Live from Apple's Special Event in Cupertino

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Cupertino - I'm onsite at the Apple headquarters for today's special annoincement. Stay tuned for reports from the keynote as well as follow-up hands on photos and video from the event. I estimate around 300 press and guests lining up for the event which is taking place in the same auditorium where the iPhone 5s and 5c were launched last year.

Apple CEO talked about the success of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. How it is the best selling smartphone Apple has produced and also the most extensively rolled out being available in more countries and markets faster.

Cook also announced that Apple Pay has garnered 500 more partner banks plus Apple Pay is going online in the US on Monday October 20.

Cooka also asked Craig Fedrighi, Apple's  senior vice president of Software Engineering who gave updates on Apple's iOS 8 operating system for the iPhone and iPad as well as OS X Yosemite which is the new operating sytem for Mac desktops and portables.

Aside from various features coming to both operating system which are due out soon. Federighi ran various demos showing the Continuity and Handoff features that synch various features from both operating systems into each other. 

Mac OS X Yosemite is available starting today as a free uprade to compatible Macs. iOS 8.1, the latest update that brings some Handoff features to iOS devices will come on Monday October 20.

Apple also unveiled the iPad Air 2, the latest iPad is 18 per cent thinner than last year's model. It features a faster A8 X processor and M8 processor as well as improved graphics for gaming and video editing. Aside from making the iPad Air 2 even thinner, Apple maintains 10 hours of use on a full battery charge. 

Apple also updated the iPad mini with the same features, finishes and specs as the larger model. Also announced was a new iMac with a 27-inch display.