Apple Retail

Once again, Apple is back to giving away free music through an iTunes promotion within its Apple Store app for U.S. customers. The new giveaway highlights three artists with “new tracks helping to define this year’s musical landscape.” Specifically, the app features tracks from Master Blaster Sound System, Bad Suns, and Kris Bowers. It’s worth checking out if you’re into discovering new music, but Amazon has some more traditional artists like George Strait, The Beach Boys, and Dean Martin in its Icon Series music giveaway over at 9to5Toys. Check below for how to grab the free tracks from iTunes.
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Apple Stores discounting Apple TV w/ $25 iTunes card ahead of new hardware rumored for spring

Feb 28 2014 - 7:14 am PT

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Update: Apple has confirmed the promo, and according to the T&C online orders are also eligible.

According to our sources, Apple retail employees were informed this morning that beginning today, anyone who purchases an Apple TV from Apple will receive a free $25 iTunes gift card. ~~As of right now this promotion seems to only be available at brick and mortar locations, but we will update this post if it pops up at the Apple online store~~. The promotion is scheduled to end on March 5th. iTunes gift cards can be used to download movies, music, apps, and more.

Here’s what we know so far about the incoming next-generation Apple TV hardware:

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Apple promotes accessories to their own tab on the online store homepage

Ben Lovejoy Feb 28 2014 - 5:12 am PT

The online Apple Store was taken down briefly for an update which sees Accessories given their own tab on the store homepage, appearing to the right of the recently-added Shop Apple TV tab …
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Gallery: Each Apple 30 poster composed of every employee name, digitally

Zac Hall Feb 25 2014 - 10:24 am PT

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As part of Apple’s campaign to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mac, it released ‘Apple 30’ themed posters cleverly composed with the names of every Apple employee, corporate and retail alike. While the physical posters are located on Apple’s campus, the company decided to release digital versions on their internal system so current employees could locate their names amid the vast sea of alphabet.

While current employees can access the digital versions on Apple’s internal system and locate their name based on their employee ID number, former employees have not been granted that opportunity (and a trek to Apple campus in Cupertino doesn’t come cheap). That’s until now. A friendly, former employee gained access to the digital files and shared what he found with us below…

Apple Store iPhone trade-in program expanding soon to Canada

Mark Gurman Feb 23 2014 - 9:36 am PT

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The Apple Store iPhone Reuse and Recycling trade-in program is launching in Canada in the coming weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the initiative’s expansion. The source says that training for Apple Store employees in Canada will begin this upcoming week…

Opening of first Apple Store in Brazil draws large crowds despite high prices

Ben Lovejoy Feb 17 2014 - 4:00 am PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-CAut6hkPs]

Around 1,700 people attended the opening of Apple’s first retail store in Brazil, in the popular Village Mall in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro – despite steep import tariffs meaning prices 80 percent higher than in the USA.

As the LA Times observes, a 16GB iPhone 5s sells for the equivalent of $1,174 in Brazil, compared to $649 in the U.S.

We first told you the store was planned all the way back in 2012, learning the the approximate opening date in October last year. Apple began teasing the opening last month before announcing the opening date.

To avoid the high tariffs imposed on imported goods, Apple has been working with Foxconn since 2011 to set up manufacturing or assembly plants in the country.

SF planning commission votes to accept Union Square Apple Store called “more iconic than the glass cube in NYC”

Mike Beasley Feb 6 2014 - 4:51 pm PT

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The San Francisco city planning commission voted today in favor of accepting the new Apple Store in Union Square, which an Apple spokesman said would be “a flagship” store that would become “more iconic than the glass cube in New York City.”

The changes announced today include moving the historic fountain outside the new location to center it in the resized plaza. According to Apple’s architect, the fountain will be moved in one piece rather than disassembled and rebuilt a few feet away from its current position. Apple’s previous plan to relocate the fountain was not satisfactory to the city’s historic preservation committee, but the new plan was accepted this week.

Apple announces first Apple Store in Brazil to open on February 15th

Benjamin Mayo Feb 6 2014 - 2:37 am PT

After teasing the store last month, Apple has confirmed on its website (as noted by MacMagazine) that the store will launch on the 15th of February, in just over a week. The store will launch at 11am local time (ATZ) in the luxurious Rio de Janeiro VillageMall, marking Apple’s debut entrance into the country.

First Apple Store in Turkey to open in Istanbul in April, government requests R&D and Siri improvements

Ben Lovejoy Feb 4 2014 - 7:41 am PT

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A Turkish government website reporting on Tim Cook’s meeting with President Abdullah Gül says that the country’s first Apple Store will open in Istanbul in April. Istanbul, which uniquely straddles Europe and Asia, is one of the largest cities in the world by population with over 14 million residents.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Qnx60Ghrk]

In addition to a rumored $4 billion plan to put iPads into Turkish schools, it was said that the two discussed the amount of sales taxes levied on iPhones and iPads and when Apple might include Turkish in the languages supported by Siri with at least some suggesting that the two issues might be linked …
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Turkish government confirms meeting between Tim Cook, President Abdullah Gül ahead of nation’s first Apple Store opening

Mike Beasley Feb 3 2014 - 2:56 pm PT

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Shortly after Apple opened its online store in Turkey late last year, it was rumored that Tim Cook would meet with that country’s president. The meeting would precede the opening of the first Apple Retail Store in Turkey which was originally said to be on track for January.

Toady, the Turkish government has confirmed this meeting through a presidental schedule published on the government’s website. The meeting will take place at 11:00 AM local time on Feburary 4th (that’s about 4 AM the same day on the U.S. east coast). The two will reportedly discuss a $4 billion plan to bring iPads to Turkey’s schools—a deal Apple outbid several other companies to secure.

New renderings show proposed Union Square Apple Store with 23-foot sliding glass doors

Mike Beasley Feb 2 2014 - 10:05 am PT

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A set of new renderings of the proposed Union Square Apple retail location was presented to the San Francisco Planning Department this week that show an updated design for the store’s entrance. The new renders depict the store with massive 23-foot wide sliding glass doors (which measure nearly 45 feet tall each) that a large section of the storefront to open to the street.

Regular-sized doors on either side of the larger ones will allow customers to come and go if the main doors are closed.

Comic Tyler Fischer poses as Apple employee for pranks in four retail stores [Video]

Ben Lovejoy Feb 2 2014 - 3:58 am PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPVHc0T3h7U]

The content is mildly amusing – what impressed me more was the apparent ease with which he was able to just wander into Apple Stores with a staff t-shirt and start interacting with customers.

Of course, the clips are short and it’s entirely possible he lasted about 90 seconds in each store before being escorted from the premises …

Love is in the (iPad) Air, suggests Apple, in Valentine’s Day promotion

Ben Lovejoy Jan 28 2014 - 5:22 am PT

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I never can resist a bad pun, and it appears Apple can’t either: the online Apple Store homepage today leads with a Valentine’s Day promotion with a photo of the iPad Air and the headline ‘Love is in the Air.’

The iPad Air isn’t featured on the actual gifts page, where the top valentine’s gifts are apparently Product RED cases for iPad Air and iPhone 5s, Nike+ FuelBands, Anki DRIVE cars and JayBird BlueBuds earphones.

Prices for the suggested gifts range from $30 to $400.

Apple continues Mac’s 30th birthday celebrations with special window displays

Ben Lovejoy Jan 24 2014 - 4:21 am PT

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A tip we’ve received from an Apple Store employee indicates that Apple will be putting up celebratory LED window displays at Apple Stores, showing a stylised ‘3’ and a ‘Happy birthday, Mac’ message. iPhones and iPads in the window will reportedly be removed. The graphic came via special SD card.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bill Wilson (@level42)

Boxes of special t-shirts have arrived for the occasion (photo below the fold) …
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Apple begins teasing its first Brazil Store with colorful signage

Mark Gurman Jan 23 2014 - 8:15 am PT

Last year, we reported that Apple plans to open up its first Apple Store in Brazil between February and March of 2014. This store would be located inside of the popular Village Mall in Rio de Janeiro:

Apple currently plans to expand its retail store presence to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil early next year, according to information provided by a source. This person says that Apple is targeting a store opening between February and March 2014, but delays due to construction and staffing are always possible.

Now, the Instagram account for Village Mall has published a photo of the space in which the Apple Store will be housed. The store is blocked by colorful Apple logo signage that is not too different from the teases shown before the recent opening of Apple’s new flagship store in Brisbane, Australia…

Shopkick testing iBeacons in 100 American Eagle locations in largest roll out yet

Zac Hall Jan 16 2014 - 9:34 am PT

Image via Flickr
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Deals and rewards app Shopkick is continuing to push support for Apple’s iBeacon technology adding 100 American Eagle Outfitter locations (via GigaOm) to its iBeacon test bed.

Shopkick previously introduced iBeacon support, or shopBeacon as it brands it, to select Macy’s retail locations ahead of Apple’s own Apple Store roll out. Now with its plans to introduce the technology to American Eagle locations, Shopkick is behind the largest implementation of iBeacons to date. As with other iBeacon implementations, the presence in American Eagle retail locations will allow Shopkick to interact with shoppers’ iPhones while they’re in the stores based on Bluetooth LE connectivity.

Earlier this week we showed you one company looking to expedite iBeacon support in Europe as support in the US continues.

Apple now shipping the Mac Pro to Europe once again, after EU ban of old model

Benjamin Mayo Jan 12 2014 - 6:10 am PT

<a href="http://www.macg.co/mac/2014/01/premieres-expeditions-des-mac-pro-pour-leurope-79176">via MacGeneration</a>

Since March, the old Mac Pro has not been available to buy in Europe as changes in regulations meant that the old Mac Pro no longer complied with EU law. In particular, the large exposed fans of the Mac Pro were the main reason behind the ban — the amendment required fan guards and minor changes to electrical ports.

With the design of the new Mac Pro, Apple once again complies with regulatory requirements. Via MacGeneration, customers in Europe are now receiving shipment notifications with delivery as early as January 14. According to Apple’s online store, customers ordering today should receive their Mac Pro in February.

New flagship Apple Store in Brisbane, Australia set for Jan. 17th opening

Mark Gurman Jan 10 2014 - 1:08 pm PT

Apple has announced on its retail website that the forthcoming flagship Apple Store in Brisbane, Australia will have its grand opening on Friday, January 17th. The store will open at 10 AM on that date, with regular business hours beginning at 9 AM Monday through Saturday. The store will always open up at 10 AM on Sundays. The closing hours are shown in the image above from the store’s official website. Late last year, Apple teased the opening of this store with a Twitter hashtag and colorful barricades.

iBeacon rollout continues as inMarket connects over 200 grocery store locations

Zac Hall Jan 6 2014 - 10:05 am PT

We’ve already seen retailers and major venues like Macy’s, the Apple Store, MLB, and even CES implement iBeacon technology into their overall visiting experience, and today inMarket is kicking off its Mobile to Mortar campaign (via TechCrunch) to bring the Bluetooth LE beacons to over 200 grocery store locations and more.
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Opinion: What might we expect from Apple in 2014?

Ben Lovejoy Dec 31 2013 - 7:50 am PT

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Image: wallsfeed.com

Tech journalists don’t often have to battle our way across hostile terrain in sub-zero temperatures, fight crocodiles with our bare hands, or abseil from helicopters to rescue hostages (though that remains my cover story for the time I broke my elbow by tripping up in an airport).

We do, however, occasionally do something almost as dangerous: make predictions about the tech future, knowing full well that our words remain forever archived on the web for people to dust off a year from now and gleefully point out just how wrong we were.

This is never more risky than in the case of Apple, a company notoriously secretive about its activities, and where there are way more false rumors than reliable ones. But hey, what’s life without a little adventure? So here are my predictions on what I think we can expect from Apple next year …
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Apple signage says new flagship Brisbane, Australia store opening soon

Mike Beasley Dec 29 2013 - 4:29 pm PT

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Signage for a new Apple Store in Brisbane, Australia has started appearing. The store will be located in the MacArthur Chambers building. The store doesn’t have an official opening date yet, but the second week of January seems to be a pretty decent estimation.

[tweet https://twitter.com/ifostore/status/417444455042400256 align=’center’]

The new location will be the twenty-first Apple Store in the country. The new store will also help push forward Tim Cook’s vision of selling even more Apple devices through first-party retail stores.

[tweet https://twitter.com/AnJellyCue/status/417435253909639169 align=’center’]

Smash and grab thieves do some holiday looting in Apple Store, Berlin

Ben Lovejoy Dec 23 2013 - 3:57 am PT

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Bild.de reports that thieves crashed an Opel Corsa into the Apple Store in Berlin in the early hours, stealing display model iPhones, iPads and Macs. Six thieves were said to have carried out the smash and grab at 4.15am before escaping in two Audis.

There have been seven such burglaries in Berlin recently, including one at the electronics chain Media Markt, where the thieves made off with goods worth €100,000 ($137,000).

More photos below …
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Hours after release, Mac Pro shipment estimates slip to February 2014

Benjamin Mayo Dec 19 2013 - 7:46 am PT

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On Apple’s website, only a few hours since it went on sale, delivery estimates for the Mac Pro have slipped to February next year.

This morning, the store opened with delivery estimates of December 30th with some variants quoting a January timeframe. Now, it appears the initial allocation has sold out as Apple’s website now reports February shipment for all models.

Mac Pro appears on 3rd-party reseller sites where money can be saved

Ben Lovejoy Dec 19 2013 - 5:47 am PT