Australia

Apple Maps adds TrainLink and bus routes for Australia’s New South Wales

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 28, 2016

After previously introducing limited transit support for Sydney Trains in Australia, Apple's now expanded transit directions in the country with the addition of TrainLink and bus routes for both Sydney and New South Wales, Mac Prices Australia discovered.

With a silent backend update, Apple Maps customers in New South Wales can now start taking advantage of public transport information for trams, series and interstate services, including buses and trains, while detailing stations with entry points.

Apple Pay picks up ANZ support in Australia

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 28, 2016

Apple Pay has gained support for credit and debit cards from the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), with the exception of the ANZ MasterCard cards and corporate cards, Reuters has confirmed yesterday.

Following the initial launch of Apple Pay in Australia with support from American Express back in November 2015, Apple Pay is currently available in a total of six major markets: The United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, China and Singapore.

Back to School promo goes live in New Zealand and Australia with free Beats Solo2 headphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 3, 2016

Apple’s annual Back to School promotion is back with a new deal launching today in Australia and New Zealand. University students, students accepted to a university and parents buying for a university student are being tempted with a free Beats Solo2 on-ear headphones, a $199.95 value, with an eligible Mac purchase.

When purchasing a new MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac or iMac with Retina 5K display, customers shall receive an instant credit for the purchase of a pair of Beats Solo2 wired headphones in Gloss Black, Gloss White, Gloss Red or Gloss Blue or wired Beats Solo2 headphones in Space Gray, Silver, Gold or Rose Gold.

Apple Pay launches in Australia with Amex

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 18, 2015

After bringing Apple Pay to Canadian users 24 hours ago, the iPhone maker's mobile payment service is now available Down Under with American Express.

Amex issued card members in Australia can now add their card to Apple Pay using the Wallet application on their iPhone or through Settings. Local bank-issued debit and credit cards are not supported yet.

Using Apple Pay with American Express lets customers enjoy all the rewards and benefits of American Express membership and pay with Apple Pay anywhere contactless payments are already accepted.

Apple Pay’s launch in Australia faces pushback as greedy banks balk at transaction fees

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 17, 2015

Apple Pay certainly has a long way to go before it becomes ubiquitous. The service is currently available on a limited basis in the United States and the United Kingdom and is yet to hit major markets such as Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and more.

In Australia (or colloquially, Down Under), banks are reportedly reluctant to give up on interchange fees in exchange for seamless technology and are said to loathe a third-party providing an extra layer between them and their customers at the point of sale.

Apple Watch hits Best Buy in Canada and Harvey Norman in Australia

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2015

Keeping true to its promise, Best Buy Canada today began carrying the Apple Watch in its retail stores throughout the country. The electronics retailer's online store in Canada is now selling Apple's watches, too. In addition, the Apple Watch is now available through the Australian department store Harvey Norman's outlets in Auburn, New South Wales.

Annual Back to School promo launches in New Zealand and Australia with $25-$100 gift cards

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 29, 2015

Apple's annual Back to School promotion launched today in Australia and New Zealand, as noted by 9to5Mac. Unlike last year when the promo included iTunes gift cards, this time around Apple Store gift cards are being offered to university students, students accepted to a university and parents buying for a university student.

A qualifying Mac, iPad or iPhone purchased is required.

The sale runs from January 30 through March 19.

Apple continues TV content march, adds new Cricket Australia channel

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Cricket Australia launched a new channel on Apple TV this week, reports The Sydney Morning Herald, making it the first sports streaming channel on the set-top box in the country. The move will bring high-definition and exclusive content to fans down under.

Apple launches iPhone and iPad trade-in program in Australia

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 19, 2018

As expected, Apple has officially launched its iPhone and iPad trade-in program in Australia today. The company made the announcement via a statement provided to an Australian MSN affiliate this morning.

Customers can receive a maximum of A$250 (or roughly $234 USD) for their iPhones, and A$215 ($202 USD) for iPad trade-ins. Newer devices like the iPhone 5s and 5c are not eligible, nor are first-gen models...

Apple launches iPhone trade-in in Italy, coming to Australia later this week

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 1, 2014

Last August, Apple Stores in the United States started accepting customers' older iPhones (iPhone 3G and up) in exchange for a credit redeemable against the purchase of a brand spanking new iPhone.

The iPhone trade-in has since expanded to Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and has now gone live in Italy. Furthermore, the initiative is set to expand to Australia in the coming days.

Customers in Italy can now trade in their older iPhone model for an Apple Store Gift Card worth up to €220, which works out to about $300. Folks can then use the store credit towards the purchase of a new iPhone, helping bring upfront payment down to a more bearable level...

iCloud hackers who held iOS devices ransom detained in Russia

Joe Rossignol ∙ June 9, 2014

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Russian authorities have detained two young hackers for hijacking iOS devices through iCloud and holding them ransom for payment. The suspects, both residents of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow, are a 23-year-old named Ivan and an unnamed 17-year-old that served as his accomplice.

Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Monday that the hackers were detained during the course of "operational activities" by the Russian Interior Ministry. The hackers were caught on closed-caption TV after attempting to withdraw ransom payment from an ATM machine. The ministry also noted that one of the suspects has already been tried before…

Some iOS devices hijacked and held hostage in Australia

Joe Rossignol ∙ May 27, 2014

A growing number of iPhone, iPad and Mac users in Australia are turning to the Apple Support Communities and Twitter to report incidents of their device being remotely locked through iCloud. In some cases, a fraudulent message appears through the Find my iPhone service demanding payment between $50 and $100 to someone named Oleg Pliss for the device to be unlocked…