As noted by some of our readers, Apple has quietly posted a new video to its iPhone 5 page entitled "The Launch Day video." The two-minute compilation clip, as you might have guessed, shows scenes from Apple Stores around the globe during last month's iPhone 5 launch day events...
I know, I'm crazy like that, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to try something this cool. I bought a Philips Hue Starter Kit for $199.95. That's more than half the price of an iPad mini for a few lightbulbs. But these aren't any ordinary lightbulbs, as you read in our post yesterday.
The Philips Hue starter kit allows you to dynamically change the colors and lighting of a room using a handy iOS app. You can even turn on your lights while away from home all from your iPhone. Needless to say, my curiosity got the best of me, and I simply couldn't resist the chance to try something like that out. Check out my unboxing inside, and stay tuned for the full review...
How about a lightbulb that lets you personalize lighting settings and timers while you're out, just by using an app for your iPhone or iPad? That's what Philips set out to achieve with the Hue, "the world’s smartest LED bulb”, that it says consumes eighty percent less power than traditional bulbs. What's more, the Hue uses the open ZigBee Light Link standard, allowing it to be integrated with other ZigBee certified systems.
The free app for iOS and Android devices invites you to change settings, pick any color for any of your bulbs or group them together to create moody presets. You can also program your bulb to turn on and off at different times of day and more.
Conveniently, the Hue is set to hit Apple stores on an exclusive basis starting tomorrow, October 30. That Philips is in a rush to release this product with a little help from one of the world's most powerful brands actually speaks volume about the popular Lifx project which has already raised $1.3+ million on Kickstarter.
At any rate, the Hue doesn't come cheap, which is a real downer. Read on for additional details and a nice promo clip...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...