Shopping from home? Check out Apple’s new online store hub

Apple wants to help people who would like to buy its products from home during the global coronavirus health crisis so the company today launched an online store hub that presents products, services and other relevant information in a new central location.

It offers relevant information and links to related support articles dealing with no-contact delivery options, getting help, checking the status of your repair request and even accessing the new “Today at Apple – At home” fun how-to videos to boost your creativity.

You can also click category links to explore underlying products on the online Apple store.

“Everything you love about our stores is online,” reads the introductory message. “Chat with Specialists. Apple Trade In. No-contact delivery. And Genius Bar. All right here.”

This is currently available for Apple’s US online store, notes AppleInsider.

While it appears so far to solely be on the US version of Apple’s site, it does not appear to be entirely a temporary coronavirus-related move for the United States. The page ends with a ‘Find a Store’ button which at least suggests that Apple plans to keep the page after the United States government reopens physical stores.

The webpage is optimized for easy viewing and navigation via an iPhone or iPad.

Apple’s retail stores around the world have been closed since mid-March. While the company has now reopened its stores in South Korea, Austria and Australia, the vast majority of retail locations that Apple operates globally remain shuttered because of the COVID-19 situation.

That said, the new website should help those who need to buy an Apple product but don’t want to visit a retail store. I’m actually hoping they leave it live once this pandemic is behind us and we’ve dealt with the coronavirus because it’s really useful and very well designed.

For more information on temporary store closures, read Apple’s FAQ.

Be sure to visit apple.com/shop the next time you plan on buying Apple gear from home.