Apple Watch and two new iPhones launched

Irish rock band U2 surprised fans worldwide last night by giving away their first album for more than five years after performing at the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch launch.

The band gave Songs Of Innocence to around half a billion iTunes music store users as well as subscribers to their website.

The announcement was made at the Apple launch last night and is the latest collaboration between the band and technology firm

The 11-track album will be given an official release on October 13 and is their fist record in five years after 2009's No Line On The Horizon.

Read: Apple Watch and iPhone 6 reviews: What the experts think

Questions have been raised over the future of Apple's iPod classic after the launch of the iPhone 6 and smartwatch.

Read: Apple Watch and new iPhones - what we know so far

The music playing device no longer shows up on the Online Apple Store or the technology giant's dedicated page to the iPod.

The iPod website does however still promote other versions of the device including the touch, nano and shuffle.

Apple has not made an official statement regarding the iPod classic, which was released in 2007 and has changed little since.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will have larger screens and be thinner than their predecessors and will be available to pre-order from Friday.

Watch: Apple introduces the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Apple has released this video introducing its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

The new iPhones feature "a larger, more advanced display and significant leaps in capability and performance," the firm said.

A number of people have taken about Apple's new smartwatch, claiming it is not designed for use by those who are left-handed.

The Apple Watch's functions rely on a 'digital crown', which in all photos released by the tech company so far have been on the right-hand side.

It remains unclear whether a left-handed model will be released. Apple could not be immediately contacted for comment.

U2 have released their latest album for free to iTunes customers in what Apple says is the largest album release in history.

The band performed to close the company's "special event" in California.

The new release will be available to half a billion people in 119 countries, Apple says.

Apple Watch will start at $349 in the United States and will be available from early 2015, the company says.

Apple's latest mobile operating system iOS 8 will become available on iPhone 4s and above from 17 September.