What will Apple launch today?

The eyes of the technology world will turn to Cupertino, California from 6pm as Apple prepares to launch its latest wares.

A cottage industry has developed around Apple product launches with bloggers and technology websites eagerly anticipating what Tim Cook has in store for us this year.

Whenever Apple launches a new product it is big news, but the frenzy of speculation surrounding this year’s launch has been unprecedented.

Reports suggest U2 are in Cupertino to perform at the launch, the publicity around which should also help with the launch of the group’s new album. In marketing terms it could be regarded as a wise move by Bono and his mates, particularly in Asian markets where younger audiences are more tuned to Apple’s latest gadgets than U2’s track list.

A consensus seems to have formed among technology commentators that today will see the launch of twoNext Generation iPhone’s and the highly anticipated iWatch.

Given the amount of column inches dedicated to rumour and gossip, you nearly have to pinch yourself to be reminded that nothing has been confirmed yet.

Indeed as the media frenzy reaches fever pitch before the official launch later today more and more outlandish suggestions are being bandied about, all with the caveat that they might be true.

Here are a few of the more choice ones:

No one knows what the "watch" is going to be called. The Apple wearable device or iWatch is the unknown known. We know that Apple have been working on such a device for years. Apple has headhunted staff from leading watch companies. We know that they have filed detailed patents on watch design. What we do not know is anything concrete about the device itself.

Designs schematics surfaced on Reddit on Monday purporting to show the design of the new watch. These images gained a lot of traction on technology blogs yesterday, though I'm sure to most people it is reminiscent of looking at a picture of an ultrasound.

Speaking of matters medical, HealthKit, the new built-in app to collect all of your health information which was announced in June will finally have some compatible hardware. Suggestions are that the iWatch will monitor your heart rate, however concerns have been raised as to whether Apple can legally store that information.

Mashable have highlighted an article from Japanese website Macotakara that suggests the smaller version of the iPhone 6, will be called just that, the iPhone 6, while the anticipated larger 5.5 inch version will be called the iPhone 6 Plus. I think Mashable might be right to deride that one.

On Saturday a Chinese blogger posted a 7 minute video of a seemingly authentic large iPhone running Apple's new operating system the IOS 8 includingTouchID. Apple's fingerprint sensor. It has picked up over 1.7 million views in the past two days, just demonstrating the level of interest.

Website Macrumors claims to have got its hands on some of the internal specification of the new iPhone showing the NFC chip. Think of NFC as a more advanced Bluetooth, it could be used to link up with the iWatch, creating a duel confirmation for mobile payments.

For all the rumours and speculation there is always the possibility that Apple come up with something completely out of left field that leaves everyone speechless. Fingers crossed they can do the business today and deliver something special.

The Apple launch event begins at 6pm Irish time. We will have a live report from the event on irishtimes.com