even higher throughout the year. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been promising new innovations for quite some time, and executive Eddy Cue went on the record earlier this year saying that they’re working on their “best product pipeline in 25 years.”
What to expect in today’s iPhone 6 event
Of course the rumors about the iPhone 6 have been running hot and heavy for more than a year. Apple is widely expected to unveil a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and a 5.5-inch iPhone, possibly under a different name. The larger model would land squarely in the phablet category and could fetch Apple an even higher average selling price than previous years’ models.
In addition to the size, we’ve seen plenty of supposed photos and videos of various iPhone 6 components. Many expect the handset to finally catch up to competitors and sport near field communication. It’s also rumored that Apple will show off a new mobile payments solution with the smartphone.
And of course the typical upgrades are also expected, like a better camera, faster processor and improved display. The iPhone 6 may even feature a display made of sapphire glass.
What about the iWatch?
Apple may also show off the rumored iWatch today. Unlike the iPhone 6, there haven’t been any supposed leaks about the device, so the company may have somehow managed to keep details on the device buttoned up even better than others.
However, it’s generally expected to have a lot of health and smart home applications and utilize Apple’s HomeKit and HealthKit APIs unveiled earlier this year at WWDC.
So how many of these rumors will turn out to be correct? Check back here starting at 1 p.m. Eastern to view our live blog of Apple’s big event.