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Apple this summer to offer camp where kids can learn how to 'become filmmakers'
Apple this summer will be offering another film-focused session of Apple Camp where kids ages 8-12 will be able learn all the finer points about film production. The camp is free and takes place at Apple retail stores. On its website, Apple touts the camp as a fun workshop "where kids become filmmakers." Over the course of three days, Apple employees will teach campers everything from creating a storyboard, to crafting a song in GarageBand and of course, how to film and subsequently edit video footage in iMovie. On the third and final day of each session, the camp will hold a film festival of sorts where kids will be able to showcase their films to friends and family. Each session over the three-day period lasts 1.5 hours and parents interested in signing up their kids can check out Apple's website to see which dates still have openings. I checked a few Apple retail stores and it's advisable to sign up soon since spots already seem to be filling up quickly. It also seems that each participating retail store will offer 12 distinct three-day sessions with the first session slated to begin on July 15 and the last session set to begin on July 31. Lastly, Apple notes that it will supply campers with all of the tools they'll need to get a film up and running. If possible, however, campers are encouraged to bring their own Mac and video camera.
Apple to relocate, expand last 'mini' Apple Store
Apple is set to relocate the last of its "mini" retail stores to a new location, while dramatically expanding its size, according to ifoAppleStore. The mini-store in question is the Oakridge Apple Store in San Jose, Calif. The store will move from its current location to a new spot just across from the food court in the mall. The revamped store will be 15 times larger than its current size. Once the move is complete, it will mark the end of the mini-stores, the first of which were opened in 2004. As ifoAppleStore notes: The project signals the end of the mini-stores, which were intended to allow Apple to occupy smaller spaces, and yet generate almost the same amount of revenue. However, as the number of products has grown over the past eight years, and training and service have become more integral to the stores, the mini-stores couldn't provide enough space for visitors. ifoAppleStore says the expanded store could open in early 2014.
Apple announces it has 6 million registered developers
Apple kicked off WWDC with its typical heap of numbers about the developer community, Apple retail and more. At WWDC, participants traveled from more than 66 countries to attend, with 64 percent attending for the first time. The developer program has over 6 million registered developers, with 1.5 million added in the past year. As we all remember, tickets for the conference sold out in just 71 seconds. As a result, Apple decided to make a lot of the WWDC content available online. Tim Cook then hopped into Apple retail stores and announced that 1 million people make their way into Apple Stores each day. Apple now has 407 stores are in 14 countries worldwide, with one of their newest flagship stores opening recently in Berlin. Berlin's Kurfürstendamm store is a showpiece -- it is housed in a 100 year old building that was one of the first theaters in Berlin.
Apple Store is down ahead of WWDC Keynote
Just after 10 AM ET, the online Apple Store went down in preparation of today's WWDC Keynote at 1:00 PM ET/10 AM PT. Which announcements are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to be here on TUAW at 1:00 PM ET/10 AM PT for TUAW's coverage of the WWDC Keynote. While Apple is live-streaming the keynote, the TUAW liveblog will have all the commentary from our excellent hosts: the always lovely Erica Sadun, the exceedingly witty Steve Sande, the rest of our TUAW crew and comments provided by you!
Construction continues on Stanford 2 Apple Store, revealing new design
ifoAppleStore published a number of photos today showing construction of the new Stanford 2 Apple Store in northern California. The store uses a new "glass box and floating roof design" that allows passersby to get a great view of the interior of the store. This same design is allegedly being used for two other Apple Stores, one in downtown Portland, Ore., and the other in the city center of Aix-en-Provence, France. The Stanford 2 store is progressing well for an opening later this year, and demolition has begun at the sites for the other two stores. As ifoAppleStore notes, this design is completely faced with glass that actually supports the floating roof structure. Behind the glass box is a "stone-faced box" that encloses the back-of-house operations and other retail space. The images were provided by an ifoAppleStore "tipster" who took photos from inside the construction fencing. A complete gallery of photos is available on the ifoAppleStore site.
Daily Update for June 6, 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
Las Vegas' Fashion Show Apple Store to undergo major expansion
The Apple Store in Fashion Show mall in Las Vegas is set to undergo major expansion and renovation, according to ifoAppleStore. By the end of the month, the current location of the Fashion Show store will be moved to a new temporary location in the same mall. While the store is at its new temporary location the old location will be dramatically renovated and expanded. Currently the store has 30 feet of storefront and is 3,900 square feet in size. Apple obviously realizes that the store, being one of the busiest stores in a mall that attracts 13 million visitors a year, is in need of expansion. In September, when the temporary store is moved back into its original renovated location, the new Fashion Show mall store will feature a 117-foot storefront and an inside space of 10,000 square feet. The Fashion Show store was the 46th Apple Store to open, way back in 2002.
Tax protesters at London Apple Store
Comedian Mark Thomas, together with about 50 activists, took to Apple's retail store on Regent Street in London to protest Apple's penchant for tax avoidance. Of course, all taxpayers -- both corporations and individuals -- do all they can to minimize their tax liability within the confines of the law, so it's not as if Apple is doing anything illegal, or for that matter, even unusual. Then again, who really wants logic to get in the way of a fun protest? Thomas explained the reasoning behind the protest: Apple has this amazing situation where they pay no tax on one of their companies registered in Ireland, and so in essence, they're using Ireland as a offshore tax haven. So what we've decided is that Apple on Regent Street should therefore become Irish territory. So we're going to create Irish territory on Regent Street. Hopefully we'll do it without getting busted, hopefully do it with a sense of fun. You can hear the band, they're absolutely fantastic! Naturally, there's video of the protest. The Guardian further reports that members of the group held up banners which read, "Take a tax holiday in Ireland." What's more, some members took to Apple's displayed notebooks and iMacs and wrote messages advising customers that they can purchase the "SAME products at the SAME prices at John Lewis around the corner...". And all the while, the protest was accompanied by some melodic and traditional Irish music. As far as protests go, this one seemed pretty tame. Indeed, with the live Irish music, it seems like they really added some excitement to what may have otherwise been another ho-hum day at Apple retail. Upon leaving the store, Thomas took a more serious note, explaining that he would scream and shout until Apple pays the taxes it owes. The Guardian adds: Thomas is scheduled to appear at this year's Edinburgh Fringe festival with a new show entitled 100 Acts of Minor Dissent, which will catalogue his attempt to achieve just that in the space of a year. Something tells me Thomas won't be championing the Apple tax cause for long.
Apple uses this machine to calibrate in-store iPhone display replacement
Earlier this week, we told you that Apple has begun repairing iPhone displays in its retail stores for US$149 each. The iPhone is obviously nothing without its display. Replacement must be done accurately and the display has to be calibrated perfectly in order for things to look just right. Apple's Geniuses will do just that with the help of a new machine that was delivered to its retail stores this week. The image above comes courtesy of 512 Pixels. The calibration machine does not appear to have any outward branding, so it's likely that it was custom-built by Apple. Here's what 512 Pixels had to say about it: For $149, most Genius Bars are now able to swap a shattered screen in just a few minutes. (A full out-of-warranty swap runs $229.) After the repair, the iPhone tech uses the below machine to calibrate a display's functionality: From what I've heard, Apple Stores have been instructed that the iPhone is the "top priority" for the Genius Bar, and this new repair and crazy machine surely reflect that. In addition to the program changes, many stores have Geniuses that are dedicated to iPhone repairs for sections of their shifts. In short, Apple is pouring resources in to in-store iPhone repairs. "We're bringing China to the Genius Room," one employee said.
Apple offering in-store iPhone 5 display replacements for $149
MacRumors is reporting that Apple this week began repairing iPhone 5 screens in its retail stores for US$149. The move is significant not only because Apple retail stores are prevalent and easy to find, but also because the price point isn't outrageous. In fact, you might even say that it's a bargain. A few weeks ago we reported on the rising cost of iPhone 5 screen repairs, with Apple sometimes charging as much as $229 to repair a broken iPhone 5 screen. Some third-party companies have even been known to charge more than that. Driving the atypically high repair costs is the fact that the iPhone 5 utilizes more expensive display components than previous iPhone models. Changes to Apple's repair policies first surfaced last month, where a town hall session revealed that Apple would begin in-house repairs of displays in June in an effort to save approximately $1 billion per year. MacRumors heard from a tipster this morning that the new repair policy had been implemented and the changes have since been confirmed in a forum post from iPhone repair site Quick iFix. The repairs are available for cracked displays as well as screens that experience multitouch issues. Interestingly enough, MacRumors also relays that Apple's in-house iPhone repair options are poised to expand come July when the company will begin fixing other iPhone-related problems, including sleep / wake button issues and camera issues.
Daily Update for May 30, 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
Long-standing fountain snags Apple's San Francisco store plans
Two weeks ago, we were greeted with the news that Apple was planning to move the Apple Store at the corner of Stockton and Ellis Streets in San Francisco to a new flagship facility to be located in the city's Union Square retail area. Now things aren't as rosy for the future of the new store, with critics being upset with the proposed design of the structure and the fate of a fountain behind the location. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has said that he would be taking another look at the plans to see if the fountain "would or would not complement Apple's proposal for a raised narrow plaza between its store and the Grand Hyatt," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Other complaints include an 80-foot-long blank wall facing Stockton Street, which apparently caught flak from city officials during the initial discussions about the plans. Apple was, according to the Chronicle, "very receptive" to those concerns. The project is by no means in "shovel ready" condition; it also needs to pass muster by the city's planning and historic preservation commissions. The 1970s vintage fountain -- seen in the image at top -- is on property owned by the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, which has noted that "it's too premature" to address whether Apple's proposal will require changes.
Apple retail store coming to Basel, Switzerland
According to listings posted on Apple's job site, the people of Switzerland will soon have their fourth Apple retail store. The available job openings are currently for a manager, inventory specialist, and an Apple Creative, Genius, and Customer Adviser. The listings were first spotted by Swiss Apple site MacPrime. The site had previously speculated that Apple was building a store at Freie Strasse 47 in the city center. The old building that had lived at that location was recently demolished and construction had begun on a new, Apple-esque structure. Today's job posting seems to confirm that the site was correct. The Basel store will be the forth in the country, after stores in Zurich, Geneva, and Wallisellen. Basel is the third-largest city in Switzerland with a population of around 166,000. It is one of the country's cultural centers with numerous museums and theaters, including the Museum of Fine Arts, which offers the world's oldest art collection that is accessible to the public, according to Wikipedia.
Apple now allowing Paypal payment for Apple Store purchases (in Germany)
German users have noticed one other change from the Apple Store downtime last night, and that is that Apple will now accept Paypal payments through their Apple.com store. You could previously use Paypal as a payment service on the iTunes and Mac App Stores, but you can't (in most places) on the official Apple website. The German store, however, has now implemented Paypal. So German users can now use that extra eBay money to pick up a new accessory or charger cable. Odds are that this is a pilot program over there, and it will likely make its way out to the rest of the world very soon. I just checked, and unfortunately this option isn't yet available on the American Apple.com store. But if German users can use their Paypal accounts to buy Apple products, there's no reason why the rest of us won't eventually get the chance to do the same. [via App Advice]
Apple retail stores: 12 years later
On May 19, 2001, the first two Apple retail store opened up for business. One was located in McLean, Va., while the other was situated in Glendale, Calif. At the time, there were no shortage of critics who expressed serious doubt as to Apple's effort to get into the retail business. Now, 12 years later, Apple's line of retail stores play an instrumental role in Apple's overall sales, and more importantly, give consumers a chance to actually use Apple products in a fun and inviting environment. It may sound absurd to anyone born after 1986, but I distinctly remember a time when the only place I could test out and potentially purchase a Mac was at a local OfficeMax -- unless, of course, I wanted to mosey on down to a shady corner electronics store that somehow managed to become an authorized Apple reseller. In short, Apple's retail stores enabled the company to put its products out in front of consumers on its own terms. Today, Apple stores, given their ubiquitous nature, seem like a given. I mean, why wouldn't Apple roll out a line of retail stores? But back in the dark days of the '90's, back when Apple's marketshare continued to plummet as the company bled money, Macs were looked upon disparagingly and their presentation in the few stores that carried them reflected that perception. There are no shortage of stories surrounding Apple's foray into the retail business and the factors which led to them becoming the most profitable retail stores on the planet on a per-square-foot basis. That said, with Apple's first retail stores turning 12 this past Sunday, I thought it'd be interesting to present a few impressive factoids about the current state of Apple's retail operation. Looking back, it's hard to imagine that even the most ardent Apple enthusiast could have predicted the juggernaut Apple retail would go onto become. There are now 402 Apple retail stores worldwide. 251 of those are in the United States, 151 are located abroad. By the end of 2013, Apple will have 432 retail stores around the world. In 2013, Apple will be revamping or remodeling 20 retail locations whose success has made accommodating visitors a problem. Apple in 2012 spent nearly $1 billion on retail related capital expenditures. Apple retail stores in 2012 hosted 372 million visitors. Together, Apple retail stores comprise 4.1 million square feet. There are Apple retail stores in 13 countries. There are 5 states which have no Apple retail presence; Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia. Here are a few factoids from Apple's most recent quarter: Retail revenue checked in at $5.2 billion. Revenue per store came in at $13.1 million. Apple retail stores hosted 91 million visitors. Apple retail stores earned $57.6 per visitor. Lastly, and in the spirit of nostalgia, here's a video of Steve Jobs giving a tour of the first Apple store in McLean, Va. In typical fashion, Jobs' enthusiasm is infectious, and more importantly, authentic. Also, watch closely and see if you can spot boxes of Mac OS 9 on the shelf, you know, from an era back when Apple actually shipped packaged software.
Apple Store is down (Updated)
The Apple Store went down around midnight ET. What will the refresh bring? We'll let you know as soon as the store is back up. Thanks to all the tipsters that let us know! Update: There's a Father's Day promo and a new, big tile design for the look of the store.
Chinese activists complain of Apple Store light pollution
Environmental activist group, Friends of the Earth HK, claims Apple's Causeway flagship store in Hong Kong is a major contributor to light pollution in the area. Apple reportedly runs about 500 lamps and spotlights over night, and the light spills outside of the store into the Hong Kong streets. According to a report in M.I.C. Gadget, Friends of the Earth HK says light from the store can be seen as far as 700 meters away. Hong Kong is known for its colorful and illuminated skyline, but all these lights may be having a negative effect on residents. A recent study suggests that parts of Hong Kong have light levels that are 1,200 times higher than international standards. This nighttime brightness is affecting the sleep patterns of residents who can't escape the blinking neon. A government task force is looking at ways of curbing light pollution from restaurants, retail outlets and other buildings in the area. Though Apple isn't being targeted by the government, M.I.C. Gadget claims the council has received several complaints about the amount of light pouring out of Apple's retail stores at night.
Apple's first store in South Australia to open on Saturday
Apple has announced that its next Apple store will open at Rundle Place Centre in Adelaide, South Australia this Saturday. It will be the first Apple Store in South Australia. This will bring the number of Apple's retail stores in Australia up to 20. Rundle Place Centre is a four-story shopping center with over 70 retail outlets. The store is set to open at 10 AM local time this Saturday. However, interested customers can already set up Genius Bar appointments on the store's web page.
Daily Update for May 20, 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
Asymco's Horace Dediu touts record Apple Store revenues in Q1 2013
Asymco mobile industry analyst Horace Dediu is up to his number-crunching again, this time with numbers showing that Apple Stores continue to have the top retail revenues per visitor of any retailer in the US. The first quarter of 2013 (Apple's second fiscal quarter) saw visitor growth of 7 percent and a new record revenue of US$57.60 per visitor. Average revenue per store was $13 million, a record-setting level for a non-holiday quarter. Dediu noticed that the average visitors per store has steadied out at about 250,000 per store per quarter, and posits that number might be stagnant because fire regulations keep the stores from packing in even more visitors. Apple's employment in stores has increased as well to about 110 employees per store, climbing from less than half that level in 2007. Apple's new retail strategy appears to be expanding US stores in size and opening new stores outside of the US. According to Dediu, that allows for growth in the number of visitors to the US Apple Stores and in "maintaining the brand's relationship with customers."
