Hurricane Sandy: Apple closes up to 50 stores, Google cancels Nexus media event, crisis maps

By Christian Zibreg on Oct 29, 2012

Hurricane Sandy is piling up the water as it’s on track for a historic hit on the East Coast of the United States. President Obama has declared state of emergency in New York, suspending subway and bus service, closing schools on Monday and scheduling the Holland and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to also close at 2pm today.

When it became clear that Sandy would make landfall on the East Coast, Google cancelled its previously scheduled October 29 press conference, postponing the launch of promising new Nexus smartphones and tablets. Dozens of Apple Stores along the East Coast will likely be affected, with many outlets taking precautionary measures in order to protect the products, store space itself and staffers. Several Apple Stores have also been spotted using sandbags as a precaution to protect their storefront from damage… Read More

 

And the Apple Store goes down…

By Christian Zibreg on Oct 23, 2012

With less than four and a half hours until today’s iPad mini event, the online Apple stores around the world have gone offline as Apple is busy updating the store for us with some interesting new products. As previously noted, we’re expecting some revamped iMacs today alongside the smaller iPad, in addition to perhaps refreshed Mac minis and likely a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. Apple will also provide a live stream of today’s event via a new Apple Events section added to the Apple TV interface, though it’s unclear if the company will also provide a live stream via its home page… Read More

 

Apple Stores now carrying iPhone 5 cases

By Cody Lee on Oct 21, 2012

Accessories for Apple’s latest smartphone are extremely hard to find right now. Not only does the iPhone 5 have a different dock connector, but it’s also larger than its predecessor, making most cases and add-ons obsolete.

But we have some good news today, at least for the folks looking for a cover to protect their new handset. Reports are coming in this weekend that Apple has started stocking its retail stores with iPhone 5 cases… Read More

 

Apple previews Beijing’s massive new store, the largest in Asia

By Christian Zibreg on Oct 18, 2012

Apple is set to launch a grandiose new store in Beijing this coming Saturday, as we told you earlier. Both Western and local press had a chance to attend a media preview today and boy does the upcoming retail outlet impress. It files as the company’s sixth brick-and-mortar store in China and Apple’s SVP of Retail John Browett was on hand, taking advantage of the opportunity to confirm that the iPhone maker is also working to open another store in Shenzhen, China, where its contract manufacturer operates plants where Apple products are being assembled… Read More

 

New Apple Store opening in Beijing on Saturday

By Christian Zibreg on Oct 15, 2012

Apple’s retail web page was updated last week with an announcement of Beijing’s third Apple Store, scheduled for grand opening this coming Saturday, October 20. Apple already operates Sanlitun and Xidan Joy City retail outlets in the Beijing region so the upcoming store poses a welcome addition as the company preps to launch the iPhone 5 in China and looks to expand its retail operation in the 1.33 billion people market… Read More

 

Apple said to start accepting Apple Store gift cards via Passbook soon

By Cody Lee on Oct 14, 2012

A new report is out this morning, claiming that Apple is preparing to push out an update for its internal POS (point of sale) system software later this month that will allow Apple Store shoppers to pay with Passbook.

More specifically, the update will allow Apple’s retail employees to accept Apple Store payment cards via Passbook, the new digital wallet app in iOS 6 that stores boarding passes, event tickets and gift cards… Read More

 

Apple Store app finally updated for the iPhone 5

By Jeff Benjamin on Oct 5, 2012

The Apple Store App was finally updated for the iPhone 5′s bigger display, after being left out of the initial round of updates to Apple’s in house developed apps.

No other changes were added to the app, but this change is what most have been waiting for since the iPhone 5 launched. I can confirm that the Apple Store app looks glorious on the iPhone 5′s four inch display. Check inside for more pictures… Read More

 

Most iPhones not sold by Apple Stores

By Ed Sutherland on Oct 3, 2012

When it comes to sales of Apple products, the much-publicized Apple Stores are like a cruise ship captain: lots of glitz and glamour, but having little connection to the mostly-hidden work which keeps the boat steaming along. That’s the view of new research finding Apple’s retail partners sold more iPhones than Apple’s physical stores… Read More

 

Lame: Apple didn’t update its shopping app for the taller iPhone 5 display

By Christian Zibreg on Sep 27, 2012

Just a quick thought here. Apple ahead of the iPhone 5 release updated iLife, iWork and a bunch of other iOS apps it makes. All good. Sadly, notable absent was the official Apple Store app.

A free download, it’s a time savior for buying Apple gear and is indispensable in a ton of scenarios, like current iPhone 5 supply constraints. Combined with the Personal Pickup option, the Apple Store app is the most elegant and convenient purchasing solution.

That being said, it’s a shame the software has seen little love lately. Apple hasn’t even bothered to update the app with support for the taller iPhone 5 display. Just check out those annoying black bars in the below screenshot. Lame, I’m tellin’ ya… Read More

 

Grand opening of second Hong Kong store this Saturday

By Christian Zibreg on Sep 24, 2012

Apple will have grand opening of a new retail store in Hong Kong this coming Saturday, September 29, at 10am local time, per Apple’s retail page. Apple already runs a store in the Hong Kong Plaza at Huaihai Zhong Road.

This will be the company’s second store in one of two special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China (the other being Macau). This incoming store is located in Kowloon Tong in the Festival Walk shopping center, as seen right below… Read More

 

Best Buy can’t keep up with iPhone 5 preorders, report says

By Ed Sutherland on Sep 21, 2012

So, you pre-ordered your iPhone 5 the minute it was announced. Turns out, you may have better luck landing an iPhone by standing in line. The latest victim of the iPhone’s own success: electronics giant Best Buy. The company now says it may not have enough of the highly-sought handsets to meet demand, emailing some unlucky souls that they’ll need to wait up to mid-October.

“Based on current inventory allocation, we understand we will not have enough iPhone 5 devices to fulfill all pre-orders this weekend,” according to a Best Buy internal memo obtained by 9to5Mac. Read More

 

Walmart stops Kindle sales, following Target’s lead

By Ed Sutherland on Sep 20, 2012

Amazon’s $199 Kindle and low-price retailer Walmart would appear to be a match made in discount heaven, right? Then how do you explain today’s news that Walmart is kicking Amazon to the curb? In a statement, Walmart only says the decision is part of its “overall merchandising strategy.”

“Recently, Walmart Stores, Inc. made a business decision to not carry current Amazon products beyond our purchase commitments and existing inventory,” the Bentonville, Ark. firm told store managers Wednesday. In the memo reported by Reuters, Walmart officials said the stores will continue to offer “a broad assortment of tablets, eReaders and accessories at a variety of great price points.” Read More

 

Apple sold 2 million iPhone 5 in first 24 hours, ‘shattering’ iPhone 4S record

By Ed Sutherland on Sep 17, 2012

Another confirmation this morning just how fast the new iPhone 5 is selling: Apple says it sold 2 million of the new handsets in just the first 24 hours of availability with demand outstripping supply. Preorders for the slimmer, faster iPhone “have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S,” Apple’s marketing head Philip Schiller announced.

Indeed, demand is so off the scale that the Cupertino, Calif. company said the “majority of preorders” will be delivered to buyers on Sept. 21 with new purchases set for delivery in October. Earlier today, AT&T said it set a “sales record with iPhone 5 over the weekend, making it the fastest-selling iPhone the company has ever offered“. Read More

 

People are already in line for the iPhone 5 at New York Apple Store

By Cody Lee on Sep 17, 2012

If you weren’t able to place your iPhone 5 pre-order last week, and still want to pick one up on launch day, I have some good news and some bad news for you.

The good news is, Apple and other retailers will start offering the handset this Friday at 8 AM. The bad news is, it looks like some folks are already lining up… Read More

 

iPhone 5 online pre-order shipping time pushed back to 2 weeks

By Jeff Benjamin on Sep 14, 2012

Wow…it looks like the inventory for the first round of iPhone 5 pre-orders on Apple’s online store has already been completely exhausted. Now, whenever you try to pre-order, you get a message saying that the iPhone 5 will ship in 2 weeks, instead of arriving on September 21st like it originally stated. Read More

 

Smart App Banners spotted at the online Apple Store

By Christian Zibreg on Sep 7, 2012

iOS 6 comes with a handful of nice little Safari tweaks that one discovers and learns to appreciate over time. Among them, so-called Smart App Banners that let web sites display an interactive banner at the top of Safari to promote their associated App Store apps.

The new feature does require some work on part of web developers who will need to add code to tap the app launching UI and functionality portion of Smart App Banners.

Conveniently enough, with just five days until the iPhone 5 unveiling next Wednesday, Apple has turned on Smart App Banners on its online store… Read More

 

Apple now offering personalized online support service

By Cody Lee on Aug 29, 2012

Apple Store Geniuses are some of the most recognizable employees in the industry. Where as most retailers have moved to phone tech support, Apple takes pride in its in-store helpers.

So much so, in fact, that it’s starting to offer the personalized support to online shoppers as well, meaning customers can now get Genius-level help without ever leaving their house… Read More

 

Latest iPhone 5 hint: Apple paying to recycle your 4S

By Ed Sutherland on Aug 29, 2012

Most are confident we’ll see the iPhone 5 in mid or late-September. Because Apple isn’t a blabbermouth about such things, its fans are left reading tea leaves looking for hints to divine Cupertino’s exact intentions. The latest signal comes from the mothership itself. Apple will pay up to $345 for your old iPhone 4S.

The Apple Store is making the offer as part of its support for recycling old technology. Your gently-used 64GB white iPhone 4S could net you a $345 Apple Store gift card, while a 16GB black 4S will recycle $285 into your pocket. Apparently, Apple is hoping you’ll use your windfall to buy the new iPhone 5. Read More

 

Apple’s secret Genius Training Workbook surfaces online

By Cody Lee on Aug 28, 2012

Want to know the secret behind Apple’s highly-regarded retail experience? Then today’s you’re lucky day. The company’s ‘Genius Training Student Workbook’ has just leaked onto the internet.

The contents of the book are quite fascinating, essentially telling Geniuses-in-training how to think and what to say in nearly every kind of customer situation, and how to “sell gadget joy.” Read More

 

Most Apple owners say free service keeps them coming back

By Ed Sutherland on Aug 28, 2012

Despite thoughts of a service call as akin to a root canal, iPhone maker Apple has turned service into a selling point. Nearly 60 percent of current Apple device owners say they’ll buy another product from the Cupertino, Calif. company as the result of in-store service.

According to a survey by NPD Group, almost 90 percent of consumers who used Apple’s Genius Bar tech service rated the experience extremely or very satisfying. “A major part of their satisfaction came from the fact that only a small percentage actually paid for their service. According to the report, 88 percent of Genius Bar consumers said their service was free compared to 78 percent of all consumers.” Read More

 
Page 312345...