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Apple buys itself some time with £59 Apple TV price cut
How long can the current Apple TV survive? The sleek streaming box has stayed the same, more or less, for just over three years now. Sure, there's been a steady stream of new apps and software features, but the components and basic experience have barely changed. Meanwhile, we've seen Roku, Amazon, Google and others bombard the market with rival hardware that offer new, modern takes on navigation and discovery. We're still waiting on a major Apple TV refresh, but in the meantime the company has dropped the price of its set-top box yet again; now, you can pick one up for £59 rather than £79 in the UK.
Apple's online store returns to Russia with huge price hikes
Remember how Russia's sudden currency devaluation led Apple to shut down its online store in the country, leaving locals without access to one of the biggest internet shops around? Well, Apple is back -- and unfortunately, the prices reflect Russia's new economic reality. If you want a 16GB iPhone 6, for example, you'll have to shell out 35 percent more than you did before, at 53,990 rubles off-contract. That's equivalent to $980, or enough to make that US-bought iPhone 6 Plus (which tops out at $949) seem like a bargain.
Bose products are reportedly returning to Apple's stores
You probably didn't shed too many tears when Apple yanked Bose products from its stores, but less variety in audio gear is rarely a good thing. It sounds like the two companies can't stay mad at each other for very long, however -- a source for 9to5Mac has leaked retail data that reportedly shows Bose gear returning to Apple's shops in the near future. We've reached out to Apple to verify whether or not that's the case. A truce on the shopping front would make sense, though. While Apple's Beats label and Bose are fierce competitors, the Bose name remains a big draw for customers. Apple may not want to forgo all that potential profit, even if some of it goes to an arch-rival. [Image credit: Waleed Alzuhair, Flickr]
Apple removes Bose products from stores following Beats settlement
Bose might have settled its noise-cancellation lawsuit against Beats out of court, but the two are clearly far from putting the past behind them. Apple (Beats' new owner) has pulled all Bose headphones and speakers from its online store and several brick-and-mortar ones, according to 9to5mac, despite continuing to carry other audio brands like Urbanears, Bang & Olufsen and Sennheiser. Both companies have declined to comment about the issue when asked by Recode, but rumors about Cupertino dropping Bose have been going around since the settlement last week.
Engadget Daily: Internet security flaws, iOS 8 fixes and more!
The past 24 hours have been quite a ride, eh? We've seen just how easy it can be to pilfer goods from an Apple store, discovered that there's yet another internet security flaw and Cupertino has a fix for the latest version of iOS' problems. However, there are even more stories than that! For those, check out the gallery below.
It's just this easy to steal from the Apple Store (video)
Late last week, ex-NBA player Rex Chapman was picked up by Scottsdale, Arizona police on felony charges of theft and trafficking in stolen property. According to the police, that's because Chapman made off from the local Apple Store with over $14,000 worth of gear over several visits occurring in the last few months. As you can see in the raw security video footage of some nine visits released by the police today, he would browse around, pick up an item (headphones, although from the video we can't tell if they're Beats), pretend to check it out with Apple's EasyPay app and put it in a white Apple sales bag. Finally, all he had to do was walk out before selling the goods at a pawnshop.
Ex-NBAer Rex Chapman allegedly stole from Apple Stores by faking EasyPay
Remember when Apple introduced its EasyPay self-checkout feature in 2011, and everyone wondered "how can they really tell if a customer is buying something or just shoplifting?" According to the Scottsdale, AZ police, former college and professional basketball player Rex Chapman had the same thought and acted on it. They arrested the 12-year NBA veteran at 1:45 PM local time, after employees recognized him as a former player for the Phoenix Suns and tied him to a string of thefts. Chapman is accused of committing seven instances of theft over a few months, snagging gear worth more than $14,000 and selling it at a local pawnshop for cash. All of this was allegedly done by picking up the items, pretending to use the self-checkout feature in the iPhone's Apple Store app and then just walking out. Now Chapman is facing nine counts of Organized Retail Theft and five counts of Trafficking in Stolen Property -- all of which are felonies -- and we're wondering if Tim Cook has another security issue that could use some attention. [Image credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS]
iTunes Pass links your credit to iOS' Passbook app (update: now available in the US)
Scratch-cards are fun. Inputting lengthy serial codes, less so. We're not sure why Apple's testing this out in Japan first, but iTunes Pass marks another effort in the direction towards smoothing mobile payments -- something that country knows plenty about. Spotted on Apple's Japanese iTunes page by 9to5Mac, the company describes how users can now deposit money directly to their iTunes account inside bricks-and-mortar stores. Apple sales assistants will scan the Passbook card (seen above) and the payment will go through then and there, ready to be used instantly. The Passbook app can already be installed from the iOS iTunes Store app in Japan and as 9to5Mac notes, with only eight stores, the country could be the easiest way to gauge the service before deciding whether to take it global. Oh yeah, and it's completely different to Apple's 2009 iTunes Pass. Update: The new Passbook card has now appeared in the US.
EU ruling allows Apple to trademark its store layouts
Love or hate them, it's hard to argue that Apple's retail stores aren't highly distinctive. That's what the EU's highest court thought when it overruled a German verdict and said that Apple's store design could be registered as a trademark in Europe. Though Apple holds a store trademark granted last year by the USPTO, Germany's patent office rejected it, despite admitting that the retail layout was "an essential aspect of (its) business." The Court of Justice of the EU disagreed, saying that "an integral collection of lines, curves and shapes" (in Apple's stores) fulfill all the criteria for a trademark. It noted that any store design like Apple's which "departs significantly" from others in the same sector also merits trademark protection. Meanwhile, Apple may be planning changes to its stores anyway, having just hired ex-Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts as head of retail. For now, though, you're less likely to walk into a store like this in Europe.
Street magician works Soho Apple Store
Levi Sparkx is a street magician who recently traveled to New York City to audition for America's Got Talent. While spending time in NYC, he stopped by the SoHo Apple Store to blow a few people's minds. Street magic is an artform where the magician performs for strangers who have no idea they're about to witness something spectacular. For the occupants of the Apple Store, it may have seemed like Sparkx was simply playing with an odd app that moved a coin around his iPhone screen. That is, until something special happened. You can view Sparkx's illusion below, then head over to his YouTube page to see what other surprises he has in store for you.
Apple Store app finally debuts for iPad with clean, tablet-friendly interface
It's hardly show-stopping news out of Cupertino today, but gadget fiends hoping to wrap their holiday tech shopping without leaving home now have one more option in their tablet-friendly arsenal. It's the Apple Store app for iPad, and it's coming soon to a slate near you. The application, designed specifically to take advantage of the iPad's added screen real estate, is a big step up from its iPhone equivalent. There's a bounty of high-res product images with full pinch-to-zoom support, intuitive category links and detailed product info, including explanations for certain device add-ons, like increased storage or wireless connectivity. Curiously, this version lacks the in-store options available with the Apple Store app for iPhone, such as the EasyPay checkout feature that launched way back in 2011. Fire up your iPad and hit up the source link to check it out.
Online Apple Store is down (Updated)
The online Apple Store is currently down for maintenance or other work, and possibly lending credence to recent rumors that the iPad mini with Retina display may finally be released tomorrow. We'll let you know when it's back up... and if there are any changes or if someone just flipped the wrong switch. Updated: And the store did come back up later, with the iPad mini with Retina display now available for purchase.
Apple Stores to have 'special hours' November 17, 18
Apple retail stores will reportedly be closing up shop two to three hours early on both November 17 and November 18. Early closing times will not be limited to North American stores as retail outlets across the globe will also be locking doors earlier than usual. While the reason behind the early closing times remains unclear, some believe it may have something to do with getting employees up to speed on impending product updates, namely the soon-to-be released Mac Pro and iPad mini with Retina display. Still others speculate it may be nothing more than standard pre-holiday pep talk and a review of logistics for employees to keep in mind as we head into the busiest shopping period of the year. Either way, if you're planning to hop on over to an Apple retail store on either of those days, make sure to keep the earlier closing times in mind. [via AppleInsider]
Daily Update for November 7, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Who moves into abandoned Apple Stores?
Apple stores have a distinct design and layout that most people can recognize on sight. When the company leaves one location for another one, the abandoned store is devoid of Apple products and Apple signage, but it still has the same Apple look and feel. So what happens to these retail locations in their post-Apple era? ifoAppleStore takes a look at the now empty Palo Alto and Third Street Promenade stores, which Apple left behind in late 2012. The Palo Alto store is still vacant with only an Apple banner on the window directing customers to the new store down the street. The retail location is owned by an investment group that is trying to rent the space at a rate of US$489,000 per year. For that price, new tenants will get 6,800 square feet of retail space and potential access to the 18,859 vehicles that pass in front of the store. Investors that own the Third Street Promenade store have been a bit more successful at transferring the site to a new renter. The location sits behind a barricade that serves to partially hide a Champs Sports logo. Details on the incoming tenant are not known, but a rental brochure says the investors were asking for $1.13 million a year for the walkway-lined location. You can read more about these locations, their rentals and floor plans at ifoAppleStore.
Apple Store app for iPhone updated with multi-country Passbook gift card support
Apple has rolled out an update to its Apple Store app that expands the ability to purchase gift cards cards in the app and use them as Passbook passes to a number of other countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and Canada. Until now, the feature had been US-only. Apple Store for iPhone is a free download.
Apple-Tracker.com creates online tool for searching iPad Air availability
If you want to save yourself a trip to a nearby Apple Store only to be disappointed because they didn't have the exact model of iPad Air you wanted in stock, you'll want to point your favorite Web browser to Apple-Tracker.com's new iPad Air search tool. It's very easy to use: just select the color and carrier you desire, type in your zip code, and press the big blue button. Within seconds, you'll see with a glance if your local Apple Store has that specific model available, and in what storage capacities. A green box with white checkmark indicates that it's currently available, while a red box with a black X says that you'll need to wait a while. At this point, the tool seems to indicate that the 128 GB iPad Air models are in short supply at many Apple Stores across the USA. However, if you're willing to drive a bit to get to another nearby store you might just get that "loaded" iPad Air you're dreaming of.
Apple debuts online store in Turkey
Our readers in Turkey will be happy to hear that Apple has debuted its first online store in the country. The move comes as Apple increasingly looks to new global territories to increase its market share. Given that Turkey has more than 70 million citizens, it's a bit surprising the country hasn't had an official Apple online store until now, but better late than never. The Turkish store offers most of the products Apple online stores in other countries do, including Macs, iPhones, iPods and iPads. However, Turkey will not get the iPad Air just yet, as it's not one of the countries with it launching today. There's also more love for Turkey coming in 2014, with Istanbul set to get its first Apple retail store.
Apple's first retail store in Brazil may open as soon as March 2014
With over 400 Apple retail stores worldwide, you might be surprised to know that Apple hasn't yet expanded its retail chain into Latin America. According to a recent report from 9to5Mac, however, that may be poised to change in just a few months. Mark Gurman reports that Apple is planning to open up a retail store in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by March of 2014. Interestingly enough, the report claims that Apple is aiming to relocate some seasoned Apple retail employees down to Brazil to help get things up and running. Also worth noting is that the timing of the store opening will be such that it will be up and running ahead of one of the world's most popular events -- the World Cup. The opening of the Apple Store in Rio de Janeiro during this time period, a source added, is perfectly scheduled to occur in the few months before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The internationally-watched sporting event takes place between June and July of 2014 at a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Tourists visiting the event from across the globe will likely bring an uptake in visits to the new Apple retail in the region. This move would not be unprecedented: in the months prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Apple opened up a flagship store in the city. It's well established that Apple's chain of retail store are incredibly profitable, and with the bulk of Apple's retail operations located in the U.S., that leaves Apple with a tremendous retail opportunity abroad. Brazil in particular appears to be a strategic location, and Quartz on Monday explained why Apple expanding into the land where the "lungs of the earth" reside is a really big deal. The move into Brazil is a big deal. Smartphone sales, for one, have been booming in the region-sales jumped by 53% in the first quarter of 2013 alone, and grew more than in any other region in the second quarter-and Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, has a lot to do with it. Customers in the country are so enamored with iPhones that many are willing to pay upwards of $1,000 for Apple's new 5c, which retails for about $550 in the US. Furthermore, Latin America is quickly becoming a digital-age goldmine. Internet penetration currently hovers around 45% in the region, and more than 250 million people are now connected to the internet. Very soon, Latin America will have more internet users than the US and Canada. Looking ahead, Apple indicated during its earnings conference call on Monday that it plans to build over 30 new retail stores over the next 12 months. Tellingly, 20 of those will be located outside of the U.S. In many ways, Apple's international retail expansion is just getting underway.
Glass staircase step breaks at China Apple Store
The latest glass staircase installation in the Shanghai IAPM (China) Apple store broke 23 hours before the Saturday grand opening, according to ifo Apple Store. The site includes photos of the mishap that also damaged the floor underneath. It seems the glass tread fell out of the mounting and ended up in pieces on the stone floor below. Gary Allen of ifoapplestore.com states that "representatives from the glass supplier, Seele GbbH (Germany), worked with local craftsman to retrieve spare glass treads that all stores have ready for such emergencies." Other stores have had minor mishaps with their glass staircases, but no one has been injured by any of the stair problems. Apple's Retail Store page lists nine stores in China, four of which are in Shanghai. ifo Apple Store lists 33 stores with glass staircases, some of which are spiral and some straight. Steve Jobs' name is on the 2002 patent for the Apple Store's amazing glass staircases. An Apple Store Glass Staircases article, also on ifo Apple Store, provides interesting details on the staircases in the different Apple stores. Photo by Henry courtesy of ifoapplestore.com. Related Stories Stores With A Glass Staircase, ifo Apple Store, no date. Gallery of new Beijing Apple Store, TUAW, 10/18/12. Steve Jobs has 313 patents to his name, including some unexpected, TUAW, 8/25/11. The saga of the Apple stair comes to a $9950 end, TUAW, 3/2/10.
