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James Martin/CNET
Apple’s online store has officially gone down.
The company took its online store offline at approximately 5 a.m. PT on Tuesday as it prepares to update the site with whatever new products debut at its special press event starting at 10 a.m. PT.
Tuesday’s event, taking place at the Flint Performing Arts Center in Apple’s hometown of Cupertino, Calif., is one of the most anticipated product launches of the year. Consumers, analysts, and investors have been waiting for Apple to introduce the “amazing” new products that CEO Tim Cook has promised for more than a year. Cook, who took over as CEO from Steve Jobs three years ago, hasn’t yet taken the company into new markets beyond those established by his former boss. But he’s now expected to do just that with wearables, mobile payments, and other possible arenas.
It’s believed that Apple will at least unveil the iPhone 6, but could also show off its first smartwatch or other wearable device.
Apple could stand to expand beyond its current product offerings. It hasn’t entered a new category since Jobs unveiled the iPad tablet in 2010, and every new version of the iPhone, iPad, and Macintosh computer since then has been deemed evolutionary rather than revolutionary by reviewers and customers, leading to slowing profit and revenue growth. Apple generates about two-thirds of its sales from the iPhone and iPad, but the markets for those gadgets are becoming saturated, with rivals from Amazon to Google to Microsoft to Samsung battling for customers and the billions they spend on mobile devices.
Cook has gone on the record that Apple in 2014 would introduce enter
beyond its wildly successful smartphones, tablets, and computers. And in late May, Eddy Cue, head of iTunes and the man behind Apple’s $3 billion acquisition of headphone and streaming music service provider Beats, upped the pressure by boasting that the consumer-electronics giant is working on its ” best product pipeline in 25 years.”
Rumors have been swirling for months that Apple’s iPhone 6 will come with a 4.7-inch screen. There has also been talk of a 5.5-inch model that would take on similarly sized Android-based phablets already available on the market. Speculation abounds over what the iPhone 6 might offer.
Not surprisingly, Apple has kept its plans close to the vest and isn’t talking until Tim Cook takes the stage later today. As always, CNET will be there to cover every last second of the event. Join us later on today by clicking here to ensure you don’t miss a single moment.
