Angela Ahrendts: ‘The Days of Waiting in Line’ at Apple Stores Are Over
Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts has issued an internal memo to retail employees that encourages store staff to direct customers to the Apple Online Store to purchase the Apple Watch and new MacBook, according to Business Insider. Ahrendts says that this is “a significant change in mindset” for Apple, noting that the long lines that typically form on Apple product launch days “are over” at retail stores.
“Get in line online
The days of waiting in line and crossing fingers for a product are over for our customers. The Apple Store app and our online store make it much easier to purchase Apple Watch and the new MacBook. Customers will know exactly when and where their product arrives.
This is a significant change in mindset, and we need your help to make it happen. Tell your customers we have more availability online, and show them how easy it is to order. You’ll make their day.”
Apple previously outlined changes to its so-called “Customer Journey” in leaked training documents obtained by MacRumors last month, emphasizing that retail employees will be focused on “reducing wait times and physical lines” for the Apple Watch. One way Apple will limit in-store waiting times for the Apple Watch is by requiring reservations for pick-up at brick-and-mortar Apple Stores, although Business Insider notes that option will be unavailable to U.K. customers at launch.
Apple Stores will have limited in-store supply of the Apple Watch when the wrist-worn device goes on sale April 24. Apple will begin accepting online pre-orders for the Apple Watch on April 10, the same day try-on appointments will be available for customers, in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Read how to pre-order the Apple Watch and what to expect at a try-on appointment.
Parents groups take concerns about YouTube Kids to the FTC
There are plenty of rules about what you can and can’t do on kids’ tv, but not a lot of those rules automatically carry over to the internet. That’s why a posse of advocacy groups is asking the FTC to investigate if YouTube’s kids-only service is breaking laws on unfair and deceptive marketing. According to a report by the San Jose Mercury, these groups believe that YouTube Kids also contravenes FCC rules about advertising to young children that have been in place since the ’70s.
The meat of the complaint is that YouTube Kids is a bit of a wasteland regards regulating what’s being put in front of children. For instance, adverts for the show My Little Pony stand side-by-side clips from the same show, but when you click through the clips, you’re actually presented with commercials. Then, there’s the issue that companies like McDonalds have channels on the service that produces promotional videos styled as news reports.
The group also wants Google to pull all unboxing videos from the app, describing an example clip as “in effect, a seven minute commercial.” The charge leveled at the company is that there’s no guarantee that the clips are fan created, and that they act a lot more like toy advertising than, say, entertainment content. It seems like a near impossible task for Google to deal with, however, since almost all of the site’s content is user-submitted.
It’d be easy to dismiss these concerns as the bellyaching of overprotective parents, but the list of signatories includes heavyweights like the Center for Digital Democracy and Consumer Watchdog. Medical practitioner groups are also signing the document, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Studies have shown that young children lack the cognitive ability to resist advertising, making them overly susceptible to craving the latest toy. For its part, YouTube told the Mercury that it “consulted with numerous partners, child advocacy and privacy groups,” and would always accept feedback on how to improve the app. Whatever happens, this one is likely to run and run.
Source: San Jose Mercury, DocStoc.com (.PDF)
LG invites everyone to announcement of the LG G4 on April 28th, teases new camera and leather
By now, the hype from MWC is well an truly over and with the global launch of the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 imminent, all eyes have turned to the next major flagship release on the calendar – the LG G4. LG‘s next entry is expected to be every bit as impressive as […]
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Android pioneer Andy Rubin to launch Playground Global
Andy Rubin, one of Android’s pioneers, is set to launch his company Playground Global. As a reminder, Rubin left Google and Android about two years ago in order to start up this company. According to Rubin, Playground Global is a firm that will provide support and advice to tech start ups that make devices. While still new and relatively small, the company has already lined up a heavy list of investors such as Google and Hewlett-Packard, and raised over $48 million.
The company says it won’t directly invest in the start ups that they work with, but rather take equity stakes within those start up companies. According to Rubin himself:
“Our aim is to free the creators to create. By bringing these partners to the table we can remove many of the roadblocks of bringing a great idea to market.”
It seems like a company like this can really help entrepreneurs with tasks such as distribution, manufacturing, financing, etc.
source: WSJ
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Vodafone migrates all monthly plans to 4G for boosted super speeds
Vodafone today announced that all 12- and 24-month contract plans have been moved to the 4G network, enabling you to enjoy faster speeds.
Lollipop 5.1 brings updated sweetness to the LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition
Android Lollipop 5.1 is now rolling out to the LG G Pad 8.3 GPE. LG’s first major tablet from 2013 is to receive the latest version of the OS, but should you be impatient and simply cannot wait much longer, we’ve also got the update URL for you.
Sony Xperia C4 ‘selfie’ phone makes an appearance
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Last year, Sony introduced the phone designed especially to take ‘selfies’ known as the Sony Xperia C3. As weird as it sounds, taking selfie has become a huge trend among teenagers and even adults as well, and Sony decided to take advantage by this situation. It seems the Xperia C3 was a success as Sony is working on a successor, known as the Sony Xperia C4. The phone was leaked on Twitter by @upleaks with a description “Sony Xperia C4(Cosmos)”.
Cosmos is the codename of the upcoming of Xperia C4. The successor will have the same gigantic camera like its predecessor with a front-facing flash as well, so the users can fulfill all their selfie fantasies. Well, for now this is all we know about this smartphone. No words on the release date or its pricing, but there is a chance that we might see this phone debuting alongside the upcoming Sony Xperia Z4.
Would you like to have a ‘selfie’ phone? Or are you satisfied with the one you have? Let us know in the comment box below.
Source: @upleaks
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Render appears to show what could be the Moto 360 successor
It’s been just over a year since Motorola announced the original Motorola Moto 360 smartwatch and we’re getting a little jittery waiting for its follow-up. A few rumours have popped up here and there to suggest what the Moto 360 successor might look like, and today’s offering gives us a render which appears to depict quite […]
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Leaked pictures show WhatsApp integrated within the Facebook for Android app
Several leaked images of Android’s Facebook app shows it being integrated with WhatsApp. As a refresher, Facebook purchased WhatsApp for $22 Billion last year and we’re finally starting to see the results of that merger. In the images, you can see the much familiar WhatsApp logo on a send button that Facebook has now added, as compared to the older version without it.
I’m sure this is merely a small step into Facebook’s bigger vision with this merger as they are continuing to create a tighter grasp in the Messaging market/platform. No word as to when this version of Facebook will be released, though we can assume it shouldn’t be too far from now.
source: Geektime
Come comment on this article: Leaked pictures show WhatsApp integrated within the Facebook for Android app
BlackBerry offers up a quick look at apps on the BlackBerry Leap
Have you pre-ordered a BlackBerry Leap? If you have and you’re waiting, BlackBerry has put out another video quickly showing off the device plus, shared ‘5 Facts about Apps for BlackBerry Leap’. Most of them should be pretty well known to already existing BlackBerry owners, but Donny always likes to share his experiences with the devices he gets to play with ahead of the official release with everyone else so check them out.
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Two Stores. One Huge Selection – The BlackBerry Leap comes pre-loaded with both BlackBerry World and Amazon Appstore storefronts. In the simplest terms possible, you benefit from having a huge selection and hundreds-of-thousands of apps. On the work and productivity side, BlackBerry World is home to secure corporate apps and business tools. For the majority of your gaming, consumer and even prosumer needs, the Amazon Appstore has a variety of Android apps to choose from AND free App-of-the-Day specials (follow BlackBerry @Twitter to hear about them).
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Runs Android Apps – Yes. The BlackBerry Leap runs Android apps. For some time now, the BlackBerry 10 OS has had the ability to install and run .apk files (Android apps). This is what enables you to run the Amazon Appstore and the many official apps you find there. It also means that you have the ability to install and run .apk files from other sources should you choose to do so.
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Optimal Aspect Ratio – With its 5-inch HD display, and modern, powerful design, the BlackBerry Leap is the ideal form factor, preferred by many customers and developers alike for apps and games. At 16×9, Android apps from the Amazon Appstore and BlackBerry World apps will render beautifully.
AIVAnet 