Apple Watch & iPhone 6 keynote video is now up

Now that the flood of Apple announcements and related revelations have started to settle down, it’s time to step back, take a deep breath, and take stock of everything that has happened so far. And what better way to do that than by watching Apple’s momentous 2014 media event at your own pace and in your own time.

This year, Apple truly made history, and it doesn’t even matter if you’re an Apple fan or a detractor. Moving away from its own patterns, Apple not only broke free of the 4-inch size its previous iPhones have been beholden to, it also dipped its toes into the phablet market, two things that the company was quoted to have derided in the past. That said, whether you like it or not, the iPhone 6 and its bigger iPhone 6 Plus sibling still came out as works of art. And, whether you like it or not, these will once again be the standard by which other smartphones will be measured by, and which clones will stumble over to copy. To whet your appetite a bit, here’s a short introduction collating the thoughts of Apple’s designers and engineers.

Apple also made history by unveiling something that people have been either wishing for or talking about for years. No, it’s not called the iWatch, but simply just the Apple Watch. And in typical Apple fashion, it isn’t just an “also ran” but a breed of its own. The Digital Crown dial is a touch of genius, reusing a traditional, mechanical control into something that drives digital content. Of course, the now staples of smartwatch functionality are also there and Siri is now also present on your wrist as well as your phone.

Then, of course, there are the new members of Apple’s business. Thanks to finally giving into the NFC trend, Apple has joined the mobile payment market, both a blessing and curse to other players in that industry. A boon, because Apple is always a trendsetter and having Apple investing in mobile payments will undoubtedly draw in more interest and support. A bane because, well, now they will have Apple to compete with.

But in case you’re pressed for time and need a quick recap of the events that transpired this Tuesday, you can always check our Apple Event round-up. You can also dig in deeper into the devices themselves with our iPhone 6/iPhone 6 Plus hands-on as well as our Apple Watch hands on. Be sure to also keep an eye on our Apple, iPhone 6, Apple Watch, and iOS 8 tag portals for the latest news on Apple’s next generation of devices and services.