Apple Watch, new MacBook and ResearchKit details revealed at Apple launch

APPLE has finally unveiled its much anticipated Apple Watch — but that wasn’t the most important piece of news the tech giant announced today.

AFTER months of waiting, tech fans have finally been given all the details about the Apple Watch, the first completely new device launched by the tech company since founder Steve Jobs passed away in 2011.

First announced during the iPhone 6 launch in September, Apple CEO Tim Cook this morning took the wraps off the much-anticipated device — a rectangular, super-sleek piece of kit that can perform so many tricks the crowd at the Apple launch event struggled to keep up.

The display is flexible and made from sapphire — the second-hardest transparent material behind diamond — and is controlled by a digital crown (that dial on the side of regular watches). There are sensors on the rear that take your vitals such as your heart rate.

It will come in three models: the Watch, Watch Sport and of course, the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition. Two sizes will also be available, 38mm and 42mm.

Prices start at $AU499 for the Apple Watch Sport, $799 for the Apple Watch and a mammoth $14,000 for the Edition model. The cheapest you will pay for one without a rubber band will be the Apple Watch for $949, so be prepared to fork out some cash.

Pre-orders open for the Apple Watch on April 10 with a release date of April 24.

Fancy a gold Apple Watch? You better have the cash.

A big emphasis was placed on the user customisation of the Apple Watch, specifically the ability to change the watch face in any way users like.

Right from your wrist, you can receive messages, where you can then read and respond. If you want to feel like Dick Tracy, you can also make and receive calls.

Cook told the crowd Apple Watch would provide a new way to communicate, through both digitally drawn sketches or even sharing your heartbeat with other Apple Watch users.

Fitness was also emphasised, with a three-wing graphic that provides users with a snapshot of daily activity. It’ll even get angry at you for sitting down too long. The Workout app provides more detailed measurement of your specific activities, and every Monday, Apple Watch suggests a new daily goal based on your previous week’s activity.

While it has a water resistant rating, it’s not waterproof. So don’t think you can go swimming or wear it in the shower.

The three rings that the Apple Watch will control your day with.

You can get any notification on your Apple Watch that appears on your phone today, whether it be a sports score, news update, Facebook message or text message.

Apple Pay on the Apple Watch was also shown off; a move as simple as tapping the crown of the watch to bring up your card and then again over the payment terminal.

And yes, you can now browse Instagram, order an Uber, and have your boarding pass on your wrist. It can even be used as a hotel key.

Apple is claiming 18 hours of battery life in a “typical day” before it needs to be put on its magnetic charger.

Calls right from your wrist.

All apps can be found and installed via an iPhone using the Apple Watch app available on the upcoming iOS 8.2 update coming to iPhone later today.

As expected, a new MacBook was also announced. A gold one in fact. Weighing less than 1kg, it is only 13.1mm at its thickest point, 24 per cent thinner than the old MacBook Air. It has a 12-inch Retina display, with an eye pleasing 2304 x 1440 resolution, meaning all your web pages, documents and videos will be crazily sharp and clear.

The trackpad is all new and pressure-sensitive, meaning the harder you click, the different the effect.

That’s not thin. THIS is thin.

Apple has promised “all day” battery life, or 9 hours of web browsing. That’s a few hours less than the current 13-inch MacBook Air, but considering its size, it’s no surprise.

It no longer has a dedicated USB port. Instead, it has one port called USB-C that is used for USB connections, charging and HDMI all through the one site. Pricing starts at $1799 for the 256GB base model, up to $2199 for the 512GB model.

It’s a MacBook, don’t go calling it a MacBook Air.

The standard MacBook Air received a minor internal upgrade, with a faster processor and memory.

MacBook Pro will also be getting the a similar internal upgrade but will also be receiving the same trackpad as the new MacBook.

But the announcement that drew the most applause wasn’t the Watch, but game-changing software made specifically for medical research called ResearchKit. Apple claims it will allow anyone with an iPhone to help contribute to the research of diseases and other illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, asthma and diabetes. ResearchKit is something the company claims will — and excuse the cliche — change medical research forever. Data to help find cures to illnesses can now be collected nearly every second, rather than once every few months.

Set to change medical research forever.

Meanwhile, for those hoping to get Apple CarPlay in their car, Tim Cook says “every major car brand” has committed to Apple’s product. However, the claim seems a bit off when you consider that Toyota, the biggest car manufacturer in the world isn’t one of those “major car brands” Cook was talking about.

Also announced at the event was an Apple TV price drop to $US69 from $US99 in the USA, however the Aussie dollar saw the price actually rise (not by very much) in Australia, going from $108 to $109.

One of the most anticipated products for Americans however, was the exclusive launch of HBO’s streaming service, HBO Now on Apple TV for $US14.99 a month, including Game of Thrones. Don’t hold your breath waiting for it to launch locally, though.