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Apple reportedly warns stores of iPhone replacement shortages
Apple's coronavirus-related iPhone supply shortage might cause problems if you total your handset in the near future. Apple store workers talking to Bloomberg say they've been warned that replacement iPhones will be in low supply for up to two to four weeks. Reps can reportedly mail out replacements and offer loaner iPhones in the meantime, but there's no guarantee you'll walk out of a Genius appointment with a brand new device in hand.
Apple will open its first India retail store in 2021
If Apple is going to keep iPhone sales going in a market that's cooling down, it may have to court regions where it previously hasn't sold well -- and it appears poised to do just that. CEO Tim Cook told attendees at Apple's annual shareholder meeting that the company would start selling its products online in India later in 2020, and would open its first official retail store in the country in 2021. The tech firm was waiting for government approval to run the branded stores itself rather than relying on a local partner. Apple doesn't want "somebody else to run the brand for us," Cook explained.
Apple is closing all mainland China stores due to coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus outbreak is having a tangible impact on the tech world, and Apple is serving as a textbook example of its effect. The company is closing all its retail stores and corporate offices in mainland China through February 9th out of an "abundance of caution" and in consultation from experts. Apple had initially closed three stores, but this shuts down a full 42 locations across the country.
Inside Apple's redesigned 'cube' store in New York City
Just in time for the launch of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, Apple is finally re-opening the doors to its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Better known as "the cube," the iconic 77,000 square feet space has been closed for renovations since 2017, but Apple is ready to let customers back in starting this Friday. Before it opens to the public tomorrow, though, we got a sneak peak. And frankly, it doesn't just feel renovated, it feels like a completely new store, especially underground, where everything is brighter and more spacious than before.
Apple Watch Studio lets you pair any band and case
To date, you've had fairly limited ways to create Apple Watch band and case combos -- retail only has a small number of each to try out, and even the web configurator only lets you go so far. You won't be left wondering for long, at least. Apple has unveiled a Watch Studio for its retail and online stores that will let you pair any band with any case. That's 1,000 pairings, Apple said. The company didn't outline the differences between the two (besides retail's advantage of physical try-ons, of course), but the in-store crowd will get to see combinations on iPad kiosks.
Apple is no longer selling LG's UltraFine 5K display
It looks like Apple has unceremoniously dropped another third-party display option from its online store. 9to5Mac noticed the LG UltraFine 5K display appears to be no longer available for purchase from Apple. This comes just a few weeks after Apple stopped selling the 4K model of the monitor. The apparent removal of the LG's offerings come as Apple is reportedly working on its owns 6K display that is rumored to be released later this year.
Apple offers next-day repairs for faulty MacBook keyboards
After years of user complaints, it looks like Apple is starting to prioritize repairs for busted MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards. According to a memo obtained by Mac Rumors, Apple has started to stock its retail locations with necessary parts so Genius Bar technicians can fix keyboard issues in store rather than shipping devices to an off-site service center. Employees were also instructed to aim for next-day turnarounds when performing keyboard repairs. Engadget has reached out to Apple to confirm this change and will update this story if we hear back.
Bed bugs force Apple to temporarily close 24-hour Fifth Avenue store
The 24-hour Apple Store on New York City's Fifth Avenue was visited by some unwelcome guests. Staff were ordered to double bag their belongings last Friday after a bed bug was spotted in a manager's office, the New York Post reports. Critters were spotted in the store as far back as three to four weeks ago, but the Apple Store didn't acknowledge there was a problem until last week.
Apple stops charging $99 to transfer data to new Macs
If you have a ton of files you need to move to your new Mac, you're in luck. Apple quietly did away with the $99 fee it charges to migrate data from your old Mac to your new computer. The policy change, which went into effect on April 2nd, was first reported by TidBITS. From now on, if you purchase a new Mac or take your computer in for repair, Apple will transfer your data for free.
Apple will repair iPhones with third-party batteries
In a change to its longstanding policy, Apple is apparently repairing iPhones with third-party batteries at its Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers. This is a about-face from its previous stance, which was to refuse repairs on iPhones with aftermarket batteries.
Apple's Store app knows what you want and when it's in stock
Apple's Store app (not to be confused with Apple's App Store) that provides info about its bricks-and-mortar retail locations adds a few decent features today, including knowing when your order is ready to pick up, for less in-store loitering time.
Apple to open retail store in Tianjin, China on February 7
China is a big part of Apple's retail future, and its presence is about to expand a bit more. Apple will open a retail store in Tianjin, China on Feb. 7. Apple recently noted its plan to open five new retail stores in five weeks to coincide with the Chinese New Year. The Tianjin store is number four.
Video highlights mural on forthcoming Chongqing Apple Store
Apple has posted a video on its China retail page highlighting the collaboration that resulted in the mural that currently covers the forthcoming Chongqing store. Navid Baraty and artist Yangyang Pan worked on the mural, which is just stunning. In the video, they each discuss their contributions. Last week, Apple released a video highlighting the calligraphy project meant to promote the upcoming Hangzhou retail store. The company's retail chief Angela Ahrendts has stated that Apple will open five new Chinese retail stores to coincide with the Chinese New Year holiday.
In 2012, Kevin Durant explained how to pass the time in Oklahoma City
We don't write about Kevin Durant a lot at TUAW, but we're fans. He's an Olympic gold medalist, NBA All-Star, hero to millions, and a staggering talent on the court. Durant is also gives charming interviews, like this one from 2012 where he was asked about what it's like to live in Oklahoma City. His answer was simple: You can watch the full interview from the Jimmy Kimmel show here.
San Francisco's One Stockton Street Apple Store gets a temporary fountain
Those of you who follow Twitter and Instagram were probably chuckling yesterday afternoon when folks in San Francisco started sending out images of a huge fountain next to the Apple Store at One Stockton Street. Twitter user @its__amandaaa (Amanda Hoac) took the photo above as well as a fun slo-mo video of the fountain in action that was featured on ABC7 News' Facebook page. The fountain isn't a new architectural feature for the store that's going to be closed when a new flagship Apple Store is opened; rather, it was a side "benefit" of construction work that seems to have been going on forever in the area. A construction worker apparently hit a fire hydrant with a piece of equipment, causing the waterworks to erupt until workers were able to shut it off.
Clever Apple Store window display
There's a window display in London's Regent Street Apple Store that's pretty clever. It features a row of iPads, standing up, with Smart Covers that seem to open and close all on their own. Meanwhile, the iPads are running a demo video. It's certainly eye-catching, as you can see it the video below. How does it work? We're going out on a limb to guess that magnets are somehow involved.
Snowmen? No -- just people waiting in line at an Apple Store
Photo credit: @buckedplatypus That picture above? Well, you might think it's a bunch of snowmen in a line. That's pretty close to the truth, as it's a line of snow-covered people waiting in the dark in Sapporo, Japan early in the morning of January 1. Why would anyone sit in the cold and snow for hours? Well, there's a New Year's tradition in Japan of Fukubukuro, or "Lucky Bags". Merchants sell sealed bags of items at a substantial discount so that everyone walks away with a bargain, but Apple has sweetened the pot over the past three years by often putting much more expensive swag into random bags. The Lucky Bags sold this year for ¥36,000 or about US$340, with some really lucky buyers getting MacBooks or high-end iPads tossed into the mix.
iPod shuffle stocks are dwindling
Apple fans looking for the diminutive 2 GB iPod shuffle (US$49.00) may have to wait a while to get one, as stocks at both the online Apple Store and brick-and-mortar Apple retail outlets are running low. Currently the online store is showing a 7 to 10 day wait prior to shipment, and searching personal pickup availability -- usually a good indicator of stock on hand at local Apple Stores -- shows "ships to store" as the status for many of those stores. So what's the cause of the shortage? There are several possibilities. First, it could be that Apple has decided to drop the iPod shuffle entirely from its product line. That's not entirely out of the question; the company killed the iPod Classic last September with nary a word from Cupertino. Next, Apple might be in the process of transitioning to a new manufacturing partner in order to reduce the cost of what has to be a fairly low-margin product, in which case the shortage could be temporary. Or perhaps Apple is considering replacing the existing iPod shuffle with a newer model with more capacity and/or Bluetooth. The iPod shuffle has always been a popular model for running and working out, as the .44 ounce (12.5 gram) device is easy to clip onto a collar or waistband. But the current model seems a bit dated in an Apple world where more and more devices are going wireless. What are your thoughts on the fate of the iPod shuffle? Let us know in the comments.
Apple wants you to "Start something new"
A new promotional campaign from Apple is encouraging present and future owners of iPad, iPhone and Mac to "Start something new" in 2015 by using artistic apps to be creative. A new web page appeared on the Apple Japan web site last week and has since expanded to cover many more international sites. A gallery shows works of art that have been created by Apple owners using their favorite device and apps ranging from the standard iPhone Camera app to VSCO Cam or Waterlogue for photographs, iMovie or Final Cut Pro for video (often using the iPhone 6/6 Plus as a camera), and iDraw or Procreate to create hand-drawn or painted works. ifoAppleStore noted that the artworks are now appearing as wall graphics in many Apple retail stores around the world, and that the campaign "continues Apple's advertising focus on the result of using its products, rather than on the products themselves." The web page gallery is also repeated on the Apple Store app, so if you have your iPhone or iPad at your fingertips right now, be sure to take a look.
Opening Apple's 'Lucky Bags' in Japan, where $300 can get you a MacBook Air
Happy New Year. And when it comes to shopping in Japan, that means sales and fukubukuro. These "lucky bags" are sold by all kinds of stores, and typically contain products equal in value to what you pay, but sometimes a whole lot more. Even Apple's bricks-and-mortar stores have followed the tradition since 2004, with a handful of bags housing a coveted MacBook Air. All of the bags cost 35,000 yen, roughly $300, but if you're shopping for an Apple laptop, it's a gamble. There's no guarantee what will be inside yours. This year, for the first time, Apple has added a handful of limited edition products for its crowd of dedicated Japanese fans. We visited the store in Ginza, Tokyo, today, which alone (there are three stores in the city) managed to attract 900 people before the store even opened. Let's see what 300 bucks can buy, if you're willing to risk it.
