Apple (AAPL)
shares may have not done much for investors in 2015. However, the tech
giant was very busy cranking out new products--from the Apple Watch,
Apple Pay, Apple Music, Apple TV and of course the iPhone 6S, just to
name a few.
Yahoo Finance’s
Alexis Christoforous talks with Senior Tech reporter Aaron Pressman in
the video above about what gadget fanatics should be on the look out for
from Apple in the New Year.
iPhone 7
There
is a lot of buzz about an iPhone 7 rolling out in 2016. Fans of the
old iPhone will be happy to hear that that the 4-inch phone may also
make a comeback. Something a bit more controversial swirling around is
the removal of the headphone jack, which means users would have to
invest in Bluetooth-connected or Lightning headphones. Other rumors
being tossed around are a better camera with two lenses and a waterproof
iPhone, according to Pressman.
Apple Watch 2
The second version of the Apple Watch is rumored to launch at an Apple event in March 2016, and go on sale in April. Pressman expects the new Apple Watch to be a little thinner and cooler. He is hoping to see a faster processor and longer battery life, as well. There is also chatter about sleep tracking and more health functions. Pressman thinks Apple may be trying to make it more a part of people’s lives because the Apple Watch really hasn’t caught on with consumers.
iPad upgrades
Don’t expect to see a new iPad hit store shelves in the coming year, since Apple just released the iPad Pro in 2015. But iPad users might see some interesting developments on the app side, especially given the reorganization of the app store. Apple is expected to encourage developers to make more professional (and expensive) apps that can better take advantage of the iPad Pro's big screen and super fast processor, Pressman adds.
Apple stores going upscale?
There
has been a lot of talk about the Apple Store getting a luxury makeover
given the company hired former Burberry boss Angela Ahrendts to run its
retail and online operations in 2014. Ahrendts just got an exclusive to
add fancy french wireless speakers worth $2,000 to some stores, called
the Phantom from Devialet. That’s part of an effort to bring more
exclusive and high-end accessories into the Apple store, Pressman points
out.
Other Apple surprises
Apple
could make a bigger push into the virtual reality space. It recently
bought startup Faceshift, which helped make some of the special effects
in the latest Star Wars film. The virtual reality market is growing with Google (GOOGL) and Samsung and even Facebook (FB) very active in this area.
Apple
really hasn't done anything in the Internet of Things space beyond
coming out with its software HomeKit development platform. Apple may
introduce some cool hardware of its own -- automated cameras, door
locks, light bulbs, that sort of thing, says Pressman.
All in all, get ready for another busy year from Apple. But the question remains what if anything will this do for the stock.
By: Yahoo Finance.