Apple announcement tomorrow

Apple has a big trick to pull off Tuesday By Edward C. Baig, ebaig@usatoday.com, USA TODAY

Whether you're an Apple "fanboy" or you detest the world's most valuable company or -- more likely -- somebody far less dogmatic, you're eager to fast-forward to Tuesday already. That, of course, is when CEO Tim Cook finally reveals what's next from Apple at a gathering of the news media in Cupertino, Calif. By now you've read rumors ad nauseam. And if Apple doesn't unveil an iPhone 6 -- and maybe with somewhat less certainty, a smartwatch -- it would turn into a shocker of titanic proportions. But what will this iPhone be? I'd be real surprised if Apple doesn't finally up the size of its iconic handset fairly substantially, perhaps to 4.7 inches (from 4 inches on the current flagship iPhone 5s), perhaps to 5.5-inches, or quite possibly both. That's what the reports are suggesting, and I'm a believer. I certainly want a larger iPhone, though how large is up to the beholder, and will depend on design, weight and user preferences. Having played with many smartphones in or around the 5-inch screen-size range, I expect Apple to deliver at least one that Gulliver could live with.

There's also been a lot of talk about whether a new iPhone (or phones) will have a sapphire display, which is harder than tempered glass and said to be virtually indestructible. I would think so, though such screens are costly to produce. Apple wouldn't even be the first one out there with sapphire. Kyocera recently sent me a Brigadier Android phone that has one. To prove just how tough and durable this screen is, it included a sharp knife in the package with which to stab the display.

Until now, Apple has eschewed turning the iPhone into a mobile wallet and pooh-poohed the NFC (near field communication) technology that others employ for this purpose. Sure, you can use an iPhone to purchase coffee, pay for a taxi, and buy other items through third-party apps and add-on accessories. And Apple also includes a Passbook app that to date it hasn't done much with -- it's kind of a repository for gift cards, tickets and the like. But Apple has largely ceded the early mobile payments space to competitors. I expect that stance to change next week, what with considerable speculation that the company will announce deals with various financial institutions. One thing to pretty much bank on: Any new iPhone hardware will have jazzed-up specs, faster processor, improved camera, hopefully longer battery life. We already know, of course, that the next iPhone will be the first to exploit iOS 8, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system. The software provides numerous enhancements, starting with a better Apple keyboard (with some copycat) features, plus the ability to use a third-party keyboard. There's also more seamless integration with Macs and iPads.

Also coming with iOS 8 is a Healthkit tool for developers and a Health app that practically shouts out that Apple is finally going to show off its elusive, long-rumored wearable. I suspect that the first wearable will finally be an Apple smartwatch (or iTime? iWatch?) though it's not out of the question that Apple could also show off some sort of fitness bracelet. Either way, it would again be a major upset if Apple fails to announce something in the wearable space. Rivals -- and I mean practically every other tech company out there -- have beaten Apple to the wearables market. But no tech outfit has really nailed a home run product, and that's not to dismiss the fact that there are some very successful (and excellent) niche-oriented wearables that mostly appeal to fitness buffs. Apple's wearable is likely to be fitness-focused, too, though I'm very curious to see how ambitious the company will be in the features that it ultimately provides. A flexible display seems likely, along with sensors that can monitor vital health signs, and inevitably make nice with the aforementioned Health app. Whatever Apple finally announces Tuesday, stick with USA TODAY for the details.