Author

Seth Weintraub

Founder, Publisher and Editorial Director of the 9to5/Electrek/DroneDJ sites.

Seth Weintraub is an award-winning journalist and blogger who won back to back Neal Awards during his three plus years covering Apple and Google at IDG’s Computerworld from 2007–2010. Weintraub next covered all things Google for Fortune Magazine from 2010-2011 amassing a thick rolodex of Google contacts and love for Silicon Valley tech culture.

It turns out that his hobby 9to5Mac blog was always his favorite and in 2011 he went full time adding his Fortune Google followers to 9to5Google and adding the style and commerce component 9to5Toys gear and deals site. In 2013, Weintraub bought one of the Tesla’s first Model S EVs off the assembly line and so began his love affair with the Electric Vehicle and green energy which in 2014 turned into electrek.

In 2018, DroneDJ was born to cover the burgeoning world of drones and UAV’s led by China’s DJI.

From 1997-2007, Weintraub was a Global IT director and Web Developer for a number of companies with stints at multimedia and branding agencies in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Madrid and London before becoming a publisher/blogger.

Seth received a bachelors degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California with a minor in Multimedia and Creative Technology in 1997. In 2004, he received a Masters from NYU’s Tisch School of the Art’s ITP program.

Hobbies: Weintraub is a licensed single engine private pilot, certified open water scuba diver and spent over a year traveling to 60 cities in 23 countries. Whatever free time exists is now guaranteed to his lovely wife and two amazing sons.

More at About.me. BI 2014 profile.

Tips: seth@9to5mac.com, or llsethj on Wickr/Skype or link at top of page.

AAPL Company

Adobe releases Retina version of Photoshop and Illustrator CS6; our eyes have seen the glory

Seth Weintraub Dec 10 2012 - 9:00 pm PT

click to Retina-fy

Adobe recently gave us a sneak peek at its new version of Photoshop and Illustrator CS6 that is blessed with a healthy mix of new features (below), but a Retina Display overhaul, or “HiDPI” as they like to call it, headlines. As you’d expect, the difference is night and day on rMBPs. All of the menus and layout are just as clear as you’d expect, and there is simply no going back once you’ve had a taste.

As expected, the 129MB Retina update just hit Adobe’s update servers. So, it is in the wild and ready for your perusal. If you are using a 13- or 15-inch Retina Display-enabled Mac, and are down with CS6, by all means, get downloading. Even if you aren’t using a Retina-enabled machine, this is a free update for all Photoshop 13 customers as well as CS6 and Creative Cloud subscribers. We’d be remiss if we didn’t remind readers that Creative Cloud pricing is set to change Dec. 31, but it is currently as low as $19.99 a month or 40 percent off for CS updaters.

Adobe has more exciting announcements lined up, starting tomorrow at its CreatNOW event.

Some other notable features from the release notes:

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

In most embarrassing turn yet, Australian police warn against using Apple Maps after rescuing six motorists

Seth Weintraub Dec 10 2012 - 4:58 am PT

.

Update: According to a report from The Guardian (via The Verge), Apple has now updated its Maps app to include the correct location of Mildura.

Six different motorists in the past two months have gotten lost in an Australian national park because of Apple’s Maps (coupled with the lack of planning, reading road signs, etc.) according to Australian Police. And when you get lost in Australia, you are really lost.

Local Police have been called to assist distressed motorists who have become stranded within the Murray-Sunset National Park after following directions on their Apple i-phone [sic].

Tests on the mapping system by police confirm the mapping systems lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately 70km away from the actual location of Mildura.

Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the Park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees[115F(!!)], making this a potentially life threatening issue.

Some of the motorists located by police have been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and have walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception.

While mapping in most populated areas is pretty good (or getting better in any case), many iOS users have complained about inaccurate or incomplete data in rural areas. Apple CEO Tim Cook not only apologized for Apple’s Maps in September, but he uncharacteristically recommended competitors’ products and fired some of the key people involved with the maps debacle including iOS chief Scott Forstall.

[tweet https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/278128047872413696]

Australia’s ABC News has the report of one driver’s story:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple’s upcoming iOS update to unlock full Bluetooth keyboard control for Apple TV

Seth Weintraub Dec 8 2012 - 9:34 am PT

As we first discovered in the iOS software code a year ago, Apple is finally ready to implement Bluetooth in its Apple TV products. The latest Apple TV beta not only has a new Bluetooth menu but you can pair wireless keyboards to both the second- and third-gen Apple TV.

Once connected, you can use a wireless keyboard to completely control the Apple TV without using the included remote. The arrow keys function for navigation, the Return key is the play/pause, and the Escape key maps to ‘menu’ or up ‘one level’ functionality.

More importantly, searching for content becomes a thousand times easier when you can enter search terms with a hard keyboard.

Until now, you’ve been able to pair an iOS device to an Apple TV with the Remote app to handle keyboard entry, but it appears Apple is ready to expand that.

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Best Buy leaps Target and Radio Shack, offers $25 gift card with purchase of iPhone 5

Seth Weintraub Dec 7 2012 - 5:39 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com

At Best Buy, buy any iPhone 5 with a 2-year activation for AT&T, Verizon Wireless, or Sprint and get a $25 Best Buy Gift Card for free. That’s the first such offer we’ve seen for these latest iPhones from Best Buy and, provided you use the gift card, puts several of these phones at the best price we’ve seen with contracts. (Note that Best Buy is offering these phones at list, starting with the 16GB model at $199.99 for all three carriers.) Sales tax is added where applicable. Some phones qualify for free shipping, although most are available via in-store pickup only. For store pickup orders, the gift card will be provided in the Best Buy store when the mobile phone is activated. For shipping orders, the customer will receive an e-gift card within three to five days of the order ship date. Deal ends December 15.

We noted yesterday that Target and Radio Shack were also offering modest $20 discounts until December 15th.

AAPL Company

‘Assembled in USA’ iMacs are originating in Fremont, CA

Seth Weintraub Dec 5 2012 - 9:07 pm PT

.
Label of iMac assembled in Fremont CA

Since the “Assembled in the USA” iMacs story broke last weekend, we’ve been tracking a few of the shipping products from their destination via 9to5Mac readers in the U.S. to try to triangulate where they are being assembled.

We now have two USA models on record—both of which shipped via FedEx and originated in the San José area. One tipster’s origination pickup point was briefly visible as Fremont, Calif., so it would appear that iMac assembly is happening in that general vicinity.

What’s interesting here is that Fremont was the location of the original Mac assembly plant and was where Macs were built until production shifted to a plant in Elk Grove in 1993.

What’s been happening lately in Fremont? Tesla now builds its amazing Model S electric cars in Fremont, and, if you are looking for some manufacturing space, Solyndra, and its $733 million state-of-the-art robotic facility, recently filed for a politically charged Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

[tweet https://twitter.com/astern/status/276554244381892609]

So, is Apple returning to its roots and again assembling iMacs near Fremont? Some fun Apple manufacturing videos from the 80s are below:
Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Completely redesigned Twitterrific 5 for iPhone and iPad going live around the world

Seth Weintraub Dec 5 2012 - 10:45 am PT

[tweet https://twitter.com/tomhut/status/276391078490431489]

Here’s your iTunes link, people in the Eastern Hemisphere.

We may or may not have a thorough review coming at some undisclosed point in the not-so-distant future. Until then, some screenshots below.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Philips releases four beautiful new Lightning speaker docks

Seth Weintraub Dec 5 2012 - 6:59 am PT

Philips today announced four new Lightning-based speaker docks for Apple’s latest iPhone 5, iPad Mini, new iPods, and fourth-generation iPads. We had a chance to look at and listen to these at a special briefing yesterday, and we can confirm they sound every bit as good as they look:

Philips Lifestyle Music System (DCM2067) – an elegant and slim design that looks good in any modern interior. As well as charging and playing music from Lightning enabled devices through its retractable Lightning dock; the system also includes a CD player and FM radio. Even with its slender footprint, the system delivers 20W RMS power to provide a great sound performance.

Philips Portable Docking Speaker (DS7580) – slim and compact enough to fit in your bag, it features Philips’ wOOx technology that provides a rich and deep bass. Precise tuning between the speaker drivers ensures a smooth transition between low- to mid- and high-frequencies. With a built-in battery that lasts for approximately eight hours you can enjoy your music anywhere.

Philips Room to Room Docking Speaker (DS3205) – incorporates high-quality neodymium speakers, which are great for better bass response and a pure balanced sound quality.

Philips Bedroom Docking Speaker (DS1155) – has a 360-degree design, providing rich omnidirectional sound to fill your bedroom. The clock display of the docking speaker automatically synchronizes with the clock of your Apple device, and the speaker also includes a USB port at the back of the speaker allowing users to easily charge a second mobile device.

It also looks like they slipped another upcoming Lightning dock into their Flickr account, but that one might be for our EU readers only for now.

The press release follows:
Expand
Expanding
Close

iTunes 11 will soon get the duplicate song detection that its predecessors had but Cover Flow unlikely

Seth Weintraub Dec 4 2012 - 10:19 pm PT

.

As part of his favorable review of iTunes 11, Walt Mossberg noted that Apple commented on two particular features it took out.

Fans of iTunes will notice some omissions and flaws. The long-touted Cover Flow carousel of album covers has been dumped. The company says it found too few users considered it useful. A feature that finds duplicate entries is missing. Apple says it will soon be restored in a minor update of the program.

It is true that Cover Flow wasn’t the best way to find a song, but it was pretty neat.
Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

How to get a $85 Apple TV, $129 iPod touch and other deep discounts from Apple, shipped

Seth Weintraub Dec 3 2012 - 7:36 am PT

Screen Shot 2012-12-03 at 10.19.44 AM

From 9to5Toys.com:

You know that little Apple Store we discovered on Ebay dedicated to selling Apple Certified refurbished products? Apple has ratcheted up the deals this week on Apple products that come looking like new in Apple packaging with a full one-year AppleCare warranty. An added bonus is that unlike Apple, Tax is only charged TX, NV, NJ, IN, DC and CA. Everything here also ships for free.

Even better, you can shop with Paypal.

Notables include Airports starting at $69, 1080P Apple TVs for $85, iPod Touches starting for just $129, 32GB Retina iPads at $469, 13-inch Macbook Airs at $919.

Expand
Expanding
Close

News Corp. kills ‘The Daily’ iPad app, staff and assets folded into New York Post Dec. 15

Seth Weintraub Dec 3 2012 - 5:48 am PT

.

News Corp’s AllThingsD reports that News Corp will discontinue its Daily iPad app publication.

News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch said of the closure:

“From its launch, The Daily was a bold experiment in digital publishing and an amazing vehicle for innovation. Unfortunately, our experience was that we could not find a large enough audience quickly enough to convince us the business model was sustainable in the long-term. Therefore we will take the very best of what we have learned at The Daily and apply it to all our properties. Under the editorial leadership of Editor-in-Chief Col Allan and the business and digital leadership of Jesse, I know The New York Post will continue to grow and become stronger on the web, on mobile, and not least, the paper itself. I want to thank all of the journalists, digital and business professionals for the hard work they put into The Daily.”

Apple’s Eddie Cue shared the stage with News Corp representatives, including Murdoch (Steve Jobs was originally scheduled to attend), when the Daily launched as the iPad’s first dedicated news publication. Rumors of the closure began in July.

.
Eddie Cue (left) on stage at the Daily launch with Rupert Murdoch, (center) and Daily CEO

The app was hampered by poor technology that made navigation much slower than lighter magazine apps. It also was hampered by the lack of compelling content that couldn’t be found elsewhere on the web for free.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Is there some secret iMac assembly plant in the US?

Seth Weintraub Dec 2 2012 - 8:07 am PT

From iFixit’s ritual iMac dismemberment yesterday, we learn that the particular 21.5-inch iMac they bought says it was “Assembled in USA”. The moniker isn’t new—we’ve seen it since at least a few iMac models back on the packaging. But as far as we can tell, “Assembled in USA” wasn’t etched in the actual machine’s aluminum, leading people to believe that the iMacs that were shipped were “refurbished in the USA”. However, this forum shows that some were actually assembled and sold new with the “Assembled in USA” label (below—27-inch iMac, previous gen).

iMac_label

Regardless of previous endeavors, Apple is shipping new iMacs “Assembled in USA”. PED at Fortune found one. Jay Yarrow at BI found one, too. This isn’t an isolated incident. We also heard that other new iMacs say “Assembled in China”, as you’d expect.

Still, it makes for an interesting question: Is Apple building some of its iMacs in the United States? Is that percentage growing since it seems much of the first line of iMacs are coming with USA labels?

The “Assembled in USA” label doesn’t just mean that foreign parts screwed together in the U.S. either. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission assumes that a “substantial transformation” must happen in the U.S. for the label to be used.

Specifically, the FTC states that the label “Assembled in the USA” should be the following:

A product that includes foreign components may be called “Assembled in USA” without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the “assembly” claim to be valid, the product’s last “substantial transformation” also should have occurred in the U.S. That’s why a “screwdriver” assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn’t usually qualify for the “Assembled in USA” claim.

Example: A lawn mower, composed of all domestic parts except for the cable sheathing, flywheel, wheel rims and air filter (15 to 20 percent foreign content) is assembled in the U.S. An “Assembled in USA” claim is appropriate.

Here’s where it gets more interesting. The FTC gives the specific example of a computer manufacture:

Example: All the major components of a computer, including the motherboard and hard drive, are imported. The computer’s components then are put together in a simple “screwdriver” operation in the U.S., are not substantially transformed under the Customs Standard, and must be marked with a foreign country of origin. An “Assembled in U.S.” claim without further qualification is deceptive.

That means one of two things: Either Apple or its contractors have some sort of significant manufacturing operations in the U.S., or it is being deceptive in its marketing (something that sadly, isn’t out of character)…
Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

ComScore: As ‘dumbphones’ fade away, Apple is now the #2 phone manufacturer in the US

Seth Weintraub Dec 1 2012 - 6:19 am PT

We’re talking phones here, not just smartphones.

According to the latest comScore MobileLens numbers, Apple passed LG this month to become the second-biggest handset vendor by units sold in the United States (revenues and profits probably tell a much brighter story).

For the three-month average period ending in October, device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 26.3 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.7 percentage points). Apple ranked second for the first time on record with 17.8 percent market share (up 1.5 percentage points), followed by LG with 17.6 percent share, Motorola with 11 percent and HTC with 6 percent.

The climb in rankings was of course helped by the release of the iPhone 5 but also the overall migration trend away from ‘dumbphones’, which LG, Samsung, Motorola and others have a vested interest in. Samsung also gained for the period—helped by sales of its popular Note 2 and Galaxy S3 smartphones

As far as mobile operating systems, Google and Apple both continue to pull away from the pack (below) with both vendors gaining at the expense of RIM, Microsoft, and others.

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Apple goes (RED) on World AIDS day

Seth Weintraub Dec 1 2012 - 5:19 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf1bCZWVtwU]

Apple Stores throughout the world have changed their Apple logo to red, while the Apple.com website now has a bottom right link to the Join(RED) campaign in recognition of the Dec. 1 World AIDS Day. Apple, as part of its charitable giving program, has long sold (RED) iPods and SmartCovers with some of the proceeds going to fight AIDS through Project (RED).

Apple also recently joined Starbucks with a $30 iTunes/Starbucks gift basket that benefits the (RED) program.

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Apple introduces variable cost iTunes Gift Cards to third party retailers for the holidays

Seth Weintraub Nov 30 2012 - 8:14 am PT

Rolling out to your favorite supermarket or retail store this holiday season are new Apple iTunes gift cards that can be bought in any denomination between $15 and $500. We’re hearing that at least one supermarket chain and one retailer are putting these on the shelves today.

You take these cards to the cashier and choose how much to put on them. When the cashier validates the card, the amount paid is tied to the number/code. The receiver can then redeem the code including using the new FaceTime Camera scan for said amount of iTunes credit.

At the moment, there is no place to buy this type of card online, including the Apple Store.

Previously, you had to buy iTunes gift cards in $15, 25, $50, or $100 denominations at retail establishments. Apple has long had variable pricing for hardware gift card purchases, but iTunes has been a relatively static purchasing affair— especially outside of Apple’s official stores.

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Apple confirms Dec. 14 China launch for iPhone 5, Wi-Fi iPads on Dec. 7

Seth Weintraub Nov 30 2012 - 5:39 am PT

.

In a press release, Apple confirmed today that it would indeed launch its iconic flagship phone into the world’s biggest market next month. Apple CEO Tim Cook told an analyst at an earnings conference call in October that Apple planned to launch in China in December. Specific carriers or prices weren’t mentioned.

Apple today announced the Wi-Fi versions of iPad mini and fourth generation iPad with Retina™ display will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and iPhone 5 will be available on Friday, December 14. iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries, and iPhone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.

Apple has sold iPhones, the new Mini, and Retina iPads in Hong Kong since launch, and many Chinese have bought in the gray market from there (and elsewhere) to avoid China’s high luxury taxes.

The big question remains: Will China Mobile, the world’s largest carrier with over 600 million subscribers, sign on? Apple’s choice in Qualcomm radio would indicate that the possibility is there.

The full press release follows:

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

iPod Godfather Tony Fadell on Scott Forstall ouster: ‘He got what he deserved’

Seth Weintraub Nov 29 2012 - 6:16 am PT

Tony Fadell certainly isn’t mincing words when it comes to Scott Forstall, with whom he reportedly had a contentious relationship.

The BBC posted this interview with the father of the iPod—where he, among other things, discusses his time working with Forstall at Apple. Fadell’s view on the situation? When asked about his relationship with Forstall, Fadell said he “got what he deserved,” and added, “What happened just a few weeks back was deserved and justified.”

Fadell noted ‘there were reports of celebrations at Apple when the employees heard the news’ that Forstall had been fired.

Clearly, there was no love lost between the two in the years since Fadell departed and founded the home automation/thermostat company Nest.

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Adobe to release Retina version of Photoshop CS6 on Dec. 11

Seth Weintraub Nov 27 2012 - 9:17 pm PT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2NaTV3FlCxQ

Adobe is teasing a new version of Photoshop CS6 with some “goodies” for its upcoming Create Now Live event in the YouTube video embedded above. Create Now Live will be a live-streamed event that was originally scheduled for Dec. 5 but was moved to Dec. 11 in the last week or so.

Macotakara noted that there are plenty of hints in the video of a Retina version of Photoshop, not the least of which is the Retina MacBook Pro it is being displayed on. Here’s a screengrab of the Adobe video—where it is pretty easy to see the Retina Photoshop elements in the next CS6:

Adobe brought its Lightroom application to Retina specs just two weeks ago, but it is really nice to see the flagship application getting the Retina display it deserves. More event details follow:

Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

OS X 10.8.3 Beta has new ATI 7000 series Tahiti graphics drivers

Seth Weintraub Nov 27 2012 - 4:40 am PT

.

Netkas notes that the 10.8.3 Beta released yesterday contains support for the ATI 7000 series graphics processors. The following was found inside the update:

ATI7000Controller.kext
AMDRadeonX4000GLDriver.bundle

The new iMacs utilize Nvidia graphics, so these are likely for Mac Pro-level cards. Netkas forum user Rominator, who discovered the ATI driver support, also claims to have gotten the ATI 7970 to work with OS 10.8.3 (above and below).

Time to start speculatin’ about new Pros?
Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

New iMacs sales to be announced tomorrow?

Seth Weintraub Nov 26 2012 - 6:53 pm PT

Belgian website Belgium-iphone.lesoir.be (via MacRumors) claims that iMacs will begin going on sale tomorrow with 27-inchers to follow in December as originally scheduled by Apple at last month’s announcement. There were claims that Apple would delay both iMac models until 2013, but several sources of ours quickly informed us that the iMac launches were on target with Apple’s announced November and December timeframes.

We heard this morning from a source that Apple Store managers were briefed on iMacs coming in as soon as tomorrow, but after polling several sources from various Apple retail stores across the globe, it appears that, if the new iMacs launch tomorrow, they will not be found in all Apple Stores.

Additionally, many sources at stores say that Apple Store inventory systems do not point to the new iMacs arriving tomorrow, but it is very practical, as a new product, that Apple will ship the new iMacs to stores under the radar. MacRumors also provides the following:

.

AAPL Company

Cyber-Monday Deals Wrap-up (updating)

Seth Weintraub Nov 26 2012 - 6:58 am PT

We detailed many of the bigger Cyber-Monday Deals last night from MacConnection, Amazon, Best Buy, Ebay, B&H, OWC and MacMall but more keep popping up at 9to5Toys.com.

As always, check our Apple product pages for the latest best prices on iPads, iPad Minis, iPod Touch, Nano, Shuffle, MacBook Pros, Airs, iMacs, Mac Minis, and Apple TVs.

We’ll continue to update with notables below:

Doxie Go portable scanner is $30 off at Amazon today

Altec Lansing Bliss Earphones with Inline Remote + Mic $6.49+$5 shipping

SanDisk Ultra 64 GB SDXC Class 10 Flash Memory Card 30MB/s: $32.99

Refurb Apple AirPort Express 802.11n WiFi Base Station for $40 + free shipping (Extreme: $120, Time Capsule: $180)

Acer 22-inch 1080P LED Display: $85

Lots of Good Apple stuff at ABT….and Dell (if you scroll past the computers!)…and Staples!

Vizio 37″ 1080P HDTV, 4 HDMI ports, 10W stereo speakers: $280

Up to 60% off Panasonic 3D HDTVs.

Zagg drops prices across the board from 20% to 50%

Amazon Kindle Fire $129, today only, $89 at Cowboom used.

Sam’s Club 4x $25 iTunes gift cards: $79.88 (over 20% off). More Cyber at Sam’s Club.

Virgin knocks up to 70% off its hotspots.

Best Buy has 15% off all cards.

Lipstick-style 2200mA Battery backup for iPhone, USB devices: $5

BodyGuardz, Apple device protection, 50% off sitewide

$40 Off $200 w/code CYBER40, at OfficeMax.com

Up to $20 off iPods at Best Buy. uBid has a bunch of deals including iPad2s for $339

New Apple MacBook Pro MD101LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) $989

$20 Camcorder at Just Deals

Save 50% on your Macworld hotel at Hotels.com

New Apple iPad 4th Generation Retina Display 16GB WiFi $475 + free shipping

Parallels 8 Bundle $59 (also includes Snagit, Virus Barrier, MacOptimizer, and Rubbernet)

MacLegion Holiday Bundle 10 great apps including Fantastical, djay, and TechTool on your Mac for $50

Monster Steam Games Autumn Sale

The iStack Mac Bundle 2.0 $49 (10 apps: Camtasia 2, FX Photo Studio Pro, Printopia, more! $782 Value)

Call of Duty: Black Ops + Rezurrection and Annihilation & Escalation Packs 1.16: $49.99

Dragon Dictate: $149

Adobe’s Cyber-deals

More of our holiday shopping coverage below:
Expand
Expanding
Close

AAPL Company

Apple catching iPhone 5 demand for holidays: ship times start dropping to just 1 week

Seth Weintraub Nov 26 2012 - 6:32 am PT

.

The iPhone 5’s shipping times have begun to drop to just one week in some countries, including: New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia. We expect more to follow soon. Getting the iPhone 5’s ship times down will be a big plus for Apple, because it wants to get as many iPhone 5s in consumer hands as possible this holiday season.

The iPhone 5’s Apple online store shipping times dropped from “3-4 weeks” to “2-3 weeks” on Nov. 12.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Internal Apple video documents Apple Store philosophy

Seth Weintraub Nov 26 2012 - 4:13 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od8M_Fc4c80]

Washington Square Films (NYC) gave us a rare look at one of the internal videos that Apple has shown its retail store employees. This one is obviously over a year old, with Ron Johnson at the helm (the date says 7/7/2011).

The video is a pretty impressive piece of work from director Peter Sillen for something that never aired publicly. Among other interesting tidbits, the video shows a store mock-up inside Covent Garden (London) in 2008 before construction with Apple execs examining design elements.

The video seems to be the type you might see on TV. And, with the departure of Ron Johnson (just guessing here), it might have been scrapped without stable store leadership to fill in. Bob Bridger, Apple’s vice president of Retail Development, gets significant ‘face time’, as well.

Update: The video was taken down by Apple. We’ve found another mirror in China embedded above. Here’s a mirror. Here’s another.

Thanks, Gary!
Expand
Expanding
Close

UK Bank Barclays swoops up 8,500 iPads to improve customer support

Seth Weintraub Nov 24 2012 - 6:09 am PT

This has to be a worrying trend for Microsoft, as its Windows OS powers every bank client transaction I’ve ever made. It doesn’t sound like the Surface was in the running either.

Barclays told us that staff had demanded the reassuringly expensive pad over any other shiny devices – clearly there are a lot of fanbois in the bank’s ranks.

She said the device will be used “to assist our branch colleagues to interact with customers, improving the customer experience”.

“We investigated a number of different tablet options and in this instance, we concluded that iPads were the best solution for their specific needs. We are now starting to use these across Barclays branches in the UK,” she said.

At around $500 a pop, the purchase would have been somewhere north of $4 million. This is not a huge transaction in the monster coffers of Apple, Inc., but it’s a bigger step in a new space for Apple.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Review: HyperJuice 2 External MacBook and iPad Battery MBP2-100

Seth Weintraub Nov 23 2012 - 1:31 pm PT

[slideshow]

Talk about good timing. A few days before Sandy hit our town, Hyper sent me its new MacBook + iOS charging external battery device, the Hyperjuice MBP2-100.

Hyper has made external MacBook/Air/Pro batteries for years, and if you’ve ever been to an Apple (or any big technology) keynote event, many of the live bloggers have their rigs hooked up to them. HyperJuice’s latest line, dubbed the “MBP2 series”, expands on the capabilities of the big power batteries…

Expand
Expanding
Close