Apple has a lot to do to top 2014.
This year, Apple introduced larger screen iPhones, showed off its first wearable and launched a mobile-payments service. That was on top of updates to its Mac and tablet lines and improvements in its mobile and computer software. Apple also made its biggest acquisition ever by spending $3 billion on headphone maker and streaming music provider Beats.
In many ways, Apple next year will be building on what it announced in 2014. It will finally release the Apple Watch in retail stores and will expand Apple Pay and other services. It also will release new variants of its popular iPhones and iPads. But it could make some important tweaks to those devices, such as including a Retina Display in its MacBook Air or making a bigger screen iPad, which could attract a new group of customers.
Apple, of course, declined to comment about what's ahead next year.
CNET breaks down the seven major things we expect -- or at least hope -- to see from Apple in 2015.
Apple may have shown off the Apple Watch in September, but 2015 will mark the retail launch of the device. The precise timing is unclear, but Apple promises its first wearable will hit the market "early" in the year. The company will have to figure out how best to sell the smartwatch and allow consumers to try it on before they actually make a purchase.
The device, which starts at $349, comes in three designs -- the stainless-steel-cased Apple Watch, the aluminum-cased Apple Watch Sport, and the 18-karat-gold-cased Apple Watch Edition. The devices must be paired with an iPhone, and are compatible with the iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus.
Cook, introducing the Apple Watch, called the smartwatch a "breakthrough" product. He described it as a "comprehensive" health and fitness device, walkie-talkie and remote control for the Apple TV streaming-box. Those factors alone set the Apple Watch apart from other smartwatches on the market, which tend to simply track steps, provide notifications and run very basic apps.
"Apple Watch is absolutely the biggest product we know of at this point," Jackdaw Research chief analyst Jan Dawson said. "With the iPad flagging a bit, they're reliant on the iPhone and the Apple Watch to drive faster growth."
Tech research firm IDC in November said the worldwide tablet market likely saw "massive deceleration" in 2014, with year-over-year tablet growth slowing to 7.2 percent from 53 percent in 2013. A big reason for that is what's expected to be the first full calendar year of declines for Apple iPad shipments.
This year, Apple introduced larger screen iPhones, showed off its first wearable and launched a mobile-payments service. That was on top of updates to its Mac and tablet lines and improvements in its mobile and computer software. Apple also made its biggest acquisition ever by spending $3 billion on headphone maker and streaming music provider Beats.
In many ways, Apple next year will be building on what it announced in 2014. It will finally release the Apple Watch in retail stores and will expand Apple Pay and other services. It also will release new variants of its popular iPhones and iPads. But it could make some important tweaks to those devices, such as including a Retina Display in its MacBook Air or making a bigger screen iPad, which could attract a new group of customers.
Apple, of course, declined to comment about what's ahead next year.
CNET breaks down the seven major things we expect -- or at least hope -- to see from Apple in 2015.
1. Apple Watch
The Apple Watch marks Apple's first new product category since the "magical" iPad in 2010. It's also the first new push by the company under CEO Tim Cook's tenure. Cook had promised for over a year that Apple in 2014 would introduce "amazing" new products and enter "exciting new product categories" beyond its wildly successful smartphones, tablets and computers. The Apple Watch aims to fulfill that vow.Apple may have shown off the Apple Watch in September, but 2015 will mark the retail launch of the device. The precise timing is unclear, but Apple promises its first wearable will hit the market "early" in the year. The company will have to figure out how best to sell the smartwatch and allow consumers to try it on before they actually make a purchase.
The device, which starts at $349, comes in three designs -- the stainless-steel-cased Apple Watch, the aluminum-cased Apple Watch Sport, and the 18-karat-gold-cased Apple Watch Edition. The devices must be paired with an iPhone, and are compatible with the iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus.
Cook, introducing the Apple Watch, called the smartwatch a "breakthrough" product. He described it as a "comprehensive" health and fitness device, walkie-talkie and remote control for the Apple TV streaming-box. Those factors alone set the Apple Watch apart from other smartwatches on the market, which tend to simply track steps, provide notifications and run very basic apps.
"Apple Watch is absolutely the biggest product we know of at this point," Jackdaw Research chief analyst Jan Dawson said. "With the iPad flagging a bit, they're reliant on the iPhone and the Apple Watch to drive faster growth."
2. Bigger iPad Pro
Apple's iPad line has been struggling in recent months, with sales dropping three quarters in a row. Apple's newest tablets hit the market in October, but analysts say the incremental changes likely aren't enough to attract buyers in droves. Large screen smartphones are eating away at the need for a tablet, and consumers hold on to their iPads longer than their smartphones. Apple now faces questions over whether the iPad's declining shipments are a temporary hiccup or a troubling trend.Tech research firm IDC in November said the worldwide tablet market likely saw "massive deceleration" in 2014, with year-over-year tablet growth slowing to 7.2 percent from 53 percent in 2013. A big reason for that is what's expected to be the first full calendar year of declines for Apple iPad shipments.
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