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Gazelle will stop accepting trade-ins by mail on February 1st
Used electronics marketplace Gazelle is ending its mail-in trade-in program.
MIT can secure cloud-based AI without slowing it down
It's rather important to secure cloud-based AI systems, especially when they they use sensitive data like photos or medical records. To date, though, that hasn't been very practical -- encrypting the data can render machine learning systems so slow as to be virtually unusable. MIT thankfully has a solution in the form of GAZELLE, a technology that promises to encrypt convolutional neural networks without a dramatic slowdown. The key was to meld two existing techniques in a way that avoids the usual bottlenecks those methods create.
The best places to buy and sell a used iPhone
By Jackie Dove With a new iPhone arriving soon, many people will look to sell their old iPhone for some quick cash. But which places offer the best return and the smoothest process? To find out, Tom's Guide tested seven services that buy and sell used iPhones.
Redbox owner buys phone trade-in company to get away from DVDs
If you owned Redbox and faced a slowly declining disc-based movie rental business, what would you do? Diversify so that you're not rendered obsolete by internet video? If so, you're not alone. Outerwall (Redbox's parent company) has bought the phone trade-in firm Gazelle for a relatively modest $18 million. The deal gives it an online counterpart to EcoATM, its kiosk-based trade-in outfit -- the hope is that it'll catch those customers who'd rather not leave home to sell an old device. The shift in strategy may seem odd at first blush, but it makes sense given that Outerwall didn't have much success dragging Redbox into the streaming era.
Gold: The secret shame of my late night iPhone order
If you were one of the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, all staying up late last night to pre-order an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, you probably noticed that the roll-out didn't proceed as smoothly as it might have, especially at the US store. With store-down notices going on significantly beyond the 12AM Pacific launch time, it was a mad scramble trying to get an early-shipped device. Outages were so bad that some people started hearing imaginary Mandarin audio tracks floating through their heads. I quickly found out, as did many others, that the iOS-based Apple store app offered the best chance for a pre-order. I hopped in, fully intending to pick up a mid-range 64 GB Space Gray iPhone 6 Plus unit. This is what I call the "accountant's special", as it offers the best mix of subdued coloring and storage value. Apparently, nearly every one else in the Internets hoped to pick up exactly that model since it showed "not available" from the moment I finally got past the AT&T upgrade screen. In fact, the only model I could order with a quick ship date was the 128GB Gold. I'm not terribly against the whole 128GB storage as I can basically put every bit of data I own on my phone along with the gross domestic data product of several small countries but the gold color, well, I'd like to think that I have, er, had, standards. Ever since the gold iPhone 5s debuted, its taste level has been subject to debate. Caught between "shameful bling" and "understated elegance", there fewer people who can figuratively carry it off than people who literally carry it in their purse or pocket. I know for sure that I'm not one of them. Sure, I'm trying to make the best of things -- I'm calling it "Fawkes" after the phoenix in Harry Potter, although I was tempted with "Deputy Parrish" for the ambiguously phoenix-y character on Teen Wolf -- but to me, gold color has always been something that happens to other people. People who live in Florida. Who have fabulous houses. Who drive nice cars and drink champagne. People to whom "lamé" is a metallic fabric and not an MP3 encoder. Steve Sande tells me that he's about to sell his gold iPhone 5s to Gazelle, adding "I've hidden it in a Mophie case for a year". What do you think of the gold iPhone? Cast your vote in this poll and then drop a comment about how your pre-order went. What model and color did you go for? And when do you expect it to arrive or be ready for pickup? %Poll-89389%
Gazelle ramps up iPhone trade-in program ahead of iPhone 6 announcement
It's that time of year already, folks. With September steadily approaching and a new iPhone announcement just around the bed, the market for old iPhone trade-ins is just about ready to kick into high gear. And leading the charge, per usual, is Gazelle. Originally spotted by AppleInsider, Gazelle is running a new trade-in program where users can send off their old and used iPhones for cold hard cash. Under terms of the program, users have up until September 9th to get a locked-in price quote for their used device whereupon they can continue using the device all the way up to October 10th. Naturally, how much one can get from an old iPhone is dependent upon the type of device and the condition it's in. For instance, if you have a flawless 64GB iPhone 5s, you can get a handsome sum of $350. But since the typical iPhone won't be "flawless" but rather in "Good" condition, here's a quick rundown of what iPhone models that fall into that category will go for. You'll quickly note that the models netting the highest prices are from Verizon while Sprint users get the short end of the stick. Current models iPhone 5s 64GB/32GB/16GB (Verizon) - $325/$310/$300 iPhone 5s 64GB/32GB/16GB (T-Mobile) - $225/$220/$215 iPhone 5s 64GB/32GB/16GB (Sprint) - $190/$185/$180 iPhone 5s 64GB/32GB/16GB (AT&T) - $285/$275/$265 iPhone 5c 32GB/16GB (Verizon) - $185/$180 iPhone 5c 32GB/16GB (T-Mobile) - $155/$150 iPhone 5c 32GB/16GB (Sprint) - $70/$65 iPhone 5c 32GB/16GB (AT&T) - $155/$150 Older models iPhone 5 64GB/32GB/16GB (Verizon) - $195/$190/$185 iPhone 5 64GB/32GB/16GB (T-Mobile) - $160/$155/$150 iPhone 5 64GB/32GB/16GB (Sprint) - $115/$110/$105 iPhone 5 64GB/32GB/16GB (AT&T) - $170/$165/$160 iPhone 4s 64GB/32GB/16GB/8GB (Verizon) - $75/$70/$65/$55 iPhone 4s 16GB/8GB (T-Mobile) - $65/$60 iPhone 4s 64GB/32GB/16GB/8GB (Sprint) - $65/$60/$55/$50 iPhone 4s 64GB/32GB/16GB/8GB (AT&T) - $80/$75/$70/$65
Apple trims max iPhone trade-in value in US, Canada
Last August, Apple launched its iPhone trade-in program in Apple Stores across the United States, offering up to $250 of trade-in credit for top of the line devices. Now, with the impending release of the iPhone 6 this fall, prices have dropped. iPhone Canada noticed that the maximum trade-in value for an iPhone has fallen from $250 to $225. However, it's important to check online before making your choice. Using Apple's online Reuse and Recycle option we were able to find an offer of $255 for a 64 GB black iPhone 5 on Verizon. The same phone on ATT only offered up $205. There's large amount of variation between carriers and models, so do your research before you make your final decision. As current models of the iPhone age they decrease in value, but there are still other options available for people looking to get top dollar for their old iPhone. Gazelle and eBay both regularly fetch higher prices for old iPhones than Apple's official trade-in program. It may not be as convenient as dropping into the Apple Store and trading in your device for store credit, but you'll get more money. Apple recently expanded its trade-in program to Italy.
Gazelle, Apple, security, and your iPhone
When you're done with your iPhone -- whether it's getting replaced by a new model or suffered some sort of damage that warrants a replacement -- it's always good to get the most out of it. There are a rising number of companies that want your used iDevices in exchange for cash, but most people are uncomfortable with even their friends or family members snooping around on their phones, much less a company. Gazelle is one of the most recognizable names in this growing business. I've always wondered exactly what happens to a device once you send it off to a company like Gazelle -- from where the gadget eventually ends up to how it deals with stolen devices, and what security measures it takes to ensure the used phones and tablets leave its hands crystal clean -- so I asked. What happens to your iDevice? If you've ever dealt with Gazelle, you know that the company can't guarantee you a price for your iPhone or iPad until it has seen it in person. On the company's website you can get a quote based on the model of your device, carrier, and estimated condition, but that price isn't officially offered until you've sent your gadget to the company's facility in Louisville. Once the device arrives, it's unpacked and its data is wiped. Users are obviously encouraged to wipe their data before sending their phones or tablets in, but to ensure nothing is missed, Gazelle does it again. For iPhones and iPads, Gazelle uses both the built-in data wipe feature to clear the device, as well as data sanitation software from California-based FutureDial. The device's serial number is checked against a nationwide database of devices that have been reported stolen, thwarting criminals looking to make a quick buck. When a flag is raised during this check, the information is handed over to local law enforcement. But as easy a target as smartphones and tablets seem to be, the number of stolen Apple gadgets that come through Gazelle's doors is actually quite small. Gazelle's Chief Gadget Officer, Anthony Scarsella, revealed that less than 1% of all devices sent to Gazelle have been reported stolen. When Gazelle receives a broken phone or tablet -- which, according to the company, is approximately 30% to 40% of its business -- it works with a refurbishing partner to repair it, at which point it is wiped like all the rest. If your gadget is too busted to be salvaged, the only option is to have it recycled. For this, Gazelle uses CloudBlue, an e-waste disposal company with processing facilities located across the United States and around the world. CloudBlue was one of the first organizations to receive e-Stewards Certification, marking it as a leader in responsible e-waste management. Finding a new home Once your iPhone or iPad makes its way through Gazelle's processing facility, and long after you've gotten your payment, the recycled devices often find their way to the hands of a reseller. Gazelle sells its used devices in wholesale numbers, and along with hundreds or thousands of others, your iDevice eventually gets listed on a site like eBay as a used device looking for a new lease on life. If you've ever wondered how a popular merchant on Amazon or eBay gets its hands on endless numbers of used iDevices, now you have your answer. BFFs: Apple and Gazelle It's clear that Apple has become the primary focus for Gazelle in recent years, with the company changing its resale efforts to focus almost exclusively on Apple products. Where Gazelle once accepted everything from Blu-ray players to camcorders, the list of accepted devices now much smaller, and the only types of computers allowed are Macs. Due to rapidly-shifting trade-in trends, the company couldn't reveal to me the breakdown of what percentage of devices it handles are Apple-branded. However, I did find out that Gazelle's Lousiville processing facility reached its peak employment volume following the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, pointing to the company's close relationship with Apple's product cycles. The folks at Gazelle were very open about their process, and if the company is sticking with the process it described to me, it seems to be acting in an environmentally responsible and socially conscious way. Its decision to focus on Apple products means it's likely to remain a major player in the resale scene for the foreseeable future. However, with greater numbers of iPhone and iPad users looking to get ride of their gadgets for a few bucks, and companies like Amazon looking for their own slice of the pie, Gazelle certainly has a healthy dose of competition. [Photos courtesy of Gazelle]
Gazelle saw iPad and iPhone trade-ins jump on Black Friday
Black Friday is a sales bonanza for stores across America -- heck, even our Canadian neighbors are getting in on the action. But there's more to the day than just blowing all your money on cheap consumer goods. It's also a day for selling your old consumer goods to pay for upgrades. Gazelle, the web's leading trade-in service for old tech, contacted us to let us know how its Black Friday went and what products drove trade-ins. Here's a hint -- Apple products helped business a lot: Gazelle saw a 74 percent increase in traffic during the period between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (11/29 to 12/2) when compared to 2012. The most popular items traded over this time period were iPhones. iPad trade-ins grew 175 percent between Black Friday and Cyber Monday as compared to the same time period last year. Considering the recent release of the newly upgraded iPhone and iPad options on the market, Gazelle's trade-in numbers make a lot of sense. The company is still running its holiday promotion, a coupon that you can include with gifts that will allow recipients to get an extra US$10 with their own trade-ins.
Looking for tech gift ideas this season? Gazelle's latest survey can give you some hints.
Gazelle is one of the leading consumer electronic trade-in sites on the internet. If you've got electronics to get rid of and need cash, it will often offer you more than the Apple Store or Best Buy or even your local pawn shop. It's got a vested interest in knowing what technology is going to be in demand this season, and thanks to the results of its latest consumer electronics survey, you can get a peek into the mind of your shopping list. The survey asked more than 900 respondents, ages 18 and older, what devices they were looking for under the tree this holiday season. The results will probably not surprise you: 32 percent of respondents are hoping to receive a new laptop or desktop computer. 15 percent of respondents hope to get new smartphones, like the iPhone 5s and 5c. 14 percent of respondents are crossing their fingers for a new e-reader. As for what gifts respondents were thinking about giving, it looks like the tech-savvy respondents of the survey are aiming to spread screens and e-readers around to their friends and family. 27 percent of consumers say they'll be giving their loved ones a new computer this year. 22 percent plan to give a smartphone as a gift. 18 percent reported they'd be giving an e-reader. Once you've given everyone you love a brand-new iPhone or MacBook, your friends and family are going to have a surplus of old gadgets laying around. Obviously Gazelle would like to buy those old gadgets, so as an added incentive for using its site, the company is offering a special holiday coupon that gives users an extra US$10 when they trade in their stuff at Gazelle. Simply go to http://www.gazelle.com/holiday and print out the coupon. The company would like you to include the coupon with your gift, but if that feels tacky, just print it out and give it to the recipients after they open their package. You can also email them this story so they can download the coupon themselves and do it on their own time.
Daily Update for November 1, 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
iPad trade-in numbers more than double since 2012
Today sales of the iPad Air began at Apple (and other) retail stores around the world. If trade-in numbers at Gazelle and Nextworth are any indication, many of those who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new device will be happily trading in their older iPads to help pay for the new equipment. Anthony Scarsella, the "chief gadget officer" at Boston-based Gazelle told Computerworld that trade-in quotes for iPads were up 130 percent over October 2012. The numbers are almost identical at Billerica, Mass.-based NextWorth, where Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Trachsel reported that quote volume is up 127 percent. Both of the trade-in companies cited the redesign of the iPad Air for the increased interest in turning in older iPads for cash. The new device is 20 percent thinner and 29 percent lighter than the fourth-generation iPad, catching the eye of consumers who may have held onto first- and second-generation devices until now. What's the most popular device people are turning into cash? The third-generation iPad. Nextworth says those accounted for 35 percent of all iPad quotes in October, while Gazelle says they're about 31 percent of their total iPad quotes for last month. iPad mini quotes are relatively flat, primarily because users appear to be waiting for the device to ship later this month before deciding whether or not to make a trade-in. Are you trading in an old device this month to help pay for a new one? Let us know in the comments.
Gazelle saw 210% more Samsung trade-ins during iPhone 5s launch weekend
Apple experienced a record sales weekend for the launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c, so this news probably isn't surprising. Consumer electronics recycler Gazelle saw a lot of action during the same time, with almost four times as many trade-ins on launch day compared to that same time frame during the iPhone 5 launch last year. It might be a number of Samsung smartphone owners jumping ship to the new iPhones, as Gazelle reported a 210 percent jump in trade-ins of Samsung phones during the launch weekend. During launch day on September 20, Gazelle made five offers per second between 10 and 11 AM ET. That's a whopping 18,000 people in that hour who decided to trade in their existing phone for cash to use on a new iPhone. The company also reported that the average value per trade-in is US$50 higher this year than last year. Gazelle also surveyed more than 3,000 consumers about the new iPhones, asking questions to determine why people considered an upgrade to the new Apple smartphones. It found that 36 percent of those who said they were upgrading to the iPhone 5s said they were getting it because they were due for an upgrade, and only 16 percent said they were upgrading for the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Among iPhone 5c upgraders, 29 percent said they were going to the colorful phone for the better camera, with an equal number upgrading because of a better price.
Gazelle CEO Israel Ganot discusses Apple's entry into trade-in
Apple's entry into the iPhone trade-in market this week is an important addition to the already growing number of options available for consumers looking to get money for old hardware. But how does their competition feel about it? We sent a few questions over to Gazelle CEO Israel Ganot today to see what one of the net's biggest buyers of used iPhones thinks Apple's latest expansion. These questions were answered via email. TUAW: What affect do you think Apple's new trade-in program will have on Gazelle? Israel Ganot: Apple's entry into reCommerce validates the market opportunity we pioneered at Gazelle. Because we take a different approach than Apple - our focus is on online trade-ins - we're actually pretty excited to have Apple in the game as another voice to raise consumer awareness of the opportunity to get value from used devices. TUAW: Do you think it will ultimately be a good thing, raising awareness of other trade-in sites, as people begin to shop around? IS: We fully expect Apple's in-store program to help accelerate consumer adoption to trade-in their old devices; we estimate the U.S. reCommerce market to be $14B by 2015, so there's obviously a huge opportunity here for multiple players to be successful. TUAW: Can you speculate as to why Gazelle is offering more for some models than Apple's own store? Obviously you don't know the details of their business, but it was interesting to see that you were offering more money outright to buy a 16 GB iPhone 5 than Apple was. IS: Gazelle is focused on delivering a great experience and a great price to consumers - this is our core business, not just an ancillary service we cross-sell. 9 out of 10 Gazelle customers report having a great experience with us and competitive pricing is a part of what drives that high satisfaction. TUAW: What is it about iOS products that allows them to keep their high resale/trade-in value despite only being upgraded around once a year? IS: There is an insatiable demand in secondary markets for high-end devices like smartphones and tablets. This is particularly true about Apple devices, though Android devices also have a similar demand. Many of these devices are made with the best materials available and are still valuable, even after their first owner is finished with the product. Think of emerging markets where top of the line iOS devices may not be available, or affordable, to the everyday person. Some of these people may prefer a slightly used iPhone 4 with all of the bells and whistles, rather than a lower-end new model of a different brand. It's a lot like someone who is in the market for a BMW. Many cannot afford the top of the line product, but are still excited about the idea of buying a slightly used premium model.
Apple iPhone 'Reuse and Recycle' program starts this week in select stores
If competition is good for consumers, then the phone trade-in market is looking up. Best Buy, Walmart, Gazelle and your mobile provider all accept trade-ins on old iPhones, giving you money to upgrade to a new phone. Now Apple is launching its own trade-in program at select Apple Stores starting on August 30, with a larger expansion of the program coming in September. Regardless of whether you're a business or standard customer, if you want to purchase a new iPhone, your trade-in is welcome at Apple. 9to5mac.com published the following details about the program. Apple decides the value of your iPhone based on information entered into the standard EasyPay system. The system takes into account the quality of your phone -- button quality, damage, if the display is scratched, if you engraved "I love Slayer" on the back, etc. -- and then calculates your trade-in amount. Apple Store employees will help you back up your iPhone before turning it in, and will hand over your old SIM card (the iPhone 5 uses the new nano-SIM card format). iPhones of all generations are eligible for trade-in, though obviously you'll receive less money for an iPhone 3G than an iPhone 5. As of now, the program is only available in the United States. You may want to shop around a bit before heading to the Apple Store, though. As 9to5mac.com has noted Gazelle offers significantly more for a iPhone 5 16 GB than Apple's own store. The online trade-in destination has been working hard to get as much iPhone business as possible before the September 10 announcement of new Apple products.
Gazelle wants to lock in a price on your old iPhone before September 10 (Updated)
Whenever it's time to roll over a used iPhone, iPad or Mac, I usually head over to Gazelle. They're perhaps the largest "recycler" of used devices, and I've always found their cash offering on the last-generation devices to be pretty good. With Apple expected to announce new iPhones on September 10 with rumored availability on September 20, Gazelle is now offering a price-lock guarantee. Anyone who locks in a price on selling an old iPhone to Gazelle between today and September 10 can wait until October 15 to send the old phone in to Gazelle. That hopefully gives buyers of the new iPhones some time to get the new model(s) before they have to send the devices off to their temporary homes at Gazelle. If you change your mind or if the wait for the new iPhone goes beyond October 15? Well, if you don't send in your old phone, you won't get the cash. The chart at the top of this post shows why it's so important to commit to selling your old device before an Apple announcement actually occurs. With the iPhone 4S in 2012, the maximum resale price was available between 30 and 15 days before the announcement. Based on previous trends, Gazelle expects the same thing to happen with the iPhone 5 when new devices are announced. In case you're wondering, Gazelle is offering US$325 today for a 32 GB iPhone 5... not that I was looking or anything... Update: Reader Marcial wrote to TUAW asking "Why does Apple and Gazelle offer more for an iPhone 4S on AT&T? I thought the iPhone 4S was exactly the same phone for all the carriers." We reached out to Gazelle for clarification, and got this response: The value varies because of the technologies in the phone (i.e. CDMA for Verizon and Sprint vs. GSM on T-Mobile and AT&T). A Verizon or Sprint phone is only able to roam on other CDMA networks, which don't exist (or are much more rare) globally. Basically, GSM devices have a much bigger global market compared to CDMA devices, which makes them easier to sell.
Gazelle survey shows two-thirds of respondents considering an upgrade to a new iPhone
With the impending release of the new iPhone(s) just around the corner, iOS users are facing that yearly conundrum of whether to upgrade or keep the model they're already working with. This question is especially important to Gazelle, the internet tech buy-back company that offers hard cash in exchange for your used devices. So Gazelle ran a consumer survey to see what consumers thought about upgrading to the latest model or models, whatever they end up being called. The results of the survey are interesting. Of the 881 respondents Gazelle spoke with, 66 percent stated they don't think technology improves enough year to year to justify buying the new iPhone annually. However, 85 percent of respondents reported that they were likely or very likely to buy the new iPhone when it is released. Considering the incredible popularity the iPhone 4S still enjoys, this data isn't shocking. For many users, the jump to the iPhone 5 from the 4S simply wasn't enough to warrant the extra expense of upgrading. This fall's upcoming release is different, if only because of the looming debut of iOS 7 and its new features. If 66 percent of respondents think technology doesn't move fast enough to warrant a yearly upgrade, the wave of upgrades that are coming with iOS 7 is sure to be the outlier update they've been expecting. There are a few other factors Gazelle noticed during their survey. Almost half of the people they surveyed stated that when their iPhone breaks, the first thing they do is try and get it repaired. Couple that information with 64.8 percent of the users surveyed saying they got their last device through trading in an older model, and it paints a trend of users who hold onto their phone for as long as they can -- or at least until their two-year carrier upgrade window opens up. Another factor is pricing; 85.2 percent of respondents said they were likely to buy the long-rumored low-cost version of the iPhone if it becomes available. Apple is widely expected to make an announcement about new iPhones on September 10.
Tallahassee, Fla., is a bad place to be an iPhone owner
The folks at gizmo trade-in site Gazelle see a lot of broken iPhones, and fortunately for those in the blogging biz, they keep a lot of statistics on where those phones come from and what kind of damage they see. Gazelle published a Top 10 Klutziest Cities list based on the percentage of broken or damaged iPhones received, and this year's winner was Tallahassee, Fla. A whopping 21.29 percent of all of the iPhones traded in by people from that city had some sort of damage. With the exception of Bakersfield, Calif. -- which was number three on the list with 20.63 percent damage rate for trade-ins -- the vast majority of klutzes appeared to be in the US South (six of the top 10!) or clustered around New York City. The Bronx and Staten Island were both in the top 10, which makes me wonder if a lot of iPhones received water damage during Hurricane Sandy last year. If you've recently fumbled your iPhone and destroyed it, Gazelle's also giving you a chance to win a new phone of your choosing with their "Broken Phone Stories" contest on Facebook.
Daily Update for February 27, 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
Daily Update for February 11, 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
