Looks like the rumors were true and Apple is finally set to replace the aging, WindowsCE + stylus based EasyPay point-of-sale devices used by the retail store staff with sexy new credit card reading, barcode scanning iPod touches. Apple will be using the same accessory access APIs supplied to developers in the iPhone 3.0 SDK.
AppleInsider reports that a trial is now being run at the closest Apple Store to the Cupertino Headquarters, the Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, but hopefully the rest of Apple Retail will be able to enjoy the cool new gadgets sometime in the near future as well.
IFOAppleStore confirms the switch to iPod touch EasyPay, and adds that Apple will also be ditching the color-coded shirts used to distinguish different types of staff. (Not because Microsoft iCloned them but because they were ultimately more confusing than helpful to customers).
[Small print: The above video is of Apple Store staff cheering for a new store opening, not for their new iPod touch EasyPay systems]
Porn and iPhone, it is out there and every once in a while you may even find porn in there. In an Apple Retail Store on one of the iPhone and iPod Touch demos, that is.
That’s exactly what happened just the other day as a mother found her 10 year old girl mesmerized by some X-rated content on one of the Apple Store demo devices:
“I called to complain and was told matter of factly by staff this happens a lot as people come in and download it for a laugh, I don’t find it funny and all my friends think it’s disgusting, but Apple say there is nothing they can do to stop it.”
Apple does a fantastic job of keeping smut out of iTunes and their App Store, surely they can figure something out for their real-world stores.
At launch, Apple sent all US iPhone customers on trip to their local Apple Store or AT&T kiosk. Now, some 10 months post-release, Engadget has discovered that Apple will finally sell you your iPhone online and… still make you walk/drive on over to your local Apple for pick up and activation. send it directly to you instead of making you schlep to the Apple store. (Story updated, sorry for the mix up)
Apple Insider, covering Piper Jaffray’s favorite Apple analyst, Gene Munster, passes along:
Sales of 22 iPhones per stores is down from 28 iPhones per store during November, which suggests a 21 percent decline in sales sequentially compared to the Street’s view of a 24 percent drop. However, Munster is betting that expanded international availability will help offset some of these domestic declines and is therefore modeling iPhone sales for the March quarter to be relatively flat at 4.4 million units.
Of course, rampant speculation of a next generation iPhone announcement in June wouldn’t have anything to do with it… Like last year…
Yeah. Apple Stores use what appear to be Soviet-era Windows CE handsets from Symbol to process credit card transactions on the floor. It’s their secret shame. All that beautiful, elegant, perfectly balanced mobile technology in the iPhone and the iPod touch and their front-facing staff is stuck using devices straight out of 1960s garage sci-fi.
Well, the times they may finally be changing. Apple Insider reports that:
Instead of introducing a dedicated [point of sale] sibling to the iPhone and iPod touch family, Apple instead worked to expand the iPhone platform to suit the needs of developers. With iPhone 3.0, that includes new support for working with peripheral devices over USB through the Dock Connector and wirelessly using Bluetooth.
Seems Apple will be transitioning to an attachment for the iPhone or iPod touch that lets them replace their aging WinCE fleet with their own, homegrown, multi-touch tech. Win/win for both marketing and sales.
The only question left for us is, what to do with all those about-to-be-obsolete WinCE boxes?
First they clone the handsets. Then they clone the App Store. Then they clone MobileMe. (Not to mention Windows 7’s “dock” block…) What’s left for Microsoft to clone? The Apple Retail Stores, of course.
We’ve already heard how Apple Stores are retail juggernauts, and are being re-focused to lure even more switchers, all driven by the experts Apple got on board and hired from GAP and Target, and the Genius’ they but behind the bars.
How’s Microsoft going to compete? Tasteful “Zune Brown” decor? No, apparently by hiring someone from… a movie studio and putting Guru’s on the floor. iSigh.
Of course, the bigger challenge will be: what can Microsoft sell? Windows, Office, Xbox, Zune, and…? What exactly? Doesn’t seem like a very compelling retail experience to us, but what do we know, we never thought Vista would be a blockbuster success (and we’re still on the fence about Songsmith…)
How about you? Any shopping itch you think only mighty Microsoft can scratch?
The Apple Stores have been nothing less than modern retail marvels. Picking the brains (and talent) of the best of the best behind the GAP and Target by Design, Apple has out-performed even Tiffany’s in revenue per square foot with their focus on customer service and lifestyle product layout.
But is all that about to change? Maybe, according to rumors. Not only will they be shifting focus to promote key Mac software like iLife 09 in an effort to lure in more and more “switchers”, Apple Insider says:
Apple has also changed its iPhone 3G and iPod touch displays to reflect the emphasis on software. The tables are arranged into categories of applications; including games, pleasure and travel, and others, with new acrylic information stands for each.
Apple’s never been shy to mess with past success if they think they can do better going forward. And, hey, anything good for the iPhone is fine by us, but what do you think?
Are you wishing you had iDisk on your iPhone? Bummed you don’t? Looking for an alternative? Then look no further! Arstechnica informs us thatBox.net has just released an app for the iPhone! For those of you that don’t know, Box.net is a free service that gives you online access to 1GB of storage. Now, you can access this information directly from your iPhone!
After logging in you have access to your folders and documents; if the iPhone can render it, you can view it! You can even share folders with the handy “Share” button. You can also upload photos as well, but regretfully, only one at a time.
One neat feature is that if you share a file, you will be notified of an update via the updates section located in the bottom left of the app!
This is a 1.0 release, and we are looking forward to what new features Box.net might bring us! I took some pictures from my iPhone below, enjoy!
Have you checked out our forums lately? The community is growing and the commentary is getting better and better each day. Unconvinced? I’ll bring out a thread, a post, a topic, or a comment directly from the forums and post it on TiPb’s front page every week to prove it to you. We here at TiPb love the interplay, quid pro quo, repartee with our readers, so step up your creativity and tighten up your diction, you could be next!
This week we have a tip from forum member, h22kai, on how to swap out your broken iPhone 3G for a brand, spanking new one at the Apple Store. We at TiPb have heard of more hardware issues dealing with the iPhone 3G than any other Apple product in recent memory, so if you own an iPhone 3G and are running into build quality issues, feel free to take a look at h22kai’s list!
It includes simple advice like restoring your iPhone prior to your Genius Bar appointment and more specific suggestions like removing any discount from AT&T.
