disney store
Latest
KTLA goes Apple Pay shopping with Apple's Eddy Cue
Apple senior vice president of internet software and services Eddy Cue has a lot to be happy about with a successful Apple Pay rollout in the last month. He's so happy that he went out and did a lot of early holiday shopping with KTLA's Rich DeMuro at a number of stores that feature -- surprise! -- Apple Pay as a payment method. Cue and DeMuro started their day at Panera Bread, where they ordered a quick breakfast using the chain's app and picked it up, all without interacting with one of those pesky human beings. Then it was off to Bloomingdales, where Cue had the opportunity to pay at a terminal using the now-familiar tap with his finger on the Touch ID home button. At the Disney Store, Cue had to sign for his transaction, explaining that some retailers are still requiring signatures for larger transactions. DeMuro notes that Apple is hoping that eventually retailers will get rid of the need to sign at all. Eventually, the duo showed up at a Santa Monica, CA Apple Store to buy some new iPads ... which of course allow Apple ID purchases from within apps. All in all, this is a great introduction to Apple Pay if you haven't yet had the opportunity to try it out. The video will start in about 30 seconds after the ad.
Steve Jobs helping overhaul Disney retail
The New York Times has posted about a new project that our own Mr. Jobs has taken on: he's now helping out Disney Stores with their retail business. You have to hand it to Disney, no matter what you think of the Mouse House -- when they have a problem with part of the business, they bring in the experts. First they have Pixar's John Lasseter come in and take over animation (and they're about to release what looks like the best 2D movie in ages), and now they've got Steve Jobs himself sprucing up their retail spaces. Sounds like they're making the store more interactive (walking by some displays with certain products will create an audiovisual reaction), and taking some of the tech as well (employees will be able to check out items on mobile units, and control certain displays in the store with iPhones). They also borrowed another page from Jobs' playbook: they've apparently created a prototype store (just like Apple did way back when), not only to test out what everything might look like, but to give a charge to executives and investors who get a tour. Sounds interesting, but then again, it makes sense. What else is an Apple Store, but a toy shop for big kids? [via MacUser]
