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Back to school: Apple offers $200 college discount for Macs, $50 gift card for iOS devices
A reminder of what we reported when it launched on July 2: Apple is hoping to attract computerless college students towards its wares by offering discounts and extras on computers and mobile devices. There are a number of different programs you can qualify for if you're a student (or parent of a student) purchasing a MacBook, iMac, iPhone or iPad for educational purposes. Depending on the Mac model you have in mind, you can get up to $200 off the regular retail price and also score a $100 App Store gift card, which should help you load your new computer with plenty of scholastic software... and maybe some Angry Birds. iPad and iPhone buyers can get a $50 App Store gift card. To take advantage of these deals, you can shop for your gear at retail locations or on the Apple Store for Education, which has all of the available discounts already in place. When checking out online, you'll be prompted to fill in the name of your school, and for the most part, Apple uses the honor system when it comes to applying the price cuts. However, if you make your purchase at a retail store -- or you're one of the online customers Apple randomly audits to ensure you're not a fibber -- you'll need to provide a school ID or some other form of verification.
Apple expanding USB charger trade-in program beyond China and US
In response to concern over the safety of unofficial USB charging accessories, Apple announced last week that it would be hosting a takeback program in certain retail locations to allow customers to trade in third-party chargers for a discount on the real deal. Now, as 9to5Mac reports, the company is expanding its offerings beyond the US and China, which were the only two territories originally announced alongside the program. For every discounted USB power adapter you hope to purchase, you'll need to trade in one unauthorized adapter. Here is the current list of countries participating in the trade-in program, along with the corresponding price of the discounted USB chargers: United States -- $10 USD China -- ¥68 CNY Japan -- ¥1,000 JPY Australia -- $14 AUD Canada -- $11 CAD France, Germany and the United Kingdom -- €10 EUR
Lego Apple Store is a stroke of blocky genius
Behold! Rumor has it that Tim Cook wants to revamp Apple's retail stores and the above is a sneak peek at what we have in store. What you're really looking at, though, is a pretty spot on replica of an Apple retail store put together by Jon Lazar and constructed completely with Legos. The occasion? The release party for the book Arduino and Lego Projects, where Laughing Squid's Scott Beale dropped by. I can only wonder how much money per square foot even this Apple Store replica rakes in every day. You can check out more photos of Lego creativity over here. Lastly, if you just can't get enough of the 1-2 punch that is the Apple Store + Lego combination, recall that we previously posted on a similarly cool Lego construction back in March 2012. Photo courtesy Laughing Squid
Shine fitness accessory lands at Apple Stores
The Misfit Shine -- a crowdfunded fitness tracker that became a hit on Indiegogo -- almost looks like a Cupertino product already. As Mashable reports, the sleek little gadget is about to hit the shelves of your local Apple Store, where it will undoubtedly fit right in. The device itself is a competitor to products like Nike's FuelBand, the Jawbone Up and FitBit, and works hand in hand with a companion app for iOS that displays your activity level and other statistics. What's more, the tiny aluminum accessory also works as a rather stylish watch. Interestingly, Misfit Wearables was co-founded by former Apple CEO John Sculley, so the familiar design philosophy at work on the Shine may not be a coincidence at all. The Shine is priced at US$99.
Apple Stores offer deals on accessories through August
This week, Apple will begin offering some good deals on accessories at its retail stores, reports 9to5Mac. Two deals have a ready started, which include 10 percent off of select Beats by Dre headphones and speakers (end August 10th) and US$50 off of the Jawbone Big JamBox speaker (ends August 31st). The third deal begins this Sunday, offering 10 percent off the Bose QuietComfort 3 and Bose QuietComfort 15 headphones. That deal runs until September 14th. There's no word why Apple is running these deals, but obvious theories include the back-to-school shopping season. However, these sales could pull people into Apple Stores as the company reportedly works to increase iPhone sales in-store versus at third-party retailers.
Apple Store app offers free downloads
Apple has added a nice treat to the free Apple Store app -- the app that lets you buy Apple products, pay for items in-store and make Genius Bar and One to One appointments. When you launch the app and bring up a store page, you'll find a link to download a paid app for free. The app currently sharing the spotlight with your nearby store is Color Zen (normally US$0.99), and word on the street says that Apple will provide a new freebie each week. Sometimes it will be an app, other times an iBook and sometimes the company will give you a piece of iTunes media content. 9to5Mac reports that Apple Store employees install the app on any new iOS device during Personal Setup post-purchase. This is part of Tim Cook's master plan to use the app to boost iPhone sales at Apple Stores, and should certainly make the Apple Store app a "must launch" for many more people.
Refurbished Apple TV now just $75
Though Apple likes to refer to the Apple TV as nothing more than a "hobby," the device continues to sell extremely well. To date, Apple has sold well over 13 million Apple TV units with about half of those sales occurring in 2013. Today, Apple made the Apple TV just a tad more affordable, lowering the price on a refurbished model down to $75. Previously, a refurbished Apple TV would have cost you $85. With a fresh Apple TV running at $99, you can now get your hands on an Apple TV for 25% off. The offer is only available via Apple's online store, so expect to pay full price if you saunter into a physical Apple retail location. You can, however, order online and have the device shipped to a nearby Apple retail store. Get em' while they're hot... and refurbished.
Historic London Apple Store undergoing renovation
One of Apple's most high-profile stores is undergoing a renovation to tweak the design to perfection. According to ifoAppleStore.com, the Covent Garden Apple Store in London is having minor work done at night so that the busy store can remain open for business during the day. Most of the renovation work appears to be aimed at smoothing the "flow of visitors into and within the store," including moving a display table that's nearest to the iconic glass staircase so that there's more room for greeting customers. The store's Genius Bar has been converted to the popular new 360-degree version, providing a more personable one-on-one situation between the store Geniuses and their customers. Wall-mounted graphics panels have been replaced with a newer design that allows for faster switching of the artwork, which should come in handy when new products or promotions are announced. Accent lighting under the glass staircase that was apparently turned off most of the time because of heat issues is now being removed, and the surrounding stonework will be replaced. Has your favorite Apple Store received any renovations lately? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
Apple buying back many shares of AAPL
Last April, Apple announced plans to increase its share repurchasing program from US$10 billion to $60 billion. Apple at the time noted that this represented the "largest single share repurchase authorization in history." While the full buyback program is slated to be finished by the end of 2015, Apple has already began buying back shares. Philip Elmer-DeWitt of Fortune reports: By my calculation, the company spent $16 billion last quarter ($4 billion in cash, $12 billion through the so-called accelerated share repurchase program) to purchase 36 million of its own shares at an average price of just over $444. Coupled with Apple's dividend payments, which now stand at $3.05 a share, Apple over the course of three years will be spending $100 billion as part of its initiative to return money to shareholders and buy back its own shares.
Apple Store iOS app updated
Apple has pushed out a small update to its Apple Store app, which lets users shop Apple's online store comfortably on their iPhone's screen. There had been rumors that the Apple Store app update was going to see free giveaways via the app in order to entice people to buy more through the app, but as yet no free giveaways have surfaced in the app. All the release notes say for the latest update is that there are "Various performance enhancements, including improved product search capabilities" that have been added. Apple Store is a free download.
Apple solicits ideas from retail workers on selling iPhones
A little less than two weeks ago we reported that Tim Cook spearheaded a three-hour-long meeting geared towards increasing the percentage of iPhone sales that occur at Apple retail stores. As it stands now, the vast majority of iPhones are purchased online, from carrier stores and from brick-and-mortar retailers like Best Buy. Now 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple has taken to asking its international retail employees for advice on ways to increase iPhone sales at Apple retail store locations. In a message sent out to retail employees last week, Apple explicitly asks for great iPhone ideas from retail employees below the manager level. The overview portion of the email reads: Do you have a great idea about iPhone? Do you ever wonder why Market Support hasn't implemented something to better support you in selling or suggesting the iPhone? Do you have a thought about something that is missing in the store environment that would help bring iPhone to life? We are looking for multiple candidates with the most innovative and relevant ideas to participate on this cross-functional team. Retail employees with winning iPhone-related ideas will have the opportunity to join Apple's iPhone team in Cupertino for an eight-week stint starting in August. While there, they will work with Apple employees from a number of different departments, including Marketing, Mobile Commerce, Merchandising and Customer Analytics. Interestingly enough, the email notes that winning iPhone ideas do not necessarily need to be feasible. Rather, the competition, so to speak, is looking for "innovation and pie in the sky."
Crew building Apple Store discover 15th century hospital
Here in the US, we tend to think something like a 200-year-old barn is "old." Then someone makes a discovery like the one a construction crew in Madrid, Spain, recently unearthed, putting that barn in perspective. A construction crew working on a forthcoming flagship Apple Store at number 1, Puerta del Sol in Madrid have come across the remains of what appears to be a 15th century hospital. The site was formerly the location of a hospital that was demolished in 1854 to make way for a square. While the ruins will be covered back up, the floor will be outlined to mark their presence, and a plaque will explain the outline. As of this time, it's not known if the marking or the plaque will be publicly visible or only accessible to employees, as they'll be on the store's basement level.
Apple strategy to bring more iPhone sales to Apple Stores
9to5Mac is reporting that Apple CEO Tim Cook headlined a recent three-hour strategy meeting in which he outlined plans to bring a higher percentage of iPhone sales to the company's retail stores. At the present time, only about 20 percent of all iPhones are sold through Apple Stores, with the remaining 80 percent of sales coming from online purchases, other retailers (Walmart and Best Buy, for example) and cellular carriers. While the majority of customers are purchasing their iPhones via other outlets, they rely on Apple Stores for troubleshooting, repair or replacement. Cook apparently laid out the advantages of more in-store purchases to top retail managers from around the world, including the need to expose customers to other Apple technology within the stores and to keep potential customers from being steered away from the iPhone by "biased and bribed" employees at other outlets who may receive incentives for selling competing phones. To lure customers to the stores, Cook reportedly hinted at a series of incentives. The recently announced "Back to School" program that provides a US$50 gift card to students who purchase an iPhone at an Apple Store is apparently part of the plan, and it's expected that more ideas will be floated at a July 28th sales meeting. Ideas such as an iPhone trade-in plan -- where customers can trade in an old or damaged iPhone for a refurbished iPhone 5 -- and a way for Apple Stores to directly match discounted pricing offered by other retailers like RadioShack. iOS 7 was apparently on the docket for the meeting as well, with Cook stressing the criticality of the updated mobile OS to the company's future fortunes and executives discussing how best to promote the new version when it ships this fall.
Apple tweaks product shelving in stores
ifoAppleStore is reporting that at least one Apple retail store has taken to redesigning its product shelving. According to insiders, the Corte Madera (N. Calif.) store was renovated over several nights earlier this month, replacing its original shelving with a new model that has no vertical dividers. The change was apparently done for aesthetic reasons, and because the new design no longer needs the dividers for structural support. Here's the type of product shelving one typically sees at an Apple retail store. The new shelving has a more seamless and continuous aesthetic, as pictured below. ifoAppleStore typically has its finger on the pulse of all things Apple retail, and it notes that these changes are part "...of an eventual chain-wide refresh of certain store interiors." To that end, keep an eye out for this subtle design change at an Apple retail store near you. It's quite a stretch, but you might even say that the new product design change lends itself towards an overall flatter look, a la iOS 7.
Celebrate Independence Day with a special iPhone case
If you like to display your patriotism, you'll be happy to know that Apple plans to carry red, white and blue iPhone cases, including an American flag case starting next week. According to Mark Gurnan at 9to5Mac, select Apple stores will carry a choice of four polycarbonate cases with "ultra high resolution designs." One Apple Store employee with which I spoke could not verify this information, but did say that stores which reside in malls that are open on the July 4th holiday, will indeed be open. [Graphic courtesy of 9to5 Mac]
SF officials want changes to proposed Apple flagship store design
In May 2013, TUAW reported that Apple has proposed moving its San Francisco store on the corner of Stockton and Ellis streets to the Union Square retail area; two blocks away. The proposed move is not without its problems. First, there's the fountain that Apple has proposed to move and second, the city is not thrilled with the new store's proposed design. Eric Slivka from MacRumors has posted a detailed account of some of the problems associated with Apple's proposed design of its new store. It seems the San Francisco Planning Department, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle [registration required], wants less glass facing Post Street and less metal facing Stockton. In addition, the city wants to keep the popular sculpture by artist Ruth Asawa that resides behind the store's proposed location. In reviewing the June 24th Preliminary Project Assessment [PDF], it seems that the store move will probably take longer than first thought to complete. It may be of no surprise to those of you who have experience in building and zoning requests, but as a neophyte in this arena, I found the number of required studies before the building can be approved a bit daunting. Among the required studies Apple must complete before the project can be approved are an Archeological Review, Historical Resource study, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Compliance Checklist, Transportation Impact, Compliance with Stormwater Management Ordinance, and Tree Disclosure Affidavit. I found the report rather interesting. The Preliminary Project Assessment sums up the issues on page 10 by noting that, "The challenge of this site is arriving at a design that must serve several objectives equally: first, it must respond to the desired identity of the heart of San Francisco as defined in the Downtown Plan and the Urban Design Element of the City's General Plan, and the KMMS Conservation District, while also answering to the desired identity of Apple Inc. In other words, it must be an integral part of San Francisco's historic Union Square district and Apple both at the same time." Related TUAW News May 15, 2013 - Apple to re-locate flagship store in San Francisco May 30, 2013 - Long-standing fountain snags Apple's San Francisco store plans
Russia's online Apple Store features virtual specialist
While there still aren't any brick-and-mortar Apple Stores in Russia, Apple's online presence in the country went live yesterday. And though there may be no flesh-and-blood Apple Geniuses in the country... yet... the Russian online Apple Store features a pair of smiling blue-shirted specialists who are the gateway to help from real people. Should a visitor to the online store want assistance in selecting the best model of MacBook Pro, they can connect to a helper through an online chat, telephone call or by screen sharing. After a purchase, an online setup session can be scheduled using screen sharing. The UK online Apple Store also uses the virtual specialists, and the video explaining the service has been subtitled in Russian and is available for viewing on the Russian site.
Apple Store in Bellevue, WA gets flooded due to heavy rain
The Bellevue Square Apple retail store in Bellevue, Wash., was flooded due to heavy rain last night, according to a local Fox news affiliate. The Apple Store was one of a dozen stores in the Bellevue Square Mall that were hit by flooding. More stores in a nearby Seattle mall were also flooded. In response to the flooding, the Bellevue Square Mall management issued this statement: "Just prior to regular closing hours tonight, the intensity of the rain storm in the Puget Sound region led to water damage at approximately a dozen Bellevue Square stores. The management of The Square is working throughout the night to monitor the situation and conduct any necessary actions to manage the cleanup of any affected stores. The Square will be open during normal business hours tomorrow." No injuries were reported in the flooding. It is presumed the Bellevue Apple store will be open for business today as normal. [Photo credit: Q13Fox]
Apple launches online store in Russia
Apple has launched its own online store in Russia. Previously all online sales of Apple products in that country had been done through third-party vendors. However, as MacRumors points out, Apple was reportedly unhappy with Russia's third-party distribution networks. Rumors of Apple launching its own online store in Russia surfaced last year. There are also rumors that Apple is planning to launch retail stores in the country, which would make sense as Russia is the ninth most populous country on the planet.
Apple investigating MacBook Air WiFi issues
Apple is investigating potential MacBook Air WiFi issues, according to 9to5Mac. The website reports that Apple Store Geniuses were recently given the following directive: In the United States, Apple Geniuses and Advisors should capture MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) and MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013) computers with any WiFi issues. The machines in question use a new 802.11ac WiFi chipset. Users have reported that affected MacBook Airs will connect to WiFi hotspots, but then drop the connection after a minute or two, requiring a restart to connect to the hotspot again. As Apple seems intent on getting a hold of affected machines, users who have noticed the issue should go to their Apple Store and request a replacement.
