Jake Smith

Apple Watch sales strategy: a focus on fashion and upsells

Jake Smith ∙ March 24, 2015

9to5mac is out with a report on Tuesday detailing how Apple Store employees will help customers select the right Apple Watch for their lifestyle, when it becomes available to purchase on April 24. The publication, often providing some of the best Apple scoops, details that retail employees will initiate conversations to build trust, enabling the employee to essentially take the place as a fashion advisor during the purchase process, rather than pushing a new consumer electronic.

Apple providing businesses with Apple Pay stickers for promotion

Jake Smith ∙ March 23, 2015

In an effort to drive support from businesses, Apple has updated the Apple Pay section of its website with a link to a new Apple Pay supplies website. The website, aimed at businesses and merchants, provides an Apple Pay decal that can be displayed on a storefront window.

Twitter testing autoplay ads on iPhone, iPad apps for some users

Jake Smith ∙ March 23, 2015

Taking a page out of Facebook's playbook, Twitter has begun testing autoplaying videos on the timelines of a small group of users, AdAge first spotted. With the test, you may see videos playing without tapping a play button - and this means ads, too.

A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the test that's occurring on Twitter's iPhone and iPad apps. The autoplay test applies to Promoted Video ads, along with videos uploaded through Twitter's mobile app through its new video service.

Apple seeds fifth OS X 10.10.3 beta for developers and public testers

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple seeded the fifth beta of OS X 10.10.3 on Monday, available to download for registered developers and public AppleSeed beta testers. The beta, carrying build number 14D113c, is available to download via the Updates tab of the Mac App Store or from the Mac Developer Center.

Eric Schmidt: Google Glass isn’t dead, being ‘made ready for users’

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Following the shut down of the Google Glass Explorer program and the reorganization of the Google Glass team, some theorized Google Glass may be dead. However Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, says the Google Glass technology is too fundamental for Google to end the project.

Apple praises ‘Becoming Steve Jobs’ biography, calls it ‘better than anything else we’ve seen’

Jake Smith ∙ March 23, 2015

Apple is throwing itself behind the latest biography to tell the life of late co-founder Steve Jobs, ahead of its release on Tuesday. "Becoming Steve Jobs" by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli has elicited a response from Apple's often-quiet press team, as to why it chose to provide interview access for the completion of the book.

New Apple Wireless keyboard with backlit keys appears on Apple’s online store

Jake Smith ∙ March 23, 2015

An updated version of Apple's wireless keyboard appeared on Apple's Czech Republic online store on Monday, most notably packing a backlit keyboard.

Apple hasn't updated the product description noting the backlit feature, however the F5 and F6 keys indicate dimming and brightening functionality like found on Apple's laptop line. The keys have also seen a slight redesign, and the CD eject button has been replaced with a power button.

Apple reportedly having issues making Apple Watch’s screen

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple is having issues manufacturing the 1.5-inch AMOLED screen for the Apple Watch, and as a result, has cut initial production and shipment targets in half, according to UDN Mobile.

Citing sources in Apple's supply chain, the Taiwanese publication says Apple has cut shipments from between 2.5 to 3 million units to between 1.25 and 1.5 million units.

Here’s how Apple will let customers try on in-ear headphones

Jake Smith ∙ March 20, 2015

Following a report last month, Japan-based blog Macotakara was able to snag a look at the kit Apple Store employees will use to allow customers to try-on in-ear headphones before making a purchase.

The urBeats, Beats Tour, and PowerBeats 2 Wireless, all made by the Apple-owned Beats Electronics, and the RHA MA450i, JayBird BlueBuds X, and the Bose QC20, are seen in the kit that Apple Store employees will use to help present to customers.

Apple rumored to unveil slimmer Apple TV with App Store and Siri in June

Jake Smith ∙ March 20, 2015

John Paczowski of BuzzFeed reports Apple plans to show the rumored, redesigned, Apple TV this June at the World Wide Developers Conference, notably featuring an App Store and Siri.

iPhoto for Mac updated before dying at hands of new Photos app

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple has released an update for the iPhoto for Mac app on Thursday, updating the software that's on its death bed before Apple transitions users to the new Photos app.

The update, available through the Mac App Store's software update tool, will help users transition their photo libraries to Apple's new software when it's eventually made available to the public.

Code indicates Android Wear to gain iOS support

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Taking a play out of Pebble's playbook, Google's line of smartwatches under the Android Wear brand may finally be ready to give the Apple Watch a run for its money by being supported by both iOS and Android.

Google’s Android-powered software platform for wearable devices launched a year ago without official support for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Mac devices. But that may soon change.