Michael is a Creative Editor who covered Apple Retail and design on 9to5Mac. His stories highlighted the work of talented artists, designers, and customers through a unique lens of architecture, creativity, and community.
Contact Michael on Twitter to share Apple Retail, design, and history stories: @MichaelSteeber
Apple today changed the name of one of its Scottish retail stores from Apple Buchanan Street to Apple Glasgow. The quiet change comes at a moment when the world is reflecting on issues of deep-rooted inequality, and Apple has recommitted to challenging systemic barriers to opportunity and dignity.
Apple will reopen a select number of its retail stores in the United Kingdom beginning June 15. All Apple Stores outside of Greater China closed on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have been gradually reopening across the world since April.
Activism sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has spread across all 50 US states. Apple Stores have been swept up in the momentum, looted and vandalized as some protests turned to violence. Now, some peaceful protestors are reimagining the boarded up windows of Apple Stores as canvases for a positive message.
Apple has temporarily closed the majority of its US retail stores for the safety of employees and customers as protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis continue to spread across the nation. Numerous Apple Stores from coast to coast have been targeted by looters, damaged, or preemptively secured and emptied of sales floor merchandise to deter damage.
Throughout most of March and April, all but 52 Apple Stores in Greater China were temporarily closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple hadn’t operated a retail fleet that small since January 2003, when the company opened its 52nd store, located in Pasadena, California. As of today, more than half of all Apple Stores worldwide have reopened in some capacity.
When the windows of Australia’s most iconic Apple Store were covered on January 5 to keep curious eyes from peeking at a major renovation project, the world looked different. Apple had emerged from 2019 after opening and remodeling 66 stores. Budding developers around the world were sharing insights together at Code with Apple creative sessions.
Apple plans to reopen many more of its US retail stores this week as some regions continue to see a decline in new COVID-19 infections and relax stay-at-home orders. The third wave of US reopenings begins tomorrow, with most locations offering curbside or storefront service only.
Apple’s flagship store on George St. in Sydney will reopen on May 28 at 10:00 AM following renovations that began in early January. The store is Apple’s only location in Australia that did not reopen on May 7 after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted temporary store closures across the world.
On May 17, Apple detailed its retail store response to COVID-19 in an open letter written by SVP of Retail + People Deirdre O’Brien. The letter spoke of a commitment to care for store teams, customers, and communities. Apple has been recognized as an early leader in its actions to create a safe store environment. How does its response compare to other top retailers?
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 21, and Apple has created a timely new Today at Apple at Home session filmed entirely in American Sign Language. The new creative session coincides with the third anniversary of Today at Apple’s rollout to every Apple Store around the world.
Adobe updated several of its Creative Cloud apps on iPadOS and macOS today, bringing highly requested features to iPad users and powerful tools for pros on the desktop. The new releases of Adobe Fresco, Photoshop on iPad, and all Creative Cloud video and audio apps are rolling out today.
On Monday at 11:00 a.m., customers in the U.S. will set foot in an Apple Store for the first time in almost two months. I’m nervous. Apple set a laudable example by being among the first major retailers to close its doors in March against the threat of COVID-19. Reopening early sends a mixed signal.
Switzerland’s four Apple Stores are set reopen on May 12 at 11:00 a.m. after closing in mid-March to slow the spread of COVID-19. Apple has been announcing reopening dates for stores across the world nearly every day for the past week as many countries see declines in new infection rates.
Apple is preparing to reopen a select number of retail stores in the United States next week. The company closed the majority of its 510 locations worldwide in the first half of March and has recently taken steps to restore critical support and service functions at a handful of stores across Australia, Austria, Germany, and South Korea.
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Apple Stores in Germany will be among the next to reopen after extended closures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Following reopenings across South Korea, Austria, and Australia in recent weeks, Germany’s 15 Apple Stores will all reopen on May 11 at 11:00 A.M.
Apple has launched a new hub for its online store to streamline shopping from home while Apple Retail Stores are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The webpage helps customers learn more about no-contact delivery options, get help from a Specialist, and more.
After nearly two months of closures, all but one of Apple’s retail stores in Australia have reopened. The country’s coronavirus mitigation strategy has so far proved successful, allowing it to be among the first regions where Apple feels confident to welcome customers back inside and store teams back to work. Apple Stores in a world warped by the coronavirus look and operate differently, but it’s all in the name of safety.
21 of Australia’s 22 Apple Stores will reopen on May 7 at 10:00 a.m. following extended closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Apple has been cautiously reopening stores around the world as local conditions permit. In an interview last week, Tim Cook noted that stores in Austria and Australia would reopen within 1-2 weeks, but did not specify exact dates.
Apple’s only retail store location in Austria is preparing to reopen tomorrow, May 5, according to a local report by Heute. Like all Apple Stores outside of greater China, the Vienna location closed in mid-March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In an interview last week, Tim Cook noted that stores in Austria and Australia would reopen within 1-2 weeks, but did not specify exact dates.
After closing the majority of its retail locations across the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic, Apple has cautiously begun to reopen select stores as local conditions permit. Following South Korea, Apple Stores in Australia and a single location in Austria are scheduled to reopen within 1-2 weeks, according to a statement by Tim Cook to Bloomberg.
The four walls of your living room aren’t always the most conducive to creativity. Without a world to explore, finding the spark of an idea for your next project can feel impossible. Apple’s back catalog of Today at Apple guest artists has you covered if you need a creative break.
Apple Premium Resellers in India are receiving two months of financial assistance directly from Apple to offset losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from The Economic Times. The retail partners are being encouraged to reinforce their online sales offerings in service of changing shopping patterns.
Ask just about any longtime Apple fan, and they’ll be quick to tell you about their favorite classic Mac hardware. Some are fond of the legendary Macintosh SE/30, others will never forget the Apple Extended Keyboard II. Less remembered are the Macintosh Quadra 950 Pro and its lattice ventilation that predates the 2019 Mac Pro by 27 years. And nobody talks about the Apple Overextended Keyboard II. These funhouse products come from the mind of one designer with a knack for Photoshop and a love of computing history.
