Apple live blog

Tune in to Stride Nation for real-time updates on Apple's live event announcing the iPhone, iWatch.

By Andrew Husband Sep 9, 2014, 9:01am PDT

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Apple's long-awaited live event begins today at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), and will stream on their website.

Check back here at Stride Nation for a live blog covering the announcement.

While every tech-head and the tech news media outlet will be covering iPhone 6 and its expected (and rumored) features, we'll be watching for the long-rumored iWatch.

Along with Android Wear smartwatches currently available, the iWatch will break into the increasingly popular wearable tech market. This poses significant opportunities for health tracking, one of the largest and most popular apps for such technology.

Think about it. How many of you use apps and websites like MapMyRun and RunKeeper? Practically every smartphone on the market grants consumers access to these programs and others like them for monitoring their progress before, during and after runs. Then there's Garmin, Fitbit and other watch-like wearables.

With Apple's brand recognition and generally positive influence in the personal electronics market, the coming iWatch could potentially change the game for everyone.

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After a production-heavy introductory video, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Nilay Patel's meta comment is hilariously true, and sad: "The one thing you're not getting on the livestream is the sound of 2,000 people furiously typing and snapping shutters while all this is going on."

Demonstrating graphics, gaming and usability. Still on the iPhone 6. Nothing about the iWatch or wearables, yet.

Whoa! According to Dieter Bohn, the new M8 chip "can tell the difference between cycling and running, and it can also calculate distance and elevation."

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Bohn continues: "It does that with a barometer, which uses air pressure to measure relative elevation" and "Nike is going to update Nike+ to use the barometer for elevation."

Promo video featured Jimmy Fallon (iPhone 6) and Justin Timberlake (iPhone 6 Plus) competing via the M8's new health-tracking features.

Near the end of the hour, we're finally on to the iWatch!

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Bohn: "Silver. Gold. Different watch straps."

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Patel notes the name isn't iWatch, but Apple Watch: "Apple just moved away from the i branding here, by the way. Apple Pay, Apple Watch."

Cook says "It's also a comprehensive health and fitness device." "What we didn't do was take the iPhone and shrink the user interface and strap it on your wrist."

Usability focus falls on the digital crown, located on the Apple Watch's side.

Bohn: "The Apple Watch has some insane sensors on the back to get data from your wrist."

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Bohn: "All the electronics are packed onto a tiny little board, sealed up to protect against water." Maybe not just running and cycling, but swimming, too? Apple Watch capable of use for triathlon training?

Bohn: "There's little LEDs to read your heart rate. It uses the GPS from your iPhone."

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Bohn: "There's a sports collection of watches, with an aluminum casing."

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According to Apple VP Kevin Lynch, the iPhone is "required with Apple Watch."

With the Digital Touch app, you can send your heartbeat to your friends. Literally. Bohn says "You can also send you heartbeat, it reads your heartbeat and then the receiver feels a vibration that actually matches your pulse," whereas Patel jokes "This heartbeat sending thing will either be amazing or totally a gimmick."