Feature AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. For the first time since March 2020 all 270 Apple Stores in the US are now open in some capacity. AppleInsider has visited a few stores in the last few weeks, and the experience is radically different than what it was a year ago, or even when the stores reopened for the first time. Over the past year, my local Apple Store found in the Westfield Brandon Town Center mall has remained open save for only a few sporadic weeks. While I haven't had much need to visit in-person over the past year, two faulty MacBooks finally required me to make a Genius Bar appointment and bring them in for repair. Users looking to make any kind of Genius Bar appointment should plan far ahead as the earliest appointments for this location were at least one week out. If … [Read more...] about Returning to the Apple Store – the new normal
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Apple Store badges are back with Memoji, here’s how to make your own
The next time you visit an Apple Store, expect to see a lot more Memoji. After today, Apple’s retail teams will greet you wearing custom new badges printed with their likeness — in Memoji form. If you’d like a virtual badge in the same style, there’s now a way to make your very own tag. Employee badges on lanyards were a signature part of the Apple Store aesthetic from the day the first locations opened in 2001. The iconic badges disappeared in late 2014 while Apple Retail was under the direction of Angela Ahrendts but are now back with a twist. The new Memoji badges are designed to help store employees express themselves in a world wearing masks. They’re sure to be conversation starters and add a pop of color and fun to the store experience. For long-time Apple enthusiasts, they’re a throwback to old times. Earlier badges promoted Apple’s in-store services and announcements, like Personal Pickup or The Beatles arriving on iTunes. Memoji badges first appeared at the grand … [Read more...] about Apple Store badges are back with Memoji, here’s how to make your own
Ten records Apple broke in its historic holiday 2020 quarter
AppleInsider breaks down every record Apple smashed in its gargantuan fiscal quarter ending in December 2020. Apple's first fiscal quarter was one to remember, breaking records left and right on its way to a staggering $111.4 billion in total revenue. While that number was the biggest takeaway, it was far from the only record the company shattered. Total revenue Apple brought in a staggering $111.4B in Q1 2021 During the 1Q 2021 financial quarter, Apple raked in $111.4 billion in total revenue. This is the first time the company has passed $100 billion for a quarter, breaking its previous record of $91.8 billion in the prior year's December-ending quarter. It's all the more surprising that Apple did this during a global pandemic, as many working families cut down on luxury purchases. Impressive iPad and Mac sales boosts may have partially reflected the greater need for work-from-home and Zoom-friendly computing devices. However, the iPhone continued … [Read more...] about Ten records Apple broke in its historic holiday 2020 quarter
Apple broke record for FaceTime call volume over holidays
Apple CEO Tim Cook on an earnings call Wednesday said that the company set a new record for the most FaceTime call volume during the holiday season. Apple broke a lot of records in the holiday quarter of 2020, from revenues to sales of different products to income from Services. It turns out the company broke another record over Christmas as it recorded the highest-ever volume of FaceTime calls. Cook, during Apple's quarterly earnings call, stated that "as COVID-19 kept us apart, we saw the highest volume of FaceTime calls ever this Christmas." It is unclear if "this Christmas" refers to Dec. 25, the surrounding weeks, or the entire holiday quarter. Cook did not specify an exact amount of FaceTime call volume. The record, though, is not surprising, especially with friends and family physically apart for the holidays last year due to coronavirus restrictions. In addition, as stated on the call, the install base for iPhone is the largest it has ever been, and Cook … [Read more...] about Apple broke record for FaceTime call volume over holidays
Apple raked in record $15.8B in services revenue during Q1
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The first fiscal of 2021 marks the first time in nine quarters that Apple's Services segment increased revenue by more than 20 percent. Apple Music In Apple's quarterly earnings announcement on Jan. 27, the company announced Services revenue of $15.8 billion for the final three months of 2020, representing a 24% increase over the same period in 2019. "The steep integration of hardware, software and Services have always defined our approach here, and it has delivered an all-time quarterly Services record," Apple CEO Tim Cook said on the earnings call. "This was the first quarter of the Apple One bundle, which brings together many of our great Services into an easy subscription, and with new content being added to these services every day, we feel very optimistic … [Read more...] about Apple raked in record $15.8B in services revenue during Q1
Presidents Day Apple Pencil deal drops iPad Pro, Air accessory to $103
Holiday weekend sales continue to heat up, with Verizon's Apple Pencil 2 deal knocking $26 off the stylus in addition to free 2-day shipping. Apple Pencil markdown at Verizon You don't have to be a Verizon Wireless subscriber to take advantage of the company's Presidents Day promotion on the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation). This accessory, which is compatible with current iPad Air and iPad Pro models, is discounted to $103.99 with free 2-day shipping or in-store pickup. The $26 markdown offers shoppers the lowest price available on the gadget to unlock even more functionality in compatible iPad products. For even more holiday discounts, including exclusive deals on M1 Macs , be sure to check out the AppleInsider Apple Price Guide . Deals on Apple hardware If you find yourself needing a new piece of Apple hardware to utilize the accessory deals above, AppleInsider and Apple Authorized Resellers are also running exclusive … [Read more...] about Presidents Day Apple Pencil deal drops iPad Pro, Air accessory to $103
Ear cushions not included with AirPods Max warranty replacements
On Monday, a report details Apple's warranty repair policy for AirPods Max, noting the company does not supply an extra set of ear cushions if the device needs to be replaced. Damien Menn recently discovered Apple's replacement protocol when requesting warranty service for a faulty Digital Crown, reports 9to5Mac . Illustrated in a tweet , Apple informs users to remove AirPods Max's ear cushions before sending the unit in for repair. The replacement device arrives in a form-fitting insert and is fitted with special fiber pouches to protect the ear cups that contain sensitive components like drivers, sensors, and circuit boards. A pamphlet included in the package instructs users to remove the original cushions that came with their AirPods Max, slip on the fiber baggies and stow them securely for the return shipment. Fortunately for the user, AirPods Max cushions are held on with magnets and are easy to remove and install. The repair practice deviates from … [Read more...] about Ear cushions not included with AirPods Max warranty replacements
Review: AirPods Max don’t make it easy to justify the price
Review The new AirPods Max are turning heads with a high price tag and excellent audio quality. But is what you get worth the $549? AirPods Max design AirPods Max come in five different colors, sky blue, green, pink, silver, and space gray. Each color is two-toned, featuring a lighter color on the anodized earcups and a darker one for the headband. AirPods Max have one of the most bespoke designs ever created for a set of headphones. The top portion of the headphones is made of stainless steel before being coated with a premium soft-touch material akin to silicone. The canopy is made from a proprietary mesh that is designed to wrest just atop your head. AirPods Max Each arm of the AirPods Max extend to accommodate user's heads of different sizes. Anodized aluminum makes up the cups themselves, which is lighter than the steel and allows for the svelte anodization Apple is known for. Each of the cushions on the earcups are a similar mesh … [Read more...] about Review: AirPods Max don’t make it easy to justify the price
Review: Naim’s first wireless speaker, the mu-so, is worthy of the company’s audiophile heritage
Naim Audio isn’t a household name outside of audiophile circles, but this British company has for many years made some of the most respected amplifiers in the business. Naim long had an informal partnership with Linn, and if the standard audio system fitted to Bentley’s ultra-expensive cars isn’t good enough for you, the optional audio upgrade is to a Naim system. You’ll also find it available through the Apple Store . The company is notoriously conservative when it comes to new technology, refusing to even consider making a CD player for most of the 1980s, relenting only in 1989, when it felt the technology had developed sufficiently to allow it to deliver the quality it sought. It’s therefore no surprise that Naim has waited so long to launch its first wireless speaker system, the mu-so – nor that it has done the job properly when it finally did so. The price is also no great surprise … Getting your hands on the Naim mu-so will set you back a cool $1500. Like the even … [Read more...] about Review: Naim’s first wireless speaker, the mu-so, is worthy of the company’s audiophile heritage
DaVinci Resolve and Fusion now officially support M1 Macs
Blackmagic Design has updated its popular video-editing apps DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Fusion, adding native M1 Mac support. Following the public beta that had launched in November, DaVinci Resolve 17.1 is now available to the public in the official update channel. The update brings full native support for the M1-powered variants of the 13-inch MacBook Pro , MacBook Air , and Mac mini . Previously, DaVinci Resolve had only run on M1 Macs using Rosetta 2 translation. Native M1 support allows the software to take full advantage of Apple Silicon's performance. Apple's chip has up to a 3.5x faster CPU, 6x faster GPU, and 15x faster machine learning than Intel Macs. The M1-friendly update carries over the 100 new features and 200 improvements from DaVinci Resolve 17 . That list includes significant updates to the Fairlight audio workstation and color grading toolset with broader user interface upgrades. It also adds: new HDR color correction tools … [Read more...] about DaVinci Resolve and Fusion now officially support M1 Macs