The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Apple posts job listings for Munich Apple Store

Dave Caolo — 2008-05-09T18:00:00+00:00

In June of last year, we wrote about the Apple Store that has been planned for Munich, Germany. At the time, rumors identified an opening date of "...the 2nd half of 2008."

Today, Apple has posted several retail job openings for Munich, from concierge up to store manager; eleven in total. If they've begun looking for employees, the store must be near completion.

The iPhone was made available to Germans in November of last year, and a June store opening would coincide nicely with the rumored 3G iPhone release.

If you're a TUAW reader in Munich, head down to 1 Rosenstrasse (formerly home to Sport Schuster sporting goods) and let us know what you find! The time has almost come for Germany's first Apple Store!

Thanks, Chris!

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EETimes: Apple was an investor of PA Semi before acquisition

Cory Bohon — 2008-05-07T20:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Apple

It was just a couple weeks ago that Apple bought PA Semi, a custom PowerPC chip design firm. But now that a few details about the acquisition are leaking out, a new light has begun to shine on this subject. According to an EETimes post, Apple considered buying PA Semi back in 2005, prior to the Intel switch. Oh yeah, and one minor detail ... Apple has been an investor in the company since that time. When Apple started using Intel chips, that move sent a death threat to PA Semi.

Per the EETimes story, Apple came along to purchase a new chip from PA Semi. PA Semi didn't have enough investor funding to undertake a new project. So, what does Apple do? They pay off the investors and buy the whole company. Apple bought PA Semi for $278 million -- no pocket change, that's for sure. How important could this chip be for Apple to pay that much money? Well it might just be for a new tablet Mac (remember, you heard this rumor here first).

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Apple retailer iRaffles opens in Pakistan

Dave Caolo — 2008-05-07T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

A new Apple retailer has opened in Lahore, Pakistan. It's not an official Apple Store, but a joint venture between Apple and Pakistan-based retailer Raffles. Called "iRaffles," the store was officially opened by US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson late last week.

This marks the first store for Pakistan. If you're a TUAW reader in the Lahore area, please send us any pictures and stories you have!

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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Italy will have two iPhone carriers

Dave Caolo — 2008-05-06T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Rumors, iPhone

Earlier today we learned that Vodafone has been tagged to carry the iPhone in ten countries, including Italy. Shortly after that announcement Italian communications company Telecom Italia announced that they, too, will carry the iPhone.

Neither company provided any more detail than that, so exactly what those plans will look like and how they'll co-exist is unknown. However, we understand that Italians love pay-as-you-go plans. In fact, Vodafone reports that 91% of their current Italian customers lack contracts.

Perhaps a paid vs. contract-free option? Only The Shadow knows. We'll keep you informed, readers.

[Via MacNN]

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Apple's value is now quadruple Dell's

Dave Caolo — 2008-05-02T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple Financial

There's no love lost between Steve Jobs and Dell founder Michael Dell. Back in 1997, when Michael was CEO of Dell, he famously told a group of IT big wigs, ""What would I do [if I were in charge of Apple]? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

Oh, Michael. That's the kind of statement that waits in a corner for years, thinking, "I'm going to bite him in the backside ... hard."

The time has come. Earlier today, Apple rose $6.05 (3.48%) in NASDAQ trading, closing at $180.00. Compared to Dell's standing, Apple's market value of $158.66 billion is now four times Dell's $38.97 billion.

Only a year ago, we were excited that Apple had doubled Dell's value. Here's to the next twelve months.

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Apple retail to adopt department-specific uniforms

Dave Caolo — 2008-04-28T17:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Much like crew of the Starship Enterprise, the roles played by employees at Apple Retail stores will be identifiable by the color of their shirts.

Now, before you confuse the guys in blue shirts for science officers and those in red for security, we'll explain how it's going to work. According to a post at ifoAppleStore, Geniuses and Creatives will wear dark blue. Specialists will wear light blue, and the Concierge will wear orange.

Also, orange shirts will bear the slogan, "I know people," while the dark blue will read, simply, "Business." Finally, the crew in the back room will wear the traditional black T-shirt, assuming the role of the guy you don't recognize in an away team who's sure to die.

One must imagine that the Concierge will console irate customers by offering them Earl Grey tea "...in my ready room."

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First pics of the Boston Apple Store

Cory Bohon — 2008-04-27T00:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Cult of Mac, Apple

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Our Boston-based buddy, Chad Barraford, sent us in some pics of Apple's new Boylston Street store. Located across the street from The Prudential Center in Boston's upscale Back Bay, this will be the ninth store located in Massachusetts. Apple didn't just create a bland façade to cover the construction, they made it look like Fenway Park's "Green Monster." Now that this is starting to sound like a real estate sales pitch, let's show you some pictures.

Thanks, Chad!

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Apple buys P. A. Semi, designer of ultra-efficient processors

Mat Lu — 2008-04-23T10:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPod Family, Rumors, iPhone

Here's an interesting tidbit sure to stoke the rumor mill. Forbes is reporting that after negotiations in Uncle Steve's own home Apple has acquired the small Santa Clara chip company P. A. Semi founded by Dan Dobberpuhl, the former lead designer of the DEC Alpha and StrongARM processors. What's interesting about P. A. Semi's chips is their great power efficiency, on the order of "300% more efficient than any comparable chips" according to the company.

This of course has tongues wagging about future iPhone / iPod touch iterations which might use some of this highly efficient technology. The development is particularly interesting in light of Apple complete transition to Intel on the Mac, and perhaps suggests that its mobile platforms will be going in a different (more traditionally Apple) direction. Given Apple's proven ability to have OS X running on multiple underlying architectures, however, it not that surprising that Apple might like to retain more control over handheld hardware than it can on the desktop.

[via Gizmodo]

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New head-mounted laser display patent surfaces

Cory Bohon — 2008-04-17T16:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple

A new Apple patent showing a head-mounted laser display surfaced today. The patent, which looks like a rather odd pair of sun glasses, would allow you to view video (or your Mac's screen) in a manner similar to the MyVu products. This patent also includes a geeky looking device that attaches to the belt, probably for image/video processing, and battery.

Just as you see white ear buds on many iPod owners, you may soon see Mac users with frickin' lasers mounted on their heads. This would bring a whole new meaning to the word "Machead."

You can read the patent application on the US Patent & Trademark Offices' website.

[via Engadget]

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Apple to open 18th UK retail store in Bristol

Nik Fletcher — 2008-04-08T01:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Apple

British readers listen up! If you're a resident west of London, your choices for UK Apple Stores are -- shall we say -- somewhat limited. With just one store in the southwestern part of the UK (Exeter), and one on the south coast in Southampton, Apple's retail clout has yet to extend to the area in between (such as to other larger cities like Bristol). Fear not though, as Apple is indeed planning to open an Apple Store in Bristol later in the year.

Apple has posted job vacancies for the (to be determined) location just today - meaning that the store will likely open in advance of Christmas. If you hear anything about the location, be sure to let us know.

Thanks to all those who sent this in!

Update: Multiple tipsters say the Cabot Circus development (scheduled to open in September) is home to the new store. Thanks folks!

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eMusic calls bundled music anticompetitive

Erica Sadun — 2008-03-24T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS

Over at the Guardian, music retailer eMusic has weighed in on those rumors about Apple bundling iPods with free iTunes access. It would be "anti-competitive behavio(u)r by a monopolist," the Guardian quotes David Pakman, eMusic's CEO.

The plan, which not a lot of people seem to believe is entirely real, would be to sell iPods and iPhones with a set "free music" premium charge that would allow unrestricted access to music over the lifetime of the device. The likely cost would be about $100/device, working out to about $5/month over 18 months. This plan would make music labels "dangerously dependent" (again, according to the Guardian article) on Apple.

I'm not sure I follow Pakman's reasoning. The Universal Total Music idea has been around for a while and was originally proposed for non-Apple platforms. If Total Music does pan out for the iPod/iPhone, it seems that it would be Universal Music (or a reasonable music industry facsimile) being anticompetitive not Apple.

Thanks, Sebastian Clarke.

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Apple issuing refunds, credits from WGA strike

Dave Caolo — 2008-03-18T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS, iTunes

Here's a nice bit of information. Many iTunes customers bought season passes to television shows in iTunes that never aired as a result of the recent writers' strike. As of this writing, Apple has begun addressing their concerns.

In an email that has been delivered to some customers, Apple describes how customer plans will be extended into the next season, or refunds will be issued:

"We will make all additional episodes which are broadcast during the 2007-08 season available to you as we receive them. If the season does end up with fewer episodes, you will receive a partial refund to make up for the difference."

Also, some customers are finding an instant iTunes Store credit that may be used towards the purchase of any two TV episodes, music videos, or short films on the iTunes Store.

Let us know if you receive one. Thanks, Apple!

[Via Uneasy Silence]

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Apple Ads = major indie exposure

Erica Sadun — 2008-03-12T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS

What does an Apple advert do for an unknown indie artist without a US album release to her name? In the case of Yael Naim it meant debuting at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 135000 downloads of her song, "I'm a New Soul". It also meant Atlantic Records pushing her US album debut forward by two months. According to this Adage report, Apple gets away with paying about half the going rights rate, in return artists receive unmatchable exposure.

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Michael Lopp on how Apple thinks different in design

Mat Lu — 2008-03-12T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Cult of Mac, Apple

Over at Business Week, Helen Walters has an interesting summary of a presentation given by Michael Lopp at SXSW on Apple's design process. Lopp is a senior engineering manager at Apple and gives a sneak peek at the process that Apple uses to bring such great products to the market.

Particularly interesting to me is the idea of the paired design meetings. Evidently each team has two design meetings each week. At the first meeting they're invited to "go crazy" and be creative in coming up with unusual ideas and approaches, while at the second meeting they have to get down to brass tacks and figure out how to actually implement some of those crazy ideas. It sounds like a great way to foster creativity, but also to make sure that there's enough practicality that things actually get shipped. In any case, it's worth a read if you're intrigued by the Apple design process.

[via MacVolPlace]

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UK papers say Beatles coming to iTunes, no, really we mean it this time

Cory Bohon — 2008-03-08T00:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS, Rumors, iTunes, Apple

UK newspapers such as the Daily Mail and the Telegraph are reporting on an expected deal between Sir Paul McCartney and Apple, Inc. to bring the Beatles catalog to iTunes. According to the Telegraph, the deal could be worth as much as £300 million ($600 million US). An Apple Corps label spokesperson said that the date "has not yet been set." The Daily Mail story suggests that Sir Paul may be motivated to do the deal now as a means of funding his divorce settlement. Ouch.

The Telegraph also reports that albums like Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the White Album and Help "will be available from iTunes," and are expected to top the charts for downloads. They also say that there is no word yet on how the the two surviving Beatles, and the heirs of Lennon and Harrison, will split the revenue from music sales on iTunes.

Is this the first time we've heard reports of the Beatles catalog coming to iTunes momentarily? No. Does this seem a bit more credible than earlier stories? Yes. To be fair, the tech columnist for the Guardian paper says he's spoken to Apple Corps flacks and they say no deal is finalized. Still, happiness is a warm Beatles/iTunes story.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

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Apple Store Baton Rouge: Your reports

Dave Caolo — 2008-03-07T07:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Apple opened a new retail store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- the state's first -- on Thursday. As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended to share their reports and/or pictures. Reader frelix was kind enough to share some photos he uploaded to his Flickr account. Thanks! If you visited this store, too, let us know in the comments.

If you haven't, when you do get there, show us a little love and set the in-store machines to TUAW for their Safari homepage! Just don't say we told you to.

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Fortune interview with Steve Jobs

Mat Lu — 2008-03-06T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Steve Jobs

As part of their feature on Apple we noted earlier in the week, Fortune magazine also has an interview with Steve Jobs that's definitely worth a look. Though frankly a bit annoying to page through, it's chock full of Uncle Steve goodness. There's quite a bit of interesting background on some of Apple's biggest business decisions over the last few years. It's definitely worth a read if you're interested in how the CEO of the most-admired company in the country thinks.

In addition, there's also a story by Fortune editor Peter Elkind on The trouble with Steve Jobs. It comes off a bit like sour grapes in places, but nonetheless is also worth the time.

[via Daring Fireball]

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Apple sets "gold standard for corporate America"

Dave Caolo — 2008-03-03T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Hardware

There's a glowing article about Apple at Fortune today. Here was the stand-out line for me:

"Apple's philosophy goes like this: Too many companies spread themselves thin, making a profusion of products to defuse risk, so they get mired in the mediocre. Apple's approach is to put every resource it has behind just a few products and make them exceedingly well."

Consider Apple's product line. There are three laptops, the MacBook, the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air. Even a potential customer who's never used a computer before can understand the distinctions just by hearing their names.

"MacBook" is obviously the basic laptop. The "MacBook Pro" is obviously a "better," or professional, model and the Air is somehow different than the two. Easy.

Not to pick on Sony, but look at their lineup of Vaio laptops:

Vaio UX Series
Vaio TZ Series
Vaio SZ Series
Vaio CR Series
Vaio FZ Series
Vaio NR Series
Vaio AR Series

What? Just reading the names, I can't surmise anything about the differences between these machines. Plus, there are seven models vs. Apple's three.

The same goes for desktops. Apple builds three; the iMac (a name nearly everybody knows), the Mac mini (obviously smaller and, one would assume, lower priced) and the Mac Pro, which follows the pro-level naming convention of the laptop line.

The iPod line is slightly more convoluted (if "convoluted" is even the right word) with four models

iPod shuffle
iPod nano
iPod classic
iPod touch

I bet the classic will eventually be replaced by the touch, once the cost of flash drives comes down.

The Fortune article is full of good stuff, so go and read it.

[Via MacDailyNews]

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Louisiana's first Apple Store will open on Thursday

Dave Caolo — 2008-03-03T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Apple

Apple fans in Louisiana, your wait is almost over. ifoAppleStore is reporting that your state's first Apple Store will open this Thursday, March 6th at 10:00 A.M. You'll find it at Baton Rouge's newly expanded shopping area at The Boulevard.

With the opening of this new store, only 13 US states lack an Apple Store.

As usual, we're asking any TUAW operatives who visit this weekend to send us stories and photos. Good luck, have fun and we're hoping you score a T-shirt!

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What do you expect from Thursday?

Erica Sadun — 2008-03-03T07:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, iPod Family, iTS, iPhone

So I was chatting with Cory and we started talking about what the iPhone will or will not bring. Will it ship on Thursday or not? Will Apple charge for it? Here's a round-up of our outstanding SDK concerns:

Will it ship? Rumors seem to be split between a no-show and a preliminary alpha or beta release. The fact that Apple has promised a "roadmap" rather than a "roll-out" indicates that things aren't as settled for shipping as we might hope.

How much will it cost? Is this going to be freely available like XCode or are we looking at a paid ADC-only release, like the early Leopard seeds? I wouldn't be surprised by ADC-only but I certainly am hoping for a wider release. The iPhone is a perfect hobbyists platform and limiting development to "enterprise" would be a sad move.

What shape will it take? It looks like a given at this point (just watch me be wrong!) that we're going to see an Objective-C 2.0-based XCode development environment with access to "blessed" frameworks and headers. There will likely be a simulator and a way to transfer by cable to the iPhone for testing.

What limits are there going to be? Will devs get access to the cell radio? Or does Apple intend to limit development to Internet-only? The smart money is riding on the latter option. I don't see the jailbreak community, with its full suite of iPhone applications and services going away any time soon--especially if Apple limits access to core iPhone features. That being said, I'm pretty sure that Apple will not interfere with any standard networking calls. So you should be able to use the WiFi and EDGE connections and services like Bonjour to interact with other computers on your LAN.

How will iTunes delivery work? My guess is that certain approved providers (like TuneCore for music) will be able to access store distribution for a fee, possibly a very large fee. I do not think that Apple will be involved in vetting individual software items. I also think that the legal agreements before you can distribute will be extremely complex, particularly when it comes to things like warranties and liability. I'd be stunned if this delivery system was in place any earlier than WWDC -- and possibly later.

What about that whole "enterprise" iPhone thing? It may just be more Exchange-type integration. Hard to say. Layton Duncan thought that it might mean the event might touch on non-iPhone news, with the recent dropping of the Xserve RAID line.

So that's a roundup of things we discussed. What are your takes on these issues? And what issues did Cory & I miss? Let us know in the comments.

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