By Dhirendra Tripathi
Investing.com – Apple stock (NASDAQ:AAPL) traded 0.3% higher in Tuesday’s premarket ahead of the company’s biggest launch event of the year.
The world’s largest company is expected to today announce new versions of the iPhone, the Apple Watch and Airpods. Media reports have ruled out major updates to the iPhone while improvements to cameras and batteries are expected. True to its past form, the company is unlikely to talk about any product still in its pipeline - including the oft-rumored car project.
A report in The Wall Street Journal earlier had said the company is working on new health-related features for its smartwatch, including a tool to tell users when their blood pressure is increasing. The Apple watch could also host a thermometer to help with fertility planning, the report said.
The company could use a lift after two setbacks in quick succession. It confirmed on Monday that the iPhone's much-touted security had been breached by a hack exploiting weaknesses in its iMessage app. Citizen Lab, an academic research group said that Israel-based NSO Group used the messaging software to “exploit and infect” the company's latest devices with spyware.
The flaw allowed a hacker using NSO’s Pegasus malware to gain access to a device owned by an unnamed Saudi activist, according to security researchers. Apple said the flaw could be exploited if a user on a vulnerable device received a “maliciously crafted” PDF file.
That news came only days after a court ruling that weakened Apple's defense of its monopoly on payments within its app store. While the company doesn't break out its payments revenue, analysts estimate it at aroundf $18 billion in its last fiscal year.