I’m really liking the way Apple is headed. Wednesday’s event was fast and crammed with stuff. Highlights:

• New Apple watch colors and bands. The new watchOS 2 was previously announced.
• iPad Pro:
  • Larger size
  • Force Touch Display
  • Better sound (4 speakers)
  • Optional Smart Keyboard – screen cover/keyboard a la Surface, based on MacBook keyboard
  • Optional Apple Pencil – touch-sensitive stylus, very precise
• New Apple TV:
  • Better hardware supports games and apps
  • New Remote:
    • Touch screen at the top
    • Bluetooth connection (no more line-of-sight!)
    • Wii-like motion sensors for gaming and other input
    • Microphone
  • Siri integration:
    • Search across multiple fields of data
    • Commands for all sorts of interactions
• iPhone 6S and 6S+
  • Better camera
  • Live Photos (similar to video, but in photos, less resource-intensive)
  • 3D Touch (renamed Force Touch)
  • Faster processor
  • Better LTE and WiFi radios
  • Rose Gold color added
  • Faster Touch ID
• Upgrade pricing for iPhone
  • Monthly payments for your phone
  • Can trade in at the 1 year mark for a new plan
  • AppleCare+ included in the reasonable prices

I think I’m most excited for the AppleTV. The features really make for a compelling product. “Siri, play me a movie starring Kevin Bacon” should actually work! The only thing I lack is a bandwidth connection that can support streaming.

On iPhone, Hey Siri is now active all the time. I can’t wait for the iPhone 6S and 6S+ to be popular. You’ll be able to stand in a crowd and yell, “Hey Siri” and everyone’s phones will go off.

I can definitely see these devices as having needed features for the right customers. I hear some “lack of innovation” comments, but I mostly discount those. No one feature has ever been amazing when it was released. Every single one has had a crowd of people decrying it for one reason or another.

I’m really excited for all the new hardware and new OSes. Lots of new stuff to look forward to!