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Apple now offers a single gift card for digital and physical purchases
You can load up to $2,000 on a card, depending on how generous you're feeling.
Apple will reopen stores in four US states next week
The company will employ temperature checks and physical distancing measures.
Apple retail VP Angela Ahrendts leaves after five years
It's the end of an era for Apple's retail ambitions. Senior retail VP Angela Ahrendts is leaving the company after five years as she looks for "new personal and professional pursuits." Her replacement is People VP Deidre O'Brien, a three-decade veteran of Apple who'll continue to handle the People team in her new role.
Chinese fraudsters scammed Apple out of free iPhone parts
Apple's warranty policy was badly abused by fraudsters in China back in 2013, according to a report from The Information. In an elaborate scheme, rings of thieves would purchase iPhones and immediately return them to Apple's Store in Shenzhen, claiming they were broken. In reality, they had removed valuable components and replaced them with fake parts and even gum wrappers. After receiving the replacement phones, the teams would sell them off, while using the stolen components in refurbished iPhones. Those would then be sold off in smaller cities.
17 people charged in a string of Apple store robberies
A number of individuals have been arrested in conjunction with a series of Apple store robberies that resulted in the theft of over $1 million worth of devices. The California Attorney General's office said in a statement on Thursday that seven were arrested earlier in the week, another suspect was in custody and nine others had been charged with the crime. Since then, at least two additional individuals have been arrested. In a string of robberies, groups rushed retail stores, grabbed products on display and left in just a few seconds.
Logitech's Crayon for iPad is available to everyone September 12th
Logitech's Crayon was a dream for 2018 iPad owners who wanted stylus input without paying a premium for Apple's Pencil, but there was a catch: the schools-only focus ruled it out for anyone besides students. You won't be shut out for much longer, though, as Logitech is making the Crayon available through Apple's retail stores on September 12th. It won't be as much of a bargain, unfortunately -- it'll cost $70 for everyday users instead of the $50 for schools -- but it could be a better choice if that extra $30 for a Pencil seems unnecessary.
Apple's revamped Store app now features voice search
Next time you fire up the Apple Store app to look up the MacBooks, iPhones and compatible accessories you can buy, just say the keyword out loud. Cupertino has rolled out voice search for its Store application on iOS -- you only need to tap the mic icon in the search bar to get the app to recognize your words.
'Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition' launches February 9th
It looks like Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition, the mobile version of the console and PC game, is just around the corner. According to an App Store listing, it will hit iOS on February 9th for players who have an iPhone 6s or later, late model iPad or iPad Pro. The game also appeared on Google Play back in August last year, and while the release date isn't mentioned there, you can pre-register to find out when it arrives.
Apple will replace your iPhone battery even if it passes tests
Apple now has $29/£25 iPhone battery replacements available as an apology for its approach to handset slowdowns. But do you need to wait until your iPhone actually slows down before paying for a fresh power pack? Apparently not. MacRumors has confirmed an iGeneration report that Apple will replace the batteries on iPhone 6 or newer models whether or not they pass the usual diagnostic test (which recommends a replacement if the battery falls below 80 percent of its original capacity). In other words, you can go ahead if your phone just isn't lasting as long as it used to.
RED starts selling its 'budget' $15,000 camera with Apple
RED, known for high-end cinema cameras used by James Cameron, Peter Jackson and others, has just formed a very unusual retail partnership. It's now offering the 4.5K, 120 fps RED Raven camera exclusively at Apple.com for a mere $15,000. That makes it far and away Apple's priciest third-party accessory, and the priciest product, period, on Apple.com, as far as I can tell -- and it's not exactly a thrift shop in the first place.
Apple users have spent over $100 billion in the App Store
Apple announced today that app developers have earned over $70 billion through the App Store since its launch in 2008. As ever, the revenue split between Apple and its app developers is 70/30 for most purchases, meaning users have spent over $100 billion in the App Store.
Apple wants to sell iPhones out of an historic DC library
Apple is no stranger to the challenges of opening stores in historic locations, such as New York City's Grand Central Terminal. Its latest shop may be its most ambitious yet, however. The company has unveiled plans to convert Washington, DC's Carnegie Library into a retail store. The building hasn't been used as a book repository for a long time (it's currently shared between the city's Historical Society and the organizers at Events DC), but this would still be a vast undertaking. In the proposal, Apple would turn most of the Library into one of its shining beacons of modernity while (hopefully) respecting its 114-year legacy.
Apple sees its redesigned retail stores as community spaces
Apple's retail stores have long had a social side. You might not visit just to hang out, but the combination of free workshops and an abundance of connected devices gives you a reason to stay besides gawking at the latest products... if just to check up on Facebook. And now, Apple is banking on that social aspect as a selling point. The company is both redesigning its 100 largest stores and launching new "Today at Apple" workshops to turn its stores into community spaces of sorts. The shops are still very much geared toward sales, but you'll have more reasons to swing by on a frequent basis.
Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus now come in red
In the midst of launching a new video-editing app for the iPhone and iPad, Apple has also just snuck out a new special-edition red iPhone 7, with barely any fanfare. (Although rumors that something was afoot began earlier today when Apple's online store went down.) The red aluminum iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be launching globally, adding some welcome color to the black and plainer metallic shades we've had until now.
Nintendo Switch makes its live TV debut on 'The Tonight Show'
After you check out our discussion with Nintendo's president Reggie Fils-Aime, you can get a good look at the new Switch console in operation () on the Tonight Show stage. Reggie and host Jimmy Fallon played the yet-to-be-released console, taking a trip through The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild showing off its ability to go portable with the press of a button. Additionally, after previewing a bit of Super Mario Run action, Reggie announced that starting today, you can visit Apple Stores worldwide and try out a demo version before the game launches December 15th. There's not a lot of new information if you've been paying attention, but it does give a good idea of what using a Switch will be like when it ships in March. As an extra bonus, check out the second video to see Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto playing the game's theme song along with The Roots.
Apple starts selling refurb iPhones through its online store
If you've ever wanted to buy an iPhone straight from Apple but thought that brand new unlocked models were out of your reach, you're in luck. Apple has started selling refurbished iPhones in its US online store, with hefty discounts depending on what you want to buy. An unlocked 16GB iPhone 6s is selling for $449, or $80 off the usual price; splurge on a 64GB iPhone 6s Plus and you'll shell out $589, or $110 less than usual. The iPhone SE and iPhone 7 are absent, but that's not surprising given that owners have only had them for several months at best.
Inside the redesigned Apple Store on Regent Street
Soon, Apple's store on Regent Street, London, will re-open to the public. The gadget mecca has been given a radical makeover, retiring the old glass staircase and much of the first floor. In their place you'll find a double height "grand hall" which stretches seven meters above you. Twelve trees have been added to the ground floor, as well as some circular sofas (made from Rolls-Royce leather), and two staircases made from a pale Castagna stone. Climbing these will take you to a smaller space upstairs, where Apple's new "Creative Pros" can teach you about specialised software.
Apple Store fires staff for stealing customers' private pics
Another Apple Store in Australia is embroiled in a scandal, and this time, it involves explicit photos. According to Courier Mail (membership required), the Carindale Apple Store in Queensland fired four male employees for not only stealing sensitive images from customers' phones sent in for repair, but also for taking creepshots of their female co-workers. The four reportedly shared their loot with other employees in chat, where they rated women's body parts out of 10. By the time their MO was discovered, they already had quite a collection going: the publication says they were in possession of over 100 creepshots and stolen images, including close-ups of women's chests and derrières.
Apple will start selling Sonos speakers today
Sonos still offers one of the best experiences for those who want to keep music in sync throughout their home. But it's not a brand that everyone knows, and in a place like Best Buy or Target it has to fight a lot of other competitors for shelf space and attention (that's not the case in its massive NYC retail store, of course). Today, the company's retail presence is getting a boost thanks to a new partnership with Apple. Starting this afternoon, you'll be able to buy the Sonos Play:1 and Play:5 speakers on Apple's website in the US. By October 5th, the speakers will be on sale in 468 Apple retail stores around the world, and they'll be coming to more markets online in the following weeks.
Apple might open stores in India thanks to relaxed rules
Apple might not have to bend over backwards to open stores in India: the country has loosened its rules on locally-sourced products in a way that gives foreign companies a shot. First-party retailers (that is, those that mostly sell their own products) will have a 3-year grace period where they don't have to sell at least 30 percent products that are locally made. They can extend that window for another 5 years if they show that they're making advanced tech that benefits from the relaxed rules -- in other words, Apple. In theory, this gives outsiders a chance to get their local manufacturing in gear at the same time as they build up their brand.
